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
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved ____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________ 4611 House 19940126 Introduced, read first time, 21 referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
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.