S*0623(Rat #0052, Act #0024 of 1991)  General Bill, By Senate Education
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 59-63-280, relating to 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.-amended title

   02/07/91  Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference SJ-6
   02/12/91  Senate Read second time SJ-17
   02/12/91  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-17
   02/13/91  Senate Amended SJ-17
   02/13/91  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-18
   02/13/91  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-20
   02/13/91  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-20
   03/20/91  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-4
   03/26/91  House  Amended HJ-17
   03/26/91  House  Read second time HJ-17
   03/28/91  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments HJ-18
   04/03/91  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-3
   04/18/91         Ratified R 52
   04/22/91         Signed By Governor
   04/22/91         Effective date 04/22/91
   04/22/91         Act No. 24
   04/30/91         Copies available

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.