Bill Text: SC S0517 | 2021-2022 | 124th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Education: COVID leave
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-03 - Referred to Committee on Education [S0517 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2021-S0517-Introduced.html
A JOINT RESOLUTION
TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OFFERING FIVE-DAY, FULL-TIME, IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION SHALL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL FIFTEEN DAYS OF LEAVE THAT SCHOOL-BASED EMPLOYEES MAY USE FOR COVID-19-RELATED ILLNESS OR QUARANTINE, TO PROVIDE DISTRICTS SHALL PURCHASE SUCH UNUSED LEAVE IN VARYING AMOUNTS DEPENDING ON WHEN THE DISTRICT RESUMED FIVE-DAY, FULL-TIME, IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, AND TO MAKE THESE PROVISIONS EXPIRE JULY 1, 2021.
Whereas, the State of South Carolina and the nation are in a state of crisis due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic; and
Whereas, the state of our K-12 education is in crisis as a result of this pandemic, and the children of South Carolina are bearing the burden of that crisis; and
Whereas, $515.8 million dollars in funds have been allocated to K-12 education through the Department of Education; and
Whereas, an additional $98.2 million dollars in funds were allocated to K-12 education through the Department of Administration and the Office of Regulatory Staff; and
Whereas, an additional $846 million dollars in funds will flow directly to local school districts from federal dollars to address COVID-19-related issues in K-12. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) Each school district that resumes five-day, full-time, in-person instruction shall provide an additional fifteen days of leave time to each school-based employee for COVID-19-related illness or quarantine.
(B) Each school district that resumes five-day, full-time, in-person instruction before February 1, 2021, and continues uninterrupted in-person instruction until the end of the school year shall purchase one hundred percent of any unused leave per instructional employee.
(C) Each school district that resumes five-day, full-time, in-person instruction before March 1, 2021, and continues uninterrupted in-person instruction until the end of the school year shall purchase seventy-five percent of any unused leave per instructional employee.
(D) Each school district that resumes five-day, full-time, in-person instruction before April 1, 2021, and continues uninterrupted in-person instruction until the end of the school year shall purchase fifty percent of any unused leave per instructional employee.
SECTION 2. The provisions of this joint resolution expire July 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval of the Governor.
