South Carolina Legislative Update - January 31, 2014
January 31, 2014
General Assembly Session and Meetings Cancelled
The state House and Senate did not meet this week due to winter weather. Read more here.
Lieutenant Governor McConnell’s Portrait Unveiling
Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell’s portrait was unveiled at a ceremony in the Senate chamber this Thursday. McConnell announced earlier this month he would not seek re-election to the lieutenant governor’s office and is a candidate for the office of president of the College of Charleston, expected to open in June of 2014. McConnell was Senate president pro tempore for more than a decade and served in the Senate for over 30 years before ascending to the lieutenant governor’s office following the resignation of Ken Ard. Read more here.
Restructuring
S.22 – On Monday, January 27, 2014, Gov. Nicki Haley signed S.22 into law. The bill, often referred to as “government restructuring,” eliminates the state Budget and Control Board and transfers most of its functions to a new Department of Administration under the governor’s control. A new State Fiscal Accountability Authority – made up of the same officials that are on the current Budget and Control Board – will govern state purchasing and bonding.
Haley had planned a ceremonial bill signing for Wednesday, but postponed it to Feb. 5 after the House and Senate decided to cancel their legislative meetings this week because of the possibility of snow and ice on Tuesday and Thursday. Read more here.
Former State Rep. Herb Kirsh
Kirsh, a Clover Democrat who was the longest serving legislator in the South Carolina General Assembly, died Tuesday night. Gov. Nicki Haley, who served with Kirsh as a lawmaker, issued a statement: “He was always one of the most knowledgeable legislators, especially when it came to the state budget. Most importantly, he was respected by both sides of the aisle as someone who had a great love for South Carolina and her people. He will be missed.” His funeral is set for Friday. Read more here.
Meeting Schedule
Tuesday, February 4
- 9:30 am -- Blatt Room 501 -- Ways and Means Transportation and Regulatory Subcommittee
I. Commission for Minority Affairs
II. Human Affairs Commission
III. Department of Consumer Affairs
IV. Review of remaining Provisos assigned to the Subcommittee
V. Member Requests
- 9:30 am -- Blatt Room 521 -- Ways and Means Public Education and Special Schools Subcommittee
I. John de la Howe
II. Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
III. School for the Deaf and Blind
- 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee
- 10:00 am -- Blatt Room 321 -- Ways and Means Higher Education, Technical, and Cultural Subcommittee
I. MUSC
II. MUSC - AHEC
III. Member requests
- 1 hour after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 321 -- Ways and Means Higher Education, Technical, and Cultural Subcommittee
I. Medal of Honor Museum
- 10:30 am -- Blatt Room 511 -- Ways and Means Legislative, Executive, and Local Government Subcommittee
I. Office of the State Treasurer
II. Inspector General
- 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus
- 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus
- 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 409 -- Ways and Means Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Subcommittee
II. MEMBER REQUESTS
- 11:45 am -- Blatt Room 318 -- Leadership Colleton
- 11:45 am -- Blatt Room 501 -- Greenville County Legislative Delegation
- Upon adjournment of the House -- Blatt Room 112 -- Minority Caucus
- 1 hour after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 108 -- Ways and Means Healthcare Subcommittee
I. Vocational Rehabilitation Department
II. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
III. All Provisos Assigned to Subcommittee
IV. Member Requests
- 1 hour after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 501 -- Ways and Means Transportation and Regulatory Subcommittee
II. Office of Regulatory Staff
III. Public Service Commission
IV. Department of Motor Vehicles
- 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 521 -- Ways and Means Public Education and Special Schools Subcommittee
I. Governor's School for Science and Mathematics - Budget and Provisos
II. First Steps - Regarding Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Only
III. State Department of Education - Provisos
IV. The Education Oversight Committee - Provisos
- 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 511 -- Ways and Means Legislative, Executive, and Local Government Subcommittee
I. SC Retirement Investment Commission
II. Agency Carried Over Provisos and Section 117 and 118 Provisos
III. Member Requests
- 2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Committee
II. H. 3169 – Relating to Grounds for Divorce
III. H. 3170 -- A Joint Resolution Relating to Grounds for Divorce
IV. H. 3775—Relating to Family Court Orders of Protection from Domestic Abuse
V. H. 3197 -- A Bill to Create The Division of Elections Within the Office of Secretary of State
- 3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 308 -- Finance Committee on S.293, S.329, S.402, S.809, S.828, S.940 and S.953
I. S. 809- Capital Project Sales and Use Tax
II. S.940- Education Capital Improvement Sales and Use Tax
III. S.828 National and International Convention and Trade Show Centers
IV. S.953- Annual Tax Conformity
V. S.402-Tax Credits for Alternative Fuel Vehicles
VI. S.329- Tax Credits for Solar Installations
VII. S.293- Murrell’s Inlet-Garden City Fire District
- 3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 105 -- Judiciary Committee
I. Regulation 4313-Child Support Guidelines
II. Regulation 4347-Law Enforcement Officer and E-911 Officer Training & Certification
III. S. 815- Candidate nominations
IV. S. 505- Public Integrity Unit established
V. S. 268- Certification of domestic and foreign records
VI. S. 605- State owned aircraft
VII. S. 560 -Railroad or electric railway
VIII. S. 561- Nonferrous metals
IX. S. 150- No Parole Offense
X. S. 115- Constitutional Carry Act
XI. S. 611- Minority Affairs Commission
XII. S. 275- Multijurisdictional task force
XIII. H.3563- Self-Service Storage Facility Act
I. H.4419- Selection of teachers by school principal
II. H.3428- First Steps to School Readiness Initiative
III. H.3994- Read To Succeed Act
Wednesday, February 5
- 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 406 -- Finance Sales and Income Taxation Subcommittee on S.812, S.912, H.3021,H.3089 and H.3561
I. S.812- Rural Infrastructure Authority
II. S.912- Hospitality Tax Revenue
III. H.3021- Iran Divestment Act
IV. H.3089- Income tax deductions
V. H.3561-Accommodation tax
- 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 511 -- Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee
I. S. 19- Relating to Bonds
II. H. 4368- Criminal Gang Prevention Act
- 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 523 -- Ways and Means Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee
I. Department of Commerce
II. Rural Infrastructure Authority
- 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 427 -- 3-M Subcommittee V, Social Services, Mental Health and Children's Affairs
I. R.4433 – DHEC-Standards for Licensing In-Home Care Providers
II. R. 4434 – DHEC-Vaccination, Screening and Immunization Regarding Contagious Diseases
- 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Environmental Subcommittee
I. S.890- Permits for Coastal Zone Critical Areas
II. H.3592- Energy Independence and Sustainable Construction Act of 2007
- 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Education K-12 Subcommittee on Common Core
I. Common Core Information
- 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
I. S.913- A Bill relating to the practice of falconry.
II. S.876- A Bill relating to the hunting of deer near a residence.
- 10:00 am -- Blatt Room 410 -- Agricultural Subcommittee
I. S.699- Inspection fee on the distribution or sale of commercial fertilizer
- 11:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.811 and S.866
I. S.811- County Boards of Registration and Election
II. S.866- County Election Commissions and Board of Voter Registration
- 11:30 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Transportation Committee
I. Robert St. Onge, SC DOT
- 11:30 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.916
I. S.916- Trespasser Responsibility Act
- 1 hour after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 108 -- Ways and Means Healthcare Subcommittee
I. Member Requests
II. Department of Health and Human Services
- 1 hour after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 321 -- Ways and Means Higher Education, Technical, and Cultural Subcommittee
I. College of Charleston
II. State Museum
III. State Library
IV. SC Artisans Center
V. Provisos
- 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 521 -- Ways and Means Public Education and Special Schools Subcommittee
I. College of Charleston
II. State Museum
III. State Library
IV. SC Artisans Center
V. Provisos
- 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 523 -- Ways and Means Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee
I. Sea Grant Consortium
II. JEDA
- 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 511 -- Ways and Means Legislative, Executive, and Local Government Subcommittee
I. Agency Carried Over Provisos and Section 117 and 118 Provisos
Thursday, February 6
- 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee
I. H.4223- Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
- 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Corrections and Penology Committee
I. Mr. Bryan P. Stirling, Director, South Carolina Department of Corrections
- 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Agricultural Subcommittee
I. H.3987-Redefine food, seafood, and local seafood
- 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Medical Affairs Committee
I. S.748- Immunity from Liability for Providing Free Health Care Services
II. S.840- Prescription Monitoring Program
III. H.3978- Medicaid Nursing Home Permits
- 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- Professions and Occupations Subcommittee
I. S.862- Residential Property Improvements
II. H.3149- Precious Metals
I. S.825-Ad Valorem Taxation
II. H.3027- Property tax assessments
- 1 hour after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 523 -- Ways and Means Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee
I. S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority
II. Member Requests
III. Proviso Clean-up
- 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 521 -- Ways and Means Public Education and Special Schools Subcommittee
I. Final Proviso Considerations if needed
- Upon adjournment of the House -- Blatt Room 108 -- Ways and Means Healthcare Subcommittee
I. Member Requests
II. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
III. Provisos
- Upon adjournment of the Property Tax Subcommittee -- Gressette Room 307 -- Finance Special Subcommittee on S.279 on S.867
I. S.279- Income Tax Deduction for Tuition
II. S.867- General Appropriations Act