A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-100, RELATING TO PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITIONS BY CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AMONG OTHERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAY NOT CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES FOR THE SUPERVISION, SANCTIONING, OR REGULATION OF INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITIONS UNLESS THE ENTITY REQUIRES MEMBER CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE AT HIGHER CLASSIFICATION LEVELS OF COMPETITION IF THEY ACCEPT STUDENTS LIVING OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ZONE IN WHICH THE THEY ARE LOCATED, AND TO PROVIDE MODIFIED REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOLS ALREADY COMPETING AT THE SECOND HIGHEST LEVEL OR HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMPETITION.

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

SECTION 1.   Section 59-63-100 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding a subsection to read:

   (G) A public school may not contract with a private entity that supervises, sanctions, or regulates interscholastic competitions unless the entity requires that when a charter school member or private school member of the entity accepts a student from outside of the public high school attendance zone in which the charter school member or private school member, respectively, is located, the charter school member or private school member, respectively, is consequently required to compete at a classification level of competition that is two levels above the classification level in which it otherwise would participate based on its enrollment, provided a charter school member or private school member already competing at the:

   (1) highest classification level of competition is not subject to the requirements of this subsection; or

   (2) second highest classification level of competition is required to compete at the highest level.

SECTION 2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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