South Carolina General Assembly
110th Session, 1993-1994

Bill 4611


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    4611
Primary Sponsor:                Rudnick
Committee Number:               21
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        High school curriculum, U.S.
                                history and democracy
Residing Body:                  House
Current Committee:              Education and Public Works
Computer Document Number:       GJK/20275SD.94
Introduced Date:                19940126
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              19940126
Last History Type:              Introduced, read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Rudnick
                                G. Brown
                                Govan
                                McLeod
                                Waites
                                Shissias
                                J. Bailey
                                Sturkie
                                Barber
                                Riser
                                Thomas
                                Baxley
Type of Legislation:            General Bill



History


Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

4611  House   19940126      Introduced, read first time,    21
                            referred to Committee

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTIONS 59-29-120, AS AMENDED, 59-29-130 AND 59-29-140, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STUDYING OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND OTHER TEXTS REFLECTING THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND PUBLICLY-SUPPORTED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF THIS STATE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL SHALL STUDY THE IMPORTANCE OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY AND HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE, AND TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH ALL THIS INSTRUCTION IS TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND PUBLICLY-SUPPORTED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF THIS STATE.

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

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, and in the importance of citizen participation in democracy and how to register to vote in South Carolina including the study of and devotion to American institutions and ideals, and no student in any such high 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) All publicly-supported colleges and universities in this State shall give instruction in the essentials of American government organized around the United States Constitution, including instruction on 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 college or university may receive a diploma without previously passing a satisfactory examination upon the essentials of American government and 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."

SECTION 2. Section 59-29-130 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-29-130. (A) The instruction provided for in Section 59-29-120 shall must be given for at least one year of the high school, college and university grades, respectively.

(B) The instruction in Section 59-29-120(B) must be given in a single course of at least three semester hours or five quarter hours in the colleges and universities."

SECTION 3. Section 59-29-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-29-140. (A) The State Superintendent of Education shall make due arrangements for carrying out the provisions of Sections 59-29-120 and 59-29-130. For such this purpose the State Superintendent shall prescribe suitable texts adapted to the needs of the high schools, universities and colleges for the instruction required under Sections 59-29-120(A) and 59-29-130(B).

(B)The boards of trustees of publicly-supported colleges and universities in South Carolina shall make arrangements for carrying out the provisions of Sections 59-29-120(B) and 59-29-130(B)."

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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