HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2012_03_22Minutes
Brookings Human Rights Committee
Thursday, March 22, 2012 at NOON
1. Call to order – George Hamer at 12:08 pm
Attendance: Ann Marie Bahr, George Hamer, Lawrence Novotny, Penny Hauffe, Angela
Hatton,
Patty Bacon, Rebecca Deinert, Anna Leisa Schuh arrived later. Absent: Steve Bayer and
Chandradhar Dwivdei. Guest: Pam Merchant. Staff: Shari Thornes, City Clerk
2. Adoption of the agenda – Lawrence moved as amended, Penny seconded. Motion carried.
Add announcements of Civil Rights forum
3. Approval of minutes – Lawrence, Ann Marie second, motion carried.
4. Schedule future meeting(s); consideration of quarterly extended work sessions
First evening meeting will be in May on May 17 at 5:30 location to be determined
April meeting – April 12 at noon City Hall
5. Financial Reports: 2011 Final and 2012 YTD - Reviewed as informational item
6. April 22nd Diversity Potluck Arrangements - Discussion was held on what we can spend with
Aramark for chicken, beverages, etc. The consensus was to authorize up to $600 for food and
amenities with Aramark. Discussion was held on paying for print media. The group decided to
utilize free media, email blasts through the Chamber of Commerce, fliers on campus, free radio
appearances, social media and Facebook rather than spending money on ineffective print media.
Greeters will be there at 4 pm. We will work out the rest of the details at the April meeting.
7. Legislative Wrap-up – Lawrence provided the following report:
Equality South Dakota News
Gay Bills Killed by SD Legislature
The 2012 South Dakota legislative session has ended. Three "gay" bills (one good and the other
two bad) were killed and an anti-bullying bill was passed.
The only pro-gay piece of legislation that was introduced was SB 119 which would have allowed
municipalities and counties to include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination
ordinances. This bill did not receive much attention since it was killed in its first hearing. See
HYPERLINK "http://www.eqsd.org/news/30-state/617-sb-119.html"
http://www.eqsd.org/news/30-state/617-sb-119.html for a story on this.
The bill that became labeled as the "gay" bill and created controversy did not start out with that
intent. SB 141 would have revised the legal definition of domestic abuse to include "partners in
an intimate relationship." The bill sailed through the Senate by 34-0 but ran into the
conservative element of the House. Rep. Mark Venner (R-Pierre) amended the bill to restrict
domestic abuse as occurring between partners "in an intimate relationship with a person of the
opposite sex such as marriage or cohabitation"." This amended version passed the House 46-
22. SB 141 was sent to a conference committee consisting of 5 women and 1 man. The
conference committee struck the opposite sex phase and replaced it with "an intimate
relationship such as marriage, dating, or cohabitation." The House refused to accept the
wording change and voted to kill the bill by 39-25.
Rep. Shawn Tornow (R-Sioux Falls) stated "I'm not afraid to say. They want to include gay and
lesbian relationships" in explaining his vote to kill SB 141. HYPERLINK
"http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/62944/group/homepage/"
http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/62944/group/homepage/
The anti-bullying bill that finally passed was SB 130. The bill requires all school districts that
already have not done so to adopt an anti-bullying policy. Currently there are 12 school
districts that still do not have a policy. The bill also stipulates what should be in the policy –
cyber bullying is one of the provisions. The bill does not require identifying any protected
classes of students.
Another anti-gay bill was the surrogacy bill, HB 1255 which was promoted by Rep Roger Hunt
(R-Brandon) – the darling of the SD Family Policy Council. This bill consisted of only 2
sentences: "A surrogacy agreement is void and unenforceable as against public policy. No
surrogacy agreement is enforceable." HB 1244 barely passed the House by 36-34 but was
killed in Senate committee by 7-0.
To see how your legislator voted on these bills, go to HYPERLINK
"http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2012/QuickFind.aspx"
http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2012/QuickFind.aspx and enter the bill number, then click on
the voting links. You also can click to read the bills.
Another bill of interest is HB 1253 which passed the House by 47-22 and by the Senate by 29-4
and was signed into law by the Governor. This very short bill reads
That chapter 19-8 [of SDCL] be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
No court, administrative agency, or other governmental agency may enforce any provisions
of any religious code.
During Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, bill sponsor Roger Hunt (R-Brandon) admitted that
his intent was to prevent the recognition of Shariah law. Hunt introduced a bill last year
specifically listing Shariah law. That bill was killed. So he went with generic language this year.
8. Review and Update Goals & Objectives for 2012 (discussion of work plan)
It was decided to table goals until the May extended work session/meeting. The group asked to
keep the calendar and goals as an agenda item for every meeting so we are reminded to stay on
task.
9. Compassionate Listening Training – this discussion was tabled until the April meeting.
10. Co-sponsorship of Interfaith Events on SDSU Campus
We said yes, because there is no cost but we wanted to be publicly visible. Shari reminded us that
if there is a city sponsorship, the city’s brand must be on any publications. Ann Marie will work
with Shari on that item. Ann Marie shared that they’ve been having a wonderful turnout for these
events.
The next sessions are April 24 & 25 – details are still being worked out
11. Announcements/Correspondence/Calendar
• Final 2011 Annual Report (enclosed)
• April 22nd Earth Day
• April 22nd Spring Diversity Potluck, McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 5-7 pm,
• May 10th Volunteer Leadership Coffee with Mayor/Innovation Campus, 8-9:30 am
• May 17th Volunteer Leadership Coffee with Mayor/Innovation Campus, 8-9:30 am
• Sept 13th Volunteer Reception, Performing Arts Center, 5-7 pm (volunteer & guest
invited)
• Oct 7th Fall Diversity Potluck, McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 5-7 pm
• Oct 8th Native American Day
• Dec 6th Mayor’s Holiday Party, McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 5-7 pm
~ Lawrence announced that Brendan Johnson, US Attorney, will be hosting a civil rights
conference in Sioux Falls on April 30, 2012. The keynote speakers will include the leader of the
Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the mother of Matthew Shepard. Following the
keynote presentations they will have breakout sessions on a wide range of topics that will
feature local, state and federal leaders. The committee members were encouraged to go.
~ Shari shared the Mayor’s intent with his Volunteer Leadership coffees. We will discuss our goals
at the April meeting so that Steve and George can represent our committee at these coffees.
~ Lawrence shared that the first drag show has held in Brookings on March 21. He said it was well
received.
~ Anna Leisa encouraged all of us to attend the Festival of Cultures next week and brought posters
and asked if folks would put them up.
12. Tentative April Agenda Items: 2013 city funding – we will discuss the 2013 city funding at
the April meeting
13. Adjournment – Penny moved to adjourn, Rebecca seconded. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Patty Bacon