Current Status Bill Number:3132 Type of Legislation:Joint Resolution JR Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970114 Primary Sponsor:Limbaugh All Sponsors:Limbaugh, Altman, Barfield, Bauer, Beck, Boan, H. Brown, Cooper, Dantzler, Davenport, Easterday, Edge, Fleming, Harrell, Haskins, Hawkins, Hinson, Jordan, Kelley, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Lanford, Law, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Mason, McKay, McMaster, Meacham, Mullen, Quinn, Rice, Riser, Rodgers, Sandifer, Seithel, Sharpe, Simrill, D. Smith, R. Smith, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Vaughn, Whatley, Wilkins, Witherspoon, Woodrum, Young and Young-Brickell Drafted Document Number:gjk\23153sd.97 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Discrimination prohibited in state or county governments, constitutional amendment
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19970430 Recommitted to Committee 25 HJ
House 19970430 Request for debate withdrawn
by Representative Knotts
House 19970416 Debate adjourned until Wednesday,
19970430
House 19970402 Debate adjourned until Tuesday,
19970415
House 19970325 Request for debate by Representative Govan
Harrison
Neal
McMaster
Sandifer
Cave
Riser
Scott
J. Brown
Knotts
R. Smith
J. Hines
Altman
Mack
Breeland
Harrell
Witherspoon
McMahand
Moody-
Lawrence
House 19970320 Request for debate by Representative Limbaugh
House 19970319 Committee report: Favorable with 25 HJ
amendment
House 19970114 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
House 19970108 Prefiled, referred to Committee 25 HJ
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
COMMITTEE REPORT
March 19, 1997
H. 3132
Introduced by Reps. Limbaugh, Altman, Barfield, Bauer, Beck, Boan, H. Brown, Cooper, Dantzler, Davenport, Easterday, Edge, Fleming, Harrell, Haskins, Hawkins, Hinson, Jordan, Kelley, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Lanford, Law, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Mason, McKay, McMaster, Meacham, Mullen, Quinn, Rice, Riser, Rodgers, Sandifer, Seithel, Sharpe, Simrill, D. Smith, R. Smith, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Vaughn, Whatley, Wilkins, Witherspoon, Woodrum, Young and Young-Brickell
S. Printed 3/19/97--H.
Read the first time January 14, 1997.
To whom was referred a Joint Resolution (H. 3132), proposing an amendment to Article XVII of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the joint resolution, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/SECTION 1. Chapter 13 of Title 1 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 1-13-5. (A) Neither the State of South Carolina nor any of its political subdivisions shall use race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin as a criterion for either discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group in the operation of the state's system of public employment, public education, or public contracting.
(B) This section shall apply only to state action taken after the effective date of this section.
(C) Allowable remedies for violation of this section shall include reasonable attorney's fees.
(D) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting classifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the state's system of public employment or public education.
(E) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as invalidating any court order or consent decree that is in force as of the effective date of this section.
(F) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting a public agency from obeying a court order requiring the consideration of racial, ethnic, national origin, gender, or religious characteristics to remedy the effects of its own past discriminatory practices.
(G) If any part or parts of this section are found to be in conflict with federal law or the United States Constitution, the section shall be implemented to the maximum extent permitted by federal law and the United States Constitution. Any provision held invalid shall be severable from the remaining portions of this section.
(H) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit a bona fide state agency from its responsibilities to monitor and implement state laws assuring equal employment opportunity to all persons."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval of the Governor./
Amend further, as and if amended, by striking the title and inserting:
/TO AMEND CHAPTER 13, TITLE 1, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 1-13-5 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA OR ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FROM USING RACE, SEX, COLOR, ETHNICITY, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN AS A CRITERION FOR EITHER DISCRIMINATING AGAINST OR GRANTING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP IN THE OPERATION OF THE STATE'S SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, OR PUBLIC CONTRACTING./
Renumber sections to conform.
JAMES H. HARRISON, for Committee.
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, BY ADDING SECTION 16 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA OR ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FROM USING RACE, SEX, COLOR, ETHNICITY, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN AS A CRITERION FOR EITHER DISCRIMINATING AGAINST OR GRANTING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP IN THE OPERATION OF THE STATE'S SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, OR PUBLIC CONTRACTING.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:
"Section 16. (A) Neither the State of South Carolina nor any of its political subdivisions shall use race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin as a criterion for either discriminating against or for any individual or group in the operation of the state's system of public employment, public education, or public contracting.
(B) This section shall apply only to state action taken after the effective date of this section.
(C) Allowable remedies for violation of this section shall include reasonable attorney's fees.
(D) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting classifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the state's system of public employment or public education.
(E) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as invalidating any court order or consent decree that is in force as of the effective date of this section.
(F) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting state action that is necessary to establish or maintain eligibility for any federal program, where ineligibility would result in a loss of federal funds to the State.
(G) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting a public agency from obeying a court order requiring the consideration of racial, ethnic, national origin, gender, or religious characteristics to remedy the effects of its own past discriminatory practices.
(H) If any part or parts of this section are found to be in conflict with federal law or the United States Constitution, the section shall be implemented to the maximum extent permitted by federal law and the United States Constitution. Any provision held invalid shall be severable from the remaining portions of this section.
(I) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit a bona fide state agency from its responsibilities to monitor and implement state laws assuring equal employment opportunity to all persons."
SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:
"Must Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding Section 16 so as to prohibit the State of South Carolina or any of its political subdivisions from using race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin as a criterion for either discriminating against or for any individual or group in the operation of the state's system of public employment, public education, or public contracting?
Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `No'."