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Bill 889

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      889
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20020116
Primary Sponsor:                  Fair
All Sponsors:                     Fair
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\bbm\10611htc02.doc
Residing Body:                    Senate
Current Committee:                Judiciary Committee 11 SJ
Subject:                          Ten Commandments, display of in public 
                                  school classroom at teacher discretion; public 
                                  school policies may not prohibit words of Ten 
                                  Commandments on personal property of students


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate  20020529  Recommitted to Committee               11 SJ
Senate  20020403  Committee report: majority             11 SJ
                  favorable, with amendment,
                  minority unfavorable
Senate  20020116  Introduced, read first time,           11 SJ
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill
Revised on April 3, 2002 - Word format

COMMITTEE REPORT

April 3, 2002

    S. 889

S. Printed 4/3/02--S.

Read the first time January 16, 2002.

    To whom was referred a Bill (S. 889) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-1-465 so as to allow the display of the words of the Ten Commandments, etc., respectfully

    That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

    Amend the bill, as and if amended, page 1, beginning on line 29, in Section 59-1-465, as contained in SECTION 1, by striking lines 29-33 and inserting therein the following:

    /    "Section 59-1-465.    (A)    The words of the Ten Commandments may be posted in a public school classroom at the sole discretion of the teacher in charge of the classroom, if the school district board of trustees votes to grant teachers in the district such authority.        /

    Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 1, line 39, by adding an appropriately numbered new SECTION to read:

    /    SECTION    .    If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding does not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this section, and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.    /

    Renumber sections to conform.

    Amend title to conform.

Majority favorable.    Minority unfavorable.

MICHAEL L. FAIR    MAGGIE W. GLOVER

For Majority.    For Minority.

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-465 SO AS TO ALLOW THE DISPLAY OF THE WORDS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TEACHER IN CHARGE OF THE CLASSROOM AND TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC SCHOOL POLICIES OR CODES THAT PROHIBIT THE WORDS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ON THE CLOTHING, BOOK COVERS, AND OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY OF STUDENTS THAT OTHERWISE CONFORM TO SUCH POLICIES OR CODES.

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

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

    "Section 59-1-465.    (A)    The words of the Ten Commandments may be displayed on a placard in a public school classroom, but the display of the Ten Commandments in a particular classroom is a matter within the sole discretion of the teacher in charge of the classroom.

    (B)    A school district, public school principal, or public school teacher may not adopt or enforce any policy or code that prohibits the display of the words of the Ten Commandments on the clothing, book covers, or other personal property of students that otherwise conforms to applicable policies and codes."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect July 1, 2002.

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