reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 65 - Attendance Of Pupils › Section 59-65-270. Procurement of books, clothing, and shoes for nonattending children.

In the event that any nonattending children reported to the attendance supervisor shall be unable to procure books, that fact shall be reported to the trustees and county superintendent of education, and steps shall be taken immediately to provide the necessary books and working material. In the event that such nonattending children shall not have suitable clothing or shoes, and the parents or guardians of such children are financially unable to provide the same, such condition shall be reported by the attendance supervisor to the social and civic organizations of such county for such action in the premises as to such social and civic organizations shall seem meet and proper.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-767; 1955 (49) 78; 1961 (52) 617.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 65 - Attendance Of Pupils › Section 59-65-280. Acceptance of cash, clothing, shoes, books, and similar articles from organizations and county or community agencies.

The attendance supervisor shall accept and receive from the social or civic organizations and agencies of the county or community all cash, clothes, shoes, books, materials and similar articles as may be provided, and shall supply them to the nonattending school children of the county who are unable or whose parents or guardians are unable financially to provide such articles.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-768; 1955 (49) 78; 1961 (52) 617.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 65 - Attendance Of Pupils › Section 59-65-470. Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School to have access to list of dropouts.

To enable the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School to inform dropouts of the school's academic and vocational training programs, the school is authorized to contact the attendance supervisors or principals at the various high schools or school districts of this State at reasonable intervals for the purpose of receiving access to the names and addresses of students reported by the supervisors and principals to be dropouts, and the attendance supervisors and principals must supply this information to the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School.
HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 194, Section 5.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 66 - School Safety Coordinators › Section 59-66-20. School safety coordinator grant program; funding; requirements.

(A) The General Assembly annually shall provide funds in the general appropriations act to be awarded to school districts which choose to employ safety coordinators in accordance with this section. State funds may be awarded for not more than one safety coordinator for each county. The amount of the award for a county for fiscal year 1995-96 may not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars, except for counties which are designated as economically distressed pursuant to Section 41-43-180. Economically distressed counties participating in the program shall receive additional state funds for fiscal year 1995-96 in the amount of five thousand five hundred dollars. The amount which may be awarded for a county, including the additional state funds for economically distressed counties, must be increased each fiscal year after 1995-96 by the same percentage as the average teacher salary.
(B) An award of state funds to school districts under this program is contingent upon a district or group of districts jointly matching the state grant with an equal amount of funds and in-kind contributions; however, school districts located primarily within an economically distressed county are not required to match any portion of the state grant. Additionally, funds only may be awarded where the duties of the safety coordinator relate exclusively to school and district safety functions. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the safety coordinator have a strong background in law enforcement, safety matters, or coordination of relevant services.
(C) If a county consists of more than one school district, any or all school districts within the county may apply jointly for funds for a safety coordinator. Each participating school district must provide a portion of the local matching funds based upon the relationship the district's student membership bears to the total student membership of all participating districts within the county. Nonparticipating school districts in multi-district counties may begin participation in the program by contributing to the local match in the same manner as those school districts originally participating in the program.
(D) When more than one school district in a multi-district county is provided funds under this section, the safety coordinator must be an employee of the school district with the largest student membership during the immediately preceding school year, unless the participating school districts have a memorandum of agreement providing otherwise; however, the safety coordinator must provide services to all participating school districts.
(E) For purposes of this section, "student membership" means the cumulative one hundred thirty-five day average daily membership during the immediately preceding school year.
(F) The State Board of Education, through the State Department of Education, shall develop and implement regulations establishing the safety coordinator grant program.
HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 7, Part IV, Section 67.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 66 - School Safety Coordinators › Section 59-66-30. Public middle schools and high schools to be equipped with metal detector; training; regulations.

(A) Using funds appropriated by the General Assembly, each public middle, junior high, and high school in the State must be equipped with one hand-held metal detector.
(B) In consultation and cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General and the State Law Enforcement Division, the State Department of Education shall provide training in the use of hand-held metal detectors to school officials who shall use the equipment.
(C) The State Board of Education, through the State Department of Education, shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.
HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 7, Part IV, Section 68.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 66 - School Safety Coordinators › Section 59-66-40. School safety task force; reporting requirement; termination.

(A)(1) There is created a school safety task force to:
(a) examine the various funding streams for school-based mental health services and determine how these streams may best be utilized in order to provide more accessible and efficient delivery of mental health programs;
(b) examine school mental health staffing ratios and provide suggestions that allow for the full delivery of services and effective school-community partnerships, including collaboration between school districts;
(c) develop standards for district level policies to promote effective school discipline and mental health intervention services;
(d) examine current intra- and interagency collaboration and suggest ways to improve cooperation; and
(e) examine how to best support multitiered systems of support.
(2) Any recommendations made by the task force must be revenue neutral.
(3) The task force shall report its findings and make recommendations concerning proposed changes to the General Assembly.
(B) The task force must be composed of:
(1) one member appointed by the South Carolina Association of Licensed Professional Counselors;
(2) one member appointed by the South Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work;
(3) one member appointed by the South Carolina Education Association;
(4) one member appointed by the Palmetto State Teachers Association;
(5) one member appointed by the South Carolina School Counselor Association;
(6) one member appointed by the South Carolina Association of School Psychologists;
(7) one member appointed by the South Carolina Association of School Social Workers;
(8) one member appointed by the South Carolina Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;
(9) one member appointed by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators;
(10) one member appointed by the South Carolina School Boards Association;
(11) one member appointed by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health;
(12) one member appointed by the South Carolina Association of School Resource Officers;
(13) one member appointed by the Chief of the State Law Enforcement Division;
(14) one member appointed by the Governor;
(15) one member appointed by the State Superintendent of Education;
(16) two members appointed by the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee; and
(17) two members appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
(C) Vacancies in the membership of the task force must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner of original appointment.
(D) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation and may not receive mileage or per diem.
(E) The staffing for the task force must be provided by the staff of the House Education and Public Works Committee and Senate Education Committee.
(F) The task force shall make a report of its recommendations to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2014, at which time the task force must be dissolved.
HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 252 (H.3365), Section 1, eff June 6, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-10. "School bus" defined.

When used in this article, "school bus" shall be construed to mean every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency and operated for the transportation of children to or from school or privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-791; 1952 Code Section 21-791; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-20. Regulations of State Board of Education governing design and operation of school buses.

The State Board of Education, by and with the advice of the Department of Public Safety, shall adopt and enforce regulations not inconsistent with Chapter 5 of Title 56 to govern the design and operation of all school buses used for the transportation of school children when owned and operated by any school district or privately owned and operated under contract with any school district in this State and such regulations shall by reference be made a part of any such contract with a school district. Every school district, its officers and employees, and every person employed under contract by a school district shall be subject to such regulations. Any officer or employee of any school district who violates any of such regulations or fails to include the obligation to comply with such regulations in any contract executed by him on behalf of a school district shall be guilty of misconduct and subject to removal from office or employment. Any person operating a school bus under contract with a school district who fails to comply with any such regulations shall be guilty of breach of contract and such contract shall be canceled after notice and hearing by the responsible officers of such school district.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-792; 1952 Code Section 21-792; 1949 (46) 466; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1575.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-30. Painting and markings of school buses.

Every State-owned school bus while being used in the transportation of school pupils shall be substantially painted with high visibility yellow paint, conforming and similar to National School Bus chrome yellow, and shall display the following markings:
(1) Sides - The words "SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS" in not less than four inch high letters located directly under the windows.
(2) Back - The words "SCHOOL BUS" in letters not less than eight inches high located between the warning signal lamps.
(3) Front - The words "SCHOOL BUS" in letters not less than eight inches high located between the warning signal lamps.
The State Board of Education is hereby authorized to adopt and to enforce whatever additional regulations regarding the painting and marking of school buses which they may deem necessary and proper.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-794; 1952 Code Section 21-794; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367; 1946 (44) 2583; 1949 (46) 466; 1964 (53) 2067; 1973 (58) 689.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-40. Applicability of laws and regulations to private school buses.

All school buses owned and operated by a private school or operated under contract for a private school must conform to State laws and regulations of the State Board of Education with respect to painting, lettering on the front and rear of the bus, use of stop arm and warning lights for loading and unloading pupils on the highway, maximum speeds and stopping at railroad crossings.
Buses not complying with these requirements shall be painted a color other than yellow and shall not be entitled to the privileges and protection of a school bus operating on the highways of this State.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-794.1; 1967 (55) 651.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-50. Removal of identification marks from former school buses.

All school buses in this State, when no longer used for school purposes and sold to any person for private or public use, must have all marks of identification showing that these buses were used by schools and school districts removed before private or public use may be made of them. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars or imprisonment upon the public works of the county in which the offense is committed for a period of not more than thirty days.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-795; 1952 Code Section 21-795; 1942 Code Section 1626-4; 1937 (40) 122.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-60. Repainting of former school buses.

Any person who purchases a used school bus must paint it a color other than yellow before operating such bus on the highway. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-795.1; 1956 (49) 1686.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-70. Dual wheels.

County boards of education may at their discretion require that all replacement or new buses, placed in service in their respective counties, shall be equipped with dual wheels.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-796; 1952 Code Section 21-796; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367; 1946 (44) 2583.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-80. Windshield wiper, brakes, lights, and rear view mirrors.

Every school bus shall be equipped with a power-driven windshield wiper, adequate brakes and efficient lights which shall at all times when in use be in good working order and also with a rear view mirror or mirrors of such dimensions as will enable the driver, from the driver's seat, to see reflected in them not only the occupants of the vehicle but also the road to the left and to the rear of the vehicle for a proper distance adequately to observe traffic in his rear.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-797; 1952 Code Section 21-797; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-90. Gasoline tanks.

The gasoline tank of every school bus shall be filled, vented and located entirely outside of that part of the school bus utilized for carrying passengers.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-798; 1952 Code Section 21-798; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-100. Seating space; aisle; seats; number and location of pupils.

Sufficient seating space must be provided so far as practicable for each passenger transported inside each school bus, an aisle in the school bus must not be less than twelve inches in width and all seats must be securely fastened to the floor or body of the vehicle. All students must be within the body of the bus at all times while the bus is in motion. Students are not permitted any place outside the bus and may not ride with heads or arms protruding through open windows. The number of students assigned to a school bus must not be greater than the manufacturer certified seating capacity, and all passengers transported must have adequate seating area to comply with the occupant protection performance standards required in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Provided, however, that a limited number of excess passengers on regular routes may be permitted until the bus routes can be adjusted to accommodate the overload but not to exceed twenty school days.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-799; 1952 Code Section 21-799; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367; 1956 (49) 1668; 1974 (58) 2841; 2007 Act No. 79, Section 4, eff June 7, 2007.
Effect of Amendment
The 2007 amendment, in the second sentence, substituted "students" for "pupils", rewrote the third sentence to eliminate the reference to riding on the running boards, rewrote the fourth sentence relating to seating capacity, in the fifth sentence, substituted "excess passengers on regular routes" for "standees", and made nonsubstantive changes throughout.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-105. Maximum ride time; routing.

(A) A student may not ride continuously on a state-owned school bus for more than ninety minutes. With the approval of the Department of Education, the ninety-minute maximum ride time may be exceeded when the area's geography requires longer than average highway travel because of a circuitous or meandering road network, extremely low population density, or waterway barriers. The ninety-minute maximum ride time may be exceeded when attendance zones are multidistrict or countywide.
(B) The Department of Education annually shall assure that state-owned school buses are routed in the most efficient manner and shall require that they are operated only on adequately maintained and safe public and private accessible highways and streets.
HISTORY: 2007 Act No. 79, Section 1, eff June 7, 2007.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-108. Training and certification of drivers.

(A)(1) Only a person who has been certified by the State Board of Education may drive a school bus, as defined in Section 59-67-10, when transporting preprimary, primary, or secondary students to or from school.
(2) When transporting public school students, a driver operating a bus owned by the State, a local school agency, or by a private contractor that is in compliance with Section 56-5-2770 and the National School Bus chrome yellow requirements in Section 59-67-30 must possess a School Bus Driver's Certificate-A, as established by the State Board of Education. A driver awarded a school bus driver's certificate pursuant to Section 59-67-470 shall be issued the School Bus Driver's Certificate-A.
(3) When transporting public school students, a driver operating a bus owned by a local school agency or by a private contractor that is not in compliance with either Section 56-5-2770 or the National School Bus chrome yellow requirements in Section 59-67-30 must possess a School Bus Driver's Certificate-B, as established by the State Board of Education. A driver who possesses a School Bus Driver's Certificate-B may not use traffic control devices permitted in Section 56-5-2770.
(B) Any person transporting ten or more preprimary, primary, or secondary students to or from school, school-related activities, or childcare in a vehicle with enabled traffic control devices must receive training as to the proper operation of these traffic control devices. The State Department of Education shall establish an appropriate level of driver certification.
HISTORY: 2007 Act No. 79, Section 2, eff June 7, 2007.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-110. Front entrance-exit; emergency exit.

Every school bus shall be provided with a front entrance-exit on the right side of the vehicle and a rear emergency exit or door, conspicuously marked on the inside "emergency door" and equipped with a fastening device capable of being quickly released in emergency but entirely safe from accidental opening upon the application of any pressure from within the bus. Except in the event of an emergency, no person shall be allowed to enter or leave the bus by any other than the front entrance-exit.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-800; 1952 Code Section 21-800; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-120. Tampering with governors prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person, other than authorized mechanics, to tamper with governors on school buses operated in this State. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined the sum of one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for a term of thirty days.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-801; 1953 (48) 198.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-130. Inspection of road conditions on bus routes; reporting hazards.

Prior to the opening of school each year, each school superintendent shall be responsible for inspecting the road conditions of all designated bus routes including school property and all conditions deemed to be hazardous shall be reported, in writing, to the State-employed county transportation supervisor who shall verify any such hazardous conditions and report them, in writing, to the proper municipal, county, or State official who shall be responsible for taking corrective action.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-804; 1974 (58) 2311.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-140. Inspection of road conditions on bus routes; duties of drivers.

During the school year, each school bus driver shall report, in writing, to the proper school official any hazardous road conditions on his routes. The school official shall forward such reports to the county transportation supervisor who shall follow the procedure required of him in Section 59-67-130.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-805; 1974 (58) 2311.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-150. Qualifications of bus driver; drinking or smoking on bus.

The driver of each school bus must be an experienced driver of good moral habits, and neither he nor any pupil nor any other person shall use alcoholic liquors or smoke any cigar, cigarette, pipe, tobacco or other substance in such vehicle during the time he is operating the same as a school bus.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-807; 1952 Code Section 21-807; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367; 1946 (44) 1341.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-160. Physical examination of school bus driver.

A school bus driver shall have a physical examination that meets the requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), 49 C.F.R. 391.41, and meets the certification requirements of this section, certified by a medical examiner as defined in 49 C.F.R. 390.5, before the testing required to operate a school bus and at least every two years after that. The certification must be made on forms provided by the State Department of Education or the United States Department of Transportation. The school bus driver candidate shall provide the testing administrator with the certified physical examination before taking the school bus driver physical performance test and the commercial driver's license skills test. The school bus driver candidate shall provide a copy of the certification to the employing school district. A school district may require additional physical examinations as the district determines to be appropriate. The State assumes no responsibility for the cost of physical examinations required by districts.
HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 351, Section 1, eff June 9, 2006; 2015 Act No. 66 (H.3882), Section 1, eff June 8, 2015.
Effect of Amendment
2015 Act No. 66, Section 1, rewrote the first sentence, substituting federal requirements for prior state protocols and guidelines, and in the third to last sentence, deleted "physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant's" following "copy of the".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-180. General supervision of bus by driver.

The driver of every school bus while the bus is being operated as such shall have general supervision of it and shall not permit or allow any person in the bus to occupy such a position as will interfere with the vision of the driver either to the front, either side or rear of the vehicle while it is in motion.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-811; 1952 Code Section 21-811; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-190. Driver prohibited from leaving bus while engine is running.

No driver or operator of a school bus shall leave the bus while the engine is running.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-812; 1952 Code Section 21-812; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-200. Complete stop to receive or discharge passenger required.

Each school bus must come to a complete stop with clutch disengaged before any passenger is permitted to alight or enter.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-813; 1952 Code Section 21-813; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-210. School bus passing another school bus unlawful.

It shall be unlawful for any person operating a school bus to pass another school bus unless the lead bus is in a stopped position and the driver of the lead bus has signalled to the operator of the bus in the rear that it is safe to pass. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined the sum of one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for a term of thirty days.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-813.1; 1953 (48) 200.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-220. Filling gasoline tank while engine is running or pupils are on bus prohibited.

No gasoline tank on or in any vehicle used as a school bus shall be filled while the engine is running or, except in an emergency, when there are pupils in the bus.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-814; 1952 Code Section 21-814; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-230. Driver required to stop before crossing railroad track.

The operator of any school bus shall, before crossing at grade any tracks of any railroad, bring his vehicle to a full and complete stop within not less than fifteen feet nor more than fifty feet from the rail of the track nearest to the front of such vehicle and shall, after such stop, ascertain if it is safe to proceed before crossing such tracks.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-815; 1952 Code Section 21-815; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367; 1972 (57) 2492.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-240. Other duties of driver; discipline of pupils for misconduct.

The driver of each school bus shall cooperate with the teachers in their work in the school to which he is transporting pupils by being on time in the mornings and waiting in the afternoons until all his pupils are dismissed by the school faculty and safely aboard his bus. He also shall take particular notice along his route in the mornings and give pupils within sight a reasonable time in which to board his bus. The driver shall be responsible for maintaining good conduct upon his bus and shall report promptly to the governing head of the school to or from which the pupils are transported any misconduct or any violation of the driver's instructions by any person riding in his bus.
District boards of school trustees in this State may authorize school administrators to suspend or expel pupils from riding a school bus for misconduct on the bus or for violating instructions of the driver.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-816; 1952 Code Section 21-816; 1946 (44) 1341; 1982 Act No. 296, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-245. Interference with operation of school bus; penalties.

No person shall wilfully and wrongfully interfere with the operation of a school bus, either public or private, by boarding, restricting movement or using threats, either physical or verbal, to the driver or any passenger while the bus is engaged in the transportation of pupils to and from school or any lawful school activity or while passengers are entering or leaving the bus nor shall any person wilfully fail or refuse to obey a lawful order of a school bus driver relating to the occupancy of a school bus. The use of threatening, obscene or profane language addressed to the driver or any passenger entering, leaving or waiting for a school bus is disorderly conduct and any person convicted for the use of such language shall be punished as provided in Section 16-17-530. Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted to infringe upon the power and duties of duly constituted authorities.
HISTORY: 1979 Act No. 75, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-250. Posting of copies of relevant statutes.

The trustees of the various school districts shall cause to be posted in each school bus operating within their district at least two copies of Section 59-67-240, and the Superintendent of Education of this State shall furnish a sufficient number of copies of said section to the various school districts to the end that the provisions of this section may be complied with.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-817; 1952 Code Section 21-817; 1946 (44) 1341.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-260. Check of school bus operation by Department of Public Safety.

The Department of Public Safety shall have the operation of school buses spot checked periodically and report all infractions of the laws or misconduct of any kind on the part of the drivers to the chairman of the board of trustees of the school that may be affected thereby.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-818; 1953 (48) 201; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1576.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-270. Inspection of buses.

(A)(1) All publicly owned or leased school buses, including buses owned or leased by a public school district, must be inspected annually in compliance with either the State Department of Education's annual school bus inspection program or the federal Department of Transportation annual inspection program if the standards of the federal inspection program meet or exceed the standards of the state's program. The State Department of Education shall assist school districts using the Department of Education's program by providing the training and certification of a limited number of personnel designated by a school district to perform the inspection, providing the inspection manuals and forms, and supplying the inspection certificate stickers for the school buses. The State Department of Education's assistance must be free of charge. Any savings resulting from the ability to be inspected by either the State Department of Education or the federal Department of Transportation shall be expended on accountability programs set forth in Chapter 18 of this title.
(2) All privately owned vehicles designed and used to transport ten or more preprimary, primary, or secondary students to or from school, school-related activities, or childcare must be inspected annually. Inspections for these privately owned vehicles must comply with applicable federal inspection requirements. A copy of the vehicle inspection report must be kept on these vehicles at all times.
(3) The owner or lessee of a school bus shall be solely responsible for the implementation and accountability of school bus inspections.
(B) All school buses are subject to inspection at any time or place by officers of the State Transport Police or inspection forces. A school bus may not continue in operation in the transportation of students when the annual inspection is more than twelve months old or the school bus is found to be unsafe after any inspection until the unsafe conditions disclosed by the inspection have been corrected.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-819; 1952 Code Section 21-819; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367; 2007 Act No. 79, Section 5, eff June 7, 2007; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 3, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2007 amendment added subsection (A) and designated the existing text as subsection (B), substituting in the first sentence "Transport Police" for "Highway Patrol", in the second sentence substituting "students" for "pupils" and adding " the annual inspection is more than twelve months old or the school bus is" and "after any inspection", and making nonsubstantive changes throughout.
The 2008 amendment, in paragraph (A)(1), added the provisions relating to inspection of buses by the Federal Department of Transportation and the fourth sentence relating to use of any savings.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-280. Penalties.

The doing of anything prohibited by this article or failing to do anything required by this article shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisonment in the county jail for not less than five nor more than thirty days.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-820; 1952 Code Section 21-820; 1942 Code Section 1626-3; 1937 (40) 367.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-290. Negligence or carelessness of driver not imputable to passengers.

The negligence or carelessness of the driver of any motor-driven vehicle used for the transportation of children to and from school shall not be imputed to the passengers on such vehicle.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-802; 1952 Code Section 46-802; 1942 Code Section 1626; 1932 Code Section 1626; 1928 (35) 1320; 1938 (40) 1599.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-300. Overnight parking; waivers.

State-owned school buses must be parked overnight and during the school day in a location that is central to the area in which the school buses are operated. The Department of Education shall grant a waiver to the requirements of this section if a waiver is requested by the district superintendent in compliance with Department of Education policies.
HISTORY: 2007 Act No. 79, Section 9, eff June 7, 2007.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-410. Control by State Board of Education of school bus transportation.

The control and management of all school bus transportation in the State shall be vested in the State Board of Education.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-833; 1952 Code Section 21-833; 1951 (47) 546.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-415. Parental responsibility for safe and timely arrival of children to and from bus stop.

Parents or guardians are responsible for the safety, conduct, and the timely arrival of their children to, from, and at the designated school bus stop before the arrival of the school bus for pick up and transport to school and the timely departure of the children after the school bus leaves the designated school bus stop after transporting the children from school. For purposes of this section, the phrase "arrival of the school bus" includes the time that the school bus assigned to the school bus stop activates the required pedestrian safety devices, stops, and loads or unloads students until the school bus deactivates all pedestrian safety devices.
HISTORY: 2007 Act No. 79, Section 3, eff June 7, 2007.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-421. Liability in regard to school transportation within hazardous areas.

In relation to expenditures for transportation within hazardous areas as authorized by Section 59-67-420, no school district shall suffer liability for designation of such area as within the authority of Section 59-67-420 or for failure to designate any area as hazardous.
HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, Section 15E.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-425. Transportation of children attending kindergarten or child development programs.

Three, four, or five-year old children attending public school-sponsored kindergarten or child development programs must be permitted to ride state-owned buses to the extent funds are made available by the General Assembly or as long as transportation services may be provided at no additional cost to the State.
HISTORY: 1980 Act No. 519, Part II, Section 9; 1984 Act No. 512, Part II, Section 15B.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-440. Board may borrow from Division of Sinking Funds and Property to effect purchases of school bus equipment.

The State Board of Education is empowered to borrow, and the Division of Sinking Funds and Property is empowered and directed to lend to the State Board of Education, such sums of money as the State Board of Education shall require to enable it to effect purchases of school bus equipment, provided, that, the aggregate of such indebtedness to be outstanding shall not at any time exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars. The indebtedness shall be repayable not later than one year from the occasion that it shall be incurred, and shall be incurred only to the extent that the aggregate of such indebtedness, plus the other indebtedness incurred pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 71 of this Title for school bus equipment, shall not exceed, on the date that such indebtedness shall mature, the limit prescribed by Section 59-71-420 for outstanding bonded indebtedness incurred for the purpose of school bus equipment, it being intended that notwithstanding that the aggregate of indebtedness prescribed for school bus equipment may be increased through the incurring of indebtedness pursuant to this section to an extent which may, on the occasion that the short term indebtedness herein authorized shall be incurred, exceed the limit prescribed for bonded debt to be outstanding for school bus equipment, the limit established by Section 59-71-420 shall not be otherwise exceeded.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-837; 1959 (51) 606.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-450. Form of indebtedness; interest; payment.

The indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 59-67-440 shall be in such form and shall bear such rate of interest as may be agreed upon between the State Fiscal Accountability Authority and the State Board of Education.
For the payment of the indebtedness and the interest to accrue thereon, the principal proceeds of the next bonds to be issued pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 71 of this Title for school purposes shall be pledged and on the occasion that such further school bonds shall be issued pursuant thereto, sufficient of the proceeds thereof shall be used to retire such indebtedness, both principal and interest.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-837.1; 1959 (51) 606.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-460. Contracts for transportation services with private individuals or contractors; State aid.

Any county board of education may at any time contract for any part or all of its transportation services with private individuals or contractors for the furnishing of such services. In any such instance the county board of education shall execute the contracts. The county board shall be responsible for the payment of all sums due under contracts so entered into and shall receive aid from the State for pupils thus transported only on the basis of the average per pupil operating cost of State-owned equipment for the current year as determined by the State Board of Education.
The Board may enter into agreements with county boards of education whereby pupils living in isolated areas may be transported by special arrangements when such transportation can be provided at lower cost than by operating a regular bus route.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-838; 1952 Code Section 21-838; 1951 (47) 546; 1953 (48) 3.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-470. Bus drivers; selection; eligibility, training and certificates.

The school bus drivers, whether students or adults, shall be selected and employed by the respective boards of trustees of the school districts, subject to the approval of the respective county boards of education. No person under sixteen years of age shall be eligible for consideration as a bus driver. Before being employed, all prospective drivers shall be examined by the State Board of Education to determine their competency. The State Board of Education shall provide a rigid school bus driver training course and issue special "school bus driver's certificates" to successful candidates. No person shall be authorized to drive a school bus in this State transporting children, whether the bus be owned by the State, by a local school agency, or by a private contractor, who has not been so certified by the State Board of Education. All school bus driver certificates shall be renewed every three years. Drivers who have certificates issued prior to September 1962, must enroll and satisfactorily complete bus driver training courses prior to September 1965, and each three years thereafter. Local school superintendents shall supervise the conduct of pupils being transported and of school bus drivers. When any person is relieved of his duties as a bus driver, for just cause, the local school superintendent shall require the driver to turn in his school bus driver certificate which shall be forwarded to the State Board of Education. A certificate may be reissued to such a driver at a later date upon approval of the local superintendent and the State Board of Education. The provisions of this section shall not apply to private schools.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-839; 1952 Code Section 21-839, 1951 (47) 546; 1953 (48) 350; 1964 (53) 2097; 1965 (54) 649.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-480. Salaries of drivers of State-owned buses.

Salaries of school bus drivers of State-owned buses shall be fixed annually by the General Assembly.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-839.1; 1952 Code Section 21-839.1; 1951 (47) 546, 710; 1964 (53) 2099.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-490. Proposed routes shall be submitted to Board of Education annually; approval.

The boards of trustees of each district shall make a thorough study of transportation needs each year, and shall submit proposed route descriptions in accordance with the limitations of Section 59-67-420 and approved by county school authorities to the State Board of Education annually. All routes served by State-owned equipment shall be subject to the approval of the Board and the local board of trustees; no such equipment shall be operated except upon routes so approved.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-839.2; 1952 Code Section 21-839.2; 1951 (47) 546; 1964 (53) 2164.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-500. Routes of buses owned and operated by local school agencies.

The Board shall have no jurisdiction over the routing of buses owned and operated by local school agencies either directly or by contract.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-839.3; 1952 Code Section 21-839.3; 1951 (47) 546.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-510. Use of transportation equipment for special events, office of Adjutant General and armed services reserve component functions, and other educational purposes.

County boards of education may permit the use of school bus equipment for transportation in connection with athletic events, boy's and girl's clubs, special events in connection with the schools, official functions by the office of the Adjutant General of South Carolina, and the Reserve Components of the United States Armed Forces which must reimburse the boards of education, at least, for the costs of use of the buses, including depreciation, and other educational purposes as may appear proper to the respective boards.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-839.4; 1952 Code Section 21-839.4; 1951 (47) 546; 1999 Act No. 100, Part II, Section 38.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 67 - Transportation Of Pupils; School Buses › Section 59-67-515. Speed limit for public school buses; exceptions.

No public school bus may be operated in this State in excess of forty-five miles an hour, except when traveling on a highway with a posted maximum speed limit above fifty-five miles an hour, or when traveling to and from special events which necessitate travel on interstate or state primary highways. Special event variances from the authorized speed limit for public school buses must be obtained by written authorization from the Department of Education. In no instance may the public school bus be authorized to exceed the speed of fifty-five miles an hour. Public school buses are not required to have devices to govern the speed or operation of the vehicles.
HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 351, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 52, Section 1.