From the Dome to Your Home: May 15, 2015
The House of Representatives and Senate were in session this week and held subcommittee and committee meetings. The House of Representatives passed body camera legislation, while the Senate debated the capital reserve bill.
Body camera bill passes the House
S47 was amended and given second and third reading by the House of Representatives this week and returned to the Senate with the changes. S47 was amended by House members to instruct the South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council to conduct a body camera pilot project and establish guidelines for using body worn cameras. For more information on the body camera bill, contact Tiger Wells (twells@masc.sc) at 803.933.1270.
Meeting agenda bill goes to conference committee
A conference committee was appointed to iron out the differences in the House and Senate versions of the public meeting agenda bill in response to the Lambries vs. Saluda County Supreme Court Case. S11 is the Senate bill that requires an agenda for all regularly scheduled meetings of a public body. H3192, is the House version which requires an emergency finding before an action item could be added to an agenda once the regularly scheduled meeting begins. Senators Greg Gregory, Chip Campsen and Kevin Johnson and Representatives Weston Newton, Bill Taylor and Mandy Powers-Norrell were appointed to the conference committee. For more information on the agenda bill, contact Tiger Wells (twells@masc.sc) at 803.933.1270.
Roads bill on Senate calendar special order
H3579, the House version of the transportation infrastructure bill, was given a special order place on the Senate calendar. Special order is a place on the Senate calendar that forces debate on a controversial bill once senators have debated the uncontested bills. Last week, members of the Senate Republican Caucus proposed a new plan to fix the state’s roads and infrastructure. Senators adjourned this week without any work on the roads bill. For more information on the roads plans, contact Melissa Carter (mcarter@masc.sc) at 803.933.1251 or Scott Slatton (sslatton@masc.sc) at 803.933.1203.
Budget back in the House
H3701, the state budget bill, is on the House calendar with the amendments from the Senate. House members adjourned debate on the budget bill until Tuesday, May 19. For more information on the state budget bill, contact Melissa Carter (mcarter@masc.sc) at 803.933.1251.
Weekly bill introductions
Committee action this week
House Ways and Means Economic Development, Capital Improvement and Other Taxes subcommittee
S350 - Terminates the provisions of the SC Community Economic Development Act – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Extends the termination of the SC Community Economic Development Act from June 30, 2015 to June 30, 2020.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Banking and Consumer Affairs subcommittee
S389 - Provides further definitions for Business Development Corporations – favorable report with an amendment. The amendment limits the area of operation to Federal Reserve Districts five and six only. Later in the week, the full House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee gave this bill a favorable report.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Outlines the way business development corporations are organized, regulated and permitted to operate.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Public Utilities subcommittee
S277 - State Telecom Equity in Funding Act – favorable report. Later in the week, the full House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee adjourned debate on the bill.
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.
Senate Judiciary Committee
H3188 - Makes changes to the current law on campaign contributions – favorable report with an amendment. The amendment includes a higher campaign contribution limit.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits campaign contributions from certain noncandidate committees.
H3186 - Redefines certain terms regarding ethics and government accountability – favorable report with an amendment. The amendment requires a list of private sources of money, but does not require the amount.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Revises the definition of "business with which he is associated" and revises the statements of economic interests form.
H3187 - Revises the definition of a committee and campaign contribution – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Changes the definition of a committee and the campaign contribution of a committee related to campaigns.
S282 - Makes several changes to the Tort Claims Act – no action although the bill was on the agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes several changes to the Tort Claims Act including changes to the medical malpractice language and defective product language.
S194 - Dilapidated Buildings Act – no action although the bill was on the agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a municipality to bring a cause of action against the owner of property not in substantial compliance with municipal ordinances.
S647 - Exempts a person from a criminal offense who photographs or records a law enforcement officer performing official duties – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Exempts a person from a criminal offense who photographs or records a law enforcement officer performing official duties while the officer is in a public place.
S649 - Requires all law enforcement agencies to have written policies regarding investigations of officer involved deaths – no action although the bill was on the agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires all law enforcement agencies to have written policies regarding investigations of officer involved deaths.
S650 - Gives SLED exclusive authority and jurisdiction to investigate all officer-involved shootings that result in bodily injury or death – no action although the bill was on the agenda
Summary of the bill as introduced: Gives SLED exclusive authority and jurisdiction to investigate all officer-involved shootings that result in bodily injury or death.
House Judiciary Committee
S133 - Requires automatic expungement of non-violent crimes that occurred before the age of 16 – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires automatic expungement of non-violent crimes that occurred before the age of 16 years old.
H3685 - Adds a $5 surcharge on all monetary penalties imposed by municipal courts – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires a $5 surcharge on all penalties imposed by a general sessions, magistrates or municipal court for misdemeanor traffic or non-traffic offenses where an electronic ticket or citation was issued.
Senate Finance Property Taxation subcommittee
S626 - Exempts 80 percent of the fair market value of property taxes on a renewable energy resource – favorable report as amended. As soon as the amendment is available, it will be posted in the tracking system.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Exempts 80 percent of the fair market value of a renewable energy resource for 10 years.
H3710 - Extends the multilot discount for an additional five years – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Provides an additional five years of eligibility for the multiple lot discount.
Senate Finance Sales and Income Taxation subcommittee
S337 - SC New Market Jobs Act – favorable report with an amendment. As soon as the amendment is available, it will be posted in the tracking system.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Provides a credit against insurance premium taxes and possible other states taxes made in certain investments by qualified community development entities.
S682 - Allows a lien to be placed on the Joint Authority Water and Sewer System's property – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows a lien to be placed on a Joint Authority Water and Sewer System's property in accordance with the Revenue Bond Act for utilities.
S683 - Requires the Capital Project Sales Tax to terminate on April 30 of an odd or even numbered year – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Requires the Capital Project Sales Tax to terminate on April 30 of an odd or even numbered year.
S545 - Adds certain exclusions for specific procurements or contracts – favorable report with an amendment. The amendment includes clarification language.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Add exclusions for procurements or contracts which are valued at less than $10,000, entered into with a local, state or federal government entity or state agency or entered into before January 1, 2015.
H3583 - Prohibits cities and towns from accepting proposals from businesses that boycott based on race or religion – favorable report with an amendment. The amendment includes the language from S545.
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 Judiciary subcommittee
H3191 - Creates the Office of Freedom of Information Act Review within Administrative Law Court – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Creates the Office of Freedom of Information Act Review within Administrative Law Court and reduces the time in which a public body has to respond to requests from 15 days to ten days.
House Regulations and Administrative Procedures Committee
Regulation 4563 – Governor’s Office – Local Emergency Preparedness – favorable report
Summary of the regulation: Conforms state regulations to current practices of emergency management departments across the state and specifically authorizes municipalities to create emergency management programs.
House Judiciary Special Laws subcommittee
H3972 - Clarifies that a land use plan is not required to execute or record a deed – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Clarifies that the submission of a land use plan is not a prerequisite and may not be required to record a deed.
Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Labor and Employment subcommittee
S17 - Workforce Opportunity Act – carried over
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits the state from inquiring, considering or requiring disclosure of the criminal record or criminal history of an applicant for employment until the applicant is selected for an interview.
House Education and Public Works Committee
S211 - Allows political subdivisions to create separate golf cart paths on streets and roads – favorable report
Summary of the bill as introduced: Allows political subdivisions to create separate golf cart paths on streets and roads within its jurisdiction.
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
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.
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 member municipalities to buy power for additional periods not to exceed 50 years from the date of the renewal or extension.
House Judiciary Constitutional Laws subcommittee
H3949 - Prohibits discrimination in employment because of sexual orientation or gender identity – adjourned debate
Summary of the bill as introduced: Prohibits discrimination in employment because of sexual orientation or gender identity.
House Ways and Means Property Tax subcommittee
S379 - Makes technical changes to the state's current tax code – favorable report with an amendment. The amendment only makes technical changes.
Summary of the bill as introduced: Makes technical changes to the state's tax code related to county auditors.
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