Bill 924

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    924
Ratification Number:            275
Act Number:                     487
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19980115
Primary Sponsor:                Matthews
All Sponsors:                   Matthews and Hutto 
Drafted Document Number:        gjk\21024sd.98
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980129
Date of Last Amendment:         19980128
Governor's Action:              U Became law without signature of
                                Governor
Date of Governor's Action:      19980224
Subject:                        Orangeburg County school
                                districts, consolidation of; procedural
                                requirements before trustees may
                                close

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

------  19980910  Act No. A487
------  19980224  Unsigned, became law without
                  signature of Governor
------  19980217  Ratified R275
Senate  19980129  Concurred in House amendment,
                  enrolled for ratification
House   19980129  Read third time, returned to Senate
                  with amendment
House   19980128  Amended, read second time
House   19980127  Introduced, read first time,
                  placed on Calendar without reference
Senate  19980122  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  19980116  Read second time
Senate  19980115  Unanimous consent for second
                  reading on Friday, 19980116
Senate  19980115  Introduced, read first time,
                  placed on local and uncontested
                  Calendar without reference

(A487, R275, S924)

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 526 OF 1996, RELATING TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS WHICH MUST BE MET BEFORE SCHOOLS MAY BE CLOSED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF A CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT, AND TO REQUIRE THE MAINTENANCE OF ALL SCHOOL BUILDINGS WHICH ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL BOARD.

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

Procedures for school closings; maintenance of buildings

SECTION 1. Item (5) of Section 6 of Act 526 of 1996 is amended to read:

"(5) adopt and modify attendance zones of schools within the school district except that through school year 1998-99, existing attendance zones cannot be changed. However, no elementary or middle school may be closed until two public hearings are held at least two weeks apart within the affected attendance area with information to include, among other things, a delineation of the cost factors involved in keeping the school open and transporting the students to another school. No high school in an attendance area may be closed without the holding of the same public hearings required above for an elementary or middle school, provided, that in addition to the public hearings requirement, if a high school in an attendance area that existed before consolidation is to be closed and the students thereof moved to a high school in another attendance area, the qualified electors within the attendance area where the high school is to be closed must also first approve the closing by referendum. No such referendum may be held at the same time as a school bond referendum. Any school building which is the responsibility of the board of trustees of a consolidated school district must be maintained in conformity with all applicable building code standards and requirements to protect and ensure the health, safety, and welfare of students, faculty, administrators, and the general public."

Time effective

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

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 02/24/98.