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New Human Affairs commissioner outlines enforcement role and risks if agency were defunded
Summary
Dr. Lisa Warren, newly installed commissioner, introduced staff and described SHAC's mission to enforce fair-housing and employment laws in partnership with the EEOC and HUD; deputies told lawmakers defunding would remove the state's investigative arm and shift cases to federal agencies.
Dr. Lisa Warren introduced herself to the subcommittee as the new commissioner of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission and outlined the agency's mission to prevent unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.
"I am doctor Lisa Warren, and I am the new commissioner for the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission," she said, and described SHAC's program areas: administration, consultative services and compliance, along with a legal division that reviews findings and represents the commission in proceedings. She noted the commission works with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and HUD on enforcement and said intake officers and investigators serve as the agency's frontline for complaints.
When asked about the effect of a previous budget amendment that would have defunded the commission, an unnamed deputy commissioner told the committee: "The impact would be that, there would be no investigative arm for the state of South Carolina." The deputy said that if the state did not perform investigations, the federal government would have to step in but would lack capacity to handle the state's caseload without the state-level agency.
On pregnancy accommodations, staff explained the state law provides specific protections and reasonable workplace accommodations for pregnancy-related limitations, and noted that implementing the law can affect scheduling and supervisory coverage for some operations.
The committee welcomed Warren and her team and requested follow-up as needed; the subcommittee adjourned and will reconvene Tuesday.
