H 4576 General Bill, By Robinson, Battle, Cato, Chellis, Emory, Harrison, 
Hinson, Leach, Littlejohn, J.M. Neal, Rice, Trotter and Vaughn
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 43-5-1120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO WELFARE AGREEMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR
 WELFARE RECIPIENTS SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO
 INCLUDE COURSES IN WELFARE AGREEMENTS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP PROFICIENCY IN THE
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE IF THE WELFARE RECIPIENT RELIES ON A FOREIGN LANGUAGE FOR
 SOME OR ALL COMMUNICATIONS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT A PERSON'S FAILURE TO
 COMPLETE THESE COURSES IS NOT GROUNDS FOR DENYING OR TERMINATING SERVICES.

   01/24/02  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-4
   01/24/02  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-4

TO AMEND SECTION 43-5-1120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO WELFARE AGREEMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO INCLUDE COURSES IN WELFARE AGREEMENTS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP PROFICIENCY IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IF THE WELFARE RECIPIENT RELIES ON A FOREIGN LANGUAGE FOR SOME OR ALL COMMUNICATIONS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT A PERSON'S FAILURE TO COMPLETE THESE COURSES IS NOT GROUNDS FOR DENYING OR TERMINATING SERVICES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 43-5-1120 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 133 of 1997, is further amended by adding at the end:

    "(E)    The department may include in a welfare agreement courses designed to develop proficiency in the English language if an applicant or recipient relies on a foreign language for some or all communication. However, the applicant's or recipient's failure to attend or complete these courses is not, in and of itself, grounds for denying or terminating a stipend or services in the Family Independence program."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.