South Carolina Legislative Update - May 19, 2014
May 19, 2014
General Assembly
Senate Approves Annual Appropriation Bill
The South Carolina Senate approved the annual state budget last week and returned the bill (H. 4701) to the House for their consideration. A conference committee will likely be selected by each chamber to work out any difference between the two versions. The Senate’s version of the $7 billion budget included several proposal to fund four-year old kindergarten for 14 additional districts, certificate of need grandfathering proviso, and an optional $1,000 per month in-district expense for legislators.
Compromise SC solar bill continues to advance S. 1189
South Carolina could quickly catch up to its northern and southern neighbors in solar energy production if a solar bill that’s headed for House debate gets passed this session, solar advocates said last Thursday. Georgia and North Carolina each ranked in the top 10 states for amount of solar installed in 2013. The comprehensive solar energy bill that would allow South Carolinians to harness the sun as an energy source for electricity has avoided roadblocks so far as it makes its way to the House floor. The bill wound its way through a House sub-committee Tuesday and passed out of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee on Wednesday on its way to the House floor for debate, likely sometime next week. Read more here.
In the News
Columbia man honored for helping desegregate Marine Corps
Columbia’s William Ramseur could not make the ceremony two years ago when Congress honored the first African-Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. So, Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, presented the Congressional Gold Medal to Ramseur in Columbia. Read more here.
Environmental Bills Stall, H.3827 and H.3925
The Senate Medical Affairs Committee adopted two business friendly environmental bills on Thursday, but minority reports were placed on both – the minority reports will prevent debate on the Senate floor unless unanimous consent is granted to remove the reports or the bills are set for special order. H. 3827 streamlines the permit review process by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and H. 3925 clarifies no private cause of action exists under the Pollution Control Act.
Meeting Schedule
| Monday, May 20 | |
| No Meetings Scheduled | |
| Tuesday, May 21 | |
| 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 318 -- Legislative Group (Rep. Shannon Erickson) 9:45 am -- Blatt Room 424 -- Legislative Group (Rep. Mac Toole) 10:30 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Banking and Insurance Committee on S.422, H.3134, H.4911 and H.4916 I. S. 422 – Mammograms II. H. 3134 – Satisfaction of a Mortgage III. H. 4911 – Small Employer Insurance Availability Act IV. H. 4916 – Notice Requirements of an Insurer 10:30 am -- State House, 3rd Floor Conference Room -- Hunley Commission 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus Upon adjournment of the House -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus Upon adjournment of the House -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus 1:30 pm -- State House, Third Floor Conference Room -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.4476 I. H. 4476 – DUI Video Recorded at Breath Site 3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 105 -- Finance Committee 3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 308 -- Judiciary Committee I. H. 3369 – Workers Compensation II. H. 4560 – Expungement of Criminal Records III. H. 4673 – Landowners Liablity IV. H. 4371 – Patents V. H. 3958 – Coroners VI. H. 3361 – Domestic Abuse VII. H. 4630 – Law Enforcement Certification VIII. H. 4732 – Party Conventions IX. H. 3024 – Child Abuse X. H. 3102 – Jaidon’s Law XI. H. 4348 – Child Visiation XII. H. 4408 – Child Fatality Advisory Committee XIII. H. 5005 – Municipal Utilities XIV. H. 3539 – Election Day Alcohol Sales XV. H. 3626 – Motorsports Entertainment Complex XVI. H. 4399 – Alcohol Permits XVII. S. 1029 – Criminal Domestic Violence XVIII. H. 4607 – Trespasser Responsibility Act 4:30 pm -- Blatt Room 427 -- SC Legislative Black Caucus | |
| Wednesday, May 22 | |
| 8:30 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Medical Affairs Subcommittee on H.3236, H.3827, H.3925, H.3983, H.4354, H.4550, H.4803 and H.4929 I. H.3236 – Cervical Cancer Prevention Act II. H. 3827 – Department of Health and Environmental Control III. H. 3925 – Discharge of Pollutants into the Environment IV. H. 3983 – Hospitals V. H. 4354 – Right of the Patient Regarding Medical Records VI. H. 4550 – Long Term Healthcare Administrators VII. H. 4803 – Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Treatment Research Act VIII. H. 4949 – Mary Holmes 100th Birthday Resolution 8:30 am -- Blatt Room 321 -- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 427 -- 3-M Subcommittee V, Social Services, Mental Health and Children's Affairs 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 433 -- EPW Transportation Subcommittee on S.459 and H.5004 I. S. 459 – Use of Cellphone While Operating a Motor Vehicle II. H. 5004 – Child Passenger Restraint Devices 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary General Laws Subcommittee I. S. 92 – Relating to Agencies of the States 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.3958 I. H. 3958 – Coroners 9:30 am -- Blatt Room 523 -- Ways and Means General Government, Personnel and Benefits Subcommittee I. S. 1008 – Retirement Systems for Judges - Administrative Law Judges 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Transportation Committee 11:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Junior Leadership Pickens County 11:30 am - 2:00 pm -- State House Grounds -- Legislative Luncheon--"SC Hospitality Day"--South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association 11:30 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- South Carolina Federation of Republican Women 1:00 pm -- Blatt Room 110 -- Legislative Group (Rep. Rita Allison) Upon adjournment of the House -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Family and Probate Laws Subcommittee I. S. 687 – SC Blind Persons Right to Parent Act II. S. 872 – Legislative Committee on Children III. H. 4751 – Missing Person Information Center 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 501 -- Ways and Means Economic Development, Capital Improvement and Other Taxes Subcommittee I. S. 812 – Rural Infrastructure Authority Changes II. H. 4778 – New Market Jobs Act 2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 403 -- LCI Insurance Subcommittee on S.569 and S.1065 I. S. 569 – Competitive Insurance Act II. S. 1065 – Self Storage Facilities | |
| Thursday, May 23 | |
| 9:00 am -- State House, 3rd Floor Conference Room -- Conference Committee on H.3198 I. H. 3198 – Election Commission and Board of Registration 9:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 427 -- 3-M Subcommittee VI, Other Occupational Regulation and Licensing Boards I. S. 1056 – Hearing Aids 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 410 -- Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee I. S. 1032 – Coastal Zone Critical Areas II. S. 1198 – Water Pollution Control Permits 9:00 am -- State House, 3rd Floor Conference Room -- Conference Committee on H.3198 I. H. 3198 – Election Commission and Board of Registration 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 511 -- Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee I. S. 446 – Lieutenant Governor II. S. 495 – Charitable Organization - Background checks III. S. 176 – Magistrate Court 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 515-A -- Judiciary Special Laws Subcommittee I. S. 343 – UCC II. S. 840 – Prescription Monitoring Program III. S. 779 – Lotteries IV. S. 1007 – Mortgage Foreclosure 9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee I. S. 561 – Nonferrous Metals II. S. 440 – Juvenile Restraints III. S. 406 – Controlled Substances IV. S. 813 – Loitering in Public Libraries V. S. 142 – Omnibus Crime Reduction & Sentencing Reform Act of 2010 10:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.773 and S.788 I. S.773 –Transparency in Private Attorney Contracts Act II. S.788 –Noneconomic Damages Limit | |
| Friday, May 24 | |
| No Meetings Scheduled. |