S*1070(Rat #0321, Act #0240 of 2004)  General Bill, By Grooms
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 53-3-165 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE OF EACH YEAR AS SOUTH
 CAROLINA STATE GUARD WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA. - ratified title

   03/17/04  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-20
   03/17/04  Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-20
   03/24/04  Senate Committee report: Favorable General SJ-13
   03/25/04         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/06/04  Senate Read second time SJ-28
   04/07/04  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-24
   04/13/04  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-16
   04/13/04  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-16
   05/05/04  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-3
   05/06/04  House  Read second time HJ-87
   05/06/04  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-87
   05/07/04  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-1
   05/19/04         Ratified R 321
   05/24/04         Signed By Governor
   05/27/04         Copies available
   05/27/04         Effective date 05/24/04
   06/10/04         Act No. 240

(A240, R321, S1070)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-165 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE OF EACH YEAR AS SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the Military Department of the State of South Carolina is composed of four separate elements: the South Carolina Army National Guard; the South Carolina Air National Guard; the South Carolina State Guard; and the South Carolina Emergency Preparedness Division; and

Whereas, the origins of the South Carolina State Guard can be traced to the South Carolina Colonial Militia of Charles Towne Landing. First organized in 1670, the militia defended colonists from the Spanish and Native American Tribes; and

Whereas, the current mission of the state guard is to "organize, develop, train, and maintain a volunteer force within the military department to provide administrative, logistic, and environmental force multipliers for the military department"; and

Whereas, in a time of national emergency, should the national guard be called to service outside of the State, it is the responsibility of the state guard to assume the in-state duties and roles of the national guard which include assisting law enforcement in the preservation of law and order and providing security at vital installations; and

Whereas, in addition to providing emergency services, the state guard supports communities through the provision of color guards, military funerals, and assistance to law enforcement with traffic control at parades, festivals, and races; and

Whereas, given the vital role that the South Carolina State Guard has played and continues to play in meeting the security needs of the citizens of this State, it is fitting and proper for the members of the General Assembly to honor the men and women within its ranks by declaring the first week of June each year as South Carolina State Guard Week. Now, therefore,

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

State Guard Week

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

"Section 53-3-165.    The first week of June of each year is designated as South Carolina State Guard Week."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 19th day of May, 2004.

Approved the 24th day of May, 2004.