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TO AMEND SECTION 59-19-117, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SCREEN ALL PROSPECTIVE AND CURRENT EMPLOYEES THOUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CENTRAL REGISTRY OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE RELEVANT TRAINING TO APPROPRIATE DISTRICT PERSONNEL, AND TO PROVIDE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS SHALL ADOPT CERTAIN RELATED POLICES BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2020.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-19-117 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding a subsection at the end to read:
"( )(1) A school district shall screen prospective employees and current employees who seek to renew an annual contract of employment with the district to determine if the prospective or current employee is the subject of an indicated report or affirmative determination of abuse or neglect as maintained by the Department of Social Services in the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect pursuant to Subarticle 13, Article 3, Chapter 7, Title 63.
(2) Within ninety days after the effective date of this subsection, the Department of Social Services, working with the Department of Education, shall provide training to appropriate district personnel on the appropriate uses of the registry.
(3) Before August 1, 2020, the district board of trustees shall adopt a written policy that specifies the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect check as well as how information received from the search impacts hiring, employment, or renewal decisions. The policy must include, at a minimum, a prohibition of hiring, maintaining the employment of, or renewing the employment of individuals who are the subject of an affirmative determination of abuse or neglect in the registry."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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