H*4587 Session 112 (1997-1998)
H*4587(Rat #0462, Act #0322 of 1998) General Bill, By Bauer, Allison, Altman,
Bailey, Barfield, Barrett, J.M. Baxley, Beck, Bowers, J. Brown, Campsen, Cato,
Chellis, Clyburn, Davenport, Easterday, Fleming, Gamble, Hamilton, Harrell,
Harris, Jennings, B.L. Jordan, Keegan, Kelley, M.H. Kinon, Klauber, Knotts,
Koon, Lanford, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Maddox, W. McLeod, Meacham,
V.T. Mullen, Neilson, Rhoad, Rodgers, Sandifer, Seithel, Simrill, D. Smith,
J. Smith, R. Smith, Stille, E.C. Stoddard, Tripp, Vaughn, Walker, Whatley,
Witherspoon and Young-Brickell
Similar(S 1016)
A BILL 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.-AMENDED TITLE
02/04/98 House Introduced and read first time HJ-32
02/04/98 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public
Works HJ-33
04/08/98 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Education and Public Works HJ-9
04/14/98 House Amended HJ-37
04/14/98 House Read second time HJ-38
04/15/98 House Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-19
04/21/98 Senate Introduced and read first time
04/21/98 Senate Referred to Committee on Education
05/14/98 Senate Committee report: Favorable Education SJ-16
05/26/98 Senate Read second time SJ-44
05/26/98 Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
amendments SJ-44
05/27/98 Senate Amended SJ-104
05/27/98 Senate Read third time and returned to House with
amendments SJ-104
06/03/98 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-21
06/04/98 Ratified R 462
06/05/98 Signed By Governor
06/05/98 Effective date 06/05/98
06/17/98 Copies available
06/17/98 Act No. 322
(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. |