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Article published Mar 22, 2006
The Senate gave final approval to legislation Tuesday that gives the governor the authority to lower Statehouse flags to recognize deaths of national figures.
The legislation still must be ratified, but Gov. Mark Sanford said when it hits his desk he will order the flags lowered to honor the late civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks.
When Parks died in October, Sanford said state law did not allow him to lower the Statehouse flags even though they were lowered on federal buildings just a few blocks away.
The bill says the governor can lower the flags to recognize the death of an extraordinary person or any time the federal government orders flags lowered.