(A) The General Assembly finds that numerous public school students reside in Fairfield County School District but are entitled to attend the schools of Chester County School District pursuant to Section 59-63-480. The General Assembly finds it necessary to provide by law for uniform arrangements between Fairfield County School District and Chester County School District pertaining to these students.

(B) A student who qualifies for transfer pursuant to Section 59-63-480 may be admitted, and remain enrolled, by Chester County School District upon proof of eligibility as Chester County School District finds acceptable. A roster of these students must be kept current by Chester County School District and sent to Fairfield County School District as and when updated.

(1) Each fiscal year, for each pupil authorized to transfer from Fairfield County School District to Chester County School District pursuant to Section 59-63-480 and actually enrolled in a public school of Chester County School District, the Fairfield County Treasurer, on behalf of and from funds of the Fairfield County School District, shall pay Chester County School District one hundred and three percent of Chester County School District's prior year local revenue per pupil for school operating purposes as reported in Chester County School District's annual audit for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(2) As used in this section, "prior year local revenue per pupil for school operating purposes" includes any state reimbursement paid for property tax exemptions from Chester County School District ad valorem taxes including, but not limited to, all payments pursuant to Section 11-11-156.

(C) Upon invoice, the Fairfield County Treasurer, on behalf of and from the funds of the Fairfield County School District, shall pay Chester County School District the amount determined pursuant to subsection (B)(1) of this section. Payment to Chester County School District must be completed before the fifteenth day of February in each fiscal year. If the Fairfield County Treasurer fails to pay this invoice by the fifteenth day of February, the South Carolina Department of Education, upon application by Chester County School District, out of the funds otherwise meant for the next Education Finance Act disbursement to Fairfield County School District, shall pay the invoice on behalf of Fairfield County School District. Any undisputed amounts must be paid when due.

(D) Chester County School District may consider payments pursuant to this act to be anticipated ad valorem taxation for purposes of Subsection 7, Section 15, Article X of the South Carolina Constitution, relating to tax anticipation notes.

(E) The State Superintendent of Education shall settle any dispute between Chester County School District and Fairfield County School District arising from the implementation and administration of this act by the school districts and the State Department of Education.

(F) For the 2009-2010 school and the fiscal year only, the Fairfield County Treasurer, on behalf of and from the funds of the Fairfield County School District, shall pay the Chester County School District an amount calculated pursuant to items (B)(1) and (2) of this section on account of the pupils enrolled in the Chester County School District from Fairfield County pursuant to Section 59-63-480 for the 2009-2010 school year. This amount must be invoiced by the Chester County School District promptly upon the effective date of this section, and must be paid no later than June 30, 2010, or the delinquency provisions of subsection (C) apply to the payment.

HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 294, Sections 1, 2, eff June 8, 2010.