South Carolina General Assembly
112th Session, 1997-1998

Bill 1016


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       1016
Type of Legislation:               General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                  Senate
Introduced Date:                   19980211
Primary Sponsor:                   Wilson
All Sponsors:                      Wilson, Ravenel, Anderson,
                                   Moore, McConnell, Grooms, Ryberg,
                                   Courtney, Hayes, Branton, Thomas,
                                   Lander, Leatherman, Setzler, Bryan,
                                   Drummond, Mescher, J. Verne Smith,
                                   Saleeby, Fair, Courson, Peeler,
                                   O'Dell, Giese, Martin, Passailaigue,
                                   Hutto, Holland, Russell, Leventis,
                                   Waldrep and McGill 
Drafted Document Number:           gjk\21114sd.98
Companion Bill Number:             4587
Residing Body:                     Senate
Current Committee:                 Education Committee 04
                                   SED
Subject:                           School districts to study U.S.
                                   Constitution and Declaration of
                                   Independence on Veteran's Day;
                                   curriculum



History


Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

Senate  19980211  Introduced, read first time,             04 SED
                  referred to Committee

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

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 THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DAY TO A STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

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 the entire school day to a study of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. If any such school is not open on November eleventh, this day-long instruction must be given on the day the school is open immediately preceding November eleventh. High schools during this required period of day-long instruction may use regular curriculum materials designed and developed for the purpose of implementing the provisions of subsection (A) of this section."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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