Bill 3113

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       3113
Type of Legislation:               General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19950110
Primary Sponsor:                   Davenport 
All Sponsors:                      Davenport 
Drafted Document Number:           JIC\5183AC.95
Residing Body:                     House
Current Committee:                 Education and Public Works
                                   Committee 21 HEPW
Subject:                           Students, exercise of
                                   rights

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

House   19950110  Introduced, read first time,             21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee
House   19941214  Prefiled, referred to Committee          21 HEPW

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-275 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN RIGHTS THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT MAY EXERCISE TO REQUIRE A WRITTEN REPRIMAND FOR A FIRST VIOLATION BY AN EMPLOYEE WHO PREVENTS OR INTERFERES WITH THE EXERCISE OF THESE RIGHTS AND TO REQUIRE TERMINATION OF THE EMPLOYEE FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-63-275. (A) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a student in a public school in this State has the right to:

(1) meet with other students for prayer, Bible study, and worship;

(2) wear religious T-shirts, symbols, and buttons at school;

(3) share religion on campus;

(4) hand out religious tracts on campus;

(5) engage in voluntary school prayer;

(6) bring a Bible to school;

(7) present school projects from a religious perspective;

(8) study and practice religious holidays on campus;

(9) have religious clubs on campus;

(10) live out the student's religious faith.

However, in excercising these rights a student may not hamper or interfere with the normal day-to-day operations or activities of the school.

(B) An employee of a public school who knowingly prevents or interferes with a student from exercising any of the rights provided for in subsection (A) upon a first violation must receive a written reprimand and for a second or subsequent violation must be immediately terminated."

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