COLUMBIA -A bill expanding the scope of the state Minority Affairs Commission to include American Indians passed a key House committee Tuesday with little discussion.

The bill, sponsored in the House by Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, is the same as one sponsored by Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, that is working its way through the Senate.

Both measures seek to help state tribal members, including the Pee Dee and Waccamaw, get state and federal recognition.

The only federally-recognized tribe is the Catawbas.

The House bill gives the duty of recognizing tribes, using criteria to be set by the commission and tribal members, to the secretary of state.

Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, said he has not heard from the secretary's office on the issue.

Rep. Walt McLeod, D-Little Mountain, said the Minority Affairs Commission should handle all tribal recognition duties, which is what the tribal members wanted.

Harrison said the details can be changed during floor debate. The bill passed on a voice vote with no opposition.