Bill > S0214

This bill amends the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding the State Commission for Minority Affairs by removing the requirement that a majority of its members must be African American. The bill renames the commission to the "Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement" and modifies its composition and purpose. The nine-member commission would still be appointed by the Governor, with one member from each congressional district and two at-large members, serving four-year terms. The bill broadens the commission's focus from specifically minority communities to include rural and under-resourced communities more generally. Key responsibilities remain similar, including providing statistical assistance, working with elected officials, publishing community data, and seeking funding for community programs. The commission will continue to have advisory roles, particularly in areas like Native American Indian entity recognition, but the language is updated to be more inclusive and less specifically race-focused. The bill maintains the commission's core mission of addressing socioeconomic inequities while removing explicit racial composition requirements, potentially allowing for a more diverse membership that reflects the state's broader demographic composition.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0214&session=126&summary=B