A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-315 SO AS TO provide EACH PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, OR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THIS STATE SHALL DISPLAY IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE IN EACH CLASSROOM OF THE SCHOOL A POSTER OR FRAMED COPY OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THAT MEETS CERTAIN SPECIFIED REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF SUCH POSTERS AND DONATIONS OF SURPLUS POSTERS.

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

SECTION 1.  Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    Section 59-1-315.  (A) Each public elementary, middle school, or secondary school in this State shall display in a conspicuous place in each classroom of the school a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments that meets the requirements of subsection (B).

    (B) A poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments required in subsection (A) must include the text of the Ten Commandments as provided by subsection (C) in a size and typeface that is legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom in which the poster or framed copy is displayed.

    (C) The text of the poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments required in subsection (A) must read as follows:

           THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

           I AM the LORD thy God.

           Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

           Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.

           Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.

           Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

           Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

           Thou shalt not murder.

           Thou shalt not commit adultery.

           Thou shalt not steal.

           Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

           Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.

           Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

    (D) A public elementary or secondary school in which each classroom does not include a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments required in subsection (A) shall:

       (1) accept any offer of a privately donated poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments provided that the poster or copy:

           (a) meets the requirements of subsection (B); and

           (b) does not contain any additional content; and

       (2) display the poster or framed copy as specified in subsection (A).

    (E) If a public elementary or secondary school has a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in each classroom that does not meet the requirements of subsection (B), the school shall replace the posters or copies with posters or copies that meet the requirements of subsection (B) using public funds or by accepting a private donation.

    (F) A public elementary or secondary school shall offer a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments described by subsection (A) in the school's possession that is not needed for display in a classroom as a donation to another public elementary or secondary school.

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect July 1, 2024.

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