A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 63-1-50, relating to Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, so as to provide for the inclusion of the State Child Advocate to the committee.

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

SECTION 1.   Section 63-1-50(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   (A) There is established the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children to be composed of three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, three members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members to be appointed by the Governor. The Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Director of the Department of Social Services, the Director of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, the Superintendent of the Department of Education, the Director of the Department of Mental Health, the Director of the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Director of the Office of South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness, and the State Child Advocate serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the committee. Members appointed by the Governor must not be employees of the State. Members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The committee shall study issues relating to children as the committee may undertake or as may be requested or directed by the General Assembly. The committee may contract for all necessary legal research and support services, subject to funding as provided in subsection (E).

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

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