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TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REQUISITE STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND OTHER TEXTS REFLECTING THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND PUBLICLY-SUPPORTED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES MAY SATISFY THE INSTRUCTIONAL COMPONENT OF THIS REQUIREMENT BY PROVIDING AND ASSIGNING CERTAIN RELATED READING; TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-130, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THESE SUBJECTS BE GIVEN FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENT FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-140, RELATING TO THE ROLE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION TO ENFORCE THESE STUDY REQUIREMENTS AND PRESCRIBE SUITABLE TEXTS, SO AS TO TRANSFER THESE FUNCTIONS, WITH RESPECT TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, TO THE COMMISSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-29-120(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(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. With respect to colleges and universities, the instruction required in this section may be satisfied by providing and assigning related reading materials selected by the Commission on Higher Education."
SECTION 2. Section 59-29-130 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-29-130. The instruction provided for in Section 59-29-120 shall must be given:
(1) for at least one year of the in high school, college and university grades, respectively; and
(2) at least once during the matriculation of undergraduate students in college and universities."
SECTION 3. Section 59-29-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-29-140. (A) The State Superintendent of Education shall make due appropriate arrangements for carrying out the provisions of Sections 59-29-120 and 59-29-130 with respect to high schools. For such this purpose, the State Superintendent shall prescribe suitable texts adapted to the needs of the high schools, universities and colleges for the instruction required under Sections 59-29-120 and 59-29-130.
(B) The Commission on Higher Education shall make appropriate arrangements for carrying out the provisions of Sections 59-29-120 and 59-29-130. For this purpose, the commission shall prescribe suitable tests the public colleges and universities shall use for the instruction required under Sections 59-29-120 and 59-29-130."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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