South Carolina S 416: School Expulsion

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 416 Text of Previous Version (May. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 416

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

HOUSE RECEDED FROM ITS AMENDMENT

May 14, 2026

S. 416

Introduced 
by Senators Hembree and Alexander 

S. Printed 5/14/26--H.

Read the first time April 30, 2025

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 59-63-210, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR WHICH TRUSTEES MAY EXPEL, SUSPEND, 
OR TRANSFER PUPILS; PETITIONS FOR READMISSION; AND EXPULSION, SUSPENSION, OR 
TRANSFER, SO AS TO PROHIBIT EXPELLED STUDENTS FROM ENTERING SCHOOL OR SCHOOL 
GROUNDS INCLUDING ATTENDING DAY OR NIGHT SCHOOL FUNCTIONS OR RIDING A SCHOOL 
BUS, TO FURTHER PROHIBIT SUSPENDED STUDENTS FROM ENTERING THE SCHOOL OR SCHOOL 
GROUNDS EXCEPT FOR ATTENDING DAY OR NIGHT SCHOOL FUNCTIONS OR RIDING THE SCHOOL 
BUS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-235, RELATING TO THE EXPULSION OF A STUDENT 
DETERMINED TO HAVE BROUGHT A FIREARM TO SCHOOL, SO AS TO REQUIRE A STUDENT TO 
BE EXPELLED FOR NO LESS THAN ONE ACADEMIC YEAR FOR KNOWINGLY BRINGING A FIREARM 
TO A SCHOOL, TO ESTABLISH THE EXPULSION HEARING BE CONDUCTED BY THE DISTRICT 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND TO ALLOW AN EXPELLED STUDENT TO RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL 
SERVICES IN ALTERNATIVE SETTINGS TO INCLUDE VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING; AND BY 
AMENDING SECTION 59-63-250, RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF PUPILS, SO AS TO 
CLARIFY THAT A BOARD MAY TRANSFER A PUPIL WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND 
REQUIRE NOTIFICATION AND INPUT FROM THE PRINCIPAL AT THE RECEIVING SCHOOL.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-63-210 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
59-63-210. (A) Any district board 
of trustees may authorize or order the expulsion, suspension, or transfer of 
any pupil for the commission of any crime, gross immorality, gross misbehavior, 
persistent disobedience, or for violation of written rules and promulgated regulations 
established by the district board, county board, or the State Board of 
Education, or when the presence of the pupil is detrimental to the best 
interest of the school. Each expelled pupil has the right to petition for 
readmission for the succeeding school year.

 (1) Expulsion or suspension must be construed to prohibit a pupil from 
entering the school or school grounds including, but not 
limited to, attending any day or night school functions or riding a school bus. 
An expelled student may only enter school or school grounds for a prearranged 
conference with an administrator. This prohibition shall continue for the 
duration of the expulsion period.

 (2) Suspension must be construed 
to prohibit a pupil from entering the school or school grounds, except 
for a prearranged conference with an administrator, attending any day or night 
school functions, or riding a school bus. This prohibition 
shall continue for the duration of the suspension period.

 (B) The provisions of 
this section do not preclude enrollment and attendance in any adult or night schoolalternate 
education program to include adult education or virtual programming.

 (B) A district board of trustees 
shall not authorize or order the expulsion, suspension, or transfer of any 
pupil for a violation of Section 59-150-250(B).

SECTION 2. Section 59-63-235 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 59-63-235. (A)The 
district board must expel for no less than one year a student who is determined 
to have brought a firearm to a school or any setting under the jurisdiction of 
a local board of trustees. A student who is 
determined to have knowingly brought a firearm to a school or any setting under 
the jurisdiction of a local board of trustees must be expelled for no less than 
one year from the date of the incident. The expulsion hearing must follow the procedures established pursuant 
to Section 59-63-240. The 
one-year 
expulsion is subject to modification by the district superintendent of 
education on a case-by-case 
basis.

 (B) If the hearing is conducted 
by the district board of trustees, the one-year expulsion period is subject to 
modification by the board on a case-by-case basis. 

 (C) If the hearing is conducted 
by any authority other than the district board of trustees, the one-year 
expulsion period is subject to modification by the district superintendent of 
education. The board must receive and review a copy of the results of the 
expulsion hearing and affirm any modification recommendations by the district 
superintendent of education. If the board does not affirm a modification 
recommendation of the district superintendent, the expulsion period established 
in this section shall be reinstated. A student shall retain all rights afforded 
t