South Carolina Legislative Update - April 16, 2014
April 16, 2014
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina House of Representatives will be on furlough for two weeks and the Senate is only meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, April 15-16, and then off the following week.
The Senate Finance Committee will continue their debate of the annual appropriations bill (H. 4701) and Capital Reserve Fund (H. 4702) this week.
Emma’s Law, S. 137
Emma's Law is headed to Gov. Nikki Haley's desk. The Senate passed unanimously the House's version of the law that requires alcohol breath testers be installed in cars for some offenders convicted of drunk driving for the first time. State Sen. Joel Lourie, a Richland Democrat who was the bill's main sponsor, was happy to see the measure go to the governor after needing a year for final passage. Read more here.
Public Service Commission Candidate Screening
The State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee’s Public Service Commission Screening Subcommittee met Monday to screen potential candidates for the Public Service Commission of South Carolina. The following applicants appeared:
2nd Congressional District
Elliott F. Elam, Jr.
Brent L. McGee (Incumbent – appointed by Governor Haley to fill the seat due to Commissioner Wright’s retirement)
4th Congressional District
Philip T. Bradley
John M. "Max" Cochran, Jr.
Elizabeth "Lib" B. Fleming (Incumbent)
William "Kevin" Newman
6th Congressional District
Nikiya "Nikki" M. Hall (Incumbent)
Introductions
H. 5068 - Omnibus Regulatory Reform Act of 2014
H. 5072 – Establishes Protocols for the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor to Oversee Allegations of Public Corruption
H. 5073 - Joint Resolution - Constitutional Amendment to Remove Attorney General As Chief Prosecuting Officer
In the News
South Carolina Supreme Court Rules on Certificate of Need – DHEC Must Operate CON Program Despite Funding Veto
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control must administer the Certificate of Need program that regulates the building or expansion of medical facilities even though its funding was vetoed by the governor, the state's highest court ruled Monday. Read more here.
To view the opinion of the South Carolina Supreme Court click here.
New Transportation Secretary
Gov. Nikki Haley said Monday that her pick for the next chief of the state's Highway Department has extensive experience with federal highway administrators and grants programs that will benefit the state. At a State House press conference, Haley named Janet Oakley, a federal transportation policy expert with more than 30 years of experience, to head the S.C. Department of Transportation, overseeing the state's decaying road system and $29 billion in needed road repairs. Read more here.
Governor Haley’s Trade Mission to India
Gov. Nikki Haley is heading on a 10-day trade mission to India in November in hopes of introducing her home state to her parents' home country. Haley, the nation's second Indian-American governor, will visit New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and the Punjab state, where her parents were born. Read more here.
Governor Jindal to Headline GOP Dinner
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will headline the South Carolina Republican Party's Silver Elephant Dinner, a major GOP fundraising event in the early primary state that doubles as a must-do stopover for ambitious politicians with an eye on the White House. Read more here.
Vice President Biden – USC Commencement
Air Force Two will be landing in Columbia for the second time in a year. Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the commencement address at the University of South Carolina on May 9 in Colonial Life Arena, the school said Wednesday. Read more here.
Meeting Schedule
| Wednesday, April 16 | |
| 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Medical Affairs Subcommittee on H.4223 I. H. 4223 – Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Senate General DSS Oversight Subcommittee I. Lillian B. Koller, J.D. State Director, South Carolina Department of Social Services 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 111 -- Twelfth Judicial Circuit Legislative Delegation 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 406 -- Transportation Subcommittee on S.718 I. S. 718 – Passing a School Bus Violation 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Finance K-12 Education Subcommittee Budget Hearing I. Proviso Review 11:00 am -- Gressette Room 408 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.4560 I. H. 4560 – Expungement of Criminal Record 11:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.4922 I. H. 4922 – Veterans 11:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Transportation Committee I. S. 718 – Passing a School Bus II S. 1089 – State Ports Authority III. S. 1175 – Automobile Dealers License IV. S. 1161 – SCHP Patrolman First Class Willie E. Peeples Memorial Interchange V. H. 4053 – Harrison Crossroads VI. H. 4397 – Portman Shoals Intersection VII. H. 4851 – Michael 'Mickey' S. Whatley Intersection VIII. S. 1190 – SCHP Patrolman First Class Roy O. Caffey IX. S. 1191 – SCHP Patrolman Harry B. Ray X. H. 4537 – Dormans Crossroads XI. H. 5032 – Reverend Dr. Vandroth Backus Way XII. H. 4802 – Department of Transportation | |
| Thursday, April 17 | |
| No Meetings Scheduled. | |
| Friday, April 18 | |
| No Meetings Scheduled. |