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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AMENDED
April 23, 2003
H. 3397
S. Printed 4/23/03--H.
Read the first time January 22, 2003.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-31-80 SO AS TO ENCOURAGE TEXTBOOK PUBLISHERS TO PROVIDE COMPACT DISC COPIES OF THE TEXTBOOK OR AN EXTRA COPY OF THE TEXTBOOK FOR USE AT HOME FOR EACH MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEXTBOOK PROVIDED TO THE STATE.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that:
(a) Backpacks of middle and secondary school pupils often contain textbooks, binders, calculators, personal computers, lunches, a change of clothing, sports equipment, and more;
(b) middle and secondary school pupils are carrying backpacks weighing as much as forty pounds;
(c) chiropractors, physical therapists, and pediatricians are seeing an increased number of children for spinal column injuries, nontraumatic back pain, and significant postural changes from overloaded backpacks;
(d) chiropractors and pediatricians recommend that backpacks not exceed more than fifteen percent of a pupil's body weight; and
(e) from 1999 through 2000, more than twenty-three thousand youths ages six to eighteen were treated in emergency rooms for backpack-related injuries according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 31, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-31-80. (A) In an effort to reduce the weight of backpacks of middle and secondary students and reduce the number of back injuries they suffer, textbook publishers submitting textbooks for review to be added to the state textbook adoption list are encouraged to provide compact disc copies of the textbook for each middle and secondary school textbook provided to the State.
(B) Publishers with textbooks currently on the state textbook adoption list are encouraged to provide compact disc copies of middle and secondary school textbooks.
(C) To take into consideration the health risks to pupils who transport textbooks to and from school each day, schools should issue the compact disc copy of textbooks provided by the publishers to pupils for use at home when issuing a textbook for use at school. For pupils without access to computers at home, schools should consider issuing two textbooks, one for use at school and one for use at home.
(D) Local school boards of trustees are encouraged to adopt policies to alleviate the burden of heavy backpacks. Suggested activities include, but are not limited to, the following: allowing the use of rolling backpacks in the hallways of schools, locating student lockers in an area of campus that is conducive to frequent visits, seeking alternate methods of providing information such as posting materials and subject information online, and considering lightweight alternatives to the usual school supplies."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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