The "Uniform Antidiscrimination Act" seeks to strengthen anti-discrimination protections in South Carolina by amending various sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws. The bill introduces new provisions that prohibit discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and educational settings based on race, color, or national origin, while also expanding these definitions to include characteristics such as skin color, facial features, hair texture, and natural hairstyles. Additionally, it broadens the scope of the South Carolina Human Affairs Law to explicitly include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected categories, while limiting the liability of educational organizations under certain circumstances.

Key amendments include the addition of new sections addressing discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and school administrative matters, as well as revisions to clarify definitions and expand unlawful employment practices. The bill also specifies that employers are not required to grant preferential treatment based on demographic imbalances and allows for age discrimination under specific conditions for certain job roles. Overall, the act aims to align South Carolina's laws with broader civil rights protections, ensuring equality across various sectors and reinforcing the commitment to equal rights for all individuals in the state.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 31-21-65, 45-9-11, 59-63-41, 1-13-20, 1-13-30, 1-13-80, 1-32-60, 31-21-40, 31-21-50, 31-21-60, 44-69-80, 44-71-90, 45-9-10
Latest Version: 31-21-65, 45-9-11, 59-63-41, 1-13-20, 1-13-30, 1-13-80, 1-32-60, 31-21-40, 31-21-50, 31-21-60, 44-69-80, 44-71-90, 45-9-10