Committee on Children elects Paula Calhoun as chair, forms 3‑member subcommittee to interview child advocate candidates

Representative Paula Calhoun was elected chair of the South Carolina Legislative Committee on Children and Senator Rickenbach was elected vice chair by acclamation during the committee’s meeting in the Gressett Building.

The committee then formed a three-member subcommittee to evaluate applicants for the state child advocate position. "The Committee on Children is required by statute to recommend three candidates to the governor for appointment as the child state advocate," Representative Paula Calhoun said during the meeting. The subcommittee members selected were Senator Rickenbach, Representative Paula Calhoun and Dr. Kay Kay Phillips.

Committee staff told members the state child advocate vacancy was posted in January and seven candidates applied. Sheila Bridal, committee staff, said interview slots could range "30 minutes to an hour each" and that conducting all interviews could take "potentially 4 hours, potentially 7 hours over the next 2 and a half weeks." Staff said they would try to group interviews to limit total time and would follow up with a schedule.

Nominations for chair and vice chair were taken from the floor and the committee voted by voice; members present said "aye" and no recorded nays were announced. Members said two senators attended virtually because of weather. The chair closed the meeting after thanking members and noting staff would contact the subcommittee about scheduling.

The committee did not record detailed roll-call tallies for the officer elections or the subcommittee vote in the transcript; outcomes were announced by voice as approved.