South Carolina Legislative Update - June 2, 2014
June 2, 2014
General Assembly
Rare SC Budget deal in the works H. 4701
While S.C. lawmakers are working on a budget compromise that includes little new money for the state’s crumbling roads next year, state senators are debating a plan to spend more on road repairs in future years. If lawmakers are successful in reaching a budget deal – and they could, since the House- and Senate-passed spending plans are similar – it would represent a rare step. It also would avoid sending the budget to a conference committee, where three representatives and three senators would hash out budget differences. The differences between the House and Senate budget proposals, which lawmakers and budget staffers are working to smooth over, include how much to spend to expand 4-year-old kindergarten, subsidize local governments, pay cyber security consultants, boost higher education and operate the state’s Certificate of Need program. Read more here.
SC ethics reform heads to showdown H. 3945
A committee of state representatives and senators will meet this week to attempt to agree on changes to the state’s ethics law. But the top priority for Gov. Nikki Haley – forming an independent body to investigate alleged ethics violations against lawmakers – likely will not be part of the deal, senators have said. Read more here.
SC texting ban racing against end-of-session deadline H. 4386
S.C. lawmakers are getting closer to banning texting while driving statewide. But they face a deadline – Thursday of next week – if they are going to accomplish that goal. The problem? Senators and state representatives disagree on what a ban should look like. Read more here.
In the News
Lt. Gov. McConnell stepping down
Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell will resign to avoid any potential conflict over of a bill to make his future employer, the College of Charleston, a full-fledged research school, according to a published report. Read more here.
National solar companies skeptical of SC
West Coast solar energy companies remain critical about a plan that is projected to expand sun power in South Carolina after years of reticence from utilities toward renewable energy in the Palmetto State. Read more here.
Meeting Schedule
| Monday, June 2 | |
| No Meetings Scheduled | |
| Tuesday, June 3 | |
| 9:30 am -- State House, 3rd Floor Conference Room -- Conference Committee on H.3945 I. H. 3945 – Commission on Ethics Enforcement and Disclosure 10:30 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee I. Ms. Judy Thomas, SC Panel for Dietetics, Seat: College/University Seat II. Ms. Rebecca G. Wrenn, SC Panel for Dietetics, Seat: Dietician, Community or Public Health 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus Upon recess of the House -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus Upon recess of the House -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus 2:00 pm -- State House, 3rd Floor Conference Room -- Conference Committee on S.459 I. S. 459 – Use of Cellphone While Operating a Motor Vehicle | |
| Wednesday, June 4 | |
| 8:30 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Senate General DSS Oversight Subcommittee 8:30 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Medical Affairs Subcommittee on Pharmacy Issues 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Joint Bond Review Committee I. Comparison of LEED and Green Globes Certification Methodologies II. Department of Social Services Proposed Lease III. State Budget, Permanent Improvement Projects 9:15 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Fish, Game and Forestry Committee | |
| Thursday, June 5 | |
| 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 501 -- Operations and Management Committee 10:30 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- General Committee | |
| Friday, June 6 | |
| No Meetings Scheduled. |