South Carolina Legislative Update - March 24, 2014
March 24, 2014
South Carolina General Assembly
Emma’s Law S. 137
A House panel advanced a bill that would require some DUI offenders to drive with an interlock device that will not allow the engine to start if they have been drinking.
Nullification Bill H. 3101
South Carolina’s main bill fighting the federal health care law was rejected by the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 33-9.
Peanut’s Law S. 139
A bill dubbed by senators Tuesday as "Peanut's Law" aims to slow down drivers in highway construction zones across South Carolina by increasing penalties and state troopers' presence.
Abortion Bills
S. 204 – The full Senate Medical Affairs Committee on Thursday passed a bill that would restrict abortions to those performed by doctors certified in obstetrics and gynecology who also have hospital privileges. The bill passed 8-6, but a minority report was placed on the legislation requiring a two-thirds vote of the Senate to consider the bill for debate, or special order.
H. 1797 – The Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, moving the state closer to becoming the latest to limit access to the procedure. State representatives voted 84 to 29 to approve the legislation known as the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act" that would ban doctors from performing abortions at the midpoint of a full-term pregnancy unless the woman's life was at risk. The bill now moves to the Senate, where if approved and then signed by Republican Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina would become the 13th state to enact the ban, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit sexual health research organization.
Introductions
H. 4929– Concurrent Resolution – Urging All Hospitals to Provide Inpatients Sixty-Five and Older, Prior to Discharge, an Influenza Immunization
S. 1135/H. 4957– Natural Gas Fuel Incentives
H. 4932– Risk Based Capital
H. 4946– CPA Licensure Revisions
In the News
S.C. Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell has been named president of the College of Charleston, his alma mater and the state’s third-largest college with nearly 12,000 students.
Mike Campbell, son of the late Republican Gov. Carroll Campbell, will run again for lieutenant governor. Campbell filed for the office Wednesday. Charleston developer Pat McKinney is the only other Republican who has filed for the GOP primary so far. Campbell ran for lieutenant governor in 2006. He received the most votes in the primary but lost to first-term Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer in the runoff.
Solar energy boosters and utility representatives say they have broken a stalemate over expanding the use of sun power in South Carolina after years of disagreement.
Carl Blackstone, an adviser for former Gov. Mark Sanford and the state Chamber of Commerce, has been named the new chief executive of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds the late Ike McLeese.
Plans to shelve a plutonium fuel factory in South Carolina are being driven by what the federal government says are escalating costs of the project. The mixed oxide fuel plant would hit taxpayers with $30 billion in construction, operating and other costs if the project gears up - an amount the U.S. Department of Energy says is unaffordable, according to federal budget documents released over the weekend.
South Carolina's unemployment dropped slightly to 6.4 percent in January from 6.6 percent the month before, making the eighth month in a row the rate has declined.
Speculation about a big announcement later this month at BMW's Greer plant ranges from an engine plant to yet another expansion to handle production of one of the company's high-demand vehicles - the 3 and 5 Series sedans, The Greenville News reports.
Military veterans are having better luck finding jobs, outpacing their civilian counterparts in many states, but younger former troops who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan still lag behind, the McClatchy Washington Bureau reports.
Meeting Schedule
| Monday, March 24 | |
| No meetings scheduled. | |
| Tuesday, March 25 | |
| 8:00 am -- Blatt Rooms 108 and 110 -- Teen Pact South Carolina 10:00 am -- State House, 3rd Floor Conference Room -- Santee Cooper Screening Subcommittee of the State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee I. Overview of Statutory Authority & Responsibilities II. Questioning of Appointees III. -- Kristofer D. Clark (Third Congressional District) IV. -- Merrell W. Floyd (Seventh Congressional District) V. -- Catherine E. Heigel (At-Large) VI. -- John C. Land, IV (Sixth Congressional District) VII. -- Danny Joe Ray (Georgetown County) VIII. -- Jack F. Wolfe, Jr. (Second Congressional District) 10:30 am -- Blatt Room 521 -- Charleston University Act Ad Hoc Committee 10:30 am -- Blatt Room 321 -- North Greenville University 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus Upon adjournment of the House -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus Upon adjournment of the House -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 433 -- EPW Motor Vehicles Subcommittee on H.4383, H.4392, H.4499 and H.4900 I. H. 4383 -- Special License Plates II. H. 4392 -- Issuance of Special Restricted License III. H. 4499 -- Department of Motor Vehicles Fees IV. H. 4900 -- Department of Transportation 2:00 pm -- Blatt Room 410 -- Agriculture Environmental Affairs II Subcommittee I. S. 714 -- Captive Alligator Propagation Act 2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 427 -- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee I. H. 3949 -- Tooth Whitening II. H. 3288 -- County Governments III. S. 842 -- Veteran's Unclaimed Cremated Remains IV. H. 4665 -- Childcare Facility 2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 403 -- LCI Health Insurance Subcommittee on H.4932 I. H. 4932 – Risk Based Capital 2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Committee 3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 105 -- Finance Committee on S.911, S.964 and S.1085 I. S. 911 -- Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax II. S. 964 -- Property Tax Millage III. S. 1085 -- Transportation Infrastructure 3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 308 -- Judiciary Committee 3:00 pm -- Blatt Room 410 -- Agriculture Wildlife Subcommittee I. S. 1028 -- Watercraft on Tugalo Lake II. S. 1010 -- Tom Yawkey Center Trust Fund III. S. 986 -- Hunting, Fishing, or Trapping IV. H. 4945 – Catch Limits on Certain Fish 4:00 pm or upon adjournment of Finance Committee -- Gressette Room 207 -- Finance Higher Education Budget Subcommittee I. College of Charleston II. MUSC III. AHEC 4:30 pm -- State House Auditorium -- SC Legislative Black Caucus 6:00 pm -8:00 pm -- Members of the House, reception, Seawell's, by the Home Builders Association of South Carolina 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm -- Members of the House and staff, reception, The Palmetto Club, Carolinas Associated General Contractors | |
| Wednesday, March 26 | |
| 8:00 am – 10:00 am -- Members of the House, breakfast, Room 112, Blatt Bldg., by Lander University 8:00 am -- Blatt Room 321 -- Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association 8:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- South Carolina Connections Academy 8:00 am -- Blatt Rooms 108 and 110 -- Teen Pact South Carolina 8:30 am -- Blatt Room 410 -- Agriculture Subcommittee I. H. 4864 -- Vegetable and Flower Seed Containers and Tags II. S. 839 -- Industrial Hemp 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 406 -- Agency Head Salary Commission 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.309, S.869 and S.1029 I. S. 309 -- Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Act II. S. 869 -- Dating Violence III. S. 1029 -- Criminal Domestic Violence 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 403 -- LCI Business and Commerce Subcommittee on H.4927 I. H. 4927 – Life Insurance 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Finance Criminal Justice Subcommittee Budget Hearing I. Review of Provisos 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee Budget Hearings I. PEBA - State Health Plan II. Department of Social Services 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Education K 12 Subcommittee I. H.3428 -- First Steps to School Readiness Initiative II. H.4871 -- Charter Schools III. H.4749 -- Kindergarten Programs IV. S.843 -- Bullying V. S.1094 -- In-School Fundraisers 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- L.C.I. Labor and Employment Subcommittee I. S. 1099 -- Unemployment Benefits II. S. 1100 -- Unemployment Benefits 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 408 -- Fish, Game and Forestry Subcommittee I. S.1096 -- Spot, Whiting, and Croaker II. H.4561 -- Interstate Boating Violator Compact III. H.4543 -- Blue Catfish IV. H.4596 -- Snapper–Grouper Fishery 10:00 am – 12:00 noon -- Blatt Room 521 -- Senate General DSS Oversight Committee 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- Finance Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee Budget Hearing I. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation II. Santee Cooper III. Conservation Bank 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 318 -- Liberty Day Kids 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- South Carolina Democratic Women's Council 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Students For Civility 11:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.971 I. S. 971 -- Magistrates Court 11:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Finance Higher Education Budget Subcommittee I. Winthrop University II. Lander University III. Francis Marion University IV. Clemson University 11:30 am – 1:30 pm -- Members of the House and staff, luncheon, State House grounds, by the South Carolina State Firefighter's Association 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm -- Members of the House, reception, Seawell's, by the South Carolina Summary Court Judges' Association | |
| Thursday, March 27 | |
| 8:00 am – 10:00 am -- Members of the House, breakfast, Room 112, Blatt Bldg., by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators 8:00 am -- Blatt Rooms 108 and 110 -- Teen Pact South Carolina 8:30 am -- Blatt Room 321 -- Kershaw County Junior Leadership 8:30 am -- Blatt Room 410 -- Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee I. H. 4839 -- Game Zones II. H. 4838 -- Hunting Wild Turkey III. S. 876 -- Deer Hunting 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 403 -- LCI Regulations Subcommittee I. Doc No. 4445 -- Office of the State Fire Marshal II. Doc No. 4446 -- Occupational Safety & Health 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 511 -- Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 515-A -- Judiciary Special Laws Subcommittee I. S. 1034 -- Revised Code Volumes 5 and 8 II. H. 4673 -- Landowners Liability III. H. 4607 -- Trespasser Accountability Act 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 318 -- Legislative Group (Rep. Samuel Rivers) 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.1086 I. S. 1086 -- Breach of Security of State Agency Data 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee I. H. 4604 -- Engineering, Licensure II. H. 4643 -- Professional Licensing Fees III. H. 4644 -- Real Estate Appraisers License and Certification Act IV. H. 3941 -- Political Subdivision's Authority to Set a Minimum Wage V. S. 1099 -- Unemployment Benefits VI. S. 1100 -- Unemployment Benefits 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Medical Affairs Subcommittee on S.447, S.1012 and S.1056 I. S. 447 -- Stop Methamphetamine Production Act II. S. 1012 -- Prescription Drug Trafficking III. S. 1056 -- Hearing Aids 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- Finance K-12 Education Subcommittee Budget Hearing I. Review of Provisos 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 105 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.536 I. S. 536 -- Energy System Freedom of Ownership Act 9:30 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee 10:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- South Carolina Association of School Administrators 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 408 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.865 I. S. 865 -- CDL Driver Employment Protection Act 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 406 -- Finance Higher Education Budget Subcommittee I. Tuition Grants II. Provisos Upon adjournment of both House and Senate -- Gressette Room 308 -- Sentencing Reform Oversight Committee | |
| Friday, March 28 | 8:00 am -- Blatt Rooms 108 and 110 -- Teen Pact South Carolina |