By David Laird,
Director of Policy and Government Affairs
In the first post, we touched on the themes from the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children statewide field hearings and the upcoming release of the 2nd Annual Status of Children report due in February.
As if completing the report is not enough, the committee also has a slate of endorsed legislation pending and could consider adding more bills at their next hearing in January.
In order to gain legislative endorsement, all six voting members (three senators, three representatives dived evenly between Republicans and Democrats) must concur with the position. Committee chair, Mike Fair, (R-Greenville) did raise the possibility of changing the voting structure to more of a weighted margin and to also allow the remaining three citizen members appointed by the governor to have voting privileges. The change would further engage all members of the committee and potentially allow for endorsement of bills with broader systems impact.
The 2011 endorsed agenda was the first for the committee and assisted in elevating Chandler’s Law to the gain the governor’s signature following a seven year stall. The law, effective July 1 of this year, provides the first safety and educational protections for children and youth operating All-Terrain Vehicles. The provision requires anyone 15 and younger to participate in an approved training curriculum and to wear protective headgear while riding.
The Children’s Trust was thrilled to work with our partners at the SC Children’s Hospital Collaborative in gaining the passage—even though additional work is needed for the provision to reach its full impact.
The remaining pieces of the endorsed legislation are mostly stalled in committee and include areas such as prohibiting smoking in vehicle while a child is present, establishing a summer camp regulation study committee, creating a misdemeanor offense against youth sexting and establishing nutritional standards for school snacks.
Much of the initial recommendations were limited in scope due to the lack budget funding entering into the 2011 legislative session.
What other bills could be added to the 2012 list of endorsements?
Committee staff referenced the Farm to School Bill (H. 3200) providing fresh local grown produce in schools, the Criminal Child Death Offender Registry (S. 822), modeled after the child sexual abuse registry, legislation calling for school districts to develop policies to address student concussions (S. 668)¸ and a prohibition on bath salts (S. 78).
These will likely be considered by the committee when they meet again in January.
Committee staff also indicated there are other areas that may need gain greater attention by the committee including childhood obesity, state home visiting, human trafficking of children, greater efforts to keep siblings together when they enter out-of-home care and how to address failure to report a missing child.
What do you think the committee should address? Are there other areas waiting conversation?
Let us know.
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