What's New
The House of Representatives spent most of the week debating, H.3114, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which was ultimately passed on Thursday. The bill bans abortions at 20 weeks of pregnancy. Additionally, they received introductions, numerous resolutions, and gave final passage to other bills. Bills of interest include:
• H.3125 - Grand Jury/Trafficking
• H.3195 - Lobbyist Principals
• H.3202 - Whistleblower Protection Act
• H.3519 - Lotteries
The House Judiciary Committee met Tuesday and gave a favorable as amended report to H.3191, to create the Office of Freedom of Information Act Review.
The House Labor, Commerce, and Industry Public Utilities Subcommittee met Thursday and gave a favorable as amended report to H. 3525, a bill that provides that Uber must be licensed through the State Public Service Commission, but a person would appeal to the Administrative Law Court where limits of liability will be adhered to.
Much of the attention in the House was centered on a Ways and Means proposal to close down South Carolina State University for the years in midst of the institution’s financial crisis. Additionally, the Legislative Black Caucus issued a vote of no confidence again the institution’s President, Dr. Thomas Elzey.
On Tuesday, the Senate convened in a brief session this morning, receiving communications and introductions. After working the calendar, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Larry Martin (R-Pickens) stated that the Ethics working committee appointed last week (Senators L. Martin, Hutto, Scott, Rankin and S. Massey), were still discussing and working on the Ethics bill disagreements and considering amendments on the desk and trying to incorporate some of them. The Senate spent the rest of the week deliberating over the bill (S.1) and tried to pass it out of the Senate without success. On Thursday, Senator Martin moved to reconsider the vote from Wednesday, but the motion was carried over. They will continue to discuss the bill next week.
On Thursday, Senator Gerald Malloy (D-Darlington) took the podium to comment on recent House discussion to temporarily close SC State University, stating that the Senate would not pass a bill to close the historical black university. Senate Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence) agreed saying that the University was too important to the State.
A Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee met Wednesday and gave a favorable report to S.229, to allow legal action against a potential violator of the SC Pollution Control Act. It states that only DHEC or an agency, commission, department or political subdivision of the state may initiate legal action against a violator. A Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee also gave a favorable report to S.228, which transfers the responsibility of adjudicating appeals of decisions made by DHEC to the Administrative Law Court. Both bills will now go to the full Senate Medical Affairs Committee
Top News Articles
Gas price free fall ending in Carolinas
Just when Carolinians were enjoying the lowest prices at gas pumps since 2009, costs have gone up and could go higher. Read more.
Surprise move to close S.C. State temporarily halted as outcry grows
State lawmakers temporarily halted an attempt Tuesday to shut down the financially troubled South Carolina State University for at least three semesters. Read more.
Study: S.C. agribusiness packs $41.7B economic impact
A new study shows that South Carolina agribusiness has an annual economic impact of $41.7 billion and supports about 1 in 10 jobs. Read more.
Duke Energy moves to expand use of solar in S.C.
South Carolina stepped into the solar spotlight Tuesday with proposals by Duke Energy and South Carolina Electric & Gas to expand renewable energy. Read more.
Black legislative leaders want SC State to stay open, remove president
As supporters of South Carolina State University rallied behind the historically black institution in the wake of a move in the Legislature to temporarily close it, the Legislative Black Caucus voted Wednesday that it has no confidence in the university’s president. Read more.
Proposed bill would freeze contributions from state to local government coffers through 2017-2018
A proposed bill in the House would continue to fall short of fully funding state mandates for counties, and at least one area county leader hopes legislators will agree on an amendment to work toward gradually restoring some of the money over a three-year period. Read more.
SC House again approves banning abortion beyond 19 weeks
The House has again approved a bill banning abortion in South Carolina beyond 19 weeks of pregnancy.The 80-27 vote Wednesday occurred 11 months after the chamber last approved the proposal. It died in the Senate as the session ended last June. Read more.
S.C. Senate kills ethics measure — possibly for the year
The S.C. Senate killed a measure Wednesday aimed at overhauling the law that governs legislators’ ethics, throwing into doubt whether anything would get done this year on a major priority for Gov. Nikki Haley and other top leaders. Read more.
Boeing Announces Additional Work for SC Propulsion Plant
Even as Boeing opened a large new propulsion plant in South Carolina on Wednesday, the aeronautics giant announced the facility has already been assigned additional work. Read more.
GADC president: Sites near I-85 are biggest need
After 27 years as York County economic developer, Mark Farris four months ago took the job as the Greenville Area Development Corp.’s second president. The 14-year-old, mostly tax-funded organization pays Farris an annual salary of $145,000 and provides him a car. GADC efforts have created almost 10,000 jobs and generated more than $2 billion in capital investment. Last year, companies in Greenville County announced more than $476 million worth of capital investment and 1,317 jobs. The organization is working to diversify the community’s economic landscape, targeting sectors such as advanced materials, automotive, aerospace, biosciences, logistics, data centers, offices and corporate headquarters. Read more.
Milliken announces plans to close longtime Greenville textile plant
Longtime Greenville employer Milliken & Co. announced plans Wednesday to end operations at its Judson plant, which employs 200 people. Read more.
Giti Tire breaks ground on Chester County plant
The official groundbreaking at Giti Tire’s first U.S. manufacturing plant was the latest sign of hope for many Chester County residents. Read more.
State could bypass Clemson on Tillman Hall
Clemson students and faculty vowed Thursday that they would continue to press for Tillman Hall to be renamed, even after David Wilkins, the board chairman, said the board would not rename the iconic building. Read more.
Newly Introduced Legislation
EDUCATION:
S. 437 Campsen: SO AS TO ENACT THE "JAMES B. EDWARDS CIVICS EDUCATION INITIATIVE"
H. 3542 King: RELATING TO TOPICS INCLUDED IN HIGH SCHOOL FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS
H. 3546 Bamberg: SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THIS STATE SHALL ANNUALLY AWARD STIPENDS TO STUDENT ATHLETES WHO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORT AND MAINTAIN A GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR
H. 3652 Cobb-Hunter: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT ALL STATE AGENCIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE FLYING AND DISPLAYING THE FLAG, REFRAIN FROM FLYING AND DISPLAYING THE FLAG OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.
H. 3663 Bingham: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO REMOVE THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AND DEVOLVE THE BOARD'S POWERS UPON THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD AND DIRECT THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD TO REMOVE THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AND EMPLOY AN INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WHO SHALL SERVE AT-WILL AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD TO AID IN DIRECTING THE UNIVERSITY IN A NEW DIRECTION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ADDRESSING AND CORRECTING THE ONGOING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES OF THE UNIVERSITY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE UNIVERSITY FUNCTIONAL AND MAINTAIN ITS ACCREDITATION.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/TAXATION:
S. 444 Gregory: RELATING TO DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO THE JOB TAX CREDIT
ENVIRONMENTAL:
H. 3564 J. E. Smith: RELATING TO THE REGISTRATION OF WITHDRAWAL OF SURFACE WATER FOR AGRICULTURAL USES
H. 3575 Jefferson: RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SOLID WASTE POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT
H. 3646 Burns: RELATING IN PART TO THE RIGHT OF MANDATED REPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT TO OBTAIN CERTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS AND X-RAYS TAKEN WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT
EMPLOYMENT:
H. 3202 Funderburk: SO AS TO ENTITLE CHAPTER 27 THE "SOUTH CAROLINA WHISTLEBLOWER AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PROTECTION ACT"
GOVERNMENT:
H. 3581 M. S. McLeod: SO AS TO ESTABLISH A COORDINATED STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE STATE WORKFORCE AND TO DEFINE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF STATE AGENCIES UNDER THIS INITIATIVE
H. 3649 Hayes: RELATING TO ETHICS BROCHURES TO BE PROVIDED TO CERTAIN PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES BY THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
JUDICIAL:
S. 436 Campsen: SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO REVIEW THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION'S DRAFT REPORT OF JUDICIAL CANDIDATES BEFORE THE REPORT BECOMES FINAL AND JUDICIAL CANDIDATES CAN OBTAIN PLEDGES OR COMMITMENTS
H. 3519 Merrill: RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON LOTTERIES AND THE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS PROHIBITION
TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE:
H. 3566 Atwater: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR GOVERNING BODIES
H. 3579 Simrill: RELATING TO THE COMMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
H. 3580 Stringer: SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REFORM ACT"
H. 3582 Finlay: RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF STATE SOURCE HIGHWAY FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION PROJECTS TO FIRMS OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY DISADVANTAGED ETHNIC MINORITIES OR WOMEN
H. 3650 Chumley: TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTARY INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING ACT"
H. 3661 Pitts: RELATING TO THE COMMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
