Greenville Leader

South Carolina education and medical groups have called for a special session of the General Assembly in order to give authority to decide face mask requirements back to local school districts.

The groups issued a joint statement Sept. 21, asking state Speaker of the House Jay Lucas and Senate President Harvey Peeler to call for the special session, the Greenville News said. 

The groups want a repeal of Proviso 1.108, the “SDE: Mask Mandate Prohibition.”

Issuing the joint statement was the South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, South Carolina Association of School Nurses, South Carolina PTA, The South Carolina Education Association, and Palmetto State Teachers Association, Greenville News said.

“In the midst of a pandemic, there is no higher calling for our state than to ensure the safety, the health and the in-person learning of every student in this state, ” Patrick Kelly, director of governmental affairs for the Palmetto State Teachers Association, said in a video of the press conference announcing the joint statement. “The coalition of partners that you will hear from today are asking for the General Assembly to reconvene in a special session in order to repeal Proviso 1.108 as well as the proviso (1.103) dealing with virtual instruction so that local school boards are empowered to implement the mitigation strategies that work best in their local context with their local health conditions.” 

Proviso 1.108 is part of Bill H. 4100, Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

“No school district, or any of its schools, may use any funds appropriated or authorized pursuant to this act to require that its students and/or employees wear a facemask at any of its education facilities,” Proviso 1.108 read. “This prohibition extends to the announcement or enforcement of any such policy.”

The 124th (2021-22) South Carolina General Assembly’s first regular session has adjourned, the legislature’s website said. 

The South Carolina Senate will reconvene Oct. 12, for “redistricting and supplemental appropriations,” FitsNews reported.