H 3424 General Bill, By Breeland, Allison, Altman, Bailey, Battle, J. Brown, 
T. Brown, A.W. Byrd, Campsen, Cave, Cobb-Hunter, Cooper, Davenport, Edge, 
J.G. Felder, Gourdine, Harrell, M. Hines, Howard, B.L. Jordan, Kelley, Lanford, 
Law, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Mack, McMahand, Moody-Lawrence, V.T. Mullen, 
J.H. Neal, Parks, Phillips, Rodgers, Scott, Seithel, Sharpe, Simrill, F. Smith, 
Spearman, Stuart, Trotter, Webb, Whatley, Whipper, Woodrum and W.J. Young

Similar(S 291, H 3440)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-160, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES BY
 STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE, SO AS TO REQUIRE STUDENTS TO HAVE AN
 OVERALL "C" AVERAGE IN THE PRECEDING SEMESTER AND HAVE PASSED AT LEAST FOUR
 ACADEMIC COURSES INCLUDING EACH UNIT TAKEN WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION,
 AND TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO DESIRE TO
 PARTICIPATE BUT WHO HAVE NOT MAINTAINED A "C" AVERAGE IN THE PRECEDING
 SEMESTER.

   02/11/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-16
   02/11/97  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-16
   05/20/97  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-4
   05/22/97  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Phillips,
                     Young-Brickell, Kirsh, Barrett, Moody-Lawrence,
                     Clyburn, Walker, Wilder, Hamilton, Hinson,
                     Woodrum, Cotty, Cave, Townsend, Lloyd, Scott,
                     Stille, Martin, Breeland & Mack HJ-33
   05/28/97  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s).
                     Young-Brickell & Cave HJ-63
   05/28/97  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Canty HJ-64
   05/28/97  House  Amended HJ-81
   05/28/97  House  Read second time HJ-85
   05/28/97  House  Roll call Yeas-98  Nays-6 HJ-85
   05/29/97  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-40
   06/03/97  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-69
   06/03/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-69

AMENDED

May 28, 1997

H. 3424

Introduced by Reps. Breeland, Simrill, Felder, F. Smith, Spearman, Limehouse, Woodrum, Seithel, Sharpe, Cobb-Hunter, T. Brown, Young, Whipper, Law, Allison, Littlejohn, Webb, Altman, Howard, Bailey, Harrell, Scott, Mullen, Neal, Whatley, Lee, Gourdine, Byrd, Trotter, Mack, M. Hines, Kelley, Parks, McMahand, Stuart, Rodgers, Cave, Campsen, Phillips, Battle, Jordan, Lanford, Davenport, J. Brown, Cooper, Moody-Lawrence and Edge

S. Printed 5/28/97--H.

Read the first time February 11, 1997.

TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-160, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES BY STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE, SO AS TO REQUIRE STUDENTS TO HAVE AN OVERALL "C" AVERAGE IN THE PRECEDING SEMESTER AND HAVE PASSED AT LEAST FOUR ACADEMIC COURSES INCLUDING EACH UNIT TAKEN WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PROVIDE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE BUT WHO HAVE NOT MAINTAINED A "C" AVERAGE IN THE PRECEDING SEMESTER.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-39-160 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-39-160. To participate in interscholastic activities, students in grades nine through twelve must achieve an overall passing 75 or above average and either:

(1) pass at least four academic courses, including each unit the student takes that is required for graduation; or

(2) pass a total of five academic courses. Students must satisfy these conditions in the semester preceding participation in the interscholastic activity, if the interscholastic activity occurs completely within one semester or in the semester preceding the first semester of participation in an interscholastic activity if the interscholastic activity occurs over two consecutive semesters and is under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina High School League.

Academic courses are those courses of instruction for which credit toward high school graduation is given. These may be required or approved electives. in the preceding semester and meet other eligibility requirements as established by the South Carolina High School League and approved by the State Board of Education. All activities currently under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina High School League remain in effect. The monitoring of all other interscholastic activities is the responsibility of the local boards of trustees. Those students diagnosed as handicapped disabled in accordance with the criteria established by the State Board of Education and satisfying the requirements of their Individual Education Plan (IEP) as required by Public Law 94-142 are permitted to participate in interscholastic activities. A local school board of trustees may impose more stringent standards than those contained in this section for participation in interscholastic activities by students in grades nine through twelve."

SECTION 2. The provisions of Section 59-39-160 of the 1976 Code, as amended by this act, apply beginning with the ninth grade class of the school year 1998-99 and thereafter.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.