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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-325 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO SCHOOL, SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING MAY PROHIBIT ON SCHOOL PROPERTY THE WEARING OF PATRIOTIC CLOTHING OR DISPLAY ON CLOTHING OF PATRIOTIC SYMBOLS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT NOTHING IN THIS SECTION PREVENTS A SCHOOL, SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING FROM PROHIBITING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY THE WEARING OF PATRIOTIC CLOTHING OR THE DISPLAY ON CLOTHING OF PATRIOTIC SYMBOLS WHEN COMBINED WITH POLITICAL, VULGAR, OR OTHER PROHIBITED STATEMENTS, IMAGES, OR SLOGANS AS BANNED BY SCHOOL POLICY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-1-325. (A) No school, school district, or institution of higher learning as defined in Section 59-103-5 may prohibit on school property the wearing of patriotic clothing or display on clothing of patriotic symbols. Nothing in this section prevents a school, school district, or institution of higher learning from prohibiting on school property the wearing of patriotic clothing or the display on clothing of patriotic symbols when combined with political, vulgar, or other prohibited statements, images, or slogans as banned by school policy.
(B) The term 'patriotic' as used in this section means items or language which connotes our American Heritage including, but not limited to, the name 'United States of America' or any variation of it, the use of the colors red, white, and blue in combination, the depiction of the American Flag or a reasonable facsimile of the flag, representations of our country's founding fathers or Uncle Sam, representations of our country's founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, and verses of anthems or songs reflecting our country's history such as the Star-Spangled Banner or America. "
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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