Bill 3788

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    3788
Ratification Number:            107
Act Number:                     180
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19970401
Primary Sponsor:                Wilder
All Sponsors:                   Wilder, Stoddard and Carnell
                                
Drafted Document Number:        kgh\15053htc.97
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19970506
Date of Last Amendment:         19970424
Governor's Action:              U Became law without signature of
                                Governor
Date of Governor's Action:      19970522
Subject:                        Lauren County school districts,
                                No. 55, 56; trustees may increase
                                millage rates, budget approval,
                                positive majority

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19970918  Act No. A180
------  19970522  Unsigned, became law without
                  signature of Governor
------  19970515  Ratified R107
House   19970506  Concurred in Senate amendment,
                  enrolled for ratification
House   19970501  Debate adjourned on Senate
                  amendments until Tuesday, 19970506
Senate  19970429  Read third time, returned to House
                  with amendment
Senate  19970424  Amended, read second time
Senate  19970423  Introduced, read first time,
                  placed on local and uncontested
                  Calendar without reference
House   19970422  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19970417  Amended, read second time
House   19970416  Laurens Delegation report:               97 HLD
                  Favorable with amendment
House   19970401  Introduced, read first time,             97 HLD
                  referred to Laurens Delegation

(A180, R107, H3788)

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 171 OF 1967, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO FISCAL MATTERS AND THE IMPOSITION OF SCHOOL TAXES FOR LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS FIFTY-FIVE AND FIFTY-SIX, SO AS TO REVISE THE DATE FOR APPROVING THE BUDGET AND RECOMMENDING THE TAX MILLAGE, TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OF THESE DISTRICTS TO INCREASE MILLAGE RATES UP TO SEVEN MILLS A YEAR PLUS THE MILLAGE NECESSARY TO MEET MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIREMENTS, TO LIMIT THE TOTAL MILLAGE INCREASE IN A YEAR TO TEN MILLS, TO REQUIRE A "POSITIVE MAJORITY" TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL SCHOOL MILLAGE AND TO DEFINE "POSITIVE MAJORITY".

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

School taxes

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Act 171 of 1967, as last amended by Act 608 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"Section 1. On or before the first day of September for each year, the boards of trustees of School Districts Fifty-five and Fifty-six in Laurens County shall annually prepare operating budgets and recommend to the county auditor the amount of tax levy necessary to defray the cost of the budgets. The board of trustees of each school district in preparing the budgets may grant to teachers fringe benefits, in lieu of salaries, in forms as it may determine. Certified copies of the budgets signed by a majority of the boards of trustees of the districts must be filed with the auditor and treasurer. Copies of the budget must also be furnished to the county legislative delegation and a summary of the budgets published in a newspaper having general circulation within the district. For each tax year, an annual uniform millage for operating purposes must be levied on all taxable property in School Districts Fifty-five and Fifty-six of Laurens County. Monies derived from the levy must first be distributed to each school district to provide the amount necessary under the South Carolina Education Finance Act for required local support. Any monies not paid for required local support must be distributed to the school districts according to the current year's one hundred thirty-five day EFA weighted pupil units. School District Fifty-five and School District Fifty-six of Laurens County shall share the forestry funds according to the current year's one hundred thirty-five day EFA weighted pupil units. The boards of trustees of these districts may recommend a tax levy increase of up to seven mills a year plus any millage required to meet state-imposed maintenance of local effort requirements but the total increase may not exceed ten mills in one year. The millage applicable for a school year must be approved by a positive majority of the board. For purposes of this section, a positive majority is a majority of the total membership of the board less any vacancy."

Time effective

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

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 5/22/97.