South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016
Journal of the Senate

Thursday, May 28, 2015
(Statewide Session)

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The Senate assembled at 10:00 A.M., the hour to which it stood adjourned, and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.

A quorum being present, the proceedings were opened with a devotion by the Chaplain as follows:

In Genesis we recall that:

"...Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. He said to his relatives, 'Gather some stones.' So they took stones and piled them in a heap..."

(Genesis 31:45-46)

Pray with me, please:

We read, O God, that in this instance Your servants created a memorial with a pile of stones so they would not forget the accord they and Laban had established. Of course, Lord, a story such as this one virtually begs the question, "What will the people of South Carolina remember about this Senate and this legislative session? What will stand out? What will be talked about for months to come?" Gracious Lord, we ask a particular blessing upon each of these Senators, upon each staff member. Grant them peace in knowing -- whatever the legacy of this term might be -- that each of these servants genuinely did their absolute best for the people of this State, and for You, dear Lord. We pray this in Your loving name. Amen.

The PRESIDENT called for Petitions, Memorials, Presentments of Grand Juries and such like papers.

Motion Adopted

On motion of Senator HUTTO, with unanimous consent, Senators BRIGHT, SHEALY, SCOTT, GREGORY and HUTTO were granted leave to attend a subcommittee meeting and were granted leave to vote from the balcony.

Doctor of the Day

Senator COURSON introduced Dr. Ada Stewart of Columbia, S.C., Doctor of the Day.

Leave of Absence

At 10:21 A.M., Senator BENNETT requested a leave of absence for Senator CAMPBELL for the day.

Leave of Absence

At 10:21 A.M., Senator BRYANT requested a leave of absence for Senator CLEARY for the day.

Leave of Absence

At 1:47 P.M., Senator FAIR requested a leave of absence beginning at 4:00 P.M. for the balance of the day.

Leave of Absence

At 3:21 P.M., Senator CORBIN requested a leave of absence for the balance of the day.

RECOMMITTED

S. 789 (Word version) -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION - BOARD OF PHARMACY, RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS AND PENALTIES; AND FINES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4521, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

On motion of Senator MASSEY, the Joint Resolution was recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.

S. 790 (Word version) -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION, RELATING TO FEES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4554, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

On motion of Senator MASSEY, the Joint Resolution was recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.

S. 791 (Word version) -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION - OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL, RELATING TO ARTICLE 8, OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4555, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

On motion of Senator MASSEY, the Joint Resolution was recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.

S. 792 (Word version) -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE, RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4475, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

On motion of Senator MASSEY, the Joint Resolution was recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.

Privilege of the Chamber

On motion of Senator BRYANT, on behalf of Senator LARRY MARTIN, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 35, the Privilege of the Chamber, to that area behind the rail, was extended to former House Speaker Ramon Schwartz and his family on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

Senator COURSON from the Committee on Education submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

S. 574 (Word version) -- Senators Hutto, Shealy, Johnson, Lourie, Campbell, O'Dell and Nicholson: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-32-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION ACT, SO AS TO DEFINE "MEDICALLY ACCURATE INFORMATION"; TO AMEND SECTION 59-32-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION UNITS AND SEXUAL ABUSE AND ASSAULT AWARENESS UNITS TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SECTION 59-32-30, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BOTH SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-32-60, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT, SO AS TO REQUIRE EACH DISTRICT SHALL PUBLISH ON ITS WEBSITE HEALTH EDUCATION MATERIALS APPROVED, ADOPTED, AND USED IN DISTRICT CLASSROOMS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator ALEXANDER from the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry submitted a favorable report on:

H. 3430 (Word version) -- Reps. Simrill, G.M. Smith, Felder, Pope, Weeks, Taylor, Hixon, Corley, Norrell, Ridgeway, Henderson, G.A. Brown, Long, Lucas, Pitts, Atwater, Gagnon, Gambrell, Wells and Hicks: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 77 TO TITLE 39 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO SELL OR INSTALL AN UNMOUNTED, UNSAFE USED TIRE ONTO A PASSENGER CAR OR LIGHT TRUCK, TO DEFINE "UNSAFE" FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CHAPTER, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS, TO PROVIDE A CIVIL FINE FOR EACH VIOLATION, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT LIMIT A BUSINESS OR INDIVIDUAL'S LIABILITY UNDER THE STATE'S PRODUCTS LIABILITY LAWS, AND TO EXEMPT A BUSINESS OR PERSON WHO IS SELLING TIRES FOR RETREADING.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Appointments Reported

Senator VERDIN from the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources submitted a favorable report on:

Statewide Appointments

Initial Appointment, South Carolina State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, with the term to commence April 6, 2012, and to expire April 6, 2018
3rd Congressional District:
Brent R. Goodson, 660 Southerlin Road, Pelzer, SC 29699 VICE David M. Oliver

Received as information.

Initial Appointment, South Carolina State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, with the term to commence April 6, 2015, and to expire April 6, 2021
7th Congressional District:
Bethany M. Tapp, 217 Huger Street, Cheraw, SC 29520 VICE Vacant due to redistricting

Received as information.

Appointments Reported

Senator ALEXANDER from the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry submitted a favorable report on:

Statewide Appointments

Reappointment, South Carolina State Board of Barber Examiners, with the term to commence June 30, 2014, and to expire June 30, 2018
Master Haircare Specialist:
Paul E. Robinson, Jr., 4441 Deerfield Drive, Orangeburg, SC 29118

Received as information.

Reappointment, Jobs Economic Development Authority, with the term to commence July 12, 2015, and to expire July 12, 2018
5th Congressional District:
Gregory A. Thompson, 1820 Stadium Road, Sumter, SC 29154

Received as information.

Initial Appointment, Donate Life South Carolina, with the term to commence April 1, 2012, and to expire April 1, 2016
At-Large:
Katherine Alice Cox Walker, 433 Saluda Avenue, Columbia, SC 29205 VICE Matthew L. Hogue

Received as information.

Initial Appointment, South Carolina State Athletic Commission, with the term to commence June 30, 2012, and to expire June 30, 2016
2nd Congressional District:
Edwin M. Estridge, 418 Caro Lane, Chapin, SC 29036 VICE William O. Boyte III (resigned)

Received as information.
Initial Appointment, South Carolina Panel for Dietetics, with the term to commence May 30, 2015, and to expire May 30, 2017
Dietician, Nutritional Services Management:
Ann F. Childers, 6 Links Walk Lane, Blythewood, SC 29016 VICE G. Robert Bowers (resigned)

Received as information.

Initial Appointment, Jobs Economic Development Authority, with the term to commence July 27, 2013, and to expire July 27, 2016
At-Large:
Michael W. Nix, 3 Over Dam, Beaufort, SC 29906 VICE Donald Tomlin

Received as information.

Reappointment, South Carolina State Board of Cosmetology, with the term to commence September 1, 2014, and to expire September 1, 2018
General Public:
Stephanie A. Nye, 2906 Pickett Street, Columbia, SC 29205

Received as information.

Reappointment, South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority, with the term to commence August 15, 2014, and to expire August 15, 2018
At-Large:
David C. Goodall, 440 Spring Lake Road, Columbia, SC 29206

Received as information.

Initial Appointment, South Carolina State Board of Cosmetology, with the term to commence March 20, 2015, and to expire March 20, 2019
Cosmetologist:
LaQuita W. Horton, 1210 Cheraw Road, Cassatt, SC 29032 VICE Cynthia T. Rodgers

Received as information.

Reappointment, South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority, with the term to commence August 15, 2012, and to expire August 15, 2016
At-Large:
Kenneth E. Ormand, Jr., 1384 Kathwood Drive, Columbia, SC 29206

Received as information.

Initial Appointment, South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority, with the term to commence August 15, 2012, and to expire August 15, 2016
At-Large:
Sue Ann Shannon, 204 Horse Guards Lane, Columbia, SC 29229 VICE John S. Hill

Received as information.

Initial Appointment, South Carolina State Athletic Commission, with the term to commence June 30, 2014, and to expire June 30, 2018
7th Congressional District:
James D. Vaught, 1214 Lakeland Drive, Conway, SC 29526 VICE Vacant (due to redistricting)

Received as information.

Message from the House

Columbia, S.C., May 28, 2015

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the Senate to:

H. 3888 (Word version) -- Reps. Cole, Allison, Brannon, Chumley, Forrester, Hicks, Mitchell and Tallon: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-490, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SO AS TO CONSOLIDATE AND RENAME CERTAIN PRECINCTS, AND TO REDESIGNATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE NAMES OF THESE PRECINCTS MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
and has ordered the Bill enrolled for Ratification.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

Message from the House

Columbia, S.C., May 28, 2015

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has returned the following Bill to the Senate with amendments:

S. 78 (Word version) -- Senators Massey and Nicholson: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 59, TITLE 12 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO FORFEITED LANDS, BY ADDING SECTION 12-59-140, SO AS TO ENACT THE "FORFEITED LANDS EMERGENCY DEVELOPMENT ACT", AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTHORITY OF COUNTY COUNCILS AND FORFEITED LAND COMMISSIONS TO PETITION LEGISLATIVE DELEGATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE SPECIAL AUTHORITIES PROVIDED IN THIS ACT.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

Placed on Calendar for consideration tomorrow.

Message from the House

Columbia, S.C., May 28, 2015

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has returned the following Bill to the Senate with amendments:

S. 389 (Word version) -- Senator Lourie: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 37, TITLE 33, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE CORPORATIONS ARE ORGANIZED, REGULATED, AND PERMITTED TO OPERATE.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

Placed on Calendar for consideration tomorrow.

  Message from the House

Columbia, S.C., May 28, 2015

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has returned the following Bill to the Senate with amendments:

H. 3701 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2015, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

NONCONCURRENCE

H. 3701 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2015, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

On motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, with unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to waive the provisions of Rule 32A requiring the Bill to be printed on the Calendar, and proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being concurrence in the House amendments.

On motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, with unanimous consent, the Senate refused to concur in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly.

Recorded Vote

Senator MASSEY desired to be recorded as voting against the motion to nonconcur in the House amendments.

THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO A CALL OF THE UNCONTESTED LOCAL AND STATEWIDE CALENDAR.

ORDERED ENROLLED FOR RATIFICATION

The following Bills were read the third time and, having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and enrolled for Ratification:

H. 3083 (Word version) -- Reps. Huggins, Kennedy, Clary, Corley, Weeks, Whipper and Gilliard: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA OVERDOSE PREVENTION ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 130 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS PROTECTION FROM CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY AND PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE FOR PRESCRIBING, DISPENSING, OR ADMINISTERING AN OPIOID ANTIDOTE TO INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE, TO REQUIRE PROVISION OF INSTRUCTIONAL INFORMATION TO NONHEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ADMINISTERING OPIOID ANTIDOTES AND DOCUMENTATION OF RECEIPT OF THE INSTRUCTION, TO PROVIDE FOR FUNDING AND FOR GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS PROJECTS, TO CLARIFY THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHAPTER DO NOT RELIEVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS OF THEIR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO RESPOND TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AND CRIMINAL CONDUCT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

H. 3264 (Word version) -- Rep. Taylor: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 137 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF "AMERICAN RED CROSS SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES".

READ THE THIRD TIME
SENT TO THE HOUSE

The following Bills and Joint Resolutions were read the third time and ordered sent to the House of Representatives:

S. 809 (Word version) -- Senator Leatherman: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 84 OF 2011, RELATING TO THE TIME AND METHOD BY WHICH THE NINE MEMBERS OF THE FLORENCE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER THREE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE ELECTED, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE FIVE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS AND THE TWO MULTIMEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH THESE NINE MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED, TO DESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE SINGLE-MEMBER AND MULTIMEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS ARE DELINEATED, AND TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE REAPPORTIONED ELECTION DISTRICTS.

S. 810 (Word version) -- Senator Leatherman: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 250 OF 1991, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF TRUSTEES IN FLORENCE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE FOUR SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH TRUSTEES ARE ELECTED, TO DESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS ARE DELINEATED, AND TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE REAPPORTIONED ELECTION DISTRICTS.

S. 802 (Word version) -- Fish, Game and Forestry Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, RELATING TO REGULATIONS FOR SPECIES OR SUBSPECIES OF NON-GAME WILDLIFE, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4560, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

S. 803 (Word version) -- Fish, Game and Forestry Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, RELATING TO TERM AND CONDITIONS FOR THE PUBLIC'S USE OF STATE LAKES AND PONDS OWNED OR LEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4547, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

SECOND READING BILL

The following Bill, having been read the second time, was ordered placed on the Third Reading Calendar:

S. 757 (Word version) -- Senator Nicholson: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 595 OF 1994, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF TRUSTEES IN GREENWOOD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 50, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE NINE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH THE TRUSTEES ARE ELECTED, TO DESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS ARE DELINEATED, AND TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE REAPPORTIONED ELECTION DISTRICTS.

S. 757--Ordered to a Third Reading

On motion of Senator NICHOLSON, with unanimous consent, S. 757 was ordered to receive a third reading on Friday, May 29, 2015.

AMENDED, SECOND READING

H. 4079 (Word version) -- Reps. Pitts and Willis: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 779 OF 1988, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS 55 AND 56, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 55 MUST BE ELECTED, TO DESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS ARE DELINEATED, AND TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE REAPPORTIONED ELECTION DISTRICTS.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.

Senator VERDIN proposed the following amendment (GGS\4079C001.GGS.ZW15), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 1B(B)(1), as contained in SECTION 1, pages 1 and 2, beginning on line 33 by striking Section 1B(B)(1) in its entirety and inserting:

/     (B)(1)   Beginning after the primary election conducted in 2010 with the 2016 school district elections, the seven defined single-member election districts, from which each member of the Board of Trustees of Laurens County School District 55 must be elected by the qualified electors of that district, as revised by the change to the boundary line defining Laurens County School District 55 where it is contiguous with Laurens County School District 56, are as shown on the official map designated as S-59-55-10 S-59-55-15 prepared by and on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. The Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board mustRevenue and Fiscal Affairs Office shall provide a certified copy of the map to the school district and the Laurens County Registration and Election CommissionBoard of Voter Registration and Elections. The official map must not be changed except by an act of the General Assembly or by a court of competent jurisdiction.   /

Amend the bill further, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

/   SECTION   ___.   Notwithstanding another provision of law, the map referenced in this act alters only the boundaries of the single-member election districts that compose Laurens County School District 55. It does not alter the exterior boundaries of Laurens County School District 55.     /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator VERDIN explained the Bill.

The Bill was read the second time and ordered placed on the Third Reading Calendar.

S. 4079--Ordered to a Third Reading

On motion of Senator VERDIN, with unanimous consent, H. 4079 was ordered to receive a third reading on Friday, May 29, 2015.

SECOND READING BILL

H. 4166 (Word version) -- Reps. Pitts and Willis: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 779 OF 1988, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS 55 AND 56, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE SEVEN SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 56 MUST BE ELECTED, TO DESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS ARE DELINEATED, AND TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE REAPPORTIONED ELECTION DISTRICTS.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.

Senator VERDIN spoke on the Bill.

The Bill was read the second time and ordered placed on the Third Reading Calendar.

H. 4166--Ordered to a Third Reading

On motion of Senator VERDIN, with unanimous consent, H. 4166 was ordered to receive a third reading on Friday, May 29, 2015.

AMENDED, READ THE SECOND TIME

S. 833 (Word version) -- Senators Matthews and Hutto: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 526 OF 1996, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE SPECIFIC ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF THE ORANGEBURG COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE MUST BE ELECTED BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS IN 2015, TO DESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS ARE DELINEATED, AND TO PROVIDE FOR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION IN REGARD TO THESE NEWLY DRAWN ELECTION DISTRICTS.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.

Senator MATTHEWS proposed the following amendment (833R001.KM.JWM), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking the bill in its entirety and inserting:

  /   A BILL

TO AMEND ACT 526 OF 1996, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE SPECIFIC ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF THE ORANGEBURG COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE MUST BE ELECTED BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS IN 2015.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION   1.   (A)   Notwithstanding the provisions of Act 526 of 1996 and Act 203 of 1999, beginning with the 2015 school district elections, the election districts for Orangeburg County Consolidated School District Three are as follows:

(B)   Notwithstanding the provisions of Act 526 of 1996 and Act 203 of 1999, beginning with the 2015 school district elections, the election districts for Orangeburg County Consolidated School District Four are as follows:

(C)   Notwithstanding the provisions of Act 526 of 1996 and Act 203 of 1999, beginning with the 2015 school district elections, the election districts for Orangeburg County Consolidated School District Five are as follows:

SECTION   2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.       /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator HUTTO explained the Bill.

The Bill was read the second time and ordered placed on the Third Reading Calendar.

READ THE SECOND TIME

H. 3725 (Word version) -- Reps. J.E. Smith, Quinn, Lowe, Jordan and W.J. McLeod: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-67-120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA ABANDONED BUILDINGS REVITALIZATION ACT, SO AS TO ADD THE DEFINITION OF "STATE-OWNED ABANDONED BUILDINGS"; TO AMEND SECTION 12-67-140, RELATING TO THE ELIGIBILITY OF A TAXPAYER TO RECEIVE A TAX CREDIT FOR REHABILITATING AN ABANDONED BUILDING, SO AS TO PROVIDE IF A TAX CREDIT IS EARNED BY A TAXPAYER WHO REHABILITATES A STATE-OWNED ABANDONED BUILDING THE CREDIT MUST BE CLAIMED OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR A TAXPAYER WHO SELLS A BUILDING SITE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3535, RELATING TO INCOME TAX CREDITS FOR MAKING QUALIFIED REHABILITATION EXPENDITURES FOR A CERTIFIED HISTORIC STRUCTURE, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL INCOME TAX CREDIT OPTION FOR TAXPAYERS, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WHEN A TAX CREDIT MAY BE TAKEN WHEN A TAXPAYER REHABILITATES A STATE-OWNED ABANDONED BUILDING, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR TAX CREDITS EARNED BY A PASS-THROUGH ENTITY; BY ADDING SECTION 12-67-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR A CERTIFICATION OF THE ABANDONED BUILDING SITE; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3586 SO AS TO ALLOW A TAX CREDIT TO A TAXPAYER WHO CONSTRUCTS, PURCHASES, OR LEASES A NONRESIDENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3587, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR HEATING WATER, SPACE HEATING, AIR COOLING, OR GENERATING ELECTRICITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CREDIT IS ALLOWED WITHOUT REGARD TO WHETHER THE TAXPAYER OCCUPIES THE INSTALLATION SITE.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the second reading of the Bill.

Senator COLEMAN explained the Bill.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Ayes 34; Nays 0

AYES

Alexander                 Allen                     Bennett
Bright                    Bryant                    Coleman
Courson                   Cromer                    Davis
Fair                      Hayes                     Hembree
Hutto                     Jackson                   Johnson
Kimpson                   Leatherman                Lourie
Malloy                    Martin, Larry             Martin, Shane
Massey                    McElveen                  Nicholson
O'Dell                    Peeler                    Pinckney
Reese                     Scott                     Shealy
Thurmond                  Turner                    Williams
Young

Total--34

NAYS

Total--0

The Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

READ THE SECOND TIME

H. 3204 (Word version) -- Reps. Bernstein, J.E. Smith, Cobb-Hunter, M.S. McLeod, Jefferson, Horne and Bales: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-29-185 SO AS TO ENACT THE "CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION ACT", TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL MAY OFFER THE CERVICAL CANCER VACCINATION SERIES TO ADOLESCENT STUDENTS ENROLLING IN THE SEVENTH GRADE OF ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL IN THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE THAT NO STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE THE VACCINE BEFORE ENROLLING IN OR ATTENDING SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY DEVELOP AN INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE RELATED TO OFFERING THIS VACCINATION WITH SPECIFIC CONTENT REQUIREMENTS, TO DEFINE "CERVICAL CANCER VACCINATION SERIES", AND TO PROVIDE THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT IS CONTINGENT UPON RECEIPT OF FULL FUNDING BY STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the second reading of the Bill.

The Bill was read the second time and ordered place on the Third Reading Calendar.

Recorded Vote

Senators BRYANT, BRIGHT, SHANE MARTIN, CORBIN, VERDIN, THURMOND and FAIR desired to be recorded as voting against the second reading of the Bill.

Motion Under Rule 26B Waived

Senator LOURIE asked unanimous consent to make a motion to waive the provisions of Rule 26B in order to allow amendments to be considered on third reading.

There was no objection.

  Expression of Personal Interest

With unanimous consent, Senators LOURIE and FAIR rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.

AMENDMENT PROPOSED, READ THE SECOND TIME

H. 3849 (Word version) -- Rep. Bingham: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-45 SO AS TO EXEMPT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION IN CERTAIN EVALUATIONS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS AND STUDENT TEACHERS FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.

Senator THURMOND proposed the following amendment (AGM\3849C001.AGM.AB15):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:

/ SECTION   1.   Chapter 26, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-26-45.   (A)   To promote candid feedback for continuous improvement of teaching and learning, records relating to educator evaluation that include personally identifiable information are exempt from disclosure under the provisions of Chapter 4, Title 30, except as provided in subsection (B).

(B)(1)   To help parents fully evaluate matters of concern about the academic performance or behavior of their child in a particular classroom or course, a parent is entitled to request a review up to the five most recent final evaluations available of a teacher about whose classroom or course has given rise to the parental concerns, even if the final evaluation was performed at another school in this State. A parent only is entitled to such access for the final evaluations of a current teacher of their child during the academic year in which the child is a student in the teacher's classroom or course, and two months after the conclusion of that academic year. The evaluator's name must be redacted before the parent may review a final evaluation.

(2)   Upon oral or written request of a parent with such concerns, a principal shall within five business days respond to the request, and give the parent options for an opportunity to review these final evaluations in a location designated by the principal at times designated by the principal, which must be reasonable and intended to accommodate the availability of the parent, but which in no case may be more than twenty business days after the initial request made by the parent absent mutual consent from the parent and principal. In developing these options, the prompt provision of a review in a manner most reasonably convenient to the parent is of paramount importance.

(3)   If a teacher is no longer employed by a school in which any of the teacher's five most recent final evaluations were performed, the parent is entitled to review these final evaluations and the principal shall obtain them from the respective schools where they were conducted. The principals of these respective schools must respond by providing copies of these evaluations within five business days after receipt of the principal's request. The principal shall not interpret or attempt to interpret anything in the final evaluations from other schools for the parent.

(4)   To promote the privacy of the teacher whose final evaluations are being reviewed, a parent only may review the final evaluations in the designated location at the designated time, and may not remove the final evaluations from the designated location or in any manner reproduce or publicly disclose or disseminate information contained in the final evaluations. Only a parent may review these reports, and he or she may not be accompanied by third parties, including counsel, unless the parent is visually impaired or has a hearing deficit necessitating an interpreter, or if the parent does not speak English and needs a language interpreter.

(5)   For purposes of this section:

(a)   'Business days' means every day except Saturdays, Sundays, and any other days on which the school is closed; and

(b)   'Parent' means the natural or adoptive parent of a child and the legal guardian of a child."

SECTION   2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator THURMOND explained the Bill.

The Bill was read the second time and ordered placed on the Third Reading Calendar.

Motion Under Rule 26B Waived

Senator HUTTO asked unanimous consent to make a motion to waive the provisions of Rule 26B in order to allow amendments to be considered on third reading.

There was no objection.

READ THE SECOND TIME

S. 221 (Word version) -- Senators Malloy and Campsen: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE THE "SENTENCING REFORM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE" UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2020.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Joint Resolution, the question being the second reading of the Joint Resolution.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Ayes 35; Nays 0

AYES

Alexander                 Allen                     Bennett
Bright                    Bryant                    Campsen
Cromer                    Davis                     Fair
Gregory                   Hayes                     Hembree
Hutto                     Jackson                   Johnson
Leatherman                Lourie                    Malloy
Martin, Larry             Martin, Shane             Massey
McElveen                  Nicholson                 O'Dell
Peeler                    Pinckney                  Sabb
Scott                     Setzler                   Shealy
Sheheen                   Thurmond                  Verdin
Williams                  Young

Total--35

NAYS

Total--0

The Joint Resolution was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

READ THE SECOND TIME

S. 652 (Word version) -- Senator L. Martin: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 34, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 45, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT DO BUSINESS IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO CONDUCT SAVINGS PROMOTION CONTESTS FOR MEMBERS AND CUSTOMERS OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL OR STATE REGULATORY AGENCY OF EACH FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO OVERSEE THE CONDUCT OF THE CONTESTS AND ISSUE CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS WHEN NECESSARY.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the second reading of the Bill.

Senator CROMER explained the Bill.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Ayes 38; Nays 0

AYES

Alexander                 Allen                     Bennett
Bright                    Bryant                    Campsen
Coleman                   Cromer                    Davis
Fair                      Gregory                   Hayes
Hembree                   Hutto                     Jackson
Johnson                   Kimpson                   Leatherman
Lourie                    Malloy                    Martin, Larry
Martin, Shane             Massey                    McElveen
O'Dell                    Peeler                    Pinckney
Rankin                    Reese                     Scott
Setzler                   Shealy                    Sheheen
Thurmond                  Turner                    Verdin
Williams                  Young

Total--38

NAYS

Total--0

The Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

READ THE SECOND TIME

S. 693 (Word version) -- Senator Hayes: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-27-475 SO AS TO REVISE THE INSURERS' REHABILITATION AND LIQUIDATION ACT BY ADDING PROVISIONS SPECIFIC TO FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANKS AND INSURER-MEMBERS OF THOSE BANKS IN DELINQUENCY PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THE ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 38-27-50, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE ACT SO AS TO DEFINE ADDITIONAL TERMS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-27-70, RELATING TO INJUNCTIONS AND OTHER EQUITABLE REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO RECEIVERS APPOINTED IN DELINQUENCY PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANKS MAY EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS REGARDING COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY ITS INSURER-MEMBERS INVOLVED IN DELINQUENCY PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THE ACT.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the second reading of the Bill.

Senator CROMER explained the Bill.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Ayes 37; Nays 0

AYES

Alexander                 Allen                     Bennett
Bright                    Bryant                    Coleman
Corbin                    Courson                   Cromer
Davis                     Fair                      Gregory
Hayes                     Hembree                   Hutto
Johnson                   Kimpson                   Leatherman
Lourie                    Malloy                    Martin, Larry
Martin, Shane             Massey                    McElveen
Nicholson                 O'Dell                    Pinckney
Rankin                    Reese                     Scott
Setzler                   Shealy                    Sheheen
Thurmond                  Verdin                    Williams
Young

Total--37

NAYS

Total--0

The Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

AMENDED, READ THE SECOND TIME

H. 3154 (Word version) -- Reps. J.E. Smith, G.M. Smith, Cobb-Hunter, M.S. McLeod, Toole, Weeks, Whipper, Robinson-Simpson, Quinn and Bales: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 15, TITLE 7 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA UNIFORM MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS ACT", TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND PROVIDE REGISTRATION AND ABSENTEE VOTING ALTERNATIVES FOR CERTAIN MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.

Senators CAMPSEN, SCOTT and YOUNG proposed the following amendment (3154R001.KM.GEC), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/   SECTION   1.   Section 5-15-100 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 5-15-100.   The municipal election commission shall be vested with the functions, powers, and duties of Municipal Supervisors of Registration if no such supervisors have been appointed pursuant to Section 7-5-640, and shall also have the functions, powers, and duties of commissioners of election, as set forth in Section 7-13-70 and other provisions of Title 7. The municipal election commission shall insure proper books of registration are provided for each ward or precinct, shall prepare and distribute ballots and election materials, appoint managers of election for each polling place and otherwise supervise and conduct all municipal, special, and general elections. The managers shall certify the results of the election to the commission within one day two days and the commission shall declare the results not later than three days following the election.

Nominees in a party primary or party convention and nominees by petition shall be certified to the municipal election commission within the time specified herein and when so certified, the commission shall place the names of such nominees upon the ballots."

SECTION   2.   Section 7-3-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 196 of 2014, is further amended by adding an appropriately lettered subsection at the end to read:

"(   )   All State Election Commission directives to the county boards of voter registration and elections must be in writing and sent to both the directors and the chairman of the county boards."

SECTION   3.   Section 7-3-25 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 196 of 2014, is further amended by adding an appropriately lettered subsection at the end to read:

"(   )   A county board of voter registration and elections may appeal to the full State Election Commission a directive from the staff of the State Election Commission made to the county board. The county board shall exercise its appellate rights within forty-five days of receiving the directive to which it objects."

SECTION   4.   Chapter 5, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-5-321.   (A)   Any elector registered to vote or submitting an application for voter registration may have the information relating to his residence address, telephone number, and e-mail address appearing on the application, or any list or roster or index prepared therefrom, declared confidential upon presentation of a certified copy of an injunction or a restraining order issued pursuant to Section 16-3-1750 or Section 16-3-1760.

(B)   To declare information confidential pursuant to subsection (A), the elector must submit the certified copy of injunction or restraining order along with an application for confidentiality form as prescribed by the South Carolina Election Commission in person at any voter registration agency listed in Section 7-5-310(B)."

SECTION   5.   Section 7-11-15 of the 1976 Code, last amended by Act 61 of 2013, is amended to read:

"Section 7-11-15.   (A)   In order to qualify as a candidate to run in the general election, all candidates seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention must file a statement of intention of candidacy and party pledge and submit any filing fees between noon on March sixteenth and noon on March thirtieth as provided in this section.

(1)   Except as otherwise provided in this section, candidates seeking nomination for a statewide, congressional, or district office that includes more than one county must file their statements of intention of candidacy, and party pledge and submit any filing fees with the State Election Commission.

(2)   Candidates seeking nomination for the State Senate or House of Representatives must file their statements of intention of candidacy and party pledge and submit any filing fees with the county board of voter registration and elections in the county of their residence. The state executive committees must certify candidates pursuant to Section 7-13-40.

(3)   Candidates seeking nomination for a countywide or less than countywide office shall file their statements of intention of candidacy and party pledge and submit any filing fees with the county board of voter registration and elections in the county of their residence.

(B)   Except as provided herein, the election commission with whom the documents in subsection (A) are filed must provide a copy of all statements of intention of candidacy, the party pledge, receipt and filing fees, to the appropriate political party executive committee within two days following the deadline for filing. If the second day falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the statement of intention of candidacy, party pledge, and filing fee must be filed by noon the following day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. No candidate's name may appear on a primary election ballot, convention slate of candidates, general election ballot, or special election ballot, except as otherwise provided by law, if (1) the candidate's statement of intention of candidacy and party pledge has not been filed with the county board of voter registration and elections or State Election Commission, as the case may be, as well as any filing fee, by the deadline and (2) the candidate has not been certified by the appropriate political party as required by Sections 7-13-40 and 7-13-350, as applicable. The candidate's name must appear if the candidate produces the signed and dated copy of his timely filed statement of intention of candidacy. An error or omission by a person seeking to qualify as a candidate pursuant to this section that is not directly related to a constitutional or statutory qualification for that office must be construed in a manner that favors the person's access to the ballot.

(C)   The statement of intention of candidacy required in this section and in Section 7-13-190(B) must be on a form designed and provided by the State Election Commission. This form, in addition to all other information, must contain an affirmation that the candidate meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The candidate must file three a signed copies statement of intention of candidacy and the election commission with whom it is filed must stamp each copy the statement with the date and time received, keep one copy the original statement, return one provide a copy to the candidate, and send one provide a copy to the appropriate political party executive committee.

(D)   The candidate must file three a signed copies of the party pledge, as required pursuant to Section 7-11-210, and the election commission with whom it is filed must stamp each copy the party pledge with the date and time received, return one provide a copy to the candidate, and send one provide a copy to the appropriate political party executive committee.

(E)   The candidate must sign a receipt for the filing fee, and the election commission with whom it the filing fee is filed must issue a receipt for the filing fee, stamp the receipt with the date and time the filing fee was received, provide one a copy to the candidate, and provide one a copy to the appropriate political executive party. The filing fee must be made payable to the appropriate political party.

(F)   If, after the closing of the time for filing the documents required pursuant to this section, there are not more than two candidates for any one office and one or more of the candidates dies, or withdraws, the state or county committee, as the case may be, if the nomination is by political party primary or political party convention only may, in its discretion, afford opportunity for the entry of other candidates for the office involved; however, for the office of State House of Representatives or State Senator, the discretion must be exercised by the state committee.

(G)   The county chairman of a political party and the chairman of the state executive committee of a political party may designate a person to observe the filings made at the election commission pursuant to this section.

(H)   The provisions of this section do not apply to nonpartisan school trustee elections in any school district where local law provisions provide for other dates and procedures for filing statements of candidacy or petitions, and to the extent the provisions of this section and the local law provisions conflict, the local law provisions control."

SECTION   6.   Section 7-11-80 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-11-80.   All nominating petitions for any political office or petition of any political party seeking certification as such in the State of South Carolina shall be standardized as follows:

(1)   Shall be on good quality original bond paper sized 8 1/2'' X 14'' or 8 1/2'' X 11''.

(2)   Shall contain a concise statement of purpose; in the case of nomination of candidates, the name of the candidate, the office for which he offers and the date of the election for such office shall be contained in such petition.

(3)   Shall contain in separate columns from left to right the following:

(a)   signature of voter and printed name of voter;

(b)   address of residence where registered; and

(c)   precinct of voter.

(4)   No single petition page shall contain the signatures of registered voters from different counties.

(5)   All signatures of registered voters shall be numbered consecutively.

(6)   Petitions with more than one page must have the pages consecutively numbered upon filing with the appropriate authority.

The State Election Commission may furnish petition forms to the county election officials and to interested persons."

SECTION   7.   Section 7-13-35 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-35.   (A)   The authority charged by law with conducting an election must publish two notices of general, municipal, special, and primary elections held in the county in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality, as appropriate. Included in each notice must be a reminder of the last day persons may register to be eligible to vote in the election for which notice is given, notification of the date, time, and location of the hearing on ballots challenged in the election, a list of the precincts involved in the election, the location of the polling places in each of the precincts, and notification that the process of examining the return-addressed envelopes containing absentee ballots may begin at 2:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. on election day at a place designated in the notice by the authority charged with conducting the election. The first notice must appear not later than sixty days before the election and the second notice must appear not later than two weeks after the first notice.

(B)   In the event the election is postponed, the election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the originally scheduled election day."

SECTION   8.   Section 7-13-190 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"(F)   In the event the Governor declares a state of emergency covering an entire jurisdiction holding an election, the election shall be postponed and held on the following Tuesday. This subsection does not apply to statewide primaries and general elections, unless the state of emergency declaration covers the entire State."

SECTION   9.   Section 7-13-350(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(B)   Candidates for President and Vice President must be certified not later than twelve o'clock noon on September tenth the first Tuesday following the first Monday in September to the State Election Commission, or if September tenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday."

SECTION   10.   Section 7-15-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-15-10.   The State Election Commission is responsible for carrying out the provisions of Article 3 and Article 5 of this chapter. The commission may promulgate regulations, and must have drafted, printed, and distributed all forms that are required to make it possible for persons listed in Section 7-15-320 eligible to vote by absentee ballot in primary, general, and special elections. Regulations promulgated pursuant to this section must be promulgated in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act."

SECTION   11.   Section 7-15-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-15-20.   Article 3, and Article 5, and Article 9 of this chapter shall be liberally construed in order to effectuate their purposes."

SECTION   12.   Section 7-15-310 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 392 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-15-310.   As used in this article:

(1)   The term 'Members of the Armed Forces of the United States' means members of the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force, the United States Coast Guard, or any of their respective components.

(2)   The term 'Members of the Merchant Marine of the United States' means all officers and men engaged in maritime service on board ships.

(3)   The term 'Students' means all persons residing outside of the counties of their respective residences, enrolled in an institution of learning.

(4)   The term 'Physically disabled person' means a person who, because of injury or illness, cannot be present in person at his voting place on election day.

(5)   The term 'Registration form' means Standard Form 76, or any a subsequent form replacing it, authorized by the federal government or the state form described in Section 7-15-120.

(6)   The term 'Persons in employment' means those persons who by virtue of their employment obligations are unable to vote in person.

(7)   The term 'Authorized representative' means a registered elector who, with the voter's permission, acts on behalf of a voter unable to go to the polls because of illness or disability resulting in his confinement in a hospital, sanatorium, nursing home, or place of residence, or a voter unable because of a physical handicap to go to his polling place or because of such a handicap is unable to vote at his polling place due to existing architectural barriers which that deny him physical access to the polling place, voting booth, or voting apparatus or machinery. Under no circumstance shall a candidate or a member of a candidate's paid campaign staff or volunteers reimbursed for the time they expend on campaign activity be considered an 'authorized representative' of an elector desiring to vote by absentee ballot.

(8)   The term 'Immediate family' means a person's spouse, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, and mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law.

(9)   The term 'Overseas citizen' means a citizen of the United States residing outside of the United States as specified by Section 7-15-110.

SECTION   13.   Section 7-15-420 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 284 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-15-420.   (A)   The county board of voter registration and elections, municipal election commission, or executive committee of each municipal party in the case of municipal primary elections is responsible for the tabulation and reporting of absentee ballots. At 9:00 7:00 a.m. on election day, the managers appointed pursuant to Section 7-5-10, and in the presence of any watchers who have been appointed pursuant to Section 7-13-860, may begin the process of examining the return-addressed envelopes that have been received by the county board of voter registration and elections making certain that each oath has been properly signed and witnessed and includes the address of the witness. All return-addressed envelopes received by the county board of voter registration and elections before the time for closing the polls must be examined in this manner. A ballot may not be counted unless the oath is properly signed and witnessed nor may any ballot be counted which is received by the county board of voter registration and elections after time for closing of the polls. The printed instructions required by Section 7-15-370(2) to be sent each absentee ballot applicant must notify him that his vote will not be counted in either of these events. If a ballot is not challenged, the sealed return-addressed envelope must be opened by the managers, and the enclosed envelope marked "Ballot Herein" removed and placed in a locked box or boxes. After all return-addressed envelopes have been emptied in this manner, the managers shall remove the ballots contained in the envelopes marked "Ballot Herein", placing each one in the ballot box provided for the applicable contest. Beginning at 9:00 7:00 a.m. on election day, the absentee ballots may be tabulated processed, including any absentee ballots received on election day before the polls are closed. Absentee ballots may not be tabulated until after the polls are closed on election day. If any ballot is challenged, the return-addressed envelope must not be opened, but must be put aside and the procedure set forth in Section 7-13-830 must be utilized; but the absentee voter must be given reasonable notice of the challenged ballot. Results of the tabulation must not be publicly reported until after the polls are closed.

(B)   Anyone who prematurely releases information to the public regarding the tabulation of ballots in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined up to one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ninety days."

SECTION   14.   Chapter 15, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

  "Article 9

South Carolina Uniform Military and Overseas Voters

Section 7-15-600.   This act may be cited as the 'South Carolina Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act'.

Section 7-15-610.   As used in this article:

(1)   'Members of the Armed Forces of the United States' means members of the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force, the United States Coast Guard, or any of their respective components. (310)

(2)   'Members of the Merchant Marine of the United States' means all officers and men engaged in maritime service on board ships. (310)

(3)   'Registration form' means Standard Form 76, or any a subsequent form replacing it, authorized by the federal government or the state form described in Section 7-15-120.

(4)   'Overseas citizen' means a citizen of the United States residing outside of the United States who is a:

(a)   member of the Armed Forces of the United States;

(b)   member of the Merchant Marine of the United States;

(c)   person serving with the American Red Cross or the United Service Organizations (USO) attached to and serving with the Armed Forces of the United States outside of the county of his residence in South Carolina;

(d)   members or employees of any department of the United States Government serving overseas;

(e)   citizen of the United States residing outside the United States:

(i)   if he last resided in South Carolina immediately before his departure from the United States;

(ii)   if he could have met all qualifications to vote in federal elections in South Carolina even though while residing outside the United States he does not have a place of abode or other address in South Carolina; even if his intent to return to South Carolina may be uncertain, as long as he has complied with all applicable South Carolina qualifications and requirements which are consistent with the Uniformed And Overseas Absentee Voting Act (Public Law 99-410).

(5)   'Covered voter' means:

(a)   a uniformed-service voter or an overseas voter who is registered to vote in this State;

(b)   a uniformed-service voter whose voting residence is in this State and who otherwise satisfies this state's voter eligibility requirements;

(c)   an overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last eligible to vote in this State and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state's voter eligibility requirements;

(d)   an overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have been last eligible to vote in this State had the voter then been of voting age and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state's voter eligibility requirements; or

(e)   an overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not described in subitem (c) or (d), and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state's voter eligibility requirements, if:

(i)     the last place where a parent or legal guardian of the voter was, or under this article would have been, eligible to vote before leaving the United States is within this State; and

(ii)   the voter has not previously registered to vote in any other state.

(6)   'Dependent' means an individual recognized as a dependent by a uniformed service.

(7)   'Federal postcard application' means the application prescribed under Section 101(b)(2) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 1973ff(b)(2), or its successor.

(8)   'Federal write-in absentee ballot' means the ballot described in Section 103 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 1973ff-2, or its successor.

(9)   'Military-overseas ballot' means:

(a)   a federal write-in absentee ballot;

(b)   a ballot specifically prepared or distributed for use by a covered voter in accordance with this article; or

(c)   a ballot cast by a covered voter in accordance with this article.

(10)   'Overseas voter' means a United States citizen who resides outside the United States.

(11)   'Uniformed service' means:

(a)   active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States;

(b)   the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States; or

(c)   the National Guard or organized militia;

(12)   'Uniformed-service voter' means an individual who is qualified to vote and is:

(a)   a member of the active or reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States who is on active duty;

(b)   a member of the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States;

(c)   a member on activated status of the National Guard or organized militia; or

(d)   a spouse or dependent of a member referred to in this item."

Section 7-15-620.   Notwithstanding other provisions of law, a voter who meets the requirements of this article may utilize the absentee ballot process established by this article, or as otherwise permitted by state or federal law.

Section 7-15-630.   Applications for, and issuance of, special write-in absentee ballots; alternate submission of federal write-in absentee ballot.

(A)   A qualified elector of this State who is eligible to vote as provided by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, set forth in the United States Code, Title 42, Section 1973ff, et seq., or its successor, may apply not earlier than ninety days before an election for a special write-in absentee ballot. This ballot must be used for each general and special election and primaries for federal offices, statewide offices, and members of the General Assembly.

(B)   The application for a special write-in absentee ballot may be made on the federal postcard application form, or its electronic equivalent or on a form prescribed by the State Election Commission.

(C)   In order to qualify for a special write-in absentee ballot, the voter must state that he is unable to vote by regular absentee ballot or in person due to requirements of military service or due to living in isolated areas or extremely remote areas of the world. This statement may be made on the federal postcard application or on a form prepared by the State Election Commission and supplied and returned with the special write-in absentee ballot.

(D)   Upon receipt of this application, the county board of voter registration and elections shall issue the special write-in absentee ballot which must be prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission. The ballot shall list the offices for election in the general election. It may list the candidates for office if known at the time of election. This ballot shall permit the elector to vote by writing in a party preference for each federal, state, and local office, the names of specific candidates for each federal, state, and local office, or the name of the person whom the voter prefers for each office.

(E)   A qualified elector may alternatively submit a federal write-in absentee ballot for any federal, state, or local office or state or local ballot measure.

Section 7-15-640.   (A)   A covered voter may use a federal postcard application, the federal postcard application's electronic equivalent, or another method approved by the federal government or the State Election Commission to apply to register to vote.

(B)   A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in absentee ballot to apply to register to vote simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received before the closure of the registration books for that election pursuant to Sections 7-5-120, 7-5-150 or Section 7-5-155, as appropriate. If the declaration is received after that date, it must be treated as an application to register to vote for subsequent elections.

(C)   The executive director of the State Election Commission shall ensure that the election commission's electronic transmission system is capable of accepting both a federal postcard application and any other approved electronic registration application sent to the appropriate election official. The voter may use the electronic transmission system or any other approved method to register to vote.

Section 7-15-650.   Voters eligible to vote under Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; absentee instant runoff ballots for second primaries.

(A)   For the qualified electors of this State who are eligible to vote as provided by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, set forth in the United States Code, Title 42, Section 1973ff, et seq., or its successor, an absentee ballot with an absentee instant runoff ballot for each potential second primary must be sent to the elector at least forty-five days prior to the primary election.

(B)   The absentee instant runoff ballots for second primaries must be prepared by the authority charged with conducting the election.

(C)   The absentee instant runoff ballot for a second primary shall permit the elector to vote his order of preference for each candidate for each office by indicating a rank next to the candidate's name on the ballot. However, the elector shall not be required to indicate his preference for more than one candidate on the ballot if he so chooses.

(D)   The special absentee ballot shall be designated as an "absentee instant runoff ballot" and be clearly distinguishable from the regular absentee ballot.

(E)   Instructions explaining the absentee instant runoff voting process must be provided with the ballot to the qualified elector.

(F)   The State Election Commission shall promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.

Section 7-15-660. An overseas voter who is registering to vote, and who is eligible to vote in this State shall use, and must be assigned to, the voting precinct of the address of the voter's last place of residence in this State, or in the case of a voter described by Section 7-15-610(5)(e), the address of the voter's parent's or legal guardian's place of last residence in this State. If that address is no longer a recognized residential address, the overseas voter must be assigned an address within the voting precinct of the last place of residence for voting purposes.

Section 7-15-670.   (A)   A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in absentee ballot as an application for a military-overseas ballot simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received by the appropriate election official by seven o'clock p.m. on election day.

(B)   To receive the benefits of this article, a covered voter must inform the appropriate election official that the voter is a covered voter. Methods of informing the appropriate election official that a voter is a covered voter include:

(1)   the use of a federal postcard application or federal write-in absentee ballot;

(2)   the use of an overseas address on an approved voter registration application or ballot application; and

(3)   the inclusion on an approved voter registration application or ballot application of other information sufficient to identify the voter as a covered voter.

Section 7-15-680.   An absentee ballot must be sent to a covered voter, upon the voter's request, at least forty-five days prior to any election. However, if a ballot application from a covered voter arrives within the forty-five day period, an absentee ballot must be sent to the covered voter no later than five o'clock p.m. on the next business day after the application arrives.

Section 7-15-690.   (A)   To ensure that all South Carolina residents eligible to vote as provided by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, set forth in the United States Code, Title 42, Section 1973ff, et seq., or its successor, have the opportunity to receive and cast any ballot they would have been eligible to cast if they resided in and had remained in South Carolina, the State Election Commission must, in cooperation with United States government agencies, take all steps and action as may be necessary including, but not limited to, electronic transmissions of Standard Form 76A, or its successor form, issued by the federal government as an application for voter registration and an application for absentee ballots and electronic transmissions of absentee ballots for all elections for federal, state, and local offices to voters in accordance with his preferred method of transmission.

(B)   The State Election Commission shall promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.

Section 7-15-700.   (A)   A valid military-overseas ballot must be counted if it is delivered to the address that the State Election Commission or county board of voter registration and elections, as appropriate, has specified by the close of business on the business day before the county canvass.

(C)   If, at the time of completing a military-overseas ballot and balloting materials, the voter has declared under penalty of perjury that the ballot was timely submitted, the ballot may not be rejected on the basis that it has a late postmark, an unreadable postmark, or no postmark as long as the ballot was received in accordance with subsection (A).

Section 7-15-710.   A military-overseas ballot must include, or be accompanied by, a declaration signed by the voter that a material misstatement of fact in completing the ballot may be grounds for a conviction of perjury under the laws of the United States or this State.

Section 7-15-720.   The Executive Director of the State Election Commission, in coordination with the county boards of voter registration and elections shall implement an electronic free-access system by which a covered voter may determine whether:

(1)   the voter's federal postcard application or other registration or military-overseas ballot application has been received and accepted; or

(2)   the voter's military-overseas ballot has been received and the current status of the ballot.

Section 7-15-730.   (A)   The county board of voter registration and elections or the State Election Commission, as appropriate, shall request an electronic-mail address from each covered voter who registers to vote after the effective date of this article. An electronic-mail address provided by a covered voter may not be made available to the public or any individual or organization other than an employee or official with the county board of voter registration and elections or the State Election Commission, and is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information laws of this State. The electronic-mail address may be used only for official communication with the covered voter about the voting process, including transmitting military-overseas ballots and election materials if the voter has requested electronic transmission, and verifying the covered voter's mailing address and physical location. The request for an electronic-mail address must describe the purposes for which the electronic-mail address may be used and include a statement that any other use or disclosure of the electronic-mail address is prohibited.

(B)   A covered voter who provides an electronic-mail address may request that the voter's application for a military-overseas ballot be considered a standing request for electronic delivery of a ballot for all elections held through December thirty-first of the year following the calendar year of the date of the application or another shorter period the voter specifies, including for any runoff elections that occur as a result of those elections. An election official or employee shall provide a military-overseas ballot to a covered voter who makes a standing request for each election to which the request is applicable. A covered voter who is entitled to receive a military-overseas ballot for a primary election under this subsection is entitled to receive a military-overseas ballot for the general election.

Section 7-15-740.   (A)   At least one hundred days before a regularly scheduled election and as soon as practicable before an election not regularly scheduled, the executive director of the State Election Commission shall prepare appropriate election notices to be used in conjunction with a federal write-in absentee ballot. The election notice must contain a list of all of the ballot measures and federal, state, and local offices that as of that date the official expects to be on the ballot on the date of the election. The notice also must contain specific instructions for how a voter is to indicate on the federal write-in absentee ballot the voter's choice for each office to be filled and for each ballot measure to be contested.

(B)   A covered voter may request a copy of an election notice. The executive director shall send the notice to the voter by facsimile, electronic mail, or regular mail, as the voter requests.

(C)   As soon as ballot styles are certified, and not later than the date ballots are required to be transmitted to voters pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 15 of this title, the executive director shall update the notice with the certified candidates for each office and ballot measure questions and make the updated notice publicly available.

(D)   A county board of voter registration and elections that maintains an online website shall make the election notice available by linking to the State Election Commission website.

Section 7-15-750.   (A)   If a covered voter's mistake or omission in the completion of a document pursuant to this article does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote, the mistake or omission does not invalidate the document. Failure to satisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight, does not invalidate a document submitted pursuant to this article. In a write-in ballot authorized by this article or in a vote for a write-in candidate on a regular ballot, if the intention of the voter is discernable pursuant to the laws of this State, an abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party must be accepted as a valid vote.

(B)   Notarization is not required for the execution of a document pursuant to this article. An authentication, other than the declaration specified in Section 7-15-710, or the declaration on the federal postcard application and federal write-in absentee ballot, is not required for execution of a document pursuant to this article. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared with information on file to ascertain the validity of the document.

Section 7-15-760.   A court may issue an injunction or grant other equitable relief appropriate to ensure substantial compliance with, or enforce, this article on application by:

(1)   a covered voter alleging a grievance under this article; or

(2)   an election official in this State."

SECTION   15.   Section 7-17-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-17-10.   The commissioners of election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, state officers, circuit solicitors, members of the General Assembly, and county officers or any of these officers shall meet in some convenient place at the county seat on the Friday Monday next following the election, before one o'clock in the afternoon of that day, and shall proceed to organize as the county board of canvassers. They may appoint some competent person as secretary. The chairman shall then proceed to administer the constitutional oath to each member of the board, as canvassers, and shall administer the constitutional oath to the secretary, and the secretary shall administer to the chairman the same oath that he has administered to the other members of the board. The commissioners of election for members of Congress and presidential electors or any of these officers shall likewise meet at the same time at the county seat and shall in the same manner proceed to organize as the county board of canvassers for the election of the federal officers."

SECTION   16.   Section 7-17-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-17-20.   The county board of canvassers, respectively, shall then proceed to canvass the votes of the county and make such statements of such votes as the nature of the election shall require no later than noon on the Saturday Tuesday next following the election and at such time shall transmit to the State Board of Canvassers the results of their findings."

SECTION   17.   Article 1, Chapter 17, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-17-25.   Post-election audits to correct or verify the outcome of all elections must be completed by the county boards of voter registration and election prior to certification of the election pursuant to regulations promulgated by the State Election Commission. These regulations must include a provision that audit data and reports must be available to the public."

SECTION   18.   The 1976 Code of Laws is amended by repealing Section 7-15-400, 405, 406, and 460.

SECTION   19.   The provisions of this act are severable. If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, item, subitem, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of the act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, item, subitem, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, items, subitems, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.

SECTION   20.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator CAMPSEN explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

The question then was the second reading of the Bill.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Ayes 37; Nays 0

AYES

Alexander                 Allen                     Bennett
Bright                    Bryant                    Campsen
Coleman                   Corbin                    Courson
Cromer                    Davis                     Fair
Gregory                   Hayes                     Hembree
Hutto                     Kimpson                   Leatherman
Lourie                    Malloy                    Martin, Larry
Martin, Shane             Massey                    Nicholson
O'Dell                    Peeler                    Pinckney
Reese                     Sabb                      Scott
Setzler                   Shealy                    Sheheen
Thurmond                  Verdin                    Williams
Young

Total--37

NAYS
 

Total--0

The Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

READ THE SECOND TIME

H. 3156 (Word version) -- Reps. J.E. Smith, Cobb-Hunter, Whipper, Weeks and Yow: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 15, TITLE 63 ENACTING THE "UNIFORM DEPLOYED PARENTS CUSTODY AND VISITATION ACT" SO AS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF CUSTODIAL RESPONSIBILITY WHEN A PARENT IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICE IS BEING DEPLOYED; TO PROVIDE THAT A COURT MUST HAVE JURISDICTION PURSUANT TO THE UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT TO ISSUE AN ORDER UNDER THIS ARTICLE; TO REQUIRE PROMPT NOTICE OF DEPLOYMENT TO THE OTHER PARENT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CUSTODIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DEPLOYING PARENT MAY BE ASSIGNED FOR THE DURATION OF THE DEPLOYMENT BY A TEMPORARY AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BY THE PARENTS OR WITH THE DEPLOYING PARENT'S CONSENT, BY A COURT ISSUING A TEMPORARY ORDER GRANTING CUSTODIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS OF AN AGREEMENT OR COURT ORDER; TO PROVIDE FOR THE TERORMINATION OF A TEMPORARY AGREEMENT OR A TEMPORARY ORDER; TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ARTICLE SUPERSEDES THE FEDERAL ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES IN GLOBAL AND NATIONAL COMMERCE ACT, EXCEPT CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THAT ACT; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT AFFECT THE VALIDITY OF A TEMPORARY COURT ORDER CONCERNING CUSTODIAL RESPONSIBILITY DURING DEPLOYMENT ENTERED BEFORE THIS ARTICLE'S EFFECTIVE DATE.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the second reading of the Bill.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Ayes 36; Nays 0

AYES

Alexander                 Allen                     Bennett
Bright                    Bryant                    Coleman
Corbin                    Cromer                    Davis
Fair                      Gregory                   Hayes
Hutto                     Jackson                   Johnson
Kimpson                   Leatherman                Malloy
Martin, Larry             Martin, Shane             Massey
Nicholson                 O'Dell                    Peeler
Pinckney                  Rankin                    Reese
Sabb                      Scott                     Setzler
Shealy                    Thurmond                  Turner
Verdin                    Williams                  Young

Total--36

NAYS

Total--0

The Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

RECESS

At 12:05 P.M., on motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, the Senate receded from business until 1:05 P.M.

At 1:46 P.M., the Senate resumed.

CARRIED OVER

S. 505 (Word version) -- Senators L. Martin, Hembree and Shealy: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 24-21-440, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERIODS OF PROBATION, SO AS TO TOLL THE PERIOD DURING PERIODS OF CIVIL COMMITMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 24-21-560, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO COMMUNITY SUPERVISION PROGRAMS, SO AS TO TOLL THE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION PERIOD DURING PERIODS OF CIVIL COMMITMENT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 24-21-670, RELATING TO PERIODS OF PAROLE, SO AS TO TOLL THE PAROLE PERIOD DURING PERIODS OF CIVIL COMMITMENT.

On motion of Senator MALLOY, the Bill was carried over.

H. 3305 (Word version) -- Reps. Lowe, Bingham, Horne, Weeks and Bradley: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 41-35-120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DENIAL OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR AN EMPLOYEE WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE OR THE UNLAWFUL USE OF LEGAL DRUGS, SO AS TO REVISE THE RANGE OF SPECIMENS FROM AN EMPLOYEE THAT MAY BE TESTED TO INCLUDE ORAL FLUIDS.

On motion of Senator SHANE MARTIN, the Bill was carried over.

S. 804 (Word version) -- Fish, Game and Forestry Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, RELATING TO WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATIONS; TURKEY HUNTING RULES AND SEASONS; AND EITHER-SEX DAYS AND ANTLERLESS DEER LIMITS FOR PRIVATE LANDS IN GAME ZONES 1-6, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4546, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

On motion of Senator CAMPSEN, the Joint Resolution was carried over.

POINT OF ORDER

H. 3145 (Word version) -- Reps. Sandifer, Lucas, Thayer, Yow, Long, G.R. Smith, Hixon, Henderson, G.M. Smith, Sottile, Forrester, Felder, Atwater, Toole, Huggins, Pope, Simrill, Bales, Anderson, Gilliard and Hicks: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 15-3-700 SO AS TO PROVIDE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A PERSON IS IMMUNE FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM HIS FORCIBLE ENTRY INTO A MOTOR VEHICLE TO REMOVE A CHILD WHO HE REASONABLY BELIEVES IS IN IMMINENT DANGER OF SUFFERING HARM IF NOT REMOVED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS IMMUNITY DOES NOT AFFECT CERTAIN OTHER CIVIL LIABILITY.

Point of Order

Senator SHANE MARTIN raised a Point of Order under Rule 39 that the Bill had not been on the desks of the members at least one day prior to second reading.

The PRESIDENT sustained the Point of Order.

POINT OF ORDER

H. 3353 (Word version) -- Reps. Bradley, Herbkersman, Daning, Erickson, Long, Bowers, Newton, Wells, Corley, Hodges, R.L. Brown, George, Johnson and Robinson-Simpson: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH BEGINNING WITH THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM IN FIVE SPECIFIC COUNTIES TO FACILITATE THE USE OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS TO HELP PEOPLE OBTAIN THEIR GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES, TO PROVIDE PROGRAM ELEMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION SHALL ESTABLISH AND OVERSEE THE PROGRAM.

Point of Order

Senator SHANE MARTIN raised a Point of Order under Rule 39 that the Joint Resolution had not been on the desks of the members at least one day prior to second reading.

The PRESIDENT sustained the Point of Order.

POINT OF ORDER

H. 3545 (Word version) -- Reps. Gambrell, Weeks, Bedingfield, V.S. Moss, Clemmons, Forrester, Gagnon, D.C. Moss, Pitts, Riley, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, White and Yow: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-11-110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO ARSON, SO AS TO RESTRUCTURE THE ELEMENTS OF THE DEGREES OF ARSON.

Point of Order

Senator SHANE MARTIN raised a Point of Order under Rule 39 that the Bill had not been on the desks of the members at least one day prior to second reading.

The PRESIDENT sustained the Point of Order.

POINT OF ORDER

H. 3548 (Word version) -- Reps. J.E. Smith, Yow and Weeks: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-320, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO NOTIFICATION AND TRANSFER OF REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE ALLEGED ABUSED OR NEGLECTED CHILD IS A MEMBER OF AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY FAMILY, THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL NOTIFY CERTAIN DESIGNATED MILITARY OFFICIALS AT THE INSTALLATION WHERE THE ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER, WHO IS THE SPONSOR OF THE ALLEGED ABUSED OR NEGLECTED CHILD, IS ASSIGNED; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-920, RELATING TO INVESTIGATIONS AND CASE DETERMINATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR BOTH, MAY COLLECT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MILITARY AFFILIATION OF THE PERSON HAVING CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF THE CHILD SUBJECT TO AN INVESTIGATION AND MAY SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE APPROPRIATE MILITARY AUTHORITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-1990, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CONFIDENTIALITY AND RELEASE OF RECORDS AND INFORMATION, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO GRANT ACCESS TO THE RECORDS OF AN INDICATED CASE TO CERTAIN DESIGNATED MILITARY OFFICIALS AT THE INSTALLATION WHERE THE ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER, WHO IS THE SPONSOR OF THE ALLEGED ABUSED OR NEGLECTED CHILD, IS ASSIGNED; AND TO AMEND SECTION 63-11-80, RELATING TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION WITHIN CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN OFFICER, AGENT OR EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OR A CHILD WELFARE AGENCY SHALL NOT DISCLOSE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, INFORMATION LEARNED ABOUT A CHILD, THE CHILD'S PARENTS OR RELATIVES, OR OTHER PERSONS HAVING CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF THE CHILD, EXCEPT IN CASES INVOLVING A CHILD IN THE CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF PERSONS WHO HAVE MILITARY AFFILIATION.

Point of Order

Senator SHANE MARTIN raised a Point of Order under Rule 39 that the Bill had not been on the desks of the members at least one day prior to second reading.

The PRESIDENT sustained the Point of Order.

POINT OF ORDER

H. 3772 (Word version) -- Reps. Merrill and Delleney: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 38-79-260, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE JOINT UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS TO SUCCESSIVE TERMS BY DELETING A RELATED PROHIBITION.

Point of Order

Senator SHANE MARTIN raised a Point of Order under Rule 39 that the Bill had not been on the desks of the members at least one day prior to second reading.

The PRESIDENT sustained the Point of Order.

POINT OF ORDER

H. 3882 (Word version) -- Reps. Gambrell, Gagnon, Putnam and Thayer: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-67-160, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PHYSICAL MUST BE A DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PHYSICAL THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CERTAIN FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS IN ADDITION TO EXISTING STATE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.

Point of Order

Senator SHANE MARTIN raised a Point of Order under Rule 39 that the Bill had not been on the desks of the members at least one day prior to second reading.

The PRESIDENT sustained the Point of Order.

RATIFICATION OF ACTS

Pursuant to an invitation the Honorable Speaker and House of Representatives appeared in the Senate Chamber on May 28, 2015, at 1:00 P.M. and the following Acts and Joint Resolutions were ratified:

(R43, S. 133 (Word version)) -- Senators Davis and Kimpson: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-22-910, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR THE EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS, SO AS TO ESTABLISH LIMITATIONS ON THE COURT'S RIGHT TO CONSIDER OFFENSES FOR WHICH A PERSON COULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED, WHEN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 63-19-2050, RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT OF JUVENILE RECORDS, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN RIGHTS TO AND REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF RECORDS OF STATUS OFFENSES AND OF NONVIOLENT CRIMINAL OFFENSES COMMITTED BY A JUVENILE.
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(R44, S. 153 (Word version)) -- Senators Shealy, Hembree, Nicholson, Johnson, Campsen, Cromer and McElveen: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-220, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ON TWO PRIVATE PASSENGER VEHICLES OWNED OR LEASED BY A DISABLED VETERAN, SO AS TO ALLOW THE EXEMPTION TO THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF THE PERSON ON ONE PRIVATE PASSENGER VEHICLE OWNED OR LEASED BY THE SPOUSE FOR THE SPOUSE'S LIFETIME OR UNTIL THE REMARRIAGE OF THE SURVIVING SPOUSE.
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(R45, S. 154 (Word version)) -- Senators Shealy and Campsen: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-160, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY GRANT A WAIVER OF THE REQUIREMENTS IF A STUDENT'S INELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES IS DUE TO A LONG-TERM ABSENCE AS A RESULT OF A MEDICAL CONDITION, BUT THE STUDENT HAS BEEN MEDICALLY CLEARED TO PARTICIPATE OR FOR ANY OTHER REASONABLE CIRCUMSTANCE AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
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(R46, S. 268 (Word version)) -- Senators L. Martin and Campsen: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-1630, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE JURISDICTION AND IMPANELING OF STATE GRAND JURIES, SO AS TO REVISE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE STATE GRAND JURY SYSTEM INCLUDING NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES WHEN A STATE GRAND JURY IS IMPANELED, TRANSFER OF INCOMPLETE INVESTIGATIONS TO A SUBSEQUENTLY IMPANELED STATE GRAND JURY, AND EXPEDITED APPEAL BY THE SUPREME COURT; TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-1650, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REGARDING THE STATE GRAND JURY SYSTEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR RECUSAL OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR ANOTHER SOLICITOR UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR MOTIONS TO DISQUALIFY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR LEGAL ADVISOR TO THE STATE GRAND JURY; TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-1660, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SELECTION OF GRAND JURORS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES REGARDING PRESIDING JUDGES RATHER THAN IMPANELING JUDGES; TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-1690, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE GRAND JURY'S AREAS OF INQUIRY AND RELATED PROCEDURES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES REGARDING PRESIDING JUDGES RATHER THAN IMPANELING JUDGES AND PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR SOLICITOR MAY NOTIFY THE PRESIDING JUDGE IN WRITING THAT THE AREAS OF INQUIRY HAVE BEEN EXPANDED; TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-1720, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SECRECY OF GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS, SO AS TO CLARIFY MATTERS RELATED TO THE SECRECY OF GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE OATH OF SECRECY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 14-7-1730, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO JURISDICTION OF PRESIDING JUDGES OF STATE GRAND JURIES, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES AND REQUIRE A BOND HEARING FOR A PERSON INDICTED BY A STATE GRAND JURY FOR A BAILABLE OFFENSE BEFORE THE END OF THE SECOND BUSINESS DAY FOLLOWING THE DAY OF ARREST.
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(R47, S. 304 (Word version)) -- Senators L. Martin, Alexander, Verdin, Hayes, Peeler, Cromer, Corbin, Nicholson, Rankin, Hembree, Williams, Coleman and Campbell: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 6-23-110, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA 1976, RELATING TO CONTRACTS TO BUY POWER BETWEEN A JOINT POWER AND ENERGY AGENCY AND ITS CONSTITUENT MUNICIPALITIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE RENEWAL OR EXTENSION OF CONTRACTS TO BUY POWER FOR ADDITIONAL PERIODS NOT TO EXCEED FIFTY YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE RENEWAL OR EXTENSION.
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(R48, S. 350 (Word version)) -- Senators Campbell, Malloy, Setzler, Scott, Alexander, Hembree, O'Dell, Hayes, Grooms, Cleary, Williams, Bennett, Johnson, Hutto, L. Martin, Fair, Turner, Allen, Matthews, Peeler, Lourie, Courson, Coleman, Jackson, McElveen, Shealy, Sabb, Kimpson, Nicholson and Sheheen: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 4 OF ACT 314 OF 2000, AS AMENDED, SO AS TO TERMINATE THE PROVISIONS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT ON JUNE 30, 2020.
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(R49, S. 361 (Word version)) -- Senators Hayes, Cromer, Shealy, Scott and Alexander: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 38-73-736, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE RATE REDUCTIONS FOR NONYOUTHFUL OPERATORS, SO AS TO DELETE REFERENCES TO APPROVED DRIVER TRAINING REFRESHER COURSES AND TO REDUCE FROM SIX HOURS TO FOUR HOURS THE AMOUNT OF CLASSROOM TRAINING REQUIRED FOR APPROVED DRIVER TRAINING COURSES.
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(R50, S. 373 (Word version)) -- Senator Setzler: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1-1620 AND 9-11-150, BOTH AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE OPTIONAL FORMS OF RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM, RESPECTIVELY, SO AS TO ALLOW A MEMBER TO CHANGE THE FORM OF MONTHLY PAYMENT WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF A CHANGE IN MARITAL STATUS, INSTEAD OF ONE YEAR.
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(R51, S. 375 (Word version)) -- Senator Hayes: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 6-5-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SECURING DEPOSITS OF FUNDS BY LOCAL ENTITIES, SO AS TO ALLOW A LOCAL ENTITY TO DEPOSIT ALL OR A PORTION OF SURPLUS PUBLIC FUNDS IN ITS CONTROL OR POSSESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
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(R52, S. 413 (Word version)) -- Senators Cleary, Leatherman, Bryant, Johnson, Campbell, Peeler, Fair and Shealy: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-43-190, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PROTOCOL FOR PHARMACISTS TO ADMINISTER INFLUENZA VACCINES AND CERTAIN MEDICATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR CREATING PROTOCOL THROUGH WHICH PHARMACISTS MAY ADMINISTER CERTAIN ADDITIONAL VACCINES WITHOUT A WRITTEN ORDER OR PRESCRIPTION FROM A PRACTITIONER, TO PROVIDE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A PHARMACY INTERN MAY ADMINISTER VACCINES, TO REVISE RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS TO EXTEND THE PERIOD FOR MAINTAINING RECORDS AND SPECIFY THE MANNER OF DETERMINING THE DATE FROM WHICH THIS PERIOD IS MEASURED, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTRONIC STORAGE OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS, RECORDS, AND COPIES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-43-200, RELATING TO THE JOINT PHARMACIST ADMINISTERED INFLUENZA VACCINES COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THIS COMMITTEE SHALL ASSIST AND ADVISE THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS IN DETERMINING WHETHER A SPECIFIC VACCINE IS APPROPRIATE FOR ADMINISTRATION BY A PHARMACIST WITHOUT A WRITTEN ORDER OR PRESCRIPTION, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
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(R53, S. 426 (Word version)) -- Senators Sheheen, Hayes, Malloy and Allen: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM ACT"; BY ADDING CHAPTER 31 TO TITLE 14 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM THAT DIVERTS MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS TO APPROPRIATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS RATHER THAN INCARCERATION, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO PROVIDE FOR ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MENTAL HEALTH COURT, TO PROVIDE THAT EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH COURTS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT SHALL CONTINUE IN EXISTENCE, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SOLICITOR MAY ESTABLISH A PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE AS A MENTAL HEALTH COURT JUDGE, TO PROVIDE THAT MENTAL HEALTH COURT JUDGES HAVE THE SAME PROTECTIONS FROM CIVIL LIABILITY AND IMMUNITY AS OTHER JUDICIAL OFFICERS IN THIS STATE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SOLICITORS WHO ACCEPT STATE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM MUST ESTABLISH THE PROGRAM WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF FUNDING.
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(R54, S. 441 (Word version)) -- Senators Hayes and Hutto: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 30 TO TITLE 37 SO AS TO ENACT THE "GUARANTEED ASSET PROTECTION ACT", TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH GUARANTEED ASSET PROTECTION WAIVERS ARE DEFINED AND MAY BE OFFERED WITHIN THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFERING GUARANTEED ASSET PROTECTION WAIVERS, TO PROVIDE THE DISCLOSURES REQUIRED, TO PROVIDE FOR CANCELLATION OF GUARANTEED ASSET PROTECTION WAIVERS, TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS CHAPTER, AND TO PROVIDE FOR CIVIL REMEDIES.
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(R55, S. 463 (Word version)) -- Senators S. Martin and Campsen: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF WILDLIFE TAGGING, VALIDATION, AND METHODS OF CHECKING HARVESTED GAME UTILIZED IN OTHER STATES AND TO REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
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(R56, S. 474 (Word version)) -- Senator O'Dell: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 44-22-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CHAPTER DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD AND DEFINE THE TERM "AUTHORIZED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER"; TO AMEND SECTION 44-22-60, RELATING TO PATIENTS' RIGHTS, SO AS TO ALLOW AN AUTHORIZED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO PERFORM THE REQUIRED INITIAL EXAMINATION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 44-22-140, RELATING TO AUTHORIZATION OF MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENT GIVEN OR ADMINISTERED TO A PATIENT, SO AS TO ALLOW AN AUTHORIZED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO PERFORM THESE FUNCTIONS.
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(R57, S. 500 (Word version)) -- Senator Hayes: AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 23, CHAPTER 17, TITLE 63, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT, SO AS TO ENACT AMENDMENTS TO THAT ACT ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF COMMISSIONERS FOR UNIFORM STATE LAWS IN 2008, AS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL "PREVENTING SEX TRAFFICKING AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES ACT" INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AMENDMENTS ADDRESSING INTERNATIONAL RECOVERY OF CHILD SUPPORT AND OTHER FAMILY MAINTENANCE AND DETERMINATION OF PARENTAGE.
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(R58, S. 590 (Word version)) -- Senators L. Martin and Hutto: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-400, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES' PROCEDURE TO ISSUE A DRIVER'S LICENSE TO A PERSON WHOSE DRIVER'S LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, AND THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED UPON A DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO IS PERMITTED TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE VEHICLE WAIVER THAT PROVIDES THAT AN EMPLOYER IS NOT REQUIRED TO INSTALL AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE ON A VEHICLE OPERATED BY AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAS BEEN ISSUED AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE RESTRICTED DRIVER'S LICENSE DOES NOT APPLY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO A PERSON CONVICTED OF A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS THAT MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO OPERATE A VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, OR WITH AN UNLAWFUL ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2990, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE DRIVER'S LICENSE OF A PERSON CONVICTED OF A PROVISION THAT PROHIBITS A PERSON FROM DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2941, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICES ON MOTOR VEHICLES OPERATED BY CERTAIN PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF OFFENSES THAT INVOLVE THE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, OR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH AN UNLAWFUL ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ONE AND ONE-HALF IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE POINTS TO A PERSON WHOSE IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSPECTION REPORT OR PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES COLLECTED BY THE DEVICE SHOW A VIOLATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF THE DEVICE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE VEHICLE WAIVER THAT PROVIDES THAT AN EMPLOYER IS NOT REQUIRED TO INSTALL AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE ON A VEHICLE OPERATED BY AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE DRIVING RESTRICTIONS DOES NOT APPLY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO A PERSON CONVICTED OF A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS THAT MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, OR WITH AN UNLAWFUL ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONDUCT THAT CONSTITUTES THE UNLAWFUL OPERATION OF AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURGING OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES COLLECTED ON THE IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICES AND PERSONAL INFORMATION REGARDING A PERSON'S PARTICIPATION IN THE IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICES PROGRAM, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS SECTION APPLIES RETROACTIVELY TO CERTAIN PERSONS SERVING A SUSPENSION OR DENIAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR PERMIT.
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(R59, S. 666 (Word version)) -- Senator Hayes: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 38-39-70, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MATTERS THAT MAY BE INCLUDED IN INSURANCE PREMIUM SERVICE AGREEMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THESE AGREEMENTS ALSO MAY INCLUDE INTEREST ON MITIGATION LOANS AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE OR HIS DESIGNEE AND TO PROVIDE INTEREST CHARGES RELATED TO MITIGATION PROJECTS OR LOANS MUST BE LIMITED TO THE STATUTORY LEGAL RATE OF INTEREST; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-39-80, RELATING TO ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED OF INSURANCE PREMIUM SERVICE COMPANIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE INSURANCE PREMIUM SERVICE COMPANIES MAY NOT WRITE INSURANCE OR SELL OTHER SERVICES OR COMMODITIES IN CONNECTION WITH A PREMIUM SERVICE AGREEMENT EXCEPT AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OR HIS DESIGNEE FOR MITIGATION PURPOSES.
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(R60, H. 3168 (Word version)) -- Reps. Tallon, McCoy and Weeks: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 9, TITLE 25 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT", TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND PROVIDE QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, DUTIES, AND LIMITATIONS OF SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SERVING PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
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(R61, H. 3215 (Word version)) -- Reps. Govan, Robinson-Simpson and Willis: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A STUDY COMMITTEE TO REFORM ALIMONY, TO PROVIDE FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE AND THE METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS, TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A REPORT WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO INCLUDE A SUNSET PROVISION FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE.
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(R62, H. 3304 (Word version)) -- Reps. Brannon, Allison, Cole, Hicks, Tallon, Nanney, Henderson, Loftis, Hamilton, Stringer, Bannister and Putnam: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 12 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 4 SO AS TO CREATE THE LANDRUM FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT IN GREENVILLE AND SPARTANBURG COUNTIES, TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNING COMMISSION, AND TO PRESCRIBE THE FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
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(R63, H. 3575 (Word version)) -- Reps. Jefferson, Southard, Johnson, Ott, Crosby, Dillard, Hosey, Knight, Williams, Gagnon and Gambrell: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 44-96-40, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SOLID WASTE POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "SOLID WASTE" TO EXCLUDE STEEL SLAG.
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(R64, H. 3646 (Word version)) -- Reps. Burns, Southard, Loftis, Ott and Dillard: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 44-55-1310, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING PASSIVE SOIL-BASED ON-SITE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR NONGRAVITY-BASED SOIL-BASED ON-SITE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS; TO AMEND SECTION 44-55-1320, RELATING TO WASTEWATER COLLECTION, TREATMENT, AND DISCHARGE, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE SINGLE OR MULTIPLE DWELLING UNITS TO USE A COMMUNITY OR COMMERCIAL PASSIVE SOIL-BASED ON-SITE DISPOSAL SYSTEM; TO AMEND SECTION 44-55-1330, RELATING TO SYSTEM INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO REMOVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND TO REQUIRE AN INSTALLER OF A PASSIVE SOIL-BASED ON-SITE DISPOSAL SYSTEM TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR A REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER THE LICENSED INSTALLER CERTIFICATION, AND TO SET DESIGNATIONS FOR THE TRENCH BOTTOM OF A DISPOSAL SYSTEM; TO AMEND SECTION 44-55-1350, RELATING TO TILE FIELD PRODUCT REGULATIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 44-55-1310 TO REGULATIONS PROMULGATED OVER PASSIVE SOIL-BASED ON-SITE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 44-55-1340 RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSURANCE.
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(R65, H. 3656 (Word version)) -- Reps. Yow, Henegan and Lucas: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 205 OF 1993, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DATE FOR ELECTIONS FOR TRUSTEES, THE FILING PERIOD FOR DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY, AND THE TIME IN WHICH BOARD MEMBERS TAKE OFFICE.
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(R66, H. 3658 (Word version)) -- Reps. Yow, Henegan and Lucas: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 1010 OF 1968, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LOCAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCILS IN THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO AS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ADVISORY COUNCILS FROM SEVEN TO FOUR THROUGH CONSOLIDATION OF SPECIFIC ATTENDANCE AREAS, TO PROVIDE UNEXPIRED TERMS OF ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVING ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT ARE TERMINATED ON THAT DATE AND ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBSEQUENTLY MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION WILL HAVE NO ROLE IN APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE ADVISORY COUNCILS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE STAGGERING OF ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
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(R67, H. 3748 (Word version)) -- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, RELATING TO PROCEDURES FOR CONTESTED CASES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4466, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
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(R68, H. 3749 (Word version)) -- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, RELATING TO HYPODERMIC DEVICES; AND DRUGS AND DEVICES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4468, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
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(R69, H. 3840 (Word version)) -- Reps. Clemmons, H.A. Crawford, Johnson, George, Hardwick, Hayes and Ryhal: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-320, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN HORRY COUNTY, SO AS TO REDESIGNATE THE VARIOUS PRECINCTS, AND TO REDESIGNATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE NAMES OF THESE PRECINCTS MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
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(R70, H. 3843 (Word version)) -- Rep. Allison: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR THE OFFICE OF FIRST STEPS STUDY COMMITTEE TO COMPLETE ITS REVIEW AND PRESENT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM MARCH 15, 2015, AS PROVIDED IN ACT 287 OF 2014, TO JANUARY 1, 2016.
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(R71, H. 3846 (Word version)) -- Reps. Yow and Henegan: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, OR ITS SUCCESSOR STATE AGENCY, TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF THE CHERAW NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY TO THE TOWN OF CHERAW.
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(R72, H. 3847 (Word version)) -- Reps. G.R. Smith, Burns, Hamilton, Loftis, Robinson-Simpson, Putnam, Allison, Bannister, Chumley, Dillard, Nanney, Stringer and Willis: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO TEMPORARILY EXEMPT APPLICANTS FOR LICENSURE AS A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANT FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF HAVING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM A REGIONALLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOUND IN SECTION 40-67-220 OF THE 1976 CODE IF THE APPLICANT HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY FROM A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS JOINT RESOLUTION LIBERALLY MUST BE CONSTRUED TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS JOINT RESOLUTION AND MUST BE APPLIED RETROACTIVELY; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPIRATION OF THIS JOINT RESOLUTION ON JULY 1, 2019.
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(R73, H. 3914 (Word version)) -- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, RELATING TO PARTICLE ACCELERATORS (TITLE C), DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4482, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
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(R74, H. 4076 (Word version)) -- Reps. Pitts and Willis: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-360, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN LAURENS COUNTY, SO AS TO REVISE BOUNDARIES OF EXISTING PRECINCTS, TO DESIGNATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE BOUNDARIES OF LAURENS COUNTY VOTING PRECINCTS AS REVISED BY THIS ACT MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
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(R75, H. 4082 (Word version)) -- Reps. Knight, Jefferson, Murphy, Horne, Whipper, Tinkler and Mack: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 536 OF 1986, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DORCHESTER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE SPECIFIC ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MUST BE ELECTED BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS IN 2016, TO DESIGNATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE DISTRICTS MAY BE FOUND, AND TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE REAPPORTIONED ELECTION DISTRICTS.
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(R76, H. 4106 (Word version)) -- Reps. Long, Lucas, Norrell and Yow: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-350, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN LANCASTER COUNTY, SO AS TO DELETE THREE PRECINCTS, ADD NINE PRECINCTS, AND REDESIGNATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE NAMES OF THESE PRECINCTS MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
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(R77, H. 4135 (Word version)) -- Reps. Bedingfield, Hamilton, G.R. Smith, Burns, Allison, Willis, Putnam, Bannister, Chumley, Dillard, Henderson, Loftis, Nanney and Stringer: AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 18, CHAPTER 53, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE GREENVILLE TECHNICAL COLLEGE AREA COMMISSION, SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE SELECTED, TO REVISE THE TERMS OF OFFICE OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND THE SEATS WHICH CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE DEEMED TO BE FILLING, AND TO REVISE OR PROVIDE FOR OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SELECTION OF COMMISSION MEMBERS.
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(R78, H. 4143 (Word version)) -- Reps. Hamilton, Nanney, Burns, Bannister, Henderson, Herbkersman, Loftis, G.R. Smith, Stringer and Willis: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 432 OF 1947, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE GREENVILLE HEALTH SYSTEM AND ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SO AS TO REVISE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICTS CONSTITUTING THE DISTRICTS WHICH COMPRISE HOUSE DISTRICT RESIDENCY SEATS ON THE BOARD FROM WHICH SIX MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MUST BE APPOINTED, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE NOMINATING PROCESS IN REGARD TO THE SELECTION OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
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(R79, H. 4159 (Word version)) -- Rep. Anthony: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 164 OF 2003, RELATING TO THE NINE DEFINED SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH THE MEMBERS OF THE UNION COUNTY BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES ARE ELECTED, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE ELECTION DISTRICTS, TO DESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS ARE DELINEATED, AND TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE REAPPORTIONED ELECTION DISTRICTS.
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Motion Adopted

On motion of Senator FAIR, with unanimous consent, Senators HUTTO, JACKSON and FAIR were granted leave to attend a subcommittee meeting and were granted leave to vote from the balcony.

THE CALL OF THE UNCONTESTED CALENDAR HAVING BEEN COMPLETED, THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO THE SINE DIE RESOLUTION.

ADOPTED

H. 4274 (Word version) -- Rep. Lucas: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT PURSUANT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE, 1895, WHEN THE RESPECTIVE HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURN ON THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015, NOT LATER THAN 5:00 P.M., OR ANYTIME EARLIER, EACH HOUSE SHALL STAND ADJOURNED TO MEET IN STATEWIDE SESSION AT 12:00 NOON ON TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015, AND CONTINUE IN STATEWIDE SESSION, IF NECESSARY, UNTIL NOT LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN SPECIFIED MATTERS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN THE RESPECTIVE HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURN NOT LATER 12:00 NOON TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL STAND ADJOURNED SINE DIE.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Concurrent Resolution, the question being the adoption of the Concurrent Resolution.

Senator LARRY MARTIN explained the Concurrent Resolution.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted.

THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO THE MOTION PERIOD.

MOTION ADOPTED

At 2:06 P.M., on motion of Senator CROMER, the Senate agreed to dispense with the balance of the Motion Period.

HAVING DISPENSED WITH THE MOTION PERIOD, THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO A CONSIDERATION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS RETURNED FROM THE HOUSE.

CARRIED OVER

S. 199 (Word version) -- Senators Grooms, Hembree, Bennett, Campbell, Verdin, Campsen, Gregory, Johnson, Setzler, Sabb, Nicholson and Scott: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1535 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO SPEEDING IN WORK ZONES AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH SPEEDING IN WORK ZONES, TO DELETE THIS PROVISION AND CREATE "PEANUT'S LAW", TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR THE TERMS "HIGHWAY WORK ZONE" AND "HIGHWAY WORKER", TO CREATE THE OFFENSES OF "ENDANGERMENT OF A HIGHWAY WORKER", AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR THESE OFFENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720, RELATING TO THE POINT SYSTEM ESTABLISHED FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE DRIVING RECORD OF PERSONS OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES, TO PROVIDE THAT "ENDANGERMENT OF A HIGHWAY WORKER" VIOLATIONS RANGE BETWEEN TWO AND SIX POINTS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 56-5-1536 RELATING TO DRIVING IN TEMPORARY WORK ZONES AND PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL DRIVING IN TEMPORARY WORK ZONES.

On motion of Senator MALLOY, the Bill was carried over.

S. 250 (Word version) -- Senators Shealy, Lourie and Young: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-380 OF THE 1976 CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RELEASE OF A CHILD'S MEDICAL RECORDS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT TO A SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM CHILD ABUSE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR EVALUATING THE CHILD FOR SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT; TO ADD SECTION 63-7-1990(B)(24) TO ALLOW A SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM CHILD ABUSE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ACCESS TO RECORDS OF INDICATED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-1990 BY ADDING SUBSECTION (N) TO ALLOW FOR A SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM CHILD ABUSE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO RECEIVE A SUMMARY OF REFERRALS AND OUTCOMES OF CASES OF SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT SENT TO A CONTRACTED SERVICE AGENCY OR PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-1990 BY ADDING SUBSECTION (O) TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL SHARE INFORMATION RELATING TO AN INDICATED INVESTIGATION OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT WITH A CHILD'S PRIMARY OR SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-2000 BY ADDING SUBSECTION (F) TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO RELEASE A SUMMARY OF ALLEGATIONS AND THE INVESTIGATION OUTCOME OF UNFOUNDED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT WITH A SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM CHILD ABUSE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

On motion of Senator LARRY MARTIN, the Bill was carried over.

CONCURRENCE

S. 437 (Word version) -- Senators Campsen, Reese, Gregory, Hutto, Cleary, Campbell, Cromer, Young, Bryant, Williams, Bennett, Johnson, Hembree, O'Dell, Davis, Fair, Hayes and Verdin: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-240 SO AS TO ENACT THE "JAMES B. EDWARDS CIVICS EDUCATION INITIATIVE" TO REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS OF PUBLIC OR CHARTER SCHOOLS OR PERSONS PURSUING A GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE IN THIS STATE TO TAKE THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP CIVICS TEST PRODUCED BY THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, TO DIRECT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO AWARD A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT TO ALL STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE A GRADE OF 60 OR BETTER ON THE TEST, AND TO DIRECT THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS TO REPORT RESULTS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR INCLUSION IN THE REPORT CARD FOR EACH SCHOOL, AS APPLICABLE.

The House returned the Bill with amendments, the question being concurrence in the House amendments.

On motion of Senator CAMPSEN, with unanimous consent, the Bill was taken up for immediate consideration.

Senator CAMPSEN explained the House amendments.

On motion of Senator CAMPSEN, with unanimous consent, the Senate concurred in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly. Ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for Ratification.

THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO THE INTERRUPTED DEBATE.

DEBATE INTERRUPTED

H. 3702 (Word version) -- Ways and Means Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE MONIES FROM THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015, AND TO ALLOW UNEXPENDED FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO BE CARRIED FORWARD TO SUCCEEDING FISCAL YEARS AND EXPENDED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Joint Resolution, the question being the third reading of the Joint Resolution.

Amendment No. 5A

Senators SHANE MARTIN, DAVIS, BRIGHT and BRYANT proposed the following amendment (3702R010.KM.SRM):

Amend the joint resolution, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/   SECTION 1.   In accordance with the provisions of Section 36(B)(2) and (3), Article III, Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, and Section 11-11-320(C) and (D) of the 1976 Code, there is appropriated from the monies available in the Capital Reserve Fund for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 the following amounts:

(1)   H63 - Department of Education

School Bus Lease or Purchase   $   17,000,000

(2)   H03 - Commission on Higher Education

Out of State Veteran Tuition

Reimbursement-Colleges   $   7,000,000

(3)   H51 - Medical University of South Carolina

Children's Hospital   $   1

(4)   H59 - State Board for Technical and

Comprehensive Education

readySC   $   4,249,000

(5)   J02 - Department of Health and Human Services

Telemedicine   $   2,000,000

(6)   D10 - State Law Enforcement Division

New Laboratory Facility   $   1

(7)   D10 - State Law Enforcement Division

Vehicles   $   900,000

(8)   K05 - Department of Public Safety

Law Enforcement Vehicles   $   1,000,000

(9)   K05 - Department of Public Safety

Body Armor Replacement   $   800,000

(10)   K05 - Department of Public Safety

Supply Warehouse Roof

Replacement   $   250,000

(11)   P16 - Department of Agriculture

Consumer Protection Equipment   $   1,000,000

(12)   P28 - Department of Parks,

Recreation and Tourism

Welcome Center Facility

Management   $   1

(13)   Y14 - State Ports Authority

Georgetown Port

Maintenance Dredging   $   2,600,000

(14)   U12 - Department of Transportation

Facility Maintenance and

Renovation   $   870,000

(15)   County Transportation Fund

Capital Expenditures

Road Maintenance   $   47,144,208

$   84,813,211

SECTION 2. (A)   Of the funds appropriated above in Section 1, item (2) to the Commission on Higher Education for Out of State Veteran Tuition Reimbursement-Colleges, the Office of State Treasurer is directed to establish a fund, separate and distinct from the general fund and all other funds, entitled the College and University Out of State Veteran Tuition Differential Reimbursement Fund. Any funds appropriated in this act for this purpose must be deposited into the fund and interest accrued by the fund must remain in the fund.

(B)   The purpose of the fund is to reimburse public institutions of higher learning, as defined in Section 59-103-5 of the 1976 Code, for revenue loss resulting from the provisions of Section 59-112-50(C). By March 1, 2016, a public institution of higher learning seeking a reimbursement from this fund must submit an application to the Commission on Higher Education to receive a reimbursement from the fund. The total reimbursement to a public institution may not exceed the difference between the amount the institution would have charged but for Section 59-112-50(C), and the amount the institution actually charged. The Commission on Higher Education may require any proof it determines necessary to verify the veracity of the application.

(C)   By June 15, 2016, the Commission on Higher Education must distribute the funds to those institutions that have applied pursuant to subsection (B). In the event that the total requested and verified reimbursements exceed the amount in the fund, the distribution to each public institution shall be reduced pro rata based on the institution's amount of verified reimbursements compared to the total amount of verified reimbursements of all institutions.

SECTION 3.   Funds appropriated above in Section 1, item (14) to the Department of Transportation shall be used to fund the Orangeburg District Office Building Renovation, Clarendon County Maintenance Complex Construction, SHEP Greenville/Spartanburg Office Construction, and Lexington Maintenance Complex Construction.

SECTION 4.   The Comptroller General shall post the appropriations contained in SECTION 1 of this joint resolution as provided in Section 11-11-320(D) of the 1976 Code. Unexpended funds appropriated pursuant to SECTION 1 of this joint resolution may be carried forward to succeeding fiscal years and expended for the same purposes.

SECTION 5.   This joint resolution takes effect thirty days after the completion of the 2014-2015 Fiscal Year in accordance with the provisions of Section 36(B)(3)(a), Article III, Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, and Section 11-11-320(D)(1) of the 1976 Code.   /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator DAVIS spoke on the amendment.

Motion Adopted

On motion of Senator DAVIS, with unanimous consent and with Senator DAVIS retaining the floor on H. 3702, the Senate stood adjourned.

Debate was interrupted by adjournment.

MOTION ADOPTED

On motion of Senator SHANE MARTIN, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of the Honorable Elaine O'Shields Harris of Pacolet, S.C. Elaine was an administrative assistant in Spartanburg School District 3 and a lay speaker with the Methodist Church. She was a member of Montgomery Memorial United Methodist Church and the Daughters of the American Revolution - Daniel Morgan Chapter. After retirement, Elaine served on the Pacolet Town Council for four years and was later elected as Mayor where she served for fourteen years. Elaine was a loving wife, devoted mother and doting grandmother who will be dearly missed.

ADJOURNMENT

At 3:31 P.M., on motion of Senator DAVIS, the Senate adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11:00 A.M. under the provisions of Rule 1 for the purpose of taking up local matters and uncontested matters which have previously received unanimous consent to be taken up.

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