Senate Amendment 59
S 39 - Session 125 (2023-2024)
Educational Scholarship Trust Fund

Senators Hutto, Setzler, and Shealy propose the following amendment (SMIN-39.AA0274S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, Section 59-8-140, by adding a subsection to read:

(I) (1)For scholarship students utilizing a scholarship to attend an online Education Service Provider, the department must track data on scholarship student wellness through mandatory in-person days of attendance at least once per semester at their resident public school. For first semester the in-person date shall be no later than November fifteenth. For the second semester the in-person date shall be no later than March fifteenth. During the in-person attendance, a school teacher, counselor, principal, assistant principal, school attendance officer, social or public assistance worker, school nurse, on-site mental health, or allied health professional, or other appropriately designated mandated reporter at the local public school as defined in Section 63-7-310 must complete a comprehensive wellness check to screen for abuse and neglect as defined in Section 63-7-20.

(2)All employees at an online Education Service Provider who are employed in same or similar roles as defined in Section 63-7-310 shall be considered persons required to report and must complete the training programs required pursuant to Section 63-7-310(A) and holds all the same rights, responsibilities, and potential penalties as defined in 63-7-315, 63-7-320, 63-7-350, 63-7-360, 63-7-370, 63-7-380, 63-7-390, 63-7-400, 63-7-430, 63-7-440, and receive information pursuant to 63-7-450.