MONTGOMERY — Members of the Senate Committee on State Governmental Affairs passed legislation renaming the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs on Wednesday.
The bill by State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) would rename the office the Alabama Office of Civic Engagement. The bill is co-sponsored by four other Senate Democrats.
“This is a bill that we are asking the legislature to expand the mission of the Office of Minority Affairs. It is what it is. We’ve got to make sure all of our citizens have opportunity…not just one group,” Smitherman said at the meeting. “Even though the department is actually doing that…we want to make sure the title of it reflects what they’re doing. That’s the whole purpose of the name change.”
Officials in the Trump administration reportedly raised concerns about the Office of Minority Affairs in a meeting with Alabama officials and lawmakers last year.
The bill now heads to the Senate for its consideration.
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