Current Status Bill Number:3462 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19950202 Primary Sponsor:Fair All Sponsors:Fair and Easterday Drafted Document Number:gjk\21266sd.95 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Subject:Biological origins, macroevolution
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19950202 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-77 SO AS TO PERMIT THE TEACHING OF BIOLOGICAL ORIGINS OTHER THAN THROUGH MACROEVOLUTION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-29-77. (A) School districts may allow the teaching of biological origins that does not have as its basic premise naturally occurring life (macroevolution). Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578, 107 S.Ct 2573, 96 L.Ed.2d 510 (1987), stated that `teaching a variety of scientific theories about ... origins ... to school children might be validly done with the clear secular intent of enhancing the effectiveness of science instruction.' 108 S.Ct at 2583.
(B) Textbooks discussing origins may be approved at the local school district level and must be approved by the local school board.
(C) For purposes of this section, macroevolution is defined as the premise that life evolved from nonlife or that randomness and chaos produced order and design."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.