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A207, R229, S933
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Johnson
Document Path: l:\s-res\klj\005dipl.kmm.klj.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2016
Introduced in the House on February 11, 2016
Last Amended on February 9, 2016
Passed by the General Assembly on May 25, 2016
Governor's Action: June 3, 2016, Signed
Summary: Academic standards and assessments
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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12/2/2015 Senate Prefiled
12/2/2015 Senate Referred to Committee on Education
1/13/2016 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 36)
1/13/2016 Senate Referred to Committee on Education
(Senate Journal-page 36)
1/28/2016 Senate Committee report: Favorable Education
(Senate Journal-page 14)
2/9/2016 Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 11)
2/9/2016 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 11)
2/9/2016 Senate Roll call Ayes-41 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 11)
2/10/2016 Scrivener's error corrected
2/10/2016 Senate Read third time and sent to House
(Senate Journal-page 11)
2/11/2016 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 96)
2/11/2016 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
(House Journal-page 96)
5/19/2016 House Committee report: Favorable Education and Public Works
(House Journal-page 6)
5/24/2016 House Read second time (House Journal-page 40)
5/24/2016 House Roll call Yeas-94 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 40)
5/25/2016 House Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 13)
6/2/2016 Ratified R 229
6/3/2016 Signed By Governor
6/9/2016 Effective date 06/03/16
6/9/2016 Act No. 207
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/2/2015
1/28/2016
2/9/2016
2/10/2016
4/28/2016
5/19/2016
(A207, R229, S933)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-310, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR OBTAINING HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS BY FORMER PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO FAILED TO GRADUATE SOLELY FOR NOT MEETING EXIT EXAM REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO ELIMINATE A DEADLINE FOR FILING THESE PETITIONS, TO EXTEND THE DATE BY WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL REPORT RELATED INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE PETITIONS AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2017.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Petition deadline eliminated, reporting deadline extended, advertising requirement revised
SECTION 1. Section 59-18-310(B)(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 155 of 2014, is further amended to read:
"(2) A person who is no longer enrolled in a public school and who previously failed to receive a high school diploma or was denied graduation solely for failing to meet the exit exam requirements pursuant to this section and State Regulation may petition the local school board to determine the student's eligibility to receive a high school diploma pursuant to this chapter. The local school board will transmit diploma requests to the South Carolina Department of Education in accordance with department procedures. Petitions under this section must be submitted to the local school district. Students receiving diplomas in accordance with this section shall not be counted as graduates in the graduation rate calculations for affected schools and districts, either retroactively or in current or future calculations. On or before January 31, 2019, the South Carolina Department of Education shall report to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly the number of diplomas granted, by school district, under the provision. The State Board of Education shall remove any conflicting requirement and promulgate conforming changes in its applicable regulations. The department shall advertise the provisions of this item in at least one daily newspaper of general circulation in the area of each school district within forty-five days after this enactment. After enactment, the department may continue to advertise the provisions of this item, but it shall not be required to advertise after December 31, 2017. At a minimum, this notice must consist of two columns measuring at least ten inches in length and measuring at least four and one-half inches combined width, and include:
(a) a headline printed in at least a twenty-four point font that is boldfaced;
(b) an explanation of who qualifies for the petitioning option;
(c) an explanation of the petition process;
(d) a contact name and phone number; and
(e) the deadline for submitting a petition."
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 2nd day of June, 2016.
Approved the 3rd day of June, 2016.
This web page was last updated on June 28, 2016 at 4:07 PM