From the Dome to Your Home: February 27, 2015
The House of Representatives and Senate were in session this week on Tuesday and Wednesday but canceled session and subcommittee and committee meetings for Thursday because of the winter weather in the Upstate.
Dilapidated Buildings bill passes out of subcommittee
The House Judiciary Special Laws subcommittee passed the Dilapidated Buildings Act, H3039, on Wednesday with an amendment. The amendment clarifies that cities can't act as receivers for historical properties. This bill gives cities and towns another tool to deal with dilapidated buildings through the appointment of a receiver to either repair or demolish the property. Next, this bill will be on the full House Judiciary Committee's agenda for debate. Please call members of the House Judiciary Committee and encourage them to pass H3039, the Dilapidated Buildings Act. Contact Scott Slatton (sslatton@masc.sc) at 803.933.1203 for questions about the bill or to share stories that illustrate the challenges of dilapidated buildings.
Weekly Bill Introductions
Committee Action This Week
House Judiciary Committee
H3190 - Removes the legislative exemption in the Freedom of Information Act - recommitted to the subcommittee
Summary of the bill as introduced: Removes the existing FOIA exemption for members of the General Assembly and their immediate staff.
House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
H3343 - Prohibits certain methods of euthanasia in animal shelters - favorable report with an amendment. The amendment adds the phrase "as a last resort" at the end of section 1(b) of the bill.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits the use of barbituric acid derivatives and carbon monoxide gas in euthanasia in animal shelters.
Senate Judiciary Committee
S304 - Extends contracts to buy power for additional periods of time - favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows for the renewal or extension of contracts between a joint power and energy agency and a municipality to buy power for additional periods not to exceed 50 years from the date of the renewal or extension.
S255 - Requires removal of arrest records on websites if the charges have been dismissed or discharged - carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires removal of arrest records on websites within 30 days if the charges have been dismissed, discharged or the person is found not guilty.
S277 - State Telecom Equity in Funding Act - favorable report as amended. The amendment makes technical changes to the definition of the term "carrier of last resort" and clarifies that such carriers are subject to audits and investigations by the Office of Regulatory Staff.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Clarifies the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission over certain providers regarding telephone service for hearing and speech impaired people.
S48 - Creates the Study Committee on Racial Profiling - favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Reviews state and local law enforcement policies, practices and procedures regarding racial profiling and makes recommendations to the General Assembly regarding those practices.
Senate Finance Committee
S212 - Allows a person to claim a qualifying boat or watercraft as a primary residence for property tax purposes - carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a person to claim a qualifying boat or watercraft as a primary residence for property tax purposes.
S375 - Allows a local governing body to deposit surplus public funds - favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a local governing body to deposit all or a portion of surplus public funds in its control or possession collateralized by FDIC.
S379 - Makes technical changes to the state's tax code - favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes technical changes to the state's tax code related to county auditors.
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws subcommittee
H3014 - Requires the General Assembly to convene in February and adjourn in May each year - favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires the General Assembly to convene on the second Tuesday in February and adjourn sine die no later than the first Thursday in May each year.
H3093 - Extends the prohibition on obtaining personal information for commercial solicitation to local governments - favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Extends the prohibition on knowingly obtaining or using personal information obtained from a state agency for commercial solicitation by a private person or entity to local governments.
H3583 - Prohibits cities and towns from accepting proposals from businesses that boycott based on race or religion - favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits the state or a political subdivision of the state from accepting a proposal from or procuring goods or services from a business which engages in the boycott of a person or entity based on race, color, religion or national origin.
Senate Finance Special Transportation Funding subcommittee
S2 - Establishes the Interstate Lane Expansion Fund - no action although it was on the subcommittee agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Increases the number of lanes on existing mainline interstates with funding from the taxes from the sale, use or titling of a motor vehicle.
S23 - Adds a motor vehicle user fee of 16 cents per diesel gallon to liquefied natural gas - no action although it was on the subcommittee agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Adds a motor vehicle user fee of 16 cents per diesel gallon to liquefied natural gas.
S142 - Requires all excess general fund revenues to be credited to the State Highway Fund - no action although it was on the subcommittee agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires all excess general fund revenues accumulated in a fiscal year in excess of general appropriations and supplemental appropriations to be credited to the State Highway Fund for improvements to existing mainline interstates and state and local roads.
S244 - Local Option Motor Fuel User Fee Act - no action although it was on the agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a county to impose by ordinance and approved by referendum a user fee of no more than five cents a gallon on retail sales of fuel for the sole purpose of road improvement projects and road maintenance within the county.
S406 - Increases the gas tax and provides an income tax credit - no action although it was on the agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Directs the State Fiscal Accountability Authority to establish a motor fuel surcharge and provide for a refundable income tax credit for taxpayers who pay the motor fuel surcharge.
Don't forget to follow the Municipal Association on Twitter to get up-to-the-minute updates on what's happening every day at the State House. Follow us @MuniAssnSC.
The Municipal Association encourages reprints and reproductions of this report; however, contact the Municipal Association for permission and give credit for any reprints or re-use of this report.