Details from Each Chamber

HOUSE  

The House was on furlough this week and will convene at noon on Tuesday, April 29, 2014.

SENATE

The Senate worked through the uncontested Calendar Tuesday, with debate focused on S.866, related to elections in South Carolina. After lengthy discussions, the House companion bill, H.3198 was placed in Special Order status. The Senate Finance Committee convened immediately upon adjournment to continue proviso deliberations on  H.4701, the Budget, and H.4702, the Capital Reserve Fund bill.

On Wednesday morning, the Senate Finance Committee convened and began taking up new provisos. Senators convened at 2:00 and worked through the uncontested Calendar. H.3198 received second reading and H.1145, the Common Core bill, was left in Special Order with Senator Hayes holding the floor. Senators then convened in Executive Session prior to adjournment to confirm numerous Statewide Appointments. The Senate will reconvene at noon on April 29th.

The Senate Finance Committee met upon adjournment to complete work on proviso packages. The Committee will reconvene at 3:00 on Tuesday, April 29th. Committee handouts can be accessed here. 

The following bills of interest passed the Senate this week: 

• S.569 Competitive Insurance Act
• S.1194 Summer Reading Program
• H.3561 Tax on Accommodations

The Senate will convene at noon on Tuesday, April 29, 2014.

Governor's Office

Governor Haley signed into law the following bills this week:

• R166, S.137 - Emma's Law
• R167, S.714 - Authorizes alligator farming
• R168, S.842 - Authorizes a coroner's cooperation with veterans service organizations
• R169, S.1028 - Increases watercraft motor horsepower limits
• R170, H.3919 - Revises high school graduation requirements
• R171, H.4574 - Updates licensure by the Environmental Certification Board
• R172, H.4604 - Exempts certain engineers from licensure
• R173, H.4820 - Reapportions York County Clover School District 2

Also, Governor Haley recently announced Janet P. Oakley to serve as the new Secretary of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), pending Senate confirmation. Oakley currently serves as the Director of Policy and Government Relations at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Newly Introduced Legislation  

EDUCATION:

S. 1229 Hayes: RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION" AS IT PERTAINS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION EXCELLENCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM - Referred to the Committee on Education.

EMPLOYMENT:

S. 1223 Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: RELATING TO EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP. Placed on the Calendar without reference.

GOVERNMENT:

S. 1225 Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: RELATING TO ESTABLISH AND AMEND SCHEDULES OF FEES FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. Placed on the Calendar without reference.

REAL ESTATE:

S. 1224 Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: RELATING TO REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS BOARD.  Placed on the Calendar without reference.

Top News Articles of the Week      

Poll: South Carolinians think better of BMW, Boeing than politicians
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all, according to South Carolinians? Read more.

Winthrop Poll: South Carolinians sold on state's economic recovery
South Carolinians are feeling better about the state's economy - a lot better, according to a Winthrop Poll released Wednesday . Read more.

S.C. Supreme Court hears challenge to nuclear plant's higher costs
After hearing arguments Wednesday, the S.C. Supreme Court now will decide whether SCE&G is responsible for a $278 million cost increase at the V.C. Summer nuclear plant or if the utility can pass part of that tab along to ratepayers. Read more.

SC Social Services director says she will not quit
After months of state Senate hearings, the head of the embattled S.C. Department of Social Services met with lawmakers investigating her agency Wednesday. Read more.

Summit to focus on state of IT in S.C.
IT-oLogy will host an April 23 summit on the current state of information technology and its impact on the overall S.C. economy. Read more.

BMW growth spurring supplier leases in the Upstate
BMW tier-one supplier Borgers USA is among at least four manufacturers that have signed new leases in the first quarter in the Upstate, according to CoStar Group Inc. The automaker's expansions in Greer are expected to continue spurring lease activity. Read more.

SC congressional delegates talk infrastructure, energy 
Several Republican members of the South Carolina congressional delegation gave their opinions on a variety of topics at a South Carolina Chamber of Commerce town hall meeting Wednesday. Read more.

South Carolina bill giving hiring preference to vets advances
A bill that would allow South Carolina employers to give hiring preference to veterans and spouses of disabled veterans has advanced in the Senate. Read more.

SC politics: Bill banning abortions beyond 19 weeks stalls
A bill banning abortion in South Carolina beyond 19 weeks of pregnancy has stalled in the state Senate, with lawmakers raising concerns the proposal also would ban contraception. Read more.

S.C. beer law change pitched to attract breweries, jobs
South Carolina lawmakers soon may consider loosening restrictions on breweries in an effort to draw job-producing beermakers like Stone Brewing Co. to the Palmetto State.  Read more.

Lindsey Graham reports raising $873,178 for the quarter
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's campaign reported raising $873,178 during the first quarter of 2014, giving him more than $6.85 million cash-on-hand. Read more.

Winthrop Poll: Nearly half of South Carolinians approve of Haley
Of the 877 South Carolinians surveyed, 49.8 percent approve of the job performance by Haley, who is running for re-election in November, according to the latest Winthrop Poll released Wednesday. Of all the registered voters polled, 49.3 percent approve of the job she has done.  Read more.