H*4913(Rat #0270, Act #0228 of 2018)  General Bill, By M. Rivers, Herbkersman, 
W. Newton, J.E. Smith, Cobb-Hunter, Gilliard, Bamberg, Thigpen, Kirby, Hosey, 
Williams, Henegan, Alexander, Weeks, Jefferson, Robinson-Simpson, Caskey, Brown, 
Dillard, Hart, Howard, Murphy, Pendarvis, Erickson, McEachern, Bowers, Bradley and 
Govan
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 53-3-230 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE SECOND SATURDAY OF NOVEMBER OF EACH YEAR AS
 "PENN CENTER HERITAGE DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA. - ratified title

   02/13/18  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 30)
   02/13/18  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 30)
   03/01/18  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Erickson
   04/04/18  House  Recalled from Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 31)
   04/05/18  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     McEachern, Bowers, Bradley, Govan
   04/05/18  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 40)
   04/05/18  House  Roll call Yeas-96  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 40)
   04/05/18  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 41)
   04/06/18  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 5)
   04/09/18  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 17)
   04/09/18  Senate Referred to Committee on General
                     (Senate Journal-page 17)
   04/25/18  Senate Committee report: Favorable General
                     (Senate Journal-page 15)
   05/01/18  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 26)
   05/01/18  Senate Roll call Ayes-41  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 26)
   05/08/18  Senate Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 37)
   05/14/18         Ratified R 270
   05/18/18         Signed By Governor
   05/25/18         Effective date 05/18/18
   05/31/18         Act No. 228

(A228, R270, H4913)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-230 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE SECOND SATURDAY OF NOVEMBER OF EACH YEAR AS "PENN CENTER HERITAGE DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, founded in 1862, Penn School was one of the first academic schools in the South established by Northern missionaries, to provide a formal education for formerly enslaved West Africans. After the school closed in 1948, Penn became the first African American site in South Carolina whose primary purpose was to safeguard the heritage of a Gullah Geechee community; and

Whereas, later, in the 1960s, Penn Center took up the mantle of social justice by ushering in the Civil Rights Movement and serving as the only location in South Carolina where interracial groups, such as Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Peace Corps could have safe sanctuary in an era of mandated segregation; and

Whereas, Penn Center continues to thrive as a national monument promoting historic preservation, as well as a catalyst for economic sustainability throughout the Sea Islands. Its far-reaching impact on local, national, and international communities has been the greatest legacy of the Penn Center's history; and

Whereas, the mission of Penn Center is to promote and preserve Penn's true history and culture through its commitment to education, community development, and social justice; and

Whereas, Penn Center's vision is that it will be a world-class organization that serves as a local, national, and international resource center, and catalyst for the development of programs for community self-sufficiency, civil and human rights, and positive change. Penn Center will encourage the development of critical thinking, creative skills, and social consciousness through preserving and documenting history, collecting and exhibiting, presenting, and exploring ideas. Now, therefore,

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

Penn Center Heritage Day

SECTION    1.    Chapter 3, Title 53 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 53-3-230.    The second Saturday of November of each year is designated as 'Penn Center Heritage Day' in South Carolina to promote and preserve Penn Center's true history and culture through its commitment to education, community development, and social justice."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 14th day of May, 2018.

Approved the 18th day of May, 2018.