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
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ Senate 19980211 Introduced, read first time, 04 SED referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
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.