A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-29-80, RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND ALTERNATE EQUIVALENT INSTRUCTION, SO AS TO PROVIDE PARTICIPATION FOR ONE FULL SEASON ON HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS, LOCAL RECREATIONAL DEPARTMENT TEAMS, OR TEAMS SPONSORED BY NONPROFIT YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS MUST SATISFY THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSEWORK REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 59-29-80 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    (C) In addition to the provisions of subsection (A), if a student participates for one full season on an interscholastic sports team; a local government recreational department, commission, or authority; or a sports team sponsored by a nonprofit youth sports organization for one full season, this participation must be considered to be the equivalent of required physical education instruction and must be accepted in lieu of such instruction for all purposes, academic or nonacademic, to satisfy the physical education requirement for high school graduation. For purposes of this subsection, "nonprofit youth sports organization" means an organization that is exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and is primarily engaged in conducting amateur organized sports programs for persons under twenty-one years of age.

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

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