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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-465 SO AS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, TO PROVIDE YOUTH PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES MAY ADDRESS PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING PATRIOTISM WEEK ABOUT HOW INVOLVEMENT IN THE YOUTH PATRIOTIC SOCIETY MAY FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL INTEREST AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT OF THE STUDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 53-3-150, RELATING TO PATRIOTISM WEEK, SO AS TO MAKE OBSERVATION OF PATRIOTISM WEEK IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS MANDATORY INSTEAD OF OPTIONAL, AND TO PROVIDE THIS OBSERVATION MUST INCLUDE TIME ALLOCATED FOR YOUTH PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES TO ADDRESS STUDENTS AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT; AND TO MAKE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2022.
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 59-1-465. (A) As used in this section:
(1) 'Youth patriotic society' means a youth membership organization listed in 36 U.S.C. Subtitle II, Part B, intended to promote patriotism and kindred virtues among boys, girls, or both; and
(2) 'Patriotism Week' means the annual Patriotism Week observation in the week that includes the eleventh day of November provided in Section 53-3-150.
(B) The principal of each elementary school, middle school, and high school shall allow representatives of youth patriotic societies the opportunity to speak with students during Patriotism Week events to inform the students of how their involvement in the youth patriotic society may further the student's educational interest and civic involvement to improve their schools, communities, and themselves. A youth patriotic society allowed to speak with students pursuant to this subsection may speak to students for ten minutes. A school is not required to allocate more than thirty minutes for use by youth patriotic societies under the provisions of this section annually.
(C) A youth patriotic society shall provide written or verbal notice to the principal of the society's intent to address students pursuant to subsection (B). The principal shall provide verbal or written approval indicating the specific date and time for the society to address the students and the location where the address may occur."
SECTION 2. Section 53-3-150(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B) The State Superintendent of Education shall encourage require school districts to:
(1) observe 'Patriotism Week' by holding appropriate ceremonies, events, and assemblies on school grounds, including time allotted for youth patriotic society addresses to students provided in Section 59-1-465; and
(2) develop appropriate curricula that focus on the purposes of 'Patriotism Week'."
SECTION 3. The provisions of this act take effect July 1, 2022.
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