Rep. Neal Collins

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-104-27 SO AS TO ESTABLISH DURATIONS FOR PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TO MAKE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATED UNDERGRADUATE-TO-GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-60, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO MAKE LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATED UNDERGRADUATE-TO-GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE AFTER JULY 1, 2027, A PERSON WHO RECEIVES, RENEWS, OR MAINTAINS ANY EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ISSUED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL HOLD A MASTER'S DEGREE THAT MEETS DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS APPROPRIATE TO HIS TEACHING FIELD AND LEVEL, TO PROVIDE THE BOARD MAY NOT AUTHORIZE, AND THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT AWARD, AN EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE TO A PERSON WHO DOES NOT HOLD SUCH A MASTER'S DEGREE, AND TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY NOT EMPLOY A TEACHER WHO DOES NOT HOLD SUCH A MASTER'S DEGREE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-3-10, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION SHALL MEET REQUIRED STATUTORY ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT OFFICE, INCLUDING HAVING BEEN AWARDED THE RELEVANT MASTER'S DEGREE, PRIOR TO FILING FOR CANDIDACY OR THE FILING IS RENDERED VOID AND THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE MAY NOT APPEAR ON ANY PRIMARY OR GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT FOR THE OFFICE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION IN THE ELECTION FOR WHICH THE FILING WAS MADE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-18-322 SO AS TO PROVIDE A STUDENT WHOSE PERFORMANCE ON A STATEWIDE ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT IN EITHER ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS OR MATHEMATICS REQUIRED BY THE EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT INDICATES THAT THE STUDENT IS PERFORMING TWO OR MORE GRADE LEVELS BELOW HIS GRADE LEVEL OF ENROLLMENT DURING THE TESTING MUST BE RETAINED AT THAT GRADE LEVEL UNTIL ADDITIONAL TESTING DEMONSTRATES PERFORMANCE AT HIS GRADE LEVEL OF ENROLLMENT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-1-425, RELATING TO INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS MAY NOT BEGIN BEFORE 8:30 IN THE MORNING; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-10-10, RELATING TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, SO AS TO REVISE THE STANDARDS TO REQUIRE AN OVERALL INCREASE IN MANDATORY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MINUTES, TO REQUIRE DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, TO REQUIRE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONAL PLAY AND UNSTRUCTURED PLAY IN ADDITION TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-10-30, RELATING TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITY DIRECTORS, SO AS TO REQUIRE DESIGNATIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DIRECTORS IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND TO REVISE DUTIES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DIRECTORS TO INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL PLAY AND UNSTRUCTURED PLAY FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-205 SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL ESTABLISH DISCIPLINARY CLASSROOMS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE NOT MERITING SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION, TO PROVIDE ASSIGNMENT DECISIONS ARE DISCRETIONARY FOR TEACHERS IN CONSULTATION WITH PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS OR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TO PROVIDE STAFFING AND FUNCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCIPLINARY CLASSROOMS, TO REQUIRE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS PLANS FOR REASSIGNING DISCIPLINARY CLASSROOM STUDENTS TO THEIR CLASSROOMS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED RIGHTS FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS ASSIGNED TO DISCIPLINARY CLASSROOMS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-180 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY NOT EXPEND MORE THAN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ITS BUDGET ON OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 22-5-190, RELATING TO WARRANTS ISSUED IN OTHER COUNTIES OR BY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO SERVE WARRANTS ISSUED BY MUNICIPAL JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE SAME COUNTY ON A PERSON INCARCERATED IN THAT COUNTY'S JAIL OR DETENTION CENTER WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF A MAGISTRATE ENDORSING THE WARRANT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-3790, RELATING TO THE EDUCATIONAL CREDIT FOR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS CHILDREN'S FUND, SO AS TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF "EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS CHILD" TO INCLUDE A CHILD WHO IS IN FOSTER CARE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP AND IS ENROLLED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STUDENT SHALL COMMIT TO TEACH IN A SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR SEVEN YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF A STUDENT DOES NOT TEACH IN A SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, THE STUDENT SHALL RETURN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-11-440, RELATING TO THE PRESUMPTION OF REASONABLE FEAR OF IMMINENT PERIL WHEN USING DEADLY FORCE AGAINST ANOTHER UNLAWFULLY ENTERING A RESIDENCE, OCCUPIED VEHICLE, OR PLACE OF BUSINESS, SO AS TO ADD CHURCH OR PLACE OF WORSHIP TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE A PERSON, IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, HAS NO DUTY TO RETREAT; AND BY ADDING SECTION 16-11-445 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A PRESUMPTION THAT A PERSON IS JUSTIFIED IN USING DEADLY FORCE IN SELF DEFENSE IF THE PERSON IS IN A CHURCH OR PLACE OF WORSHIP IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.