Bill 623

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               Senate
Bill Number:                    623
Ratification Number:            52
Act Number:                     24
Primary Sponsor:                Committee (04)
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Students, paging devices
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   Apr 03, 1991
Computer Document Number:       623
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      Apr 22, 1991
Introduced Date:                Feb 07, 1991
Date of Last Amendment:         Mar 26, 1991
Last History Body:              ------
Last History Date:              Apr 22, 1991
Last History Type:              Act No. 24
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
Sponsor Committee:              Education
Sponsor Committee Number:       04
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

 Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN
 ----  ------  ------------  ------------------------------  ---
 623   ------  Apr 22, 1991  Act No. 24
 623   ------  Apr 22, 1991  Signed by Governor
 623   ------  Apr 18, 1991  Ratified R 52
 623   Senate  Apr 03, 1991  Concurred in House amendment,
                             enrolled for ratification
 623   House   Mar 28, 1991  Read third time, returned to
                             Senate with amendment
 623   House   Mar 26, 1991  Amended, read second time
 623   House   Mar 20, 1991  Committee Report: Favorable     21
                             with amendment
 623   House   Feb 13, 1991  Introduced, read first time,    21
                             referred to Committee
 623   Senate  Feb 13, 1991  Amended, read third time,
                             sent to House
 623   Senate  Feb 12, 1991  Read second time, notice of
                             general amendments
 623   Senate  Feb 07, 1991  Placed on Calendar without
                             reference
 623   Senate  Feb 07, 1991  Introduced, read first time

(A24, R52, S623)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-280 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF PAGING DEVICES BY STUDENTS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR POSSESSION OF PAGING DEVICES AND FOR THEIR FORFEITURE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Possession of paging devices by students prohibited

SECTION 1. Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-63-280. (A) For purposes of this section, `paging device' means a telecommunications device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor.

(B) A student under the age of eighteen in the public schools may not possess a paging device while on school property or while attending a school sponsored or school related activity on or off school property, unless the student needs the paging device for a legitimate medical reason. A student eighteen years of age and over in the public schools may not possess a paging device while on school property or while attending a school sponsored or school related activity on or off school property, unless the student is an active member of a volunteer firefighting organization or a volunteer emergency medical service organization or unless the student needs the paging device for a legitimate medical reason. The principal of each school may decide what constitutes a legitimate medical reason consistent with any guidelines as may be established by the school board of that district or by the State Department of Education. The principal of each school must secure and retain documented evidence of a student's legitimate medical need or his membership in a volunteer firefighting or emergency medical service organization before that student may have a paging device at school if authorized by this section.

(C) The board of trustees of each school district shall include the prohibition in subsection (A) of this section in the district's written standards of student conduct. A student who violates the prohibition is subject to discipline as provided by board policy, consistent with this subsection.

(D) A person who discovers a student in possession of a paging device in violation of this section shall report the violation to the appropriate school administrator, as determined by school policy, who shall order a peace officer or appropriate school employee to confiscate the device, which is forfeited to the school district."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 22nd day of April, 1991.