University of South Carolina Mask Mandate Deemed to be in Violation of State Law

Representative Stewart Jones (SC House District 14) authored and passed two provisos (117.190 and 1.108) in the FY21-22 budget that ensured mask mandates and vaccine passports could not be forced in K-12 and publicly funded colleges.

It’s no surprise that some schools are pushing back.

The College of Charleston challenged the provisos when they announced the policy for the fall semester. ( https://www.fitsnews.com/2021/07/07/college-of-charleston-amends-covid-19-vaccination-policies-following-concerns-raised-by-sc-attorney-general/ )

The University of South Carolina (USC) has also challenged the provisos by announcing they would require masks and pushed the idea of vaccine passports. Last Friday, Dr. Harris Pastides, interim President of the University of South Carolina, issued a directive that beginning August 2, 2021, all students, faculty and staff would be required to wear face masks inside university facilities, regardless of whether they had tested positive for COVID or received one of the vaccines. Naturally this caused a stir, since most everyone thought that the state legislature prohibited such a mandate, through the pair of provisos attached to this year’s budget.

In a letter on July 24th, 2021, Rep. Jones asked Attorney General Wilson to issue an opinion on the University of South Carolina’s requirement for a “proof of covid-19 vaccination record” and the mandatory mask requirement.

AG Wilson responded with his letter of August 2, 2021, to the President of USC calling for the school to comply with the law. Read the letter in its entirety in the attached images.

The Buzz reached out to Rep. Jones for comment on the evolving situation.

“Thank you, Attorney General Alan Wilson, for defending the intent of the provisos the General Assembly passed stopping vaccine passports and mask mandates in any publicly funded South Carolina college,” said Representative Stewart Jones.  “This is a major win for the liberty of students.”

There will be more on this, and the BUZZ will keep you posted on any developments.