Reference is to Printer's Date 03/24/15-S.
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "James B. Edwards Civics Education Initiative".
SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 29, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section
59-29-240. (A) For purposes of this section, 'civics test' means the one hundred questions that, as of January 1, 2015, and updated accordingly, officers of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services use in order that the applicants can demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of United States history and the principles and form of United States government, as required by 8 U.S.C. 1423.
(B) As part of the high
school curriculum regarding the United States government
required credit, students are required to take the civics test,
as defined in subsection (A), provided there is no cost to a
school or school district for obtaining and giving the test, but
are not required to obtain a minimum score. However, a student
who receives a passing grade, as determined by the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services, or better, may be
recognized by the school district. This requirement applies to
each student enrolled in a public or charter school in this
State. This requirement does not apply to a student who is
exempted in accordance with the student's individualized
education program plan.
(C) Each public school,
including charter schools, must report the percentage of
students at or above the designated passing score on the test to
the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee which must then
include such on the school report card.
(D) No school or school
district of this State may impose or collect any fees or charges
in connection with this section.
(E) This section must
be applied to any student entering ninth grade beginning in the
2016-2017 school year."
SECTION 3. If any
section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause,
phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be
unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the
constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this
act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have
passed this act, and each and every section, subsection,
paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word
thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other
sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences,
clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be
unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.