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COMMITTEE REPORT
January 28, 2016
S. 997
Introduced by Senators Bright, S. Martin, Peeler, Fair, Grooms, Corbin, Verdin and Bryant
S. Printed 1/28/16--S.
Read the first time January 14, 2016.
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 997) to amend Chapter 1, Title 43 of the 1976 Code, relating to the Department of Social Services, by adding Section 43-1-730 to provide that refugees placed, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking subsection (A)(1) in its entirety and inserting:
/ "Section 43-1-730. (A)(1) Refugees placed in this State pursuant to the federal Refugee Resettlement Program are required to enroll with the Department of Social Services within thirty days of entering the State. The department shall send the enrollment information of refugees placed in this State to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. /
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 2, by striking line 12 and inserting:
/ company, non-profit organization, association, corporation, receiver, trustee, any group or /
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, SECTION 3, by striking the SECTION in its entirety and inserting:
/ SECTION 3. The State Law Enforcement Division, in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, shall confirm that any refugees placed in South Carolina by the federal government pursuant to the Refugee Resettlement Program do not pose a public safety risk. The State Law Enforcement Division must report to the General Assembly its findings regarding public safety risks as soon as practicable.
SECTION 4. As of the effective date of this act, no state or local funds may be expended to directly or indirectly benefit a refugee placed in South Carolina under the Refugee Resettlement Program, except that the State Law Enforcement Division and local law enforcement agencies may expend those funds necessary to fulfill the obligations required of them by the provisions contained in this act. Except as it relates to SLED and local law enforcement agencies, funds may not be expended pursuant to this provision until separate legislation authorizing the expenditures is enacted. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Majority favorable. Minority unfavorable.
KEVIN L. BRYANT KEVIN L. JOHNSON
For Majority. For Minority.
TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 43 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, BY ADDING SECTION 43-1-730 TO PROVIDE THAT REFUGEES PLACED IN THIS STATE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST REGISTER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES; TO AMEND TITLE 15, CHAPTER 5 OF THE 1976 CODE, TO PROVIDE CIVIL LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT ORGANIZATIONS ARISING FROM THE ACTIONS OF A REFUGEE PLACED IN THIS STATE TO WHOM THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SPONSORSHIP OR RESETTLEMENT SERVICES; TO PROHIBIT STATE OR LOCAL FUNDS BEING EXPENDED FOR THE DIRECT OR INDIRECT BENEFIT OF REFUGEES UNTIL LEGISLATION SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE IS ENACTED; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 43 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 43-1-730. (A)(1) Refugees placed in this State pursuant to the federal Refugee Resettlement Program are required to register with the Department of Social Services within thirty days of entering the State.
(2) In order to register with the department, the refugee shall provide the refugee's name, address, telephone number, job status, name and contact information of the refugee's employer, if any, all state, local, or federal assistance provided to the refugee, criminal record, and any other information that the department determines to be relevant. Within ten days of any of the information required for registration changing, the refugee must update his registration.
(3) The registration information required in item (2) shall be maintained by the department on a database available to the public on the department's internet website."
SECTION 2. Title 15, Chapter 5 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 15-5-220. (A) For the purposes of this section, 'person' shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation, receiver, trustee, any group or combination acting as a unit, the State, any state agency, any instrumentality, authority, political subdivision, or municipality.
(B) A person that provided sponsorship or resettlement services to a refugee being relocated to this State from a country recognized by the federal government as a state sponsor of terrorism who causes the death of or personal injury to the person or destroys, damages, or steals property, real, personal or mixed, belonging to the person, is entitled to recover damages in a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction from the voluntary resettlement organization and the organization's directors, individually."
SECTION 3. As of the effective date of this act, no state or local funds may be expended to directly or indirectly benefit a refugee placed in South Carolina under the Refugee Resettlement Program. Funds may not be expended pursuant to this provision until separate legislation authorizing the expenditures is enacted.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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