H*4587(Rat #0462, Act #0322 of 1998)  General Bill, By Bauer, Allison, Altman, 
Bailey, Barfield, Barrett, J.M. Baxley, Beck, Bowers, J. Brown, Campsen, Cato, 
Chellis, Clyburn, Davenport, Easterday, Fleming, Gamble, Hamilton, Harrell, 
Harris, Jennings, B.L. Jordan, Keegan, Kelley, M.H. Kinon, Klauber, Knotts, 
Koon, Lanford, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Maddox, W. McLeod, Meacham, 
V.T. Mullen, Neilson, Rhoad, Rodgers, Sandifer, Seithel, Simrill, D. Smith, 
J. Smith, R. Smith, Stille, E.C. Stoddard, Tripp, Vaughn, Walker, Whatley, 
Witherspoon and Young-Brickell

Similar(S 1016)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE DECLARATION
 OF INDEPENDENCE, AND THE FEDERALIST PAPERS AS A REQUISITE FOR HIGH SCHOOL
 GRADUATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ON VETERAN'S DAY OF EACH YEAR OR ON ANOTHER
 SPECIFIED DAY IF SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED ON VETERAN'S DAY, ALL ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE,
 AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE SHALL DEVOTE AT LEAST ONE HOUR TO A STUDY OF
 THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, TO PROVIDE
 THAT SCHOOLS ON VETERAN'S DAY MAY PERMIT STUDENTS TO ATTEND ACTIVITIES TO
 HONOR VETERANS AT LOCATIONS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES WITH PRIOR
 PARENTAL CONSENT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH ATTENDANCE SHALL COUNT AS PART OF
 THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.-AMENDED TITLE

   02/04/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-32
   02/04/98  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-33
   04/08/98  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-9
   04/14/98  House  Amended HJ-37
   04/14/98  House  Read second time HJ-38
   04/15/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-19
   04/21/98  Senate Introduced and read first time
   04/21/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
   05/14/98  Senate Committee report: Favorable Education SJ-16
   05/26/98  Senate Read second time SJ-44
   05/26/98  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-44
   05/27/98  Senate Amended SJ-104
   05/27/98  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-104
   06/03/98  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-21
   06/04/98         Ratified R 462
   06/05/98         Signed By Governor
   06/05/98         Effective date 06/05/98
   06/17/98         Copies available
   06/17/98         Act No. 322

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, AND THE FEDERALIST PAPERS AS A REQUISITE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ON VETERAN'S DAY OF EACH YEAR OR ON ANOTHER SPECIFIED DAY IF SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED ON VETERAN'S DAY, ALL ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE SHALL DEVOTE AT LEAST ONE HOUR TO A STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, TO PROVIDE THAT SCHOOLS ON VETERAN'S DAY MAY PERMIT STUDENTS TO ATTEND ACTIVITIES TO HONOR VETERANS AT LOCATIONS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES WITH PRIOR PARENTAL CONSENT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH ATTENDANCE SHALL COUNT AS PART OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.

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

Instruction required; attendance at veteran's activities

SECTION 1. Section 59-29-120 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 318 of 1990, is further amended to read:

Section 59-29-120. (A) All high schools, colleges, and universities in this State that are sustained or in any manner supported by public funds shall give instruction in the essentials of the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Federalist Papers, including the study of and devotion to American institutions and ideals, and no student in any such school, college, or university may receive a certificate of graduation without previously passing a satisfactory examination upon the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Federalist Papers, and, if a citizen of the United States, satisfying the examining power of his loyalty thereto.

(B) On November eleventh of each year which is a legal holiday in this State as provided by Section 53-5-10 to commemorate and honor veterans, all elementary, middle, and high schools in this State if they are open, shall devote at least one hour of the school day in either classroom instruction or at a student body assembly program to study the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. If any such school is not open on November eleventh, this instruction or assembly program must be given on the day the school is open immediately preceding November eleventh.

(C) On November eleventh of each year, schools may permit students to attend activities to commemorate and honor veterans that are held at locations within their respective counties. The parent of a student seeking to be excused pursuant to this subsection shall provide prior written consent to the appropriate school personnel. Attendance at such activities shall count as a part of the instructional day for purposes of Section 59-1-440.

Time effective

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

Approved the 5th day of June, 1998.