Pursuant to an invitation the Honorable Speaker and House of Representatives appeared in the Senate Chamber on June 28, 2018, at 10:45 A.M. and the following Acts and Joint Resolutions were ratified:

(R284, S. 709 (Word version)) -- Senator Hembree: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL CREATE MODEL FIRE AND SAFETY POLICY AND PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND MAKE SUCH GUIDELINES AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS BEFORE THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL ADOPT CERTAIN FIRE AND SAFETY POLICIES AND PROGRAMS BEFORE THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR AND SUBMIT THESE POLICES AND PROGRAMS TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR COLLABORATIVE REVIEW AND COMMENT BEFORE JULY 1, 2021, TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS MAY REQUEST RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, AND TO EXCLUDE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT PRIMARILY DELIVER INSTRUCTION ONLINE FROM THESE PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-910, RELATING TO REQUIRED MONTHLY FIRE DRILLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INSTEAD SHALL CONDUCT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FIRE DRILLS, ACTIVE SHOOTER/INTRUDER DRILLS, AND SEVERE WEATHER/EARTHQUAKE DRILLS DURING EACH SEMESTER, TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION SHALL DEVELOP CERTAIN RELATED GUIDELINES AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE TRAINING MATERIALS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EMPLOYED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PERIODIC UPDATING OF THESE GUIDELINES, TO PROVIDE THESE GUIDELINES MUST BE INCLUDED IN REQUIRED ANNUAL TEACHER COLLEGIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TO DELETE MONETARY PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE BY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-920, RELATING TO OBSOLETE COMPLIANCE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND MONETARY PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILL REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO INSTEAD REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLIANCE AND REMOVE THESE MONETARY PENALTIES; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-63-930 RELATING TO OBSOLETE REQUIREMENTS THAT COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION PRINT AND POST CERTAIN STATUTES RELATED TO MANDATORY PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILLS; AND TO REDESIGNATE ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59 AS "SAFETY AND SECURITY DRILLS".

(R285, S. 954 (Word version)) -- Senators Leatherman, Setzler, Massey and Fanning: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL NOT HOLD A HEARING ON THE MERITS BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2018, FOR A DOCKET IN WHICH REQUESTS WERE MADE PURSUANT TO THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT, EXCEPT THAT THE COMMISSION MAY HOLD AN ADMINISTRATIVE OR PROCEDURAL HEARING FOR SUCH A DOCKET PRIOR TO A HEARING ON THE MERITS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION MUST ISSUE A FINAL ORDER ON THE MERITS FOR A DOCKET IN WHICH REQUESTS WERE MADE PURSUANT TO THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 21, 2018; TO PROVIDE THAT NO FINAL DETERMINATION OF MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THIS JOINT RESOLUTION, WHETHER BY A FINAL ORDER ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, SHALL OCCUR EARLIER THAN THE TIME PERIOD PRESCRIBED ABOVE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION'S FAILURE TO ISSUE A FINAL ORDER PRIOR TO THE TIME PERIOD ESTABLISHED IN THIS JOINT RESOLUTION SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION, AND A UTILITY MUST NOT PUT INTO EFFECT THE CHANGE IN RATES IT REQUESTED IN ITS SCHEDULE; AND TO SUSPEND PROVISIONS IN TITLE 58 OF THE 1976 CODE THAT ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS JOINT RESOLUTION FOR MATTERS RELATED TO THE V.C. SUMMER NUCLEAR REACTOR UNITS 2 AND 3 UNTIL THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ISSUES ITS FINAL ORDER IN THE MATTER.

(R286, H. 4009 (Word version)) -- Reps. Lucas, Williams, Crawford, Alexander, McCoy, Hiott, Clemmons, Bales, Bedingfield, Ott, G.R. Smith, Herbkersman, Sandifer and S. Rivers: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 69 TO TITLE 12 SO AS TO ENACT THE "MOTORSPORTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX INVESTMENT ACT" BY EXEMPTING CERTAIN BUILDING MATERIALS FOR A COMPLEX FROM THE SALES TAX AND TO PROVIDE THE PROCESS BY WHICH A QUALIFIED COMPANY MAY CLAIM THE EXEMPTION.

(R287, H. 4375 (Word version)) -- Reps. McCoy, Ott, Lucas, Anderson, Ballentine, Blackwell, Caskey, Crawford, Crosby, Davis, Finlay, Forrester, Gilliard, Hardee, Henegan, Hixon, Mack, Pope, Rutherford, J.E. Smith, Sandifer, Stavrinakis, Erickson, Huggins, W. Newton, Bales, Young, McEachern, Clary, Tallon, Brown, Fry, Robinson-Simpson, V.S. Moss, Clyburn, Martin, Magnuson, Bennett, Arrington, Daning, Weeks, Henderson and Govan: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-220, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS UNDER THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT, SO AS TO ADD CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MUST NOT ACCEPT A BASE LOAD REVIEW APPLICATION, NOR MAY IT CONSIDER ANY REQUESTS MADE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 4, CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58, OTHER THAN IN A DOCKET CURRENTLY PENDING BEFORE THE COMMISSION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 4, CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58 ARE REPEALED UPON THE CONCLUSION OF LITIGATION CONCERNING THE ABANDONMENT OF V.C. SUMMER UNITS 2 AND 3; BY ADDING CHAPTER 34 TO TITLE 58 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH AND PROCEDURES UNDER WHICH ELECTRICITY RATES FOR CERTAIN RATEPAYERS WHO ARE PAYING ADDITIONAL CHARGES UNDER THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NUCLEAR PLANTS OR PROJECTS SHALL BE REVISED AND DETERMINED, AND TO PROVIDE FOR PROCEDURES AND PROVISIONS OF LAW WHICH APPLY AND DO NOT APPLY IN REGARD TO THE ADJUSTMENT OF ELECTRICITY RATES AS PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 34; TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-280, RELATING TO REQUESTS FOR APPROVAL OF REVISED RATES UNDER THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE COMMISSION MUST GIVE SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE BOTH THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND THE UTILITY AGREE ON THE REVISED RATES AND INSTEAD PROVIDE IN THIS INSTANCE THAT THE COMMISSION MAY GIVE WEIGHT TO THE AGREEMENT IN ISSUING ITS REVISED RATES ORDER BUT MAY CONSIDER ADDITIONAL FACTORS AT ITS DISCRETION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-6-602, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, SO AS TO REVISE THESE QUALIFICATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-6-604, RELATING TO THE FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER ADVOCACY, SO AS TO DELETE A PROHIBITION AGAINST THE DIVISION REPRESENTING CONSUMERS IN UTILITY MATTERS, AND PERMIT THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS IN CERTAIN MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND APPELLATE COURTS THAT AFFECT CONSUMERS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-6-607, RELATING TO PERMITTING THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO MAINTAIN ACTIONS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW AND TO INTERVENE IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS, SO AS TO DELETE LANGUAGE WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE ABOVE PROVISIONS DO NOT APPLY IN MATTERS ARISING UNDER TITLE 58 AFFECTING PUBLIC UTILITIES, SERVICES, AND CARRIERS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-10, RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, SO AS FURTHER DEFINE THE TERM "PUBLIC INTEREST" IN REGARD TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF'S REPRESENTATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST BEFORE THE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-80, RELATING TO ACTIONS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ORDERS OF THE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ON APPEAL, THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF DOES NOT REPRESENT THE COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-55, RELATING TO THE PRODUCTION OF BOOKS, RECORDS, AND INFORMATION AS REQUIRED BY THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO NONCOMPLIANCE, INSPECTIONS, AUDITS, EXAMINATIONS, AND COSTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE SUCH PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT OR PROTECTIVE ORDER, EXCEPT UNDER SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE WHEN SUCH INFORMATION MUST BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND WHEN SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE DISCLOSED, TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY, AND TO ALLOW THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF TO APPLY IN CIRCUIT COURT FOR SUBPOENAS TO BE ISSUED TO ENTITIES OVER WHICH THE COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION.

(R288, H. 4676 (Word version)) -- Reps. Collins and Felder: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 56-1-50, AS AMENDED, 56-1-125, 56-1-175, AS AMENDED, AND 56-1-180, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A BEGINNER'S PERMIT, A CONDITIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND A SPECIAL RESTRICTED DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS MUST REGISTER WITH THE UNITED STATES SELECTIVE SERVICE, ALL SO AS TO EXPAND APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN DRIVERS' LICENSES FOR MINORS.

(R289, H. 4931 (Word version)) -- Reps. Elliott, Alexander, Simrill, Stringer, West, Allison, Henderson, G.R. Smith, Burns, Trantham, Hamilton, Bannister, Putnam, Robinson-Simpson, Chumley, Taylor, Douglas, Knight, Dillard and Blackwell: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-103-15, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MISSIONS AND FOCUSES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY DEGREES, AND TO PROVIDE AUTHORIZATIONS OF SUCH DEGREES ONLY ARE ALLOWED WHEN NEW STATE GENERAL FUNDS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMS.

Last Updated: June 28, 2018 at 11:42 AM