South Carolina Legislative Report - June 21, 2013
June 21, 2013
On the Floor
Sine Die Adjournment
In accordance with the Sine Die Adjournment Resolution (S. 744), the General Assembly met this week to discuss conference reports, including the annual appropriations bill and capital reserve fund, and gubernatorial vetoes. The House is scheduled to return on June 26 at 1:00 pm and anticipate the Senate returning on Thursday to take up gubernatorial vetoes and other pending matters.
Conference Committee Reports:
Appropriations
The budget conference committee reached a compromise late Monday evening on the different versions of H. 3710, the annual appropriations bill, and H. 3711, the state’s Capital Reserve Fund. The Senate and the House of Representatives both gave their approval this week, sending the budget to the Governor for her consideration of potential vetoes. The Governor has line-item veto authority; meaning Haley could veto individual items throughout the budget.
The budget compromise settled on a $22.8 billion spending plan that included funds for road and bridge repairs, expanded 4-year old kindergarten, privacy protection for taxpayers, a reduction in insurance premium hikes on state employees and an increase in school funding. Additionally, the pay increase for state employees was struck from the budget. The state’s two airplanes will also remain available for official government use.
Development of Real Property
H. 3774, Permit Extension Joint Resolution of 2013 was agreed upon and approved by Governor Haley this week. The joint resolution provides for an extension for building permits, air and water quality certifications, and certain other government approvals affecting the development of real property that was current and valid on December 31, 2012, extending these permit approvals through December 2016.
State Highway System
H. 3360 was approved by the House and Senate and sent to Governor Haley for consideration this week. H. 3360 revises the procedures for transferring secondary roads into the state highway system and provides for the following: $50 million in recurring dollars for the State Infrastructure Bank; allocates half of the revenue generated by the sales tax on automobiles, approximately $40 million, to the Highway Fund; and $50 million as the match requirement for active federal aid eligible bridge replacement projects.
Gubernatorial Vetoes:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Governor Haley vetoed H. 3907 and the House sustained the veto this week. The legislation authorized the Department of Motor Vehicles to charge a customer paying with a credit card a processing fee and the ability for the Department to refuse service for a customer for non-payment. Governor Haley vetoed the legislation based on the Department’s current authority to refuse service due to non-payment and the Department’s ability to use existing resources to cover the processing fees.
Bench Warrants
H. 3342 was vetoed by Governor Haley this week and the House is expected to debate the veto next week. The legislation requires a solicitor to post notice at the courthouse or online prior to a judge issuing a bench warrant for failure to appear.
Firefighters as Law Enforcement
S. 707 proposes to give the City of Columbia the authority to appoint certain firefighters as certified law enforcement officers with limited jurisdiction. Governor Haley vetoed the legislation this week and the Senate is expected to take action on the veto next week.
In The News
SC lawmakers list wins and work remaining at end of year (VIDEO)
As South Carolina lawmakers sent the state budget to the governor and closed the books on bills for the year, we handed a few of them the mic to list their successes so far and what they want done in year two. See video here.
Lunch, with a side of politics: Legislators dish on where, how they break for meals
At 2:45 a.m., the last place you expect members of the South Carolina House of Representatives to be is sitting at a table at Denny’s on Two Notch Road. Read more here.
After public hearings, DHEC sticks with its suggestion on food stamp restrictions
After hearing all the pros and cons during several months of public input, the state health department has recommended that South Carolina apply for a waiver to ban the use of food stamps for sugary drinks, candy, cookies and cakes. Read more here.