Bill 4587

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    4587
Ratification Number:            462
Act Number:                     322
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19980204
Primary Sponsor:                Bauer
All Sponsors:                   Bauer, Barfield, Witherspoon,
                                Bowers, Altman, Seithel, Lanford,
                                Easterday, Bailey, Leach, J. Smith,
                                Meacham, Sandifer, Littlejohn, Simrill,
                                Mullen, Knotts, Fleming, Klauber,
                                Walker, Kelley, Koon, Stoddard, Stille,
                                Beck, R. Smith, Harrell, Chellis,
                                Clyburn, Barrett, Rhoad,
                                Young-Brickell, Allison, Hamilton,
                                Campsen, Kinon, Whatley, D. Smith,
                                Gamble, Rodgers, McLeod, Tripp,
                                Davenport, Jordan, Vaughn, Keegan,
                                J. Brown, Cato, Baxley, Maddox,
                                Jennings, Neilson, Limehouse and
                                A. Harris 
Drafted Document Number:        gjk\21117sd.98
Companion Bill Number:          1016
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980603
Date of Last Amendment:         19980527
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19980605
Subject:                        School districts, curriculum; U.S.
                                Constitution, Declaration of
                                Independence studies; Veteran's Day,
                                Holidays

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

------  19980611  Act No. A322
------  19980605  Signed by Governor
------  19980604  Ratified R462
House   19980603  Concurred in Senate amendment,
                  enrolled for ratification
Senate  19980527  Read third time, returned to House
                  with amendment
Senate  19980527  Amended
Senate  19980526  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  19980514  Committee report: Favorable              04 SED
Senate  19980421  Introduced, read first time,             04 SED
                  referred to Committee
House   19980415  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19980414  Amended, read second time
House   19980408  Committee report: Favorable with         21 HEPW
                  amendment
House   19980204  Introduced, read first time,             21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee

(A322, R462, H4587)

AN ACT 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 AT LEAST ONE HOUR TO A STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, TO PROVIDE THAT SCHOOLS ON VETERAN'S DAY MAY PERMIT STUDENTS TO ATTEND ACTIVITIES TO HONOR VETERANS AT LOCATIONS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES WITH PRIOR PARENTAL CONSENT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH ATTENDANCE SHALL COUNT AS PART OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.

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

Instruction required; attendance at veteran's activities

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 at least one hour of the school day in either classroom instruction or at a student body assembly program to study the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. If any such school is not open on November eleventh, this instruction or assembly program must be given on the day the school is open immediately preceding November eleventh.

(C) On November eleventh of each year, schools may permit students to attend activities to commemorate and honor veterans that are held at locations within their respective counties. The parent of a student seeking to be excused pursuant to this subsection shall provide prior written consent to the appropriate school personnel. Attendance at such activities shall count as a part of the instructional day for purposes of Section 59-1-440.

Time effective

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

Approved the 5th day of June, 1998.