05 LC 33
0654
Senate
Bill 149
By:
Senators Schaefer of the 50th, Heath of the 31st, Cagle of the 49th, Mullis of
the 53rd, Staton of the 18th and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for adoption of policies
and procedures by local boards of education to provide information regarding
school sponsored clubs and extracurricular activities to parents and legal
guardians and to provide an opportunity to withhold permission to participate;
to provide that local school systems shall comply with written notification from
parents and legal guardians withholding permission for participation; to require
written parental or legal guardian permission for membership in a specific club
or activity; to require annual permission for club membership and participation
in activities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary
and secondary education, is amended in Article 16, relating to students, by
inserting a new part to be designated Part 5 to read as follows:
"Part
5
20-2-785.
(a)
Each local board of education shall adopt policies and procedures for notifying
parents or guardians of students regarding school sponsored clubs and
extracurricular activities, and providing an opportunity for parents or
guardians to withhold permission for a child to join designated clubs or
participate in designated activities. An annual notification utilizing the
student handbook or other appropriate method regarding school sponsored clubs
shall include without limitation the name of the club, mission or purpose of the
club, name of the club´s faculty advisor, and a description of past or
planned activities. A similar notification regarding extracurricular activities
shall include without limitation the mission or purpose of the extracurricular
activity, name of the faculty advisor, and a description of planned programs or
actions. Each local school system shall comply with the written notification
from a parent or guardian who has withheld permission for a child to join a club
or participate in an activity, and shall not allow a child to join a club or
participate in an activity in contravention of written notification from the
child´s parent or guardian forbidding such club or activity.
(b)
All clubs, programs, or extracurricular activities occurring on school property
or sponsored by schools, school staff, or students shall require written
parental or legal guardian permission for membership in each specific club or
activity.
(c)
Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, each local school system shall obtain
written parental or legal guardian permission for a student to participate in or
be a member of a school sponsored club or extracurricular activity. Each local
school system shall obtain this permission at the beginning of each school
year."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.