South Carolina Legislative Report - April 19, 2013

April 19, 2013 

 

On the Floor

Boeing

S. 578 (R. 19) was approved by the House and sent to Governor Haley this week.  The bill revises the State General Obligation Economic Development Bond Act to support enhanced economic development projects, which must have an investment of over $1.1 billion and create over 2000 new jobs.  It is anticipated the State is providing approximately $120 million for Boeing’s expansion. 

 Utility Theft

H. 3568 was recalled from the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, amended to clarify terms, make technical corrections and received second reading by the Senate.  The bill proposes to enhance the penalties for altering, tampering with or bypassing electric, and gas or water meters. 

LEED Standards

H. 3592 was moved to the House contested calendar this week. The bill, as introduced, proposed to remove LEED standards from state building projects, but was amended in the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee to keep LEED standards as of January 1, 2013, and prevents newer versions from being implemented automatically. 

 

In Committee

Certificate of Need

This week the Senate Medical Affairs Committee gave a favorable report to S. 568, a bill by Medical Affairs Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee). The legislation would no longer require a certificate of need permit from DHEC for hospitals to buy medical equipment that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The bill will be up for consideration on the floor next week.

Electronic Waste Recycling

H. 3847 received a favorable report, as amended, by the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee this week and will be before the House for consideration next week.  The legislation revises the current electronic waste provisions by creating manufacturer driven solutions for the collection and recycling of covered electronic devices.

Pollution Control Act

The House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee approved clarifications to the Pollution Control Act in H. 3925.  Specifically, the bill clarifies the parties that may petition regarding a violation of the Act and the applicability of the savings clause of Act 198 of 2012 to cases filed before June 6, 2012.

DHEC Appeals

H. 3827 received a favorable report, as amended, from the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee.  The bill proposes challenges to final DHEC permitting decisions must be made directly to the Administrative Law Court and not to the DHEC Board.

Clean Energy Industry Market Development Advisory Council

The House Ways and Means Committee approved, as amended, H. 3644, which establishes the Clean Energy Industry Market Development Advisory Council, redesignates “renewable energy” tax credits as “clean energy” tax credits, and expands ethanol and biodiesel credits to all liquid fuels derived from renewable resources.

 

In The News

Former Gov. Mark Sanford defends Super Bowl visit on radio today

First Congressional District Republican candidate Mark Sanford today defended entering his ex-wife’s home to watch the Super Bowl with his son, saying “You’ve got to make the call as a dad.”

He acknowledged the first media reports of the night made his conduct sound “creepy” as he was caught leaving the home out the back door by his ex-wife, Jenny Sanford.

Sen. Ford’s lawyer: Ethics allegations result of poor bookkeeping

Robert Ford’s attorney says the ethics violations the longtime Charleston senator is accused of are the result of sloppy bookkeeping.

On Wednesday, the Senate Ethics Committee announced that it had found probable cause to substantiate allegations that Ford violated seven areas of state ethics law.

Scott only senator to oppose energy nominee

President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the Energy Department sailed through a U.S. Senate committee confirmation vote Thursday with new U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina the only one of 22 senators to oppose Ernest Moniz.

 

Meetings

Tuesday, April 23rd

• 9:45 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Finance Constitutional Subcommittee Budget Hearing on Provisos
• 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Finance Special Subcommittee on Transportation Funding
• 2:30 pm or 1.5 hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 403 -- L.C.I. Insurance Subcommittee
• 2:30 pm or 1.5 hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 427 -- Full Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
• 2:30 pm or 1.5 hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 516 -- Full Judiciary Committee
• 3:00 pm -- Blatt Room 433 -- Full Education and Public Works Committee
• 3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 308 -- Judiciary Committee
• 3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 105 -- Finance Committee

Wednesday, April 24th

• 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Joint Bond Review Committee
• 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Judiciary Subcommittee
• 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Judiciary Subcommittee
• 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 403 -- Full Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee - Upon adjournment of the full L.C.I. Committee -- Blatt Room 403 -- L.C.I. Business and Commerce Subcommittee
• 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Medical Affairs Subcommittee on S.35 and S.204
• 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- K-12 Education Subcommittee
• 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- Corrections and Penology Subcommittee
• 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- Judiciary Subcommittee
• 11:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- L.C.I. Professions and Occupations Subcommittee
• 11:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.168
• Upon adjournment of the Senate -- Gressette Room 105 -- Finance Special Subcommittee on Transportation
• 1:30 pm -- Gressette Room 207 -- Finance Higher Education Budget Subcommittee on Provisos

Thursday, April 25th

• 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Finance K-12 Education Budget Subcommittee on Provisos
• 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Joint Other Funds Oversight Committee
• 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- Judiciary Subcommittee
• 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
• 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 403 -- L.C.I. Business and Commerce Subcommittee
• 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee
• 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
• 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- Medical Affairs Subcommittee
• 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee

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