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Indicates Matter Stricken
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AMENDED--NOT PRINTED IN THE HOUSE
Amt. No. 39 (Doc. Name Council\GJK\Amend\21046som00.doc)
March 2, 2000
S. 60
S. Printed 2/9/00--H.
Read the first time January 28, 1999.
TO AMEND SECTION 53-5-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LEGAL HOLIDAYS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY AND CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY SHALL BE REGULAR, RATHER THAN OPTIONAL, HOLIDAYS; TO DELETE REFERENCES TO ROBERT E. LEE'S BIRTHDAY AND JEFFERSON DAVIS' BIRTHDAY AS HOLIDAYS; AND TO MAKE GENERAL ELECTION DAY AN OPTIONAL, RATHER THAN REGULAR, HOLIDAY.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 53-5-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 53-5-10. The first day of January - New Year's Day, the fifteenth day third Monday of January - Civil Rights Day, the nineteenth day of January, the third Monday in February - George Washington's Birthday/President's Day, the tenth day of May - Confederate Memorial Day, the last Monday of May - National Memorial Day, the third day of June, the fourth day of July - Independence Day, the first Monday in September - Labor Day, the eleventh day of November - Veterans Day, National Thanksgiving Day and the day after, and the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth days of December in each year are legal holidays.
State employees may select, prior to the first day of January, in writing on a form provided by their employer, one of the following nonnational holidays: Martin Luther King's birthday, January 15; Robert E. Lee's birthday, January 19; Confederate Memorial Day, May 10; or Jefferson Davis' birthday, June 3, or, in the alternative, select a day of their choice.
All general election days are legal holidays in addition to the above.
The holiday schedules of public colleges and universities including technical colleges shall not be in violation of this section so long as the number of holidays provided for in this section are not exceeded."
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 53-5-15. No monument, marker, painting, sculpture, memorial, street, highway, bridge, or park located on public property of the State or its political subdivisions which honors the memory of the Confederacy or individuals who served in the Confederate Army, Navy, or Marine Corps or the Women of the Confederacy or which honors the memory of the civil rights struggle or individuals who participated in the civil rights struggle may be removed or renamed without two-thirds vote of each house of the General Assembly."
SECTION 3. When the Confederate Battle Flag is flown it perpetuates the memory of our ancestors and honors the heroism they exhibited in many battles during the horrific conflict known as the War Between the States.
The Confederate Battle Flag is not a racist banner per se. South Carolina deplores and condemns the misuse of this banner for political or racial purposes. The Confederate Battle Flag is a military banner, which was used by Southern troops in combat.
South Carolina displays the Confederate Battle Flag, with honor, as a symbol of our heritage. It is not flown in defiance of any government or as a statement regarding any civil rights, constitutional, or racial issues.
SECTION 4.This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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