South Carolina Legislative Report - May 31, 2013
May 31, 2013
On the Floor
Capital Reserve Fund
This week the Senate gave second reading to H. 3711, the state’s Capital Reserve Fund. The $113 million spending plan designates $20 million to pay off a loan that covered costs related to the Department of Revenue’s hacking scandal and another $10 million to extend credit-monitoring services. The bill also included $10 million for school buses, over $9.9 million for the state’s farmers market and over $3 million for the Department of Commerce’s closing fund. The legislation will be returned to the House for concurrence.
Energy Efficiency Certification – State Procurement and Major Projects
S. 635 was given third reading the House of Representatives and ordered enrolled this week. The legislation requires a major facility project as defined in Section 48-52-810(10) requesting third-party certification not be allowed to seek a rating point that would discriminate against wood products of this State derived from forest lands certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative or the American Tree Farm System.
Patient Information Disclosure
This week the House of Representatives gave third reading S. 117 and enrolled. The legislation would require health care providers to give patients the opportunity to disclose certain information to designated individuals and involve them in the treatment of the patient. The bill was placed on the calendar for consideration.
Abandoned Building Revitalization Act
The Senate gave second reading to S. 234, the Abandoned Building Revitalization Act. As written, the legislation would provide tax credits or credits against property tax liability to individuals who make investments of a certain size for rehabilitating abandoned buildings.
Introductions of Note
- S. 756 – Military families may enroll in a Medicaid home and waiver program if South Carolina is legal residence.
- S. 757 – A Concurrent Resolution recognizing wind energy capabilities as part of multi-source energy strategy
- H. 4260 – Exempt CON requirement for hospitals to add new beds and to change classification of beds for mental health services
In Committee
Electronic Cigarette Taxation
The House Ways & Means Committee adjourned debate this week on H. 4074, a bill that would create a regulatory framework for vendors and levy an excise tax for nicotine vapor products and other tobacco-derived products.
Electronic Waste Recycling
The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee polled out favorably, H. 3847, and placed it on the calendar for consideration. The legislation revises the current electronic waste provisions by creating manufacturer driven solutions for the collection and recycling of covered electronic devices..
In The News
South Carolina Sen. Robert Ford resigns; announcement made during ethics hearing
State Sen. Robert Ford has resigned effective immediately. State Sen. John Courson made the announcement at Ford’s ethics committee hearing today. Ford is not present due to health problems.
The committee had begun to discuss the fifth of eight allegations, which stated Ford failed to report $47,895 in contributions on campaign reports.
SC Senate deal revives ethics reform
Ethics reform lives.
Hopes of strengthening the state’s ethics laws were revived Thursday, when the S.C. Senate voted to give the bill priority status, a move that could make possible a vote this year. But Republican and Democratic senators said differences between the parties, which still need to be ironed out, could delay the reform’s passage until next year.
Democratic candidate for SC governor releases tax returns
S.C. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen has made $721,000 since he ran for the state’s highest office in 2010, according to federal and state income tax filings released Tuesday.
6 congressmen oppose Atlantic gas, oil exploration (VA, NC, SC)
A half-dozen congressmen from the Carolinas and Virginia are urging Interior Secretary Sally Jewel to use "extreme caution" when considering any proposals for oil and gas exploration in Atlantic waters.
Meetings
Tuesday, June 4th
- 10:00 am -- State House, 3rd Floor Conference Room -- Conference Committee on S.2
Wednesday, June 5th
- 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Joint Bond Review Committee
- 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Agriculture and Natural Resources Regulation and Resolution Subcommittee
Thursday, June 6th
- 9:15 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Joint Other Funds Oversight Committee