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H. 3539
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. J.E. Smith, Bannister, Simrill, Bernstein, King, Govan, McKnight, Williams, Norrell, Tinkler, Henegan, Bales, Jefferson, Hicks, Newton, Funderburk, Huggins, Ridgeway, Collins, Pitts and White
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ms\7084ahb15.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 437
Introduced in the House on February 5, 2015
Introduced in the Senate on April 23, 2015
Last Amended on April 22, 2015
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Education
Summary: James B. Edwards Civics Education Initiative
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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2/5/2015 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 8)
2/5/2015 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
(House Journal-page 8)
2/10/2015 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bernstein,
King, Govan, McKnight, Williams, Norrell, Tinkler,
Henegan, Bales, Jefferson, Hicks, Newton
2/11/2015 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Funderburk
2/17/2015 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Huggins
2/19/2015 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ridgeway
2/25/2015 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Collins
4/21/2015 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and
Public Works (House Journal-page 5)
4/22/2015 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pitts, White
4/22/2015 House Amended (House Journal-page 37)
4/22/2015 House Read second time (House Journal-page 37)
4/22/2015 House Roll call Yeas-98 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 39)
4/23/2015 House Read third time and sent to Senate
(House Journal-page 23)
4/23/2015 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 8)
4/23/2015 Senate Referred to Committee on Education
(Senate Journal-page 8)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
AMENDED
April 22, 2015
H. 3539
Introduced by Reps. J.E. Smith, Bannister, Simrill, Bernstein, King, Govan, McKnight, Williams, Norrell, Tinkler, Henegan, Bales, Jefferson, Hicks, Newton, Funderburk, Huggins, Ridgeway, Collins, Pitts and White
S. Printed 4/22/15--H.
Read the first time February 5, 2015.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-240 SO AS TO ENACT THE "JAMES B. EDWARDS CIVICS EDUCATION INITIATIVE" TO REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS OF PUBLIC OR CHARTER SCHOOLS OR PERSONS PURSUING A GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE IN THIS STATE TO TAKE THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP CIVICS TEST PRODUCED BY THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, TO DIRECT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO AWARD A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT TO ALL STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE A GRADE OF 60 OR BETTER ON THE TEST, AND TO DIRECT THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS TO REPORT RESULTS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR INCLUSION IN THE REPORT CARD FOR EACH SCHOOL, AS APPLICABLE.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
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.
This web page was last updated on April 24, 2015 at 10:52 AM