SHAC commissioner outlines enforcement role and says no new FY2027 budget request

Dr. Alisa Warren, commissioner of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, told the Patient Regulatory Subcommittee that "While South Carolina Human Affairs Commission does not have a new budget request for FY 2027, I would ... appreciate the opportunity to provide an agency overview to the committee this afternoon." She described the commission’s mission to prevent and eliminate unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations and to "promote harmony for all South Carolinians."

Warren said SHAC enforces state laws in partnership with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and operates under formal work-sharing agreements that assign certain cases to SHAC for investigation, conciliation and resolution. She outlined the agency’s core program areas—administration, consultative services (community relations and technical services/training), compliance (investigations and enforcement for employment and housing), and a legal division that reviews findings and represents SHAC in administrative and judicial proceedings.

Warren named several members of her leadership team seated with her: Marvin Caldwell, Deputy Commissioner Dee Clark Leslie, General Counsel Trey McLeod and Administrative Manager Lawrence Smalls. She emphasized the agency’s role as a "neutral fact finding agency" that identifies remedies when statutory violations are found.

Warren closed by offering to answer committee questions; the chair thanked her and the committee moved on to the next agenda item. The commission did not present a new funding request for FY2027 during this appearance.