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Bill 5158

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      5158
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  20020418
Primary Sponsor:                  Cobb-Hunter
All Sponsors:                     Cobb-Hunter
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\swb\5329djc02.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Judiciary Committee 25 HJ
Subject:                          Minority Affairs Commission, to include 
                                  African Americans, Native Americans, 
                                  Hispanics, Asians, and others within the 
                                  minority community, to be referenced


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   20020418  Introduced, read first time,           25 HJ
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill

TO AMEND THE PREAMBLE TO SECTION 110, PART II, ACT 164 OF 1993, RELATING TO MINORITY POPULATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SO AS TO INCLUDE CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO HISPANICS, NATIVE AMERICANS, ASIANS, AND OTHER MINORITY GROUPS WITHIN THE PREAMBLE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 1-31-40, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE COMMISSION FOR MINORITY AFFAIRS, SO AS TO INCLUDE AFRICAN AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, HISPANICS, ASIANS, AND OTHERS WITHIN THE MINORITY COMMUNITY AND TO FURTHER PRESCRIBE CERTAIN POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE COMMISSION FOR MINORITY AFFAIRS RELATING TO RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ENTITIES, ESTABLISHING CERTAIN ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND SEEKING FUNDING FOR IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, HISPANICS, LATINOS, AND OTHER MINORITY GROUPS.

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

SECTION    1.    The preamble in Section 110, Part II, Act 164 of 1993, is amended to read:

"Whereas, the unemployment rate for African American males is nearly three times higher than the rate for white males in South Carolina; and

Whereas, per capita income for African Americans in South Carolina is less than half the income of whites; and

Whereas, four out of every ten African American children will grow up in poverty in South Carolina; and

Whereas, African Americans die six years earlier than whites in South Carolina; and

Whereas, African American males in South Carolina have the lowest recorded life expectancy for their group in any other state in the nation; and

Whereas, the African American infant mortality rate is more than twice as high as whites in South Carolina; and

Whereas, African American high school graduates attain literacy levels slightly above white eighth graders; and

Whereas, African American males receive only six percent of the total degrees from higher education in South Carolina; and

Whereas, while the number of African American males in higher education has decreased, the number of African American males in correctional institutions is on the rise; and

Whereas, the percentage of African American inmates at the Central Correctional Institution in South Carolina is over seventy percent; and

Whereas, African American youth make up seventy-four percent of commitments to long-term facilities; and

Whereas, African American children are four and a half times more likely to be incarcerated than are their white counterparts in South Carolina; and

Whereas, South Carolina currently has the worse violent crime rate in the nation; and

Whereas, African Americans make up a third of the population in South Carolina; and

Whereas, other states with lower percentages of African Americans and higher standards of living for those African Americans have already implemented like commissions; and

Whereas, the minority population of South Carolina continues to grow and become more diverse such that the needs of other minority groups, who too are experiencing poverty and deprivation at disproportionate rates compared to the majority population; and

Whereas these groups, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, and other minority groups seek government services and assistance that are culturally and linguistically appropriate; and

Whereas, all minority populations have as a part of their community, local groups which seek the assistance of governmental entities, such as the commission; and

Whereas, these local groups throughout the State are initiating programs to relieve the socio-economic deprivation of African Americans and other minority groups in their communities; and

Whereas, these community-based groups have requested the assistance of the commission's staff and have indicated that they would benefit greatly from clear state-based leadership. Now, therefore,"

SECTION    2.    Section 1-31-40 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 164 of 1993, is amended to read:

    "Section 1-31-40.    The commission shall:

    (1)    provide the minority community consisting of African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and others, with a single point of contact for statistical and technical assistance in the areas of research and planning for a greater economic future;

    (2)    work with minority officials on the state, county, and local levels of government in disseminating statistical data and its impact on their constituencies;

    (3)    provide for publication of a statewide statistical abstract on minority affairs;

    (4)    provide statistical analyses for members of the General Assembly on the state of minority communities as the State experiences economic growth and changes;

    (5)    provide the minority community with assistance and information on Voting Rights Act submissions in the State, as well as other related areas of concern to the minority community.

    (6)    determine, approve, and acknowledge by certification state recognition for Native American entities;

    (7)    establish advisory committees representative of minority groups, as it considers appropriate to advise the board;

    (6)(8)    act as liaison with the business community to provide programs and opportunities to fulfill its duties under this chapter;

    (9)    seek federal and other funding on behalf of the State of South Carolina for the express purpose of implementing various programs and services for African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, and other minority groups; and

    (7)(10)    perform other duties necessary to implement programs. The commission may delegate these powers and duties as necessary."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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