Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Committee Report

February 26, 2025

 

H. 3247

 

Introduced by Reps. Haddon, Pope, Spann-Wilder, Gambrell, Garvin, Pedalino, Chumley, Bowers, Hixon, Yow, Mitchell, Ligon, Rivers and Govan

 

S. Printed 2/26/25--S.

Read the first time February 18, 2025

 

________

 

The committee on Senate Education

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3247) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 59-1-462 so as to excuse absences for public school students when participating in certain work-based, etc., respectfully

Report:

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, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-1-462 and inserting:

    Section 59-1-462.  Each school district shall adopt a policy that authorizes a student to be excused from school absences, not to exceed ten school days per school year, to participate in any work-based learning a Career and Technical Student Organization experience in which student participation and learning outcomes are directed by a certified teacher for assessment of competencies. Participation in such a work-based learningCareer and Technical Student Organization experience may include, but is not limited to, scheduled events of state-level Future Farmers of America (FFA) organizations, the national FFA organization, and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. The student and his parent or legal guardian are responsible for obtaining and completing assignments missed while the student participates in any such work-based learningCareer and Technical Student Organization experiences.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

 

GREG HEMBREE for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill requires each school district to adopt a policy that authorizes a student to be excused from school absences to participate in any work-based learning experience in which student participation and learning outcomes are directed by a certified teacher for assessment of competencies. Participation in a work-based learning experience may include, but is not limited to, scheduled events of state-level Future Farmers of America (FFA) organizations, the national FFA organization, and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. The bill specifies that the student and their parent or legal guardian are responsible for obtaining and completing assignments missed while the student participates in a work-based learning experience.

 

S.C. Department of Education. This bill will have no expenditure impact on SCDE. The department indicates that it can manage the provisions of the bill with existing appropriations.

 

State Agency Schools. The Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe, the Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, and the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics indicate that this bill will have no expenditure impact, as they can manage the provisions of the bill with existing appropriations. Based upon these responses, we do not anticipate that the bill will have an expenditure impact for the School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School.

 

Local Expenditure

This bill requires each school district to adopt a policy that authorizes a student to be excused from school absences to participate in any work-based learning experience in which student participation and learning outcomes are directed by a certified teacher for assessment of competencies. Participation in such a work-based learning experience may include, but is not limited to, scheduled events of state-level Future Farmers of America (FFA) organizations, the national FFA organization, and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. The bill specifies that the student and their parent or legal guardian are responsible for obtaining and completing assignments missed while the student participates in a work-based learning experience.

 

The overall expenditure impact of this bill on the local school districts varies widely. SCDE surveyed the seventy-two regular school districts and three charter school districts and received responses from fifteen districts. Fourteen of the responding districts indicate that the bill will have no expenditure impact. One district indicates that implementing the provisions of the bill will increase expenses by $120,000 per year to hire a coordinator to manage their work-based learning experience program.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

_______

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-462 SO AS TO EXCUSE ABSENCES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHEN PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES INCLUDING ORGANIZED COMPETITIONS OR EXHIBITIONS OF Future farmers of america (FFA) ORGANIZATIONS OR 4-H PROGRAMS, AND TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING AND COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS MISSED DURING SUCH EXCUSED ABSENCES.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 59-1-462.  Each school district shall adopt a policy that authorizes a student to be excused from school absences to participate in any work-based learning experience in which student participation and learning outcomes are directed by a certified teacher for assessment of competencies. Participation in such a work-based learning experience may include, but is not limited to, scheduled events of state-level Future Farmers of America (FFA) organizations, the national FFA organization, and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. The student and his parent or legal guardian are responsible for obtaining and completing assignments missed while the student participates in any such work-based learning experiences.

 

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

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