Children Are Dying It Is Time For Governor McMaster To Take Action

June 17, 2022

On Monday, June 6, at the entrance of Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville, SC, South Carolina State House Representatives Jerry Govan called upon Governor McMaster to issue an executive order to implement the unfulfilled recommendations of the School Safety Task Force Report (Pursuant to Act 252 of 2014) and to create a task force to address the epidemic of youth violence which has now touched the children of South Carolina multiple times this year, including at the Tanglewood Middle School.

The foundation for the task force has already been designed by Representatives Govan and Robinson Simpson in H 117.181 which addresses the following:

117.181. (GP: Youth Violence and Delinquency) (A) There is created a study committee to investigate the causes of youth violence and delinquency in this State and to make recommendations for proposed changes to state laws and other remedies to address systemic issues including, but not limited to, gang violence and the school house to jail pipeline.

(B) The study committee shall be composed as follows:

(1) three members appointed by the Governor;

(2) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) two members appointed by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5) two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(6) one member appointed by the Department of Mental Health;

(7) one member appointed by the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus;

(8) one member appointed by the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice;

(9) one member appointed by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services;

(10) one member appointed by the South Carolina Department of Education;

(11) one member appointed by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division;

(12) one member appointed by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Association;

(13) one member appointed by the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association;

(14) one member appointed by the South Carolina Department of Social Services;

(15) one member appointed by the National Urban League;

(16) one member appointed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People;

(17) three members appointed by the Governor who must be clergy members in this State;

(18) one member appointed by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce;

(19) one member appointed by the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance; and

(20) one member appointed by the South Carolina Technical College System.

(C) Members of the study committee shall serve without compensation, but are allowed the mileage, subsistence, and per diem allowed by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions, to be paid equally from approved accounts of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

(D) The study committee shall choose its officers and must be provided with clerical, administrative, and research services by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

(E) The study committee shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2023, at which time the study committee terminates.

A copy of the School Safety Task Force Report of 2014 can be found:

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/CommitteeInfo/SchoolSafetyTaskForce/SCHOOL%20SAFETY%20TASK%20FORCE-FINAL%20REPORT%202014%2012%2031_112818.pdf