REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES Rep. BARFIELD, from the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions, submitted a favorable report on: H. 5044 -- Rep. Horne: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION SO AS TO DESIGNATE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTIST JONATHAN GREEN AS THE OFFICIAL STATE ARTIST. Ordered for consideration tomorrow. Rep. OWENS, from the Committee on Education and Public Works, submitted a favorable report with amendments on: H. 4840 -- Reps. Putnam, Owens, Stringer, Burns, Rivers, Bowen, Clyburn, Thayer, Wood, Wells, Dillard, Robinson-Simpson, R. L. Brown and Mitchell: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA ACCESSIBILITY ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-43-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2015, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL SELECT A TEST OR TEST BATTERY THAT ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES SUCCESSFULLY MAY COMPLETE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT TEST BATTERY TO RECEIVE A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA, THAT AN ESSENTIAL TRAIT OF THIS TEST OR TEST BATTERY MUST BE THAT IT ONLY MAY BE OFFERED IN A HANDWRITTEN, PAPER AND PEN OR PENCIL FORMAT AND MAY NOT BE DEPENDENT ON COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS ADMINISTRATION, TO REQUIRE THE BOARD SHALL AUTHORIZE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS TEST BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PURSUANT TO CERTAIN REGULATIONS AND POLICIES, AND TO PROVIDE THE BOARD SHALL ISSUE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMAS TO ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES WHO COMPLETE SUCCESSFULLY THE TEST OR TEST BATTERY AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-43-20, RELATING TO POWERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WITH RESPECT TO BASIC ADULT AND
BIENNIALLY; TO AMEND SECTION 59-32-30, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, SO AS TO PROVIDE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INSTRUCTION BE MEDICALLY ACCURATE IN ADDITION TO EXISTING REQUIREMENTS, TO CHANGE THE GRADE LEVELS IN WHICH THE INSTRUCTION MUST BE OFFERED, TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION, TO PROVIDE THAT IF A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD DOES NOT REVIEW AND SELECT AN INSTRUCTIONAL UNIT IN COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION IN A CERTAIN MANNER, THEY MUST USE THE UNIT OFFERED BY THE STATE BOARD, AND TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT INSTRUCTION IN PREGNANCY PREVENTION EDUCATION BE PRESENTED SEPARATELY TO MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS; TO AMEND SECTION RELATING TO STAFF DEVELOPMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHERS OF COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND PREGNANCY PREVENTION INSTRUCTION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-32-60, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT, SO AS TO REQUIRE EACH DISTRICT REPORT ITS COMPLIANCE IN A CERTAIN MANNER AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COMPILE AND PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THESE REPORTS TO SPECIFIC RECIPIENTS. The Committee on Education and Public Works proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 3435 (COUNCIL\AGM\3435C001. AGM.AB14): Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting: / SECTION 1. Section 593210 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered subsection at the end to read: “(8) ‘Medically accurate information’ means information supported by peerreviewed research that complies with accepted scientific methods, published in or by medical, scientific, psychological, sociological, government, or public health publications, organizations, or agencies such as the United States Centers for