H 3634 General Bill, By G.A. Brown

Similar(H 3526)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-1-443, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE FOR A MINUTE OF MANDATORY
 SILENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOLS TO SAY
 A PRAYER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL DAY, TO NOTIFY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
 OF THE POLICY, AND TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO ALLOW A STUDENT TO LEAVE THE
 CLASSROOM IF THE STUDENT DOES NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO OR PARTICIPATE IN THE
 PRAYER.

   02/27/13  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 5)
   02/27/13  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 5)

TO AMEND SECTION 59-1-443, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE FOR A MINUTE OF MANDATORY SILENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOLS TO SAY A PRAYER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL DAY, TO NOTIFY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF THE POLICY, AND TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO ALLOW A STUDENT TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM IF THE STUDENT DOES NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO OR PARTICIPATE IN THE PRAYER.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 59-1-443 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-1-443.     All schools shall provide for a minute of mandatory silence at the beginning of each school day, or in the alternative, the school principal or a teacher may deliver a prayer at the commencement of the school day. The school shall notify parents and guardians of the policy in writing in a school handbook, including the right of a student to leave the classroom during that time if the student does not want to listen to or participate in the prayer."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.