reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 151 - South Carolina Lightrail Consortium › Section 59-151-180. Applicability of state law.

The South Carolina LightRail Consortium is considered a public body and as such is subject to all provisions of state law, including the Freedom of Information Act and state procurement requirements but is exempt from the planning, oversight, and project management regulations of the State Chief Information Officer. The board of the LightRail Consortium each year by February first shall submit to the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee a report specifically identifying each entity with access to the network, the number of persons within each such entity with access to the network, and a brief description of the formal documented partnership in which the persons are involved, and any payment, including without limitations, in-kind payment, that each such organization and entity is making for access to the network.
HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 330, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on June 17, 2008).
Editor's Note
2012 Act No. 284, Section 11, provides as follows:
"The provisions of this act do not expand, diminish, or otherwise affect the provisions of Chapter 151, Title 59 regarding the South Carolina LightRail Consortium"
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-10. First Steps to School Readiness initiative established; permanent enactment.

(A) There is established the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness, a comprehensive, results-oriented initiative for improving early childhood development by providing, through local partnerships, public and private funds, and support for high-quality early childhood development and education services for children by providing support for their families' efforts toward enabling their children to reach school ready to succeed.
(B) The provisions of the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as enacted by Act 99 of 1999, and as subsequently amended, and this chapter are permanently enacted, and future reauthorization is not necessary.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 99, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 6, eff June 18, 2014; 2023 Act No. 81 (H.4023), Section 9, eff June 19, 2023.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 287, Section 6, inserted "the" following "established", substituted "local partnerships" for "county partnerships", inserted a comma following "private funds" and substituted "ready to succeed" for "ready to learn".
2023 Act No. 81, Section 9, inserted the (A) designator, and added (B).
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-20. Purpose.

The purpose of the First Steps initiative is to develop, promote, and assist efforts of agencies, private providers, and public and private organizations and entities, at the state level and the community level, to collaborate and cooperate in order to focus and intensify services, assure the most efficient use of all available resources, and eliminate duplication of efforts to serve the needs of young children and their families. First Steps funds must not be used to supplant or replace any other funds being spent on services but must be used to expand, extend, improve, or increase access to services or to enable a community to begin to offer new or previously unavailable services in their community. The South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees, Office of First Steps to School Readiness, and the local First Steps Partnerships shall ensure that collaborations, the existence and continued development of partnerships, and the sharing and maximizing of resources occur so that the funding of grants and services, as provided in this chapter, may continue.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 99, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 7, eff June 18, 2014.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 287, Section 7, in the last sentence, substituted "local First Steps Partnerships" for "County First Steps Partnerships", substituted "shall ensure that collaborations, the existence and continued development" for "shall assure that collaboration, the development", and substituted "resources occur so that the funding of grants and services, as provided in this chapter, may continue" for "resources are occurring before funding for the implementation/management grants, as provided for in this chapter, are made available".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-25. Definitions.

For the purposes of this title:
(A) "Evidence-based program" means a program based on a clear and consistent program model that is designated as such by the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees because the program:
(1)(a) is grounded in published, peer-reviewed research that is linked to determined outcomes;
(b) employs well-trained and competent staff to whom the program provides continual professional development that is relevant to the specific model being delivered;
(c) demonstrates strong linkages to other community-based services; and
(d) is operated to ensure program fidelity; or
(2) is commonly recognized by experts in the field as such a program.
(B) "Board of trustees" or "board" means the First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees pursuant to Article 17, Title 63.
(C) "Evidence-informed program" means a program that does not satisfy the criteria of an evidenced-based program model but that the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees determines is supported by research indicating its potential effectiveness.
(D) "Partnership" refers to a local First Steps organization designated as such by the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees, organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as a nonprofit corporation, and formed to further, within the coverage area, the purpose and goals of the First Steps initiative as stated in Sections 59-152-20 and 59-152-30.
(E) "Preschool child" means a child from the prenatal stage to entry into five-year-old kindergarten.
(F) "Prevalent program investment" means a program administered by a partnership and funded with state grant money, which accounts for at least ten percent of total programmatic spending in First Steps.
(G) "School readiness" means the level of child development necessary to ensure early school success as measured in the following domains: physical health and motor skills; emotional and social competence; language and literacy development; and mathematical thinking and cognitive skills. School readiness is supported by the knowledge and practices of families, caregivers, healthcare providers, educators, and communities.
HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 1, eff June 18, 2014.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-30. Goals.

The goals for South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness are to:
(1) provide parents with access to the support they might seek and want to strengthen their families and to promote the optimal development of their preschool children;
(2) increase comprehensive services so children have reduced risk for major physical, developmental, and learning problems;
(3) promote high-quality preschool programs that provide a healthy environment that will promote normal growth and development;
(4) provide services so all children receive the protection, nutrition, and health care needed to thrive in the early years of life so they arrive at school ready to succeed; and
(5) mobilize communities to focus efforts on providing enhanced services to support families and their young children so as to enable every child to reach school healthy and ready to succeed.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 99, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 8, eff June 18, 2014.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 287, Section 8, in paragraph (3), substituted "high-quality" for "high quality", and in paragraphs (4) and (5), substituted "ready to succeed" for "ready to learn".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-32. Comprehensive long-range initiative.

(A) In Section 63-11-1720, the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees may carry out its assigned functions by developing a comprehensive long-range initiative for improving early childhood development, increasing school readiness and literacy, establishing results-oriented measures and objectives, and assessing whether services provided by First Steps Partnerships to children and families are meeting the goals and achieving the results established in this chapter. The board shall do the following to fulfill these duties before July 1, 2015:
(1) in consultation with the State Board of Education, and with the advice and consent of that board, adopt a description of school readiness that includes specific:
(a) characteristics and development levels of a ready child that must include, but are not limited to, emerging literacy, numeracy, and physical, social, and emotional competencies;
(b) characteristics of school, educators, and caregivers that the board considers necessary to create an optimal learning environment for the early years of students' lives; and
(c) characteristics of the optimal environment which would lead to the readiness of students and their continued success;
(2) establish specific benchmarks and objectives for use by the board of trustees, local partnership boards, and any agency that administers a program to benefit preschool children. The benchmarks and objectives must be approved by the board and posted on the website of the Office of First Steps;
(3) determine whether state and local programs and activities are effective and contribute to achieving the goals established in Section 59-152-30; and
(4) publish and distribute a list of approved evidence-based and evidence-informed programs.
(B) The board of trustees shall review the school readiness description, benchmarks, and objectives and adopt any revisions it considers appropriate before December 31, 2014, again before December 31, 2019, and every five years afterward.
HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 2, eff June 18, 2014; 2018 Act No. 152 (H.3591), Section 1, eff April 12, 2018.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2018 Act No. 152, Section 1, in (A)(2), added the second sentence.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-40. Board of Trustees to oversee initiative.

The South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees established in Section 63-11-1720 shall oversee and be accountable for the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness initiative.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 99, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 9, eff June 18, 2014.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 287, Section 9, inserted "and be accountable for".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-100. Local partnership boards; use of grant funding.

(A) Grant funds expended by First Steps partnerships must be used to address the needs of young children and their families as identified in the partnerships' comprehensive plans. The funds must be used to expand, extend, or improve the quality of provided services if there is evidence as to existing programs' effectiveness; offer new or previously unavailable services in the area; or increase access to services. Partnership grant funds may not supplant comparable current expenditures by counties or state agencies on behalf of young children and their families, and may not be used where other state or federal funding sources are available. Partnerships are expected to collaborate with other community organizations or entities expending funds on early childhood services designed to impact school readiness in order to maximize impact and minimize duplication of efforts.
(B) At least seventy-five percent of state funds appropriated for programs must be used by the local partnership for evidence-based programs. Not more than twenty-five percent of state funds appropriated for programs to a local partnership may be used for evidence-informed programs.
(C) All activities and services provided by a local partnership must be made available to young children and families on a voluntary basis and must focus solely on "school readiness" as defined in Section 59-152-25 by implementing programs geared specifically toward the achievement of First Steps goals pursuant to Section 59-152-30.
(D) Any part of the initiative within the county strategic plan using local district resources within a school district must be conducted only with approval of the district's board of trustees.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 99, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 14, eff June 18, 2014.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 287, Section 14, rewrote the section.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-120. Local partnerships; funding use restrictions.

Funds received by a local partnership may not be used for capital expenses, new construction, or to renovate, refurbish, or upgrade existing facilities without prior approval by the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 99, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 15, eff June 18, 2014.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 287, Section 15, rewrote the section.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-130. Matching funds.

(A) Local partnerships shall provide an annual match of at least fifteen percent, to include private donations, grant funds, and in-kind donated resources, or any combination of them. The South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees may decrease this percentage requirement for a partnership based on their capacity to provide that match. The First Step partnership shall encourage private individuals and groups to contribute to a partnership's efforts to meet its match. The match required of individual partnerships by the First Steps board should take into consideration such factors as:
(1) local wealth, using such indicators as the number and percentage of children eligible for free and reduced lunches in grades 1-3; and
(2) in-kind donated resources.
Only in-kind donations, as defined by the standard fiscal accountability system provided for in Section 59-152-150, which meet the criteria established by the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees and that are quantifiable may be applied to the in-kind match requirement.
(B) The Office of South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness shall establish guidelines and reporting formats for partnerships to document expenses to ensure they meet matching fund requirements. The office shall compile a report annually on the private cash and in-kind contributions received by the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees and First Steps partnerships.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 99, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 16, eff June 18, 2014.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 287, Section 15, rewrote the section.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 152 - South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness › Section 59-152-140. Carrying funds forward into subsequent years.

To ensure effective use of funds, awards under contract for First Steps Partnerships, with the approval of the Office of First Steps to School Readiness, may be carried forward and used in the following fiscal year. Funds appropriated to South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness may also be carried forward into subsequent years.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 99, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 287 (H.3428), Section 17, eff June 18, 2014.
Editor's Note
2018 Act No. 152, Section 8, provides as follows:
"SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 287, Section 17, deleted "County" before "First Steps Partnerships".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-10. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
(1) "Agent" means the State Treasurer.
(2) "Assets" means all funds, investments, and similar property owned by the respective state institutions of higher learning and in the custody of the Agent.
(3) "Beneficiary" means an institution of higher learning which may receive a benefit under the program.
(4) "Board" means the Board of Trustees of the respective institution of higher learning acting as trustee of the endowment system.
(5) "Fiduciary" means a person who:
(a) exercises any authority to invest or manage assets of a system;
(b) provides investment advice for a fee or other direct or indirect compensation with respect to assets of a system or has any authority or responsibility to do so; or
(c) is a member of the board of trustees of the respective institution when it acts as trustee for the endowment system.
(6) "Panel" means the State Retirement Systems Investment Panel established pursuant to Section 9-16-310.
(7) "Endowment funds" means those funds donated to the respective individual state-supported institutions of higher learning of the State of South Carolina, which are held and invested by the State Treasurer on behalf of the institutions. The endowment of each institution is separate and cannot be commingled, except under those circumstances where it can be invested in liquid assets as approved by the appropriate trustees.
(8) "Trustee" means the board of trustees of the respective institutions of higher learning.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
Editor's Note
Section 9-16-310, referenced in item (6), was repealed by 2012 Act No. 278.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-20. Funds and assets held in trust; trustee; investments.

(A) All endowment funds and assets purchased with them are held in trust. The board of trustees of each institution of higher learning is the trustee of all endowment funds held in the name of that institution by the State Treasurer. The trustee has the exclusive authority to invest and manage those funds and assets and may invest and reinvest the funds, subject to all the terms, conditions, limitations, and restrictions imposed by Article 7, Chapter 9, Title 11, upon the investment of sinking funds of the State, and, subject to like terms, conditions, limitations, and restrictions, may hold, purchase, sell, assign, transfer, and dispose of any of the securities and investments in which the endowment funds have been invested, plus the proceeds of these investments and any monies belonging to these funds. Additionally, the trustee may invest and reinvest its endowment funds in equity securities of a corporation within the United States that is registered on a national securities exchange as provided in the Securities Exchange Act, 1934, or a successor act, or quoted through the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotations System, or a similar service.
(B) If endowment funds are invested in a security issued by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Section 80 a-1, et seq.), the assets of the system include the security, but not assets of the investment company.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-30. Delegation of functions by trustee.

(A) The trustee may delegate functions including, but not limited to, day-to-day investment decisions that a prudent trustee acting in a like capacity and familiar with those matters could delegate properly under the circumstances.
(B) The trustee shall exercise reasonable care, skill, and caution in periodically reviewing the agent's performance and compliance with the terms of the delegation.
(C) In performing a delegated function, an agent owes a duty to the endowment and to its beneficiaries to comply with the terms of the delegation and, if a fiduciary, to comply with the duties imposed by Section 59-153-40.
(D) A trustee who complies with subsections (A) and (B) is not liable to the endowment or to its beneficiary for the decisions or actions of the agent to whom the function was delegated.
(E) By accepting the delegation of a function from the trustee, an agent submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State.
(F) A trustee may limit the authority of an agent to delegate functions under this section.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-40. Standards for discharge of duties by trustee or other fiduciary.

A trustee or other fiduciary shall discharge duties with respect to an endowment fund:
(1) solely in the interest of the endowment fund and beneficiaries;
(2) for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to his beneficiary and paying reasonable expenses of administering the system;
(3) with the care, skill, and caution under the circumstances then prevailing which a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with those matters would use in the conduct of an activity of like character and purpose;
(4) impartially, taking into account any differing interests of beneficiaries;
(5) incurring only those costs that are appropriate and reasonable; and
(6) in accordance with a good faith interpretation of this chapter.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-50. Investing and managing assets; objectives and policies.

(A) In investing and managing assets of an endowment fund pursuant to Section 59-153-40, the trustee:
(1) shall consider among other circumstances:
(a) general economic conditions;
(b) the possible effect of inflation or deflation;
(c) the role that each investment or course of action plays within the overall portfolio of the endowment funds;
(d) needs for liquidity, regularity of income, and preservation or appreciation of capital; and
(e) the adequacy of funding for the plan based on the university's spending policy;
(2) shall diversify the investments of the endowment funds unless the trustee reasonably determines that, because of special circumstances, it is clearly prudent not to do so;
(3) shall make a reasonable effort to verify facts relevant to the investment and management of assets of an endowment fund;
(4) may invest in any kind of property or type of investment consistent with this chapter and Article 7, Chapter 9, Title 11;
(5) may consider benefits created by an investment in addition to investment return only if the trustee determines that the investment providing these collateral benefits would be prudent even without the collateral benefits.
(B) Each trustee shall adopt a statement of investment objectives and policies for its portion of the endowment fund. The statement must include the desired rate of return on assets overall, the desired rates of return and acceptable levels of risk for each asset class, asset-allocation goals, guidelines for the delegation of authority, and information on the types of reports to be used to evaluate investment performance. At least annually, the trustee shall review the statement and change or reaffirm it. The relevant portion of this statement may constitute parts of the annual investment plan required pursuant to Section 59-153-330.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-60. Compliance by trustee or fiduciary.

(A) Compliance by the trustee or other fiduciary with Sections 59-153-30, 59-153-40, and 59-153-50 must be determined in light of the facts and circumstances existing at the time of the trustee's or fiduciary's decision or action and not by hindsight.
(B) The trustee's investment and management decisions must be evaluated not in isolation but in the context of the trust portfolio as a whole and as a part of an overall investment strategy having risk and return objectives reasonably suited to the endowment system.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-70. Breach of duty; liability; insurance.

(A) The trustee or other fiduciary who breaches a duty imposed by this chapter is liable personally to the endowment fund for any losses resulting from the breach and any profits resulting from the breach or made by the trustee or other fiduciary through use of assets of the fund by the trustee or other fiduciary. The trustee or other fiduciary is subject to other equitable remedies as the court considers appropriate, including removal.
(B) An agreement that purports to limit the liability of a trustee or other fiduciary for a breach of duty under this chapter is void.
(C) The endowment fund may insure a trustee, fiduciary, or itself against liability or losses occurring because of a breach of duty under this chapter.
(D) A trustee or other fiduciary may insure against personal liability or losses occurring because of a breach of duty under this chapter if the insurance is purchased or provided by the individual trustee or fiduciary, but a fiduciary who obtains insurance pursuant to this chapter must disclose all terms, conditions, and other information relating to the insurance policy to the endowment fund.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-80. Meetings in executive session, records exempt from disclosure where necessary.

(A) Meetings by the board while acting as trustee of the endowment fund or by its fiduciary agents to deliberate about, or make tentative or final decisions on, investments or other financial matters may be in executive session if disclosure of the deliberations or decisions would jeopardize the ability to implement a decision or to achieve investment objectives.
(B) A record of the board or of its fiduciary agents that discloses deliberations about, or a tentative or final decision on, investments or other financial matters is exempt from the disclosure requirements of Chapter 4 of Title 30, the Freedom of Information Act, to the extent and so long as its disclosure would jeopardize the ability to implement an investment decision or program or to achieve investment objectives.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-90. Investment reports.

(A) The trustee shall place investment reports at least semi-annually during the fiscal year in the institution's minutes and shall provide copies of the investment reports upon request.
(B) In addition to the semi-annual reports provided in subsection (A), the trustees shall place in its minutes an annual report of the investment status of the endowment fund. The report must contain:
(1) a description of a material interest held by a trustee, fiduciary, or an employee who is a fiduciary with respect to the investment and management of assets of the fund, or by a related person, in a material transaction with the fund within the last three years or proposed to be effected;
(2) a schedule of the rates of return, net of total investment expense, on assets of the fund overall and on assets aggregated by category over the most recent one-year, three-year, five-year, and ten-year periods, to the extent available, and the rates of return on appropriate benchmarks for assets of the fund overall and for each category over each period;
(3) a schedule of the sum of total investment expense and total general administrative expense for the fiscal year expressed as a percentage of the fair value of assets of the fund on the last day of the fiscal year, and an equivalent percentage for the preceding five fiscal years; and
(4) a schedule of all assets held for investment purposes on the last day of the fiscal year aggregated and identified by issuer, borrower, lessor, or similar party to the transaction stating, if relevant, the asset's maturity date, rate of interest, par or maturity value, number of shares, costs, and fair value and identifying an asset that is in default or classified as uncollectible.
(C) These disclosure requirements are cumulative to and do not replace other reporting requirements provided by law.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-310. State Retirement Systems Investment Panel.

The State Retirement Systems Investment Panel has been created and functions pursuant to Sections 9-16-310 and 9-16-320.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
Editor's Note
Section 9-16-310, referenced in the text, was repealed by 2012 Act No. 278.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-320. Proposal for annual investment plan.

(A) The panel shall develop and adopt an annual investment plan for proposal to each trustee for the next fiscal year. No later than June first of each year, the panel shall submit the proposed plans to the respective trustees. Amendments may be made to a plan by the panel during the fiscal year with the approval of the trustee.
(B) The panel shall meet at least once during each fiscal year quarter for the purposes of reviewing the performance of investments, assessing compliance with the annual investment plan, and determining whether to recommend amendments to the plan by the trustee. The panel shall meet at other times as are set by the panel or chairman or requested by the trustee.
(C) The panel may discuss, deliberate on, and make decisions on a portion of the annual investment plan or relate financial or investment matters in executive session if their disclosure would jeopardize the ability to implement that portion of the plan or achieve investment objectives.
(D) A record of the panel or of the trustee or of the trustee's agent that discloses discussions, deliberations, or decisions on portions of the annual investment plan or other related financial or investment matters is not a public record under Section 30-4-20 to the extent and so long as its disclosure would jeopardize the ability to implement that portion of the plan or achieve investment objectives.
(E) The costs of administering the duties of the panel as performed for endowment investments must be paid pro rata, considering the amount of time spent on its duties for each of the various trustees, from the investment earnings of the respective endowment funds.
(F) The panel does not act as a fiduciary with respect to the respective endowment funds, but must exercise reasonable care and skill in carrying out its duties.
(G) The panel may retain independent advisors to assist it and periodically shall provide for an outside evaluation of the investment strategy of the trustee.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-330. Statement of policy and objectives.

(A) The trustee shall provide the panel with a statement of the spending policy and general investment objectives. The trustee shall review the statement annually for the purpose of affirming it or changing it and advise the panel of its actions.
(B) The annual investment plan must be consistent with the actions taken by the trustee pursuant to subsection (A) and must include, but is not limited to, the following components:
(1) general operational and investment policies;
(2) investment objectives and performance standards;
(3) investment strategies, which may include indexed or enhanced indexed strategies as the preferred or exclusive strategies for equity investing, and an explanation of the reasons for the selection of each strategy;
(4) industry sector, market sector, issuer, and other allocations of assets that provide diversification in accordance with prudent investment standards, including desired rates of return and acceptable levels of risks for each asset class;
(5) policies and procedures providing flexibility in responding to market contingencies;
(6) procedures and policies for selecting, monitoring, compensating, and terminating investment consultants, equity investment managers, and other necessary professional service providers; and
(7) methods for managing the costs of the investment activities.
(C) In developing the annual investment plan, the panel shall:
(1) diversify the investments of the endowment funds, unless the panel reasonably determines that, because of special circumstances, it is clearly not prudent to do so; and
(2) make a reasonable effort to verify facts relevant to the investment of assets of the endowment funds.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 153 - Endowment Funds › Section 59-153-340. Duties of trustee; State Treasurer as agent; adoption of annual investment plan.

(A) The trustee of the endowment fund shall invest and reinvest the assets of the endowment funds as provided for in this chapter and as authorized in Article 7, Chapter 9, Title 11. The State Treasurer shall serve as the agent of the board with respect to all such investments. Investments allowed by law in equities may be made by the board in the manner it shall determine, consistent with this chapter and consistent with its fiduciary duties with respect to the endowment funds. The agent may employ or retain administrators, agents, consultants, or other advisors it considers necessary with respect to making equity investments.
(B) After receiving the proposed plan of the panel, the trustee shall adopt an annual investment plan, which must be implemented by the State Treasurer. The board shall review regularly the plan implementation and make amendments as it considers appropriate.
(C) The adopted plan must provide that:
(1) the minimum and maximum portions of fund assets allocated to equity investments on an ongoing basis may be determined by the trustees;
(2) preference may be given to brokerage firms domiciled in this State for conducting nondiscretionary brokerage transactions if these brokerage firms are able to meet the test of equal service and best execution in the purchase and sale of authorized investments.
(D) The provisions of this section are cumulative to, and not instead of, any other provisions of law applicable to the panel and its members in the performance of official duties including, but not limited to, Chapter 13 of Title 8.
HISTORY: 1999 Act No. 122, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 154 - Jessica Horton Act › Section 59-154-10. Cooperation between campus police and State Law Enforcement Division in campus death and criminal sexual assault cases.

(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Institution of higher learning" or " institution" means a public two-year or four-year college, community or junior college, technical school, or university located in this State, and also any private two-year or four-year college, community or junior college, technical school, or university located in this State.
(2) "Property of the institution" means a building or property:
(a) owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the institution's educational purposes;
(b) owned or controlled by a student organization recognized by the institution including, but not limited to, fraternity, sorority, and cooperative houses; or
(c) controlled by the institution but owned by a third party.
(B) The chief of the campus police of an institution of higher learning, or his designee, immediately shall notify the State Law Enforcement Division if there is a death resulting from an incident occurring on the property of the institution or if the officer or another official of the institution is in receipt of a report alleging that an act of criminal sexual conduct has occurred on the property of the institution.
(C) Upon notification, the State Law Enforcement Division shall participate in a joint investigation of the death or alleged act of criminal sexual conduct. In the case of a death, the State Law Enforcement Division shall lead the investigation. In the case of an alleged act of criminal sexual conduct, the campus police shall lead the investigation.
(D) The campus police and other employees of the institution of higher learning shall cooperate with an investigation conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division.
HISTORY: 2007 Act No. 53, Section 2, eff June 6, 2007.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 155 - South Carolina Read To Succeed Act › Section 59-155-110. South Carolina Read to Succeed Office.

There is established within the South Carolina Department of Education the South Carolina Read to Succeed Office to implement a comprehensive, systemic approach to reading which will ensure that:
(1) classroom teachers use evidence-based reading instruction in prekindergarten through grade twelve, to include oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; administer and interpret valid and reliable assessments; analyze data to inform reading instruction; and provide evidence-based interventions as needed so that all students develop proficiency with literacy skills and comprehension;
(2) classroom teachers periodically reassess their curriculum and instruction to determine if they are helping each student progress as a proficient reader and make modifications as appropriate;
(3) each student who cannot yet comprehend grade-level text is identified and served as early as possible and at all stages of his or her educational process;
(4) each student receives targeted, effective, comprehension support from the classroom teacher and, if needed, supplemental support from a reading interventionist so that ultimately all students can comprehend grade-level texts;
(5) each student and his parent or guardian is continuously informed in writing of:
(a) the student's reading proficiency needs, progress, and ability to comprehend and write grade-level texts;
(b) specific actions the classroom teacher and other reading professionals have taken and will take to help the student comprehend and write grade-level texts; and
(c) specific actions that the parent or guardian can take to help the student comprehend grade-level texts by providing access to books, assuring time for the student to read independently, reading to students, and talking with the student about books;
(6) classroom teachers receive pre-service and in-service coursework which prepares them to help all students comprehend grade-level texts;
(7) all students develop reading and writing proficiency to prepare them to graduate and to succeed in their career and post-secondary education; and
(8) each school district publishes annually a comprehensive research-based reading plan that includes intervention options available to students and funding for these services.
HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 284 (S.516), Section 1, eff June 11, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 155 - South Carolina Read To Succeed Act › Section 59-155-130. Duties of Office.

The Read to Succeed Office must guide and support districts and collaborate with university teacher training programs to increase reading proficiency through the following functions, including, but not limited to:
(1) providing professional development to teachers, school principals, and other administrative staff on reading and writing instruction and reading assessment that informs instruction;
(2) providing professional development to teachers, school principals, and other administrative staff on reading and writing in content areas;
(3) working collaboratively with institutions of higher learning offering courses in reading and writing and those institutions of higher education offering accredited master's degrees in reading-literacy to design coursework leading to a literacy teacher add-on endorsement by the State;
(4) providing professional development in reading and coaching for already certified reading/literacy coaches and literacy teachers;
(5) developing information and resources that school districts can use to provide workshops for parents about how they can support their children as readers and writers;
(6) assisting school districts in the development and implementation of their district reading proficiency plans for research-based reading instruction programs and assisting each of their schools to develop its own implementation plan aligned with the district and state plans;
(7) annually designing content and questions for and review and approve the reading proficiency plan of each district;
(8) monitor and report to the State Board of Education the yearly success rate of summer reading camps. Districts must provide statistical data to include the:
(a) number of students enrolled in camps;
(b) number of students by grade level who successfully complete the camps;
(c) number of third-graders promoted to fourth grade;
(d) number of third-graders retained; and
(e) total expenditure made on operating the camps by source of funds to include in-kind donations; and
(9) provide an annual report to the General Assembly regarding the implementation of the South Carolina Read to Succeed Act and the State and the district's progress toward ensuring that at least ninety-five percent of all students are reading at grade level.
HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 284 (S.516), Section 1, eff June 11, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 155 - South Carolina Read To Succeed Act › Section 59-155-170. Reading comprehension of print and nonprint texts authentic to content area.

(A) To help students develop and apply their reading and writing skills across the school day in all the academic disciplines, including, but not limited to, English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, career and technology education, and physical and health education, teachers of these content areas at all grade levels must focus on helping students comprehend print and nonprint texts authentic to the content area. The Read to Succeed Program is intended to institutionalize in the public schools a comprehensive system to promote high achievement in the content areas described in this chapter through extensive reading and writing. Research-based practices must be employed to promote comprehension skills through, but not limited to:
(1) vocabulary;
(2) connotation of words;
(3) connotations of words in context with adjoining or prior text;
(4) concepts from prior text;
(5) personal background knowledge;
(6) ability to interpret meaning through sentence structure features;
(7) questioning;
(8) visualization; and
(9) discussion of text with peers.
(B) These practices must be mastered by teachers through high-quality training and addressed through well-designed and effectively executed assessment and instruction implemented with fidelity to research-based instructional practices presented in the state, district, and school reading plans. All teachers, administrators, and support staff must be trained adequately in reading comprehension in order to perform effectively their roles enabling each student to become proficient in content area reading and writing.
(C) During Fiscal Year 2014-2015, the Read to Succeed Office shall establish a set of essential competencies that describe what certified teachers at the early childhood, elementary, middle or secondary levels must know and be able to do so that all students can comprehend grade-level texts. These competencies, developed collaboratively with the faculty of higher education institutions and based on research and national standards, must then be incorporated into the coursework required by Section 59-155-180. The Read to Succeed Office, in collaboration with South Carolina Educational Television, shall provide professional development courses to ensure that educators have access to multiple avenues of receiving endorsements.
HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 284 (S.516), Section 1, eff June 11, 2014.