Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:3143 Primary Sponsor:Meacham Committee Number:04 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Silent prayer, moment of in schools Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Education Computer Document Number:436/12736AC.93 Introduced Date:19930114 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:19930126 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Meacham Marchbanks Delleney Hodges J. Wilder Vaughn Allison Phillips Worley Klauber Davenport Simrill A. Young Carnell Felder Sharpe Keegan Harvin Lanford J. Harris Farr D. Smith Gamble Robinson J. Brown Walker Clyborne McMahand Baxley Witherspoon Trotter McAbee R. Smith Snow Waldrop Cato Tucker Fulmer G. Bailey Inabinett Williams Graham Wilkins Kelley Thomas Quinn Wofford Holt Harwell Littlejohn Harrison Cromer Moody-Lawrence Hutson Wells Stoddard McLeod Sturkie G. Brown Kinon Elliott Chamblee Wright Haskins P. Harris Rhoad Neilson McCraw Huff H. Brown Stuart Stone J. Bailey McTeer Law Kennedy Harrell Byrd Anderson Hines Govan Richardson Riser Jaskwhich Stille Hallman Townsend Spearman Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
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3143 Senate 19930126 Introduced, read first time, 04
referred to Committee
3143 House 19930120 Read third time, sent to
Senate
3143 House 19930119 Read second time
3143 House 19930119 Objection by Representative Cobb-Hunter
3143 House 19930114 Introduced, read first time,
placed on Calendar without
reference
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
INTRODUCED
January 14, 1993
H. 3143
Introduced by REPS. Meacham, Marchbanks, Delleney, Hodges, J. Wilder, Vaughn, Allison, Phillips, Worley, Klauber, Davenport, Simrill, A. Young, Carnell, Felder, Sharpe, Keegan, Harvin, Lanford, J. Harris, Farr, D. Smith, Gamble, Robinson, J. Brown, Walker, Clyborne, McMahand, Baxley, Witherspoon, Trotter, McAbee, R. Smith, Snow, Waldrop, Cato, Tucker, Fulmer, G. Bailey, Inabinett, Williams, Graham, Wilkins, Kelley, Thomas, Quinn, Wofford, Holt, Harwell, Littlejohn, Harrison, Cromer, Moody-Lawrence, Hutson, Wells, Stoddard, McLeod, Sturkie, G. Brown, Kinon, Elliott, Chamblee, Wright, Haskins, P. Harris, Rhoad, Neilson, McCraw, Huff, H. Brown, Stuart, Stone, J. Bailey, McTeer, Law, Kennedy, Harrell, Byrd, Anderson, Hines, Govan, Richardson, Riser, Jaskwhich, Stille, Hallman, Townsend and Spearman
S. Printed 1/14/93--H.
Read the first time January 14, 1993.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-442 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL SET ASIDE A ONE-MINUTE PERIOD FOR VOLUNTARY SILENT PRAYER AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that:
(1) the public school day is filled with an abundance of activities, demanding schedules, and substantial pressure for students and teachers;
(2) it is appropriate at the beginning of the school day to observe one minute of voluntary silent prayer, free of the myriad distractions that intrude on the educational process, so that students and teachers can contemplate the challenges of the upcoming school day and assume a frame of mind that promotes the proper atmosphere for learning and teaching.
SECTION 2. Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-1-442. Schools must set aside a one-minute period to allow for voluntary silent prayer at the beginning of each school day in all public elementary and secondary schools in this State. Students may participate on a voluntary basis."
SECTION 3. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any teacher or student to use the provisions of this act to advocate or promote any particular religious viewpoint.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.