SC House approves $24 billion state spending plan
The S.C. House gave final passage to next year's $24 billion budget, H. 4701, last week and sent it to the Senate. The House spending proposal includes a 1.5 percent pay raise for state employees, 31 new State Law Enforcement Division agents, at least $65 million for an education initiative backed by Gov. Nikki Haley and temporary takeover of the John de la Howe School for at-risk youth by the state Department of Juvenile Justice. Read more here.
State bill could protect property heirs
The Beaufort Gazette reports: "A bill before state lawmakers could offer better protection for Beaufort County heirs property owners, who are sometimes bullied out of ownership by third parties, according to local leaders. The new protections would give families and judges handling the sale of heirs property a better chance to either hang on to the property or fetch a fair-market price at a sale, state Sen. Tom Davis said." Read more here. S. 18is the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act.
Introductions
H. 4882– Insurance – Credit Scores
H. 4884– Attorney General Representation of Entities to Protect Free Speech Regarding Federal Communications Commission Violations
H. 4888– Prohibition of Distribution of Sensitive Crime Scene Images on Social Media and Penalties
S. 1099– Unemployment Benefits – Exemption from the Definition of Employment for Motor Carriers that Utilize Independent Contractors
S. 1100– Unemployment Benefits – Corporate Officer Exemption and Federally Required Exemptions for Federally Defined Organizations
S. 1113– Pharmacy Licensure Exemption for Pharmacies Licensed in Certain Countries.
S. 1123– Unlawful Trade Practice – Patent Infringement
H. 4901– South Carolina Insurance Reimbursement Telemedicine Act
H. 4911– Elimination of the South Carolina Small Employer Insurer Reinsurance Program
H. 4915– Captive Insurance – Risk Retention Group
H. 4916– Long Term Care Insurance – Termination/Notice
H. 4922– Veterans Preference Extended to Spouse of a Veteran with a Service-connected Permanent and Total Disability
H. 4925– State Minimum Wage
In the News
2014 South Carolina Election Filing
Filing for the 2014 elections opened yesterday at noon and will close March 30 at noon. The primary is set for June 10, 2014, the primary runoff is scheduled for June 24 and the general election is on November 4. The entire South Carolina congressional delegation, including the two U. S. Senate seats, all the state constitutional officers and the South Carolina House of Representatives are up for election this year. To view information on who has filed for elected office, please visit the South Carolina Election Commission’s Candidate Tracking System by clicking here.
SC's federal health insurance
About 36,600 South Carolinians have purchased health insurance from the federal marketplace. Read more here.
No fees for plastic
Lawmakers say fees charged by local governments for paying taxes with credit cards is an unfair burden, and they want to eliminate them. But some local governments say those fees cover only what credit card companies charge them. Read more here.
McConnell: No Charleston merger bill this year
Legislative proposals to merge the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina, creating a larger research university in Charleston, will not have enough time to pass this year, Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell told The State. McConnell, one of the three finalists for president of the College of Charleston, added he might not need a merger with MUSC to put his alma mater on the same research-university footing as Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. If he gets the job, McConnell said he would push for legislation next year allowing the College of Charleston to offer doctorate degrees, creating a third full-fledged research university in the state. Read more here.
Meeting Schedule
Monday, March 17
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11:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Attorney General
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Tuesday, March 18
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10:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Transportation Subcommittee
I. S.139 -- Highway Work Zone
II. S.829 -- Speed Limits
10:30 am -- Blatt Room 521 -- Ways and Means Retirement Ad Hoc Study Committee
I. SC Retirement System Investment Commission-PIC Plan Approval
11:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Majority Caucus
11:00 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- Minority Caucus
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm -- State House Grounds -- Legislative Luncheon--South Carolina Baptist Convention (Members Only)
1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 433 -- Education K-12 Subcommittee
I. H.4650 -- State Board of Education
II. H.4840 -- High School Equivalency Diploma Accessibility Act
III. H.3905 -- Back to Basics in Education Act of 2013
IV. H.4458 -- Winter Holidays
V. H.4369 -- Commercial Advertisements on Public School Buses
2:30 pm -- Blatt Room 427 -- 3-M Subcommittee I, Health and Environmental Affairs
I. H.4542 -- Podiatric Surgery
2:30 pm -- Blatt Room 410 -- Agriculture Wildlife Subcommittee
I. S.876 -- Deer Hunting
II. H.4839 -- Game Zones
III. H.4838 -- Hunting Wild Turkey
2:30 pm or 1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 403 -- LCI Regulations Subcommittee
3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 105 -- Finance Committee on H.3021
I. H.3021 -- Iran Divestment Act
3:00 pm -- Gressette Room 308 -- Judiciary Committee
I. S.375 -- Dilapidated Buildings Act
II. S.810 -- College and University Trustee Screening Commission
III. H.3024 -- Child Abuse
IV. H.3124 -- Child Abuse
V. H.4259 -- Military Service Integrity and Preservation Act
VI. S.817 -- Commission on National and Community Service
VII. S.813 -- Public Library Trespass
VIII. S.894 -- Criminal Justice Academy
IX. S.356 -- Notaries Public
X. S.256 -- Regulatory Reform Act
XI. H.4482 -- Official State Fossil
Upon adjournment of Finance Committee -- Gressette Room 105 -- Finance Retirement and Employee Benefits Subcommittee on S.897
I. S.897 -- Solicitors Office
Upon adjournment of the Regulations Subcommittee -- Blatt Room 403 -- LCI Business and Commerce Subcommittee on H.3831 and H.3964
I. H.3831 -- Restroom Access for Retail Sales Customers
II. H.3964 -- Gas Stations
4:30 pm -- Blatt Room 427 -- Legislative Black Caucus
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Wednesday, March 19
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8:00 - 10:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Legislative Breakfast--South Carolina Forestry Association
8:00 am -- Blatt Room 110 -- South Carolina Pharmacy Association
8:15 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- South Carolina General Assembly Women's Caucus
8:30 am -- Blatt Room 108 -- Legislative Group (Rep. James Smith)
9:00 am -- Blatt Room 427 -- 3-M Subcommittee V, Social Services, Mental Health and Children's Affairs
I. H.4665 -- Childcare Facility
9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Family and Probate Laws Subcommittee
I. H.4348 -- Child Visitation
II. H.4346 -- Registry of Child Abuse & Neglect
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- Finance Criminal Justice Budget Subcommittee
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee Budget Hearings
I. Retirement System Investment Commission
II. Department of Health and Human Services
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 408 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.377
I. S.377 -- Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 406 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.861 and S.900
I. S.861 -- Field Sobriety Tests
II. S.900 -- Study Committee on Expungement of Criminal Offenses
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- Finance Higher Education Budget Subcommittee
I. University of South Carolina
II. Coastal Carolina
III. The Citadel
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Fish, Game and Forestry Committee
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- General DSS Oversight Subcommittee
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 408 -- L.C.I. Regulatory Subcommittee
I. H.3947 -- Political Subdivision's Authority to Set a Minimum Wage
10:00 am -- Blatt Room 321 -- Columbia Builder/Realtor Day
10:30 am -- Gressette Room 406 -- Finance K-12 Education Budget Subcommittee
11:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.536
I. S.536 -- Energy System Freedom of Ownership Act
11:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Transportation Committee
I. S.1037 -- Driver's License
II. S.1089 -- State Ports Authority
III. H.3631 -- Golf Cart Permits
IV. H.4385 -- Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Highway
11:30 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.868
I. S.868 -- Clerk of Court or Register of Deeds
11:30 am -- Blatt Room 305 -- South Carolina College of Emergency Physicians
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm -- State House Grounds -- Legislative Luncheon--National Guard Association of South Carolina
1½ hours after the House adjourns -- Blatt Room 433 -- Education and Public Works Committee
I. H.4386 -- Use of Cellphone While Driving
II. H.4646 -- Real Estate Appraisers License and Certification Act
III. H.3994 -- Read To Succeed Act
IV. H.4413 -- Report-A-Bully In School Website Act
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Thursday, March 20
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8:00 am - 10:00 am -- Blatt Room 112 -- Legislative Breakfast--SC HELP
9:00 am -- Blatt Room 427 -- 3-M Subcommittee IV, Military and Public Affairs
I. H.4527 -- A Day of Recognition for Veterans' Spouses and Families
II. S.842 -- Veteran's Unclaimed Cremated Remains
9:00 am -- Blatt Room 516 -- Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee
I. H.4791 -- Electronic Data Privacy Protection Act
II. H.4094 -- Freedom of Information Act
9:00 am -- Blatt Room 511 -- Judiciary Criminal Laws Subcommittee
I. H.4343 -- Criminal Domestic Violence
II. S.137 -- Ignition Interlock
9:00 am -- Blatt Room 110 -- South Carolina NAACP
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 209 -- Corrections and Penology Committee
I. S.831 -- Licensing of Electronic Monitoring Vendors
II. S.1093 -- Magistrate Court Jurisdiction
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.3833, H.3512 and S.779
I. H.3833 -- Retail Wine/Beer Permit
II. H.3512 -- Alcoholic Liquors
III. S.779 -- Lotteries
9:00 am -- Gressette Room 407 -- L.C.I. Professions and Occupations Subcommittee
I. H.4574 -- Environmental Certification Board
II. H.4604 -- Engineering, Licensure
III. H.4643 -- Professional Licensing Fees
IV. H.4644 -- Real Estate Appraisers License and Certification Act
9:30 am -- Gressette Room 308 -- Medical Affairs Committee
I. S.204 -- Abortion
II. S.1035 -- Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Treatment Research Act
III. S.1036 -- Dental Sedation Act
IV. S.997 -- Speech Pathologist and Audiologist
V. S.662 -- Long-term Care Facilities
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 207 -- Fish, Game and Forestry Subcommittee
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 408 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on H.3369
I. H.3369 -- Workers' Compensation
10:00 am -- Gressette Room 307 -- Judiciary Subcommittee on S.916
I. .916 -- Trespasser Responsibility Act
1:30 pm -- Gressette Room 307 -- Finance Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee Budget Hearing
I. South Carolina Ports Authority
II. Depratment of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
III. Sea Grant Consortium
2:00 pm or upon adjournment -- Gressette Room 209 -- Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children
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Friday, March 21
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No Meetings Scheduled.
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