H 4802 General Bill, By G.R. Smith, Haskins, Limehouse, J.R. Smith, Leach, 
Littlejohn, Mahaffey and Spires
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 53-5-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO LEGAL HOLIDAYS, SO AS TO ESTABLISH "CAROLINA DAY" ON JUNE
 TWENTY-EIGHT AS A STATE HOLIDAY.

   03/04/08  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-63
   03/04/08  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-63

H. 4802

TO AMEND SECTION 53-5-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LEGAL HOLIDAYS, SO AS TO ESTABLISH "CAROLINA DAY" ON JUNE TWENTY-EIGHT AS A STATE HOLIDAY.

Whereas, in a State whose existence has been so shaped by its stalwart history, which the hand of Providence has granted, it behooves the members of the South Carolina General Assembly to ensure that the knowledge of that heritage be preserved for succeeding generations; and

Whereas, in light of the appreciation which all young people have for history when it relates to the place under the stars that they call home, rather than when it recounts a history of lands far away, South Carolina should mark an annual celebration to honor our State's history; and

Whereas, a state holiday that would singularly reflect the unique and profound role of this State would provide a public display for generations to come that the events that occurred in South Carolina have had great moments in the history of the United States of America; and

Whereas, on June 28, 1776, South Carolina military forces triumphed over both the Royal Navy and the British Army at the Battle of Sullivan's Island, a signal event acknowledged by the Continental Congress with a silver medal; and

Whereas, the symbols of that glorious victory on June 28, 1776, are etched with pride upon our State Seal and displayed on our State Flag; and

Whereas, June twenty-eight was observed as Palmetto Day in South Carolina for years after that battle as a tribute to the patriots of 1776, who fought and died for the freedoms of our State and nation; and

Whereas, to send a clarion message to posterity about the role of our great State in the founding and establishment of this nation, the General Assembly of South Carolina sets aside June twenty-eight as "Carolina Day", a state holiday to be commemorated annually, and thus revere and celebrate our ancestors who contributed so nobly to the history of our State. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    Section 53-5-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 246 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 53-5-10.    (A)    The first day of January--New Year's Day, the third Monday of January--Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the third Monday in February--George Washington's birthday/President's Day, the tenth day of May--Confederate Memorial Day, the last Monday of May--National Memorial Day, the twenty-eighth day of June--Carolina Day, the fourth day of July--Independence Day, the first Monday in September--Labor Day, the eleventh day of November--Veterans Day, National Thanksgiving Day and the day after, and the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth days of December in each year are legal holidays.

(B)    The holiday schedules of public colleges and universities, including technical colleges, shall may not be in violation of this section so long as the number of holidays provided for in this section are not exceeded."

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