H 3143 General Bill, By Meacham, Allison, Anderson, Bailey, J.J. Bailey, 
J.M. Baxley, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, A.W. Byrd, Carnell, Cato, 
C.D. Chamblee, H.H. Clyborne, J.L.M. Cromer, Davenport, Delleney, L.L. Elliott, 
T.L. Farr, J.G. Felder, R.C. Fulmer, Gamble, Govan, L.O. Graham, H.M. Hallman, 
Harrell, J.L. Harris, P.B. Harris, Harrison, Harvin, B.H. Harwell, Haskins, 
J. Hines, J.H. Hodges, D.N. Holt, T.E. Huff, H.G. Hutson, Inabinett, 
M.F. Jaskwhich, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, M.H. Kinon, Klauber, Lanford, Law, 
Littlejohn, C.V. Marchbanks, J.G. McAbee, McCraw, M. McLeod, McMahand, 
D.E. McTeer, Moody-Lawrence, Neilson, Phillips, Quinn, Rhoad, Richardson, Riser, 
Robinson, Sharpe, Simrill, R. Smith, D. Smith, J.J. Snow, Spearman, Stille, 
E.C. Stoddard, C.H. Stone, Stuart, C.L. Sturkie, P.H. Thomas, Townsend, Trotter, 
J.W. Tucker, Vaughn, D.C. Waldrop, Walker, C.C. Wells, J.B. Wilder, Wilkins, 
D. Williams, Witherspoon, S.S. Wofford, H.G. Worley, D.A. Wright and 
Young-Brickell

Similar(S 247)
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 59-1-442 so as to provide that public schools shall set aside a one-minute
 period for voluntary silent prayer at the beginning of each school day.

   01/14/93  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-16
   01/19/93  House  Objection by Rep. Cobb-Hunter HJ-36
   01/19/93  House  Read second time HJ-36
   01/20/93  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-23
   01/26/93  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-32
   01/26/93  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-32

January 14, 1993

H. 3143

Introduced by REPS. Meacham, Marchbanks, Delleney, Hodges, J. Wilder, Vaughn, Allison, Phillips, Worley, Klauber, Davenport, Simrill, A. Young, Carnell, Felder, Sharpe, Keegan, Harvin, Lanford, J. Harris, Farr, D. Smith, Gamble, Robinson, J. Brown, Walker, Clyborne, McMahand, Baxley, Witherspoon, Trotter, McAbee, R. Smith, Snow, Waldrop, Cato, Tucker, Fulmer, G. Bailey, Inabinett, Williams, Graham, Wilkins, Kelley, Thomas, Quinn, Wofford, Holt, Harwell, Littlejohn, Harrison, Cromer, Moody-Lawrence, Hutson, Wells, Stoddard, McLeod, Sturkie, G. Brown, Kinon, Elliott, Chamblee, Wright, Haskins, P. Harris, Rhoad, Neilson, McCraw, Huff, H. Brown, Stuart, Stone, J. Bailey, McTeer, Law, Kennedy, Harrell, Byrd, Anderson, Hines, Govan, Richardson, Riser, Jaskwhich, Stille, Hallman, Townsend and Spearman

S. Printed 1/14/93--H.

Read the first time January 14, 1993.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-442 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL SET ASIDE A ONE-MINUTE PERIOD FOR VOLUNTARY SILENT PRAYER AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY.

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

SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) the public school day is filled with an abundance of activities, demanding schedules, and substantial pressure for students and teachers;

(2) it is appropriate at the beginning of the school day to observe one minute of voluntary silent prayer, free of the myriad distractions that intrude on the educational process, so that students and teachers can contemplate the challenges of the upcoming school day and assume a frame of mind that promotes the proper atmosphere for learning and teaching.

SECTION 2. Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-1-442. Schools must set aside a one-minute period to allow for voluntary silent prayer at the beginning of each school day in all public elementary and secondary schools in this State. Students may participate on a voluntary basis."

SECTION 3. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any teacher or student to use the provisions of this act to advocate or promote any particular religious viewpoint.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.