H 4418 Joint Resolution, By Gilliard, Henegan and Hosey
 A JOINT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A STUDY COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE COSTS,
 FUNDING, FEASIBILITY, AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ERECTING A
 PERMANENT MONUMENT AT A SUITABLE LOCATION AT OR IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF
 MARION SQUARE IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, TO HONOR THE NINE MEMBERS OF
 MOTHER EMANUEL AME CHURCH WHOSE LIVES WERE TRAGICALLY CUT SHORT ON JUNE 17,
 2015; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMITTEE'S MEMBERSHIP, DURATION, AND STAFFING.

   12/03/15  House  Prefiled
   12/03/15  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/12/16  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 61)
   01/12/16  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 61)

ESTABLISHING A STUDY COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE COSTS, FUNDING, FEASIBILITY, AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ERECTING A PERMANENT MONUMENT AT A SUITABLE LOCATION AT OR IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF MARION SQUARE IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, TO HONOR THE NINE MEMBERS OF MOTHER EMANUEL AME CHURCH WHOSE LIVES WERE TRAGICALLY CUT SHORT ON JUNE 17, 2015; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMITTEE'S MEMBERSHIP, DURATION, AND STAFFING.

Whereas, the General Assembly and the State of South Carolina were shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely deaths of the nine members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston who on June 17, 2015, were attacked and slain by a gunman during a Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study; and

Whereas, refusing to allow this tragic event's legacy to be characterized solely by violence, grief, and racial division, the victims' families and the community of Charleston instead demonstrated an astonishing outpouring of reconciliation, forgiveness, and love; and

Whereas, it is fitting to commemorate and honor not only the remarkable lives that were tragically cut short on June 17, 2015, but also the mighty wind of reconciliation that swept across our State and nation in the days and weeks that followed. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is established a Mother Emanuel Nine Monument Study Committee. The committee is comprised of:

(1)    three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least one of whom must be a resident of the City of Charleston;

(2)    three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least one of whom must be a resident of the City of Charleston;

(3)    the Senator representing the Senate District in which the Mother Emanuel AME Church is located;

(4)    the member of the House of Representatives representing the House District in which the Mother Emanuel AME Church is located; and

(5)    one member appointed by the Governor who must be a resident of the City of Charleston.

(B)    The members of the committee shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman and shall meet as often and at any location in the State as the committee considers necessary or expedient for the duration of the committee's existence as provided by this joint resolution. A vacancy on the committee shall be filled in the manner of original appointment. Committee members are not entitled to receive the subsistence, mileage, and per diem otherwise provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.

SECTION    2.    The committee shall study and evaluate the estimated costs, funding options, feasibility, and design considerations associated with erecting a permanent monument at a suitable location at or in the immediate vicinity of Marion Square in Charleston, South Carolina, to honor the nine victims of the June 17, 2015, Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting.

SECTION    3.    The committee shall render a written report of its findings and recommendations based upon its study conducted pursuant to SECTION 2. The report must be presented to both houses of the General Assembly and to the Governor not later than February 1, 2017. Upon submitting the written report in accordance with the provisions of this section, the committee must be dissolved and this joint resolution shall expire.

SECTION    4.    The committee shall receive clerical and related assistance from the staff of the House of Representatives Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee.

SECTION    5.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.