Current Status Bill Number:4587 Ratification Number:462 Act Number:322 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19980204 Primary Sponsor:Bauer All Sponsors:Bauer, Barfield, Witherspoon, Bowers, Altman, Seithel, Lanford, Easterday, Bailey, Leach, J. Smith, Meacham, Sandifer, Littlejohn, Simrill, Mullen, Knotts, Fleming, Klauber, Walker, Kelley, Koon, Stoddard, Stille, Beck, R. Smith, Harrell, Chellis, Clyburn, Barrett, Rhoad, Young-Brickell, Allison, Hamilton, Campsen, Kinon, Whatley, D. Smith, Gamble, Rodgers, McLeod, Tripp, Davenport, Jordan, Vaughn, Keegan, J. Brown, Cato, Baxley, Maddox, Jennings, Neilson, Limehouse and A. Harris Drafted Document Number:gjk\21117sd.98 Companion Bill Number:1016 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19980603 Date of Last Amendment:19980527 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19980605 Subject:School districts, curriculum; U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence studies; Veteran's Day, Holidays
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ ------ 19980611 Act No. A322 ------ 19980605 Signed by Governor ------ 19980604 Ratified R462 House 19980603 Concurred in Senate amendment, enrolled for ratification Senate 19980527 Read third time, returned to House with amendment Senate 19980527 Amended Senate 19980526 Read second time, notice of general amendments Senate 19980514 Committee report: Favorable 04 SED Senate 19980421 Introduced, read first time, 04 SED referred to Committee House 19980415 Read third time, sent to Senate House 19980414 Amended, read second time House 19980408 Committee report: Favorable with 21 HEPW amendment House 19980204 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A322, R462, H4587)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, AND THE FEDERALIST PAPERS AS A REQUISITE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ON VETERAN'S DAY OF EACH YEAR OR ON ANOTHER SPECIFIED DAY IF SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED ON VETERAN'S DAY, ALL ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE SHALL DEVOTE AT LEAST ONE HOUR TO A STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, TO PROVIDE THAT SCHOOLS ON VETERAN'S DAY MAY PERMIT STUDENTS TO ATTEND ACTIVITIES TO HONOR VETERANS AT LOCATIONS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES WITH PRIOR PARENTAL CONSENT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH ATTENDANCE SHALL COUNT AS PART OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Instruction required; attendance at veteran's activities
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, including the study of and devotion to American institutions and ideals, and no student in any such 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) On November eleventh of each year which is a legal holiday in this State as provided by Section 53-5-10 to commemorate and honor veterans, all elementary, middle, and high schools in this State if they are open, shall devote at least one hour of the school day in either classroom instruction or at a student body assembly program to study the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. If any such school is not open on November eleventh, this instruction or assembly program must be given on the day the school is open immediately preceding November eleventh.
(C) On November eleventh of each year, schools may permit students to attend activities to commemorate and honor veterans that are held at locations within their respective counties. The parent of a student seeking to be excused pursuant to this subsection shall provide prior written consent to the appropriate school personnel. Attendance at such activities shall count as a part of the instructional day for purposes of Section 59-1-440.
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 5th day of June, 1998.