Safe and Supportive School Environment Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 8 TO TITLE 59 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT ACT"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE POLICY OF THIS STATE IS TO PROVIDE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH ALL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT; TO PROVIDE RELATED POLICIES FOR PROHIBITED ACTS OF HARASSMENT BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, MARITAL STATUS, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR DISABILITY; TO PROVIDE RELATED PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING AND INVESTIGATING ALLEGED VIOLATIONS, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE PROVISIONS MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; AND TO REPEAL ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59 RELATING TO THE "SAFE SCHOOLS CLIMATE ACT".