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COMMITTEE REPORT
February 22, 2001
H. 3174
Introduced by Reps. Wilkins, Simrill, Whatley, Davenport, Coates, Vaughn, Robinson, Altman, Owens, Gilham and Tripp
S. Printed 2/22/01--H.
Read the first time January 9, 2001.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3174) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-29-35 so as to establish "South Carolina Home School Awareness Week" each year, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking Section 59-29-35 of the 1976 Code as contained in SECTION 1 and inserting:
/Section 59-29-35. To recognize the many families in South Carolina who educate their children at home as provided by law, each year the first full week in October is designated and shall be recognized as 'South Carolina Home School Awareness Week'. During 'South Carolina Home School Awareness Week', all home school students in this State and their parents or guardians who serve as their children's teacher shall be provided the same admission opportunities to any educational facilities owned by or under the control of this State or any state agency, department, or institution as are provided to public or private school students and their teachers. In addition during Home School Awareness Week, educational facilities, not including public school facilities, owned or under the control of a local political subdivision or entity also shall provide the same admission opportunities as are provided to public or private school students and their teachers./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend totals and title to conform.
RONALD P. TOWNSEND, for Committee.
$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)
EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:
The State Department of Education estimates that there are at least 2,000 home-schooled students in South Carolina. The State Museum reports that they currently admit home school students free of charge if the visit is scheduled in advance. Free admission for parents or guardians would result in no appreciable impact on the agency. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism estimates that if 2,000 students and their parents were given free admission to parks, there would be no impact on agency expenditures.
SPECIAL NOTES:
The Board of Economic Advisors is the appropriate agency to address any revenue impact of this legislation.
Approved By:
Don Addy
Office of State Budget
REVENUE IMPACT1
This bill, as amended, would have no impact on admission fee revenues allocated to earmarked funds of state agencies and local jurisdictions in FY 2001-02. This bill would also have no impact on admissions tax revenue within the general fund in FY 2001-02.
Explanation
This bill, as amended, authorizes the annual observance of "South Carolina Home School Awareness Week" in this State the first full week in October. During this week, home school students and their parents or guardians who serve as their children's teacher, shall receive the same admission opportunities as are provided to public or private school students and their teachers at facilities owned or under the control of state and local political jurisdictions. This admission opportunity does not apply to public school facilities. The previous version of the bill granted free admission to all parks, museums, science centers, planetariums, and educational facilities during the week so designated.
Currently, most facilities either do not charge for educational group visits booked in advance or assess a discounted admission fee. A survey sample of major attractions indicates that uniform admission policies for educational group visits are now provided to public and home schooled students. The amended version of this bill, therefore, is not expected to provide an extra discount or free admission at these facilities, but merely designate a one-week period for such educational visits by home school students and parents. Accordingly, this bill is not expected to have an impact on admissions tax revenues within the general fund or on agency-earmarked funds of admission fees in FY 2001-02.
Approved By:
William C. Gillespie
Board of Economic Advisors
1/ This statement meets the requirement of Section 2-7-71 for a state revenue impact, Section 2-7-76 for a local revenue impact, and Section 6-1-85(B) for an estimate of the shift in local property tax incidence.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-35 SO AS TO ESTABLISH "SOUTH CAROLINA HOME SCHOOL AWARENESS WEEK" EACH YEAR TO RECOGNIZE AND BRING ATTENTION TO THE MANY FAMILIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME AS PROVIDED BY LAW, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ALL HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THIS STATE AND THEIR PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND TEACHERS SHALL BE ADMITTED WITHOUT CHARGE TO ALL PARKS, MUSEUMS, SCIENCE CENTERS, PLANETARIUMS, AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES OWNED BY OR UNDER THE CONTROL OF ANY STATE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, OR INSTITUTION WHICH CHARGES A FEE FOR ADMISSION IN ORDER TO FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-29-35. 'South Carolina Home School Awareness Week' is established in this State each year to recognize and bring attention to the many families in South Carolina who educate their children at home as provided by law. 'South Carolina Home School Awareness Week' each year shall be concurrent with 'National Home Educator's Week'. During 'South Carolina Home School Awareness Week', all home school students in this State and their parents, guardians, and teachers shall be admitted without charge to all parks, museums, science centers, planetariums, and educational facilities owned by or under the control of this State or any state agency, department, or institutions thereof which charges a fee for admission in order to further the educational opportunities of home school students. In addition, parks, museums, science centers, planetariums, and educational facilities, not including public school facilities, owned or under the control of a local political subdivision or entity also may provide for free admissions to these facilities during 'South Carolina Home School Awareness Week'."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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