The Committee on Education proposed the following amendment (WAB\923C001.RT.WAB22):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/ SECTION1. Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-1-465.(A) As used in this section:

(1) 'Youth patriotic society' means a youth membership organization with an educational purpose aligned with state standards located in South Carolina and listed herein, intended to promote patriotism and kindred virtues among elementary, middle and high school students:

(a) Big Brothers – Big Sisters of America;

(b) Boy Scouts of America;

(c) Boys and Girls Clubs of America;

(d) Future Farmers of America;

(e) Girl Scouts of the United States of America; or

(f) other organizations also intended to promote patriotism and kindred virtues among elementary, middle, or high school students as may be included upon the organization 's request and subsequent approval by a majority vote of the State Board of Education.

(2) 'Patriot Day' means the eleventh day of September as provided in Section 53-3-160.

(3) 'Constitution Day' means the seventeenth day of September, as designated by the United States Congress in 2005.

(4) 'Patriotism Week' means the annual Patriotism Week observation in the week that includes the eleventh day of November provided in Section 53-3-150.

(B) The principal of each elementary school, middle school, and high school shall allow representatives of youth patriotic societies , providing notice to the principal and approved pursuant to subsection (C), the opportunity to speak with students during the week of Patriot Day, the week of Constitution Day, or Patriotism Week events to inform the students of how their involvement in the youth patriotic society may further the student's educational interest and civic involvement to improve their schools, communities, and themselves. A youth patriotic society allowed to speak with students pursuant to this section may speak to students for at least ten minutes. A school may observe Constitution Day and Patriot Day during a single event and is not required to:

(1) allocate more than thirty minutes during any one of the above referenced weeks for use by youth patriotic societies under the provisions of this section annually, allocated equally among the requesting youth patriotic societies; or

(2) allow a youth patriotic society to speak pursuant to this section more than once each school year.

(C) A youth patriotic society shall provide thirty days written or verbal notice to the principal of the society's intent to address students pursuant to subsection (B). The principal shall provide verbal or written approval indicating the specific date and time for the society to address the students and the location where the address may occur. Only if no patriotic youth societies request the opportunity to address students during any of the above-referenced weeks shall a school be considered to have fulfilled the requirements of this section if it incorporates the curricula pursuant to Section 53-3-150(B)(2) into lesson plans for all students during the applicable week."

SECTION2. Section 53-3-150(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

" (B)The State Superintendent of Education shall encourage require school districts to:

(1) observe 'Patriot Day', 'Constitution Day', and 'Patriotism Week' by holding appropriate ceremonies, events, and assemblies on school grounds, including time allotted for youth patriotic society addresses to students as provided in Section 59-1-465; and

(2) develop appropriate curricula that focus on the purposes of 'Patriot Day', 'Constitution Day', and 'Patriotism Week'.

SECTION3. The provisions of this act take effect July 1, 2023. /