GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1524

Short Title:  Parental Involvement in Schools.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Kaplan.
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Referred to:  Education.
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June 5, 1990

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE PARENTS TO SPEND TIME AT SCHOOL WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
“Part 1A.  Parental Involvement.
"§ 115C-83.1. Parental involvement in schools required.
Local boards of education shall adopt rules to require the parents or guardians of each student in a public school of the State to spend at least two days per school year at the school with the child.  The rules may require that the parents or guardians choose the days in advance and have them approved by the school.
The rules shall establish a process by which the local board of education shall excuse parents or guardians from their obligation under these rules for reasons of compelling personal hardship or because requiring parents to comply with the rules would be contrary to the public welfare, health, or safety.  The rules may also establish a process by which the local board of education may excuse a parent or guardian from his obligation under these rules if a child's other parent or guardian has already complied with the rules.
"§ 115C-83.2.  Failure to comply an infraction.
A violation of the rules adopted by a local board of education pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.1 is an infraction and is punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00). An infraction is an unlawful act that is not a crime. The procedure for charging and trying an infraction is the same as for a misdemeanor, but conviction of an infraction has no consequence other than payment of a fine. A person convicted of an infraction may not be assessed court costs.
"§ 115C-83.3.  Discharge of parent unlawful.
No employer may discharge or demote any employee because the employee is visiting a public school as required by rules adopted by a local board of education pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.1
Any employer who violates any provision of this section shall be liable in a civil action for reasonable damages suffered by an employee as a result of the violation, and an employee discharged or demoted in violation of this section shall be entitled to be reinstated to his former position. The burden of proof shall be upon the employee.
The statute of limitations for actions under this section shall be one year."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Education the sum of $1,000 for the 1990-91 fiscal year to assist local boards of education in developing rules pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.1.
The appropriation from the General Fund to the Governor's Office, Office of Research, for the 1990-91 fiscal year is reduced by the sum of $1,000.
Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification and shall apply to all school years beginning with the 1990-91 school year.