Section 59-25-47 - Unused leave payments authorized(A) A local school district board of trustees or, in the case of a charter school, the governing body of a charter school, is authorized to adopt a policy consistent with the school district or, in the case of a charter school, the school budget, providing that all certified and noncertified public school teachers identified in the Professional Certified Staff listing, certified special school classroom teachers, certified media specialists, certified guidance counselors, and career specialists who are employed by a school district or a charter school who earn, but do not use sick and annual leave in excess of ninety days, may be eligible to receive payment at the end of each fiscal year for these earned days in excess of ninety days for each excess day at a district's or charter school's established rate of substitute pay for their individual job classification, or another amount, subject to approval by the local school board, or, in the case of a charter school, the governing body of the charter school. This provision applies only to sick leave and annual leave in excess of ninety days that is accrued after July 1, 2018.(B) Notwithstanding any provision contained in this section, this section does not and may not be construed to amend or to repeal:(1) the rights of a school district, charter school, or legislative delegation to set or restrict any existing teacher incentive payment programs; or(2) any existing teacher incentive payment programs provided by current law or any existing limitation on the fiscal autonomy of a school district or charter school that are more restrictive than any incentives provided in subsection (A).Added by 2018 S.C. Acts, Act No. 198 (SB 888),s 1, eff. 5/15/2018.