A panel of South Carolina lawmakers, citizen members and state agency leaders will hold a public hearing in Rock Hill next month to hear from residents about issues affecting children and families.
The South Carolina Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the City Council Chambers at Rock Hill City Hall, 155 Johnston St. The hearing is open to the public, and anyone who wants to testify may do so.
For York County parents, teachers and young people, the session offers a chance to put local concerns in front of legislators without making the trip to Columbia. According to the committee, testimony gathered at its fall hearings helps identify topics for further study and can shape the policy recommendations it sends to the governor and the General Assembly.
Who sits on the committee
The Committee on Children is a bipartisan body made up of members of the state Senate and House of Representatives, citizen members appointed by the governor and representatives of state agencies that serve children and families. The committee studies issues facing South Carolina children and makes policy and legislative recommendations each year.
Each fall, the committee travels to communities around the state to collect testimony. The hearings are designed so that children and youth, families, educators, service providers and advocates can speak directly to legislators.
How to testify
Speakers will be given three minutes each. Committee staff will provide guidance to anyone who wants help preparing remarks, according to the committee’s invitation.
Residents who do not plan to speak are also welcome to attend. The committee described the hearing as an opportunity to watch the legislative process outside the State House and to hear what neighbors are saying about the needs of children in the region.
Getting more information
Questions about the hearing or requests for help coordinating testimony can be sent to Morgan Maxwell, the committee’s senior resource attorney, at [email protected], or to the committee at [email protected].
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
