1. 2013 Legislative Session Debriefing
Presented by Duane Cooper
SCSBA Legislative & Advocacy Coordinator

2. Education related bills passed in 2013
H General Appropriations Bill (R0120, Act #0101)
H.3087 Charter schools located on a military base (Rat #0040, Act #0029)
H.3061 Student Athletes Concussions (Rat #0065, Act #0033 )
H.3752 Expanded Virtual Learning Act (Rat #0106, Act #0084 )
H.3725 Safe Access to Vital Epinephrine (SAVE) Act (Rat #0069, Act #0037)
H.3472 Private School Conversions to Charter (Rat #0099, Act #0059)

3. Education related bills passed in 2013 cont’d
S.250 Charitable funds exemption for school districts Similar (Rat #0050, Act #0043)
S.379 Kershaw School District Board of Trustees (Rat #0005)
S. 517 – School Board of Trustees of McCormick County (Rat #0015)
H Uniformly Negotiate Salaries of Certain Retired Teachers (Rat #0032)
S. 621 SCDE ADEPT Regulations (Rat #0039)
S. 643 Allow Transfer of Funds to Meet MOE of IDEA (Rat #0063)
S. 10 Authorizes Boards to Sell or Lease School Property (Rat #0028)

4. DOE 2013 Regulations
Regulation Buildings and Grounds – Defined Minimum Program for South Carolina School District (Repealed)
Regulation Building and Grounds Management - Fire Prevention (Repealed)
Regulation Building and Grounds - Cleaning Program (Repealed)
Regulation Buildings and Grounds - Heating and Lighting (Repealed)
Regulation Project Plans and Specifications (Repealed)
Regulation Facility Specifications (Repealed)

5. DOE 2013 Regulations cont’d
Regulation Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT) (Amended)
Regulation – Gifted and Talented (Amended)
Regulation Defined Program, Grades 9-12 (Amended)
Regulation Special Education, Education of Students with Disabilities (Amended)
Regulation Graduation Requirements (Amended)
Regulation Transfers and Withdrawals (Amended)
Regulation Procedures and Standards for Review of Charter School Applications (Amended)

6. 2013-14 SC General Appropriations Bill
By votes of (House of Representatives) and 39-5 (Senate), the General Assembly adopted the Budget Conference Committee
Highlights of Budget
Total spending for including all pots of money equal $22.8 billion ($6.7 billion in state funds, $7.6 billion in federal funds, and $8.4 billion in other funds which include grants, agency fees and fines)
$175 million in new funding for K-12 education (including $56 million to increase the base student costs (BSC) to $2101, enough money for the state to cover the step increase for teachers)
$8 million for "exceptional needs students" vouchers
$275/teacher for supplies (public schools) and $275/teacher for supplies as a tax credit (private schools)
$26 million to expand 4 year old kindergarten (65% to public providers and 35% to private providers)

7. 2013-14 SC General Appropriations Bill cont’d
$24 million for textbooks and other instructional materials
$1 million for Teach for America
$715,000 for a partnership at USC including School Improvement Council, Writing Improvement Network, Geographic Alliance and Science Plus
$1.75 million for STEM
$1.2 million for teacher loans
$12 million for charter schools
$23.5 million for school buses
20% increase in co-pays for health insurance (premiums will not increase)
$141 million for state infrastructure needs

8. 2013-14 SC General Appropriations Bill cont’d
Temporary provisos (revisited annually)
1.3 (SDE:EFA Formula/Base Student Cost Inflation Factor (Continuing)
1.18 and 1A.16 Defined program personnel requirements (Deleted)
1.49 Advertising on school buses (Continuing)
1.50 Charter school funding schedule (Deleted)
1.73 School safety (New)
1.74 Alternative fuel school bus pilot (New)
1.76 Transportation maintenance facilities (New)
1.79 School district activity bus advertisements (New)
1.81 Sale or lease of school district property (Added back)
1.82 Digital instructional materials (New)

9. 2013-14 SC General Appropriations Bill cont’d
Temporary provisos cont’d (revisited annually)
1.83 and 1A.34 Child Development Education Pilot Program (Continuing with new language)
1.84 Summer reading camps (New)
1.85 Educational credit for exceptional needs children (New)
1.86 Interscholastic Athletic Association dues (New)
1.87 CDEPP expansion (Continuing with new language)
1A.12 Teacher supplies (Continuing with new language)
1A.31 Adult education (Continuing with new language)
1A.43 Teacher salaries/SE Average (Continuing)
1A.57 Aid to districts draw down (New)
1A.60 South Carolina Success Program (New)
1A.62 Pilot Assessment (New)

10. 2013-14 SC General Appropriations Bill cont’d
Governor’s vetoes overridden by General Assembly:
Veto 12 - eliminated funding for USC teacher training program, School Improvement Council, Writing Improvement Network, Geographic Alliance
Veto 18 - eliminated funding for the Arts Commission
Veto 31 - eliminated funding for the Lee Bus Shop
Veto 66 - eliminated funding for the EOC's Partnership for Innovation
Veto 67 - eliminated proviso for the EOC's Partnership for Innovation
Veto 68 - eliminated proviso for the EIA Carry Forward
Veto 69 - eliminated funding for HBCU construction and renovation
Veto 71 - eliminated funding for the DOE's New Carolina Transformation in Education project  

11. Charter schools on a military base H.3087
A bill relating to charter schools located on military bases and gives preferences for students of military families.

12. Student Athletes Concussions H.3061
A bill requiring districts to adopt policies and procedures regarding student athletes suspected of having a concussion.
Policies must be based upon guidelines developed by the State Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), in consultation with the Department of Education.
Each year prior to participation in athletics, each school district shall provide an information sheet on concussions which informs of the nature and risk of concussion and brain injury, including the risks associated with continuing to play after a concussion or brain injury.
The parent or legal guardian's receipt of the information sheet must be documented in writing or by electronic means before the student athlete is permitted to participate in an athletic competition or practice.

13. Expanded Virtual Learning Act H.3752
A bill to remove the cap on the number of online credits a student can receive through the SC Virtual Education Program.
The virtual education program shall not award a South Carolina High School diploma.
It is not the responsibility of the school, district, or state to provide home computer equipment and Internet access for enrollment in courses provided by the virtual education program.
Nothing prohibits a school or district from providing home computer equipment or Internet access to students enrolled in the virtual education program.

14. Safe Access to Vital Epinephrine (SAVE) Act H.3725
Allows schools to stock supplies of epinephrine shots and authorizes school nurses and designated school personnel to use them under specific circumstances
Participating governing authorities, in consultation with the State Department of Education and DHEC, will implement a plan for the management of students with life-threatening allergies
A school, school district, school district governing authority, and others are not liable for damages caused by injuries to a student or another person resulting from the administration or self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector

15. Private School Conversions to Charter H.3472
Allows private schools, under certain conditions, to convert to a charter school without a 12-month waiting period.
Conversion to a charter school must reflect the racial composition of the local school district in which the converted private school is located

16. Charitable Funds Exemption for School Districts S.250
A bill exempting certain public school-related organizations from filing requirements of the Secretary of State’s office
‘Public School' includes any student organization within the school that does not maintain separate financial accounts or a separate federal Employer's Identification Number (EIN) from the school and whose fundraising revenues are deposited in the school's student activity fund

17. Uniformly Negotiate Salaries of Certain Retired Teachers H. 3453
A Joint Resolution which allows districts to extend the date for issuing contracts for continuing-contract teachers
The boards of trustees of the several school districts shall decide and notify, in writing, the teachers in their employ concerning their employment for the school year by May 5, 2013.

18. SCDE ADEPT Regulations S. 621
Joint Resolution to approve regulations for the State Board of Education related to the Assisting, Developing and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT)
Similar to H.3989

19. Allow Transfer of Funds to Meet MOE of IDEA S. 643
Directs the DOE to transfer certain funds to meet the maintenance of effort requirements for Individuals with Disabilities Act
Funds provided for the maintenance of effort for IDEA may not be transferred to any other purpose and not subject to flexibility
The department shall distribute funds using the current fiscal year one hundred thirty-five day Average Daily Membership
Compliance with the federal maintenance of efforts requirements of the IDEA must, to the extent practicable, be held harmless to budget cuts or reductions

20. Authorizes Boards to Sell or Lease School Property S. 10
A Joint Resolution allowing all districts to sell or lease property at any time they vote is necessary and are able to apply proceeds to the school fund of the district
Applies to school trustees that do not currently have the authority to do so, may sell or lease school property, real or personal, in the school district at any time they deem it expedient

21. 2013 Local Legislation Kershaw School District Board of Trustees S.379
Revises the specific election districts from which members of the board must be elected beginning with school trustees in 2014
School Board of Trustees of McCormick County S. 517
In the event of a vacancy on the board occurring for any reason outside of expiration of a term, the board must call a special election to fill the unexpired seat

22. Pending Education Bills
Note: Bills listed are currently on the House or Senate Calendar. Please see handout for a comprehensive list of bills filed, in the committee process and/or on the House or Senate Calendars
House Calendar (currently19 pages)
H Pickens County School Board (Continued)
H Common Core Standards (Adjourn Debate)
H School Safety Task Force (Contested Calendar)

23. Pending Education Bills cont’d
Senate Calendar (currently 45 pages)
S. 358 Jasper County School Board (Third Reading)
H Marlboro County School Board (Third Reading)
S. 666 Darlington County School Board (Second Reading Contested)
S. 798 Marlboro County School Board (Second Reading)
S. 53 Appointing State Superintendent of Education (Failed Third Reading)

24. Pending Education Bills cont’d
Senate Calendar cont’d
S. 211 Codification Act (Second Reading)
S. 313 Elimination of HSAP (Recommitted but Retained Its Place on Calendar)
S. 362 Instructional Resources/Textbooks/Digital Textbooks/Support Equipment (Second Reading/Minority Report)
H Exempt Districts/Schools from Charitable Funds Act (Second Reading)
S. 134 Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (Second Reading/Minority Report)

25. Pending Education Bills cont’d
Senate Calendar cont’d
H High School League (Second Reading/Minority Report)
H Transfer of Regional Education Centers to Department of Commerce (Second Reading/Minority Report)
H Charter School Alternative Education Campus (Second Reading)
H One Year Reauthorization of First Steps (Second Reading) reauthorized by budget proviso
S. 516 Read to Succeed Act (Second Reading)

26. Education Hot Topics for 2014
Reforming Tax Structure / Education Funding
Common Core 
Parent Triggers
Vouchers / Tuition Tax Credits
Reading Bills/Initiatives
4-K
Ethics Bills
First Steps
Appoint or Elect State Superintendent of Education
School Safety
Election Year 2014

27. Suggested Advocacy Action Items
Invite legislative delegation members to special back-to-school events and/or to a scheduled board meeting before the start of the 2014 Legislative Session.
Remember to inform them of our legislative priorities for 2014 and to thank them for the work they did on public education issues during the 2013 Legislative Session.)
Establish or review the board’s policy on advocacy. An example of updated advocacy policies can be viewed at
Appoint a Board Legislative Contact (BLC) for the 2014 legislative session. Please forward updated 2014 BLC information to me.
Update your local grassroots advocacy network roster and send members Legislative Session 2014 prep-information.

28. Questions / Comments

29. SCSBA Legislative & Advocacy Contacts
Duane Cooper – Legislative & Advocacy Coordinator;
Debbie Elmore – SCSBA Communications Director;
Scott Price – SCSBA General Counsel & Chief Lobbyist;