South Carolina General Assembly
122nd Session, 2017-2018
Journal of the House of Representatives

Wednesday, June 27, 2018
(Statewide Session)

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The House assembled at 10:00 a.m.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by Rev. Charles E. Seastrunk, Jr., as follows:

Our thought for today is from Isaiah 56:1: "The Lord says, 'Hold on to what is right and fair. Do what is right and good. My saving power will soon come.'"

Let us pray. O God, with steadfast love, You draw us to yourself and, in mercy, receive our prayers. Strengthen us to bring forth the wisdom, courage, strength, and integrity. Provide for these Representatives and staff every needful thing. Guard and protect them as they continue to serve the people. Comfort and heal those who have lost loved ones and for Rep. Katie Arrington that she may be comforted by Your presence. Bless and protect our defenders of freedom and first responders as they protect us. Bless and protect our Nation, President, State, Governor, Speaker, staff, and all who contribute to this Assembly. Heal the wounds, those seen and those hidden, of our brave warriors who suffer and sacrifice for our freedom. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen.

Pursuant to Rule 6.3, the House of Representatives was led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America by the SPEAKER.

After corrections to the Journal of the proceedings of Wednesday, May 23rd, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.

MOTION ADOPTED

Rep. CLARY moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Thomas Young Coleman, which was agreed to.

SILENT PRAYER

The House stood in silent prayer for the family and friends of Thomas Young Coleman.

SILENT PRAYER

The House stood in silent prayer for Representative Katie Arrington.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Thursday, May 10, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it insists upon its amendments to S. 596:

S. 596 (Word version) -- Senators Peeler, Nicholson, Sheheen and Gambrell: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO REMOVE THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF JOHN DE LA HOWE SCHOOL AND DEVOLVE THE BOARD'S POWERS UPON AN INTERIM BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO SHALL SERVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2019 OR UNTIL A FULL NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIED; TO PROVIDE THAT THE INTERIM BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SELECTION, PERIODIC EVALUATION, RETENTION, AND TERMINATION OF THE SCHOOL'S PRESIDENT; TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER SPECIFIC DUTIES OF THE INTERIM BOARD OF TRUSTEES; AND TO DIRECT THE INTERIM BOARD OF TRUSTEES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL, TO REVIEW EDUCATIONAL ACCREDITATION AND THE PAST AND CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE SCHOOL AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DIRECT THE SCHOOL OUT OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DETERMINING THE MOST FEASIBLE PATH THE STATE MUST PURSUE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOHN DE LA HOWE.

and asks for a Committee of Conference and has appointed Senators Sheheen, Massey and Young to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Thursday, May 10, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it insists upon its amendments to H. 4466:

H. 4466 (Word version) -- Rep. Clemmons: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-2-3110 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY MAY ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT REGULATES THE OPERATION OF CERTAIN UNLICENSED VEHICLES UPON THE PUBLIC STREETS AND HIGHWAYS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION WHEN THE VEHICLES ARE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC FOR RENTAL ON A DAILY, WEEKLY, OR MONTHLY BASIS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT MUNICIPALITIES MAY ADOPT A SIMILAR ORDINANCE IN THE ABSENCE OF COUNTY ORDINANCES.

and asks for a Committee of Conference and has appointed Senators Hutto, Rankin and Grooms to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Thursday, May 10, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it insists upon its amendments to H. 4710:

H. 4710 (Word version) -- Reps. Hill, Williams, McKnight, Yow, West, Gagnon, McCravy, Wheeler, Parks, Henegan, Caskey, Gilliard, Brown, B. Newton, Allison, Chumley, Long, Elliott, Henderson and Blackwell: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 147 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY ISSUE PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERAN SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.

and asks for a Committee of Conference and has appointed Senators Jackson, McElveen and Shealy to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Thursday, May 10, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has appointed Senators Davis, Scott and Goldfinch to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate on S. 917:

S. 917 (Word version) -- Senators Kimpson, Scott and Campsen: A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 6-1-530, 6-1-730, AND 6-4-10, ALL AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, ALL RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE OF THE STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX, AND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, RESPECTIVELY, SO AS TO ALLOW THE REVENUE TO BE EXPENDED FOR THE CONTROL AND REPAIR OF FLOODING AND DRAINAGE AT TOURISM-RELATED LANDS OR AREAS.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Thursday, May 10, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has appointed Senators Hembree, Turner and Nicholson to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate on S. 709:

S. 709 (Word version) -- Senator Hembree: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 4 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO REQUIRE FIRE AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES AT LEAST ANNUALLY, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Thursday, May 10, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has appointed Senators Turner, Allen and Young to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate on H. 4931:

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: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-103-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MISSIONS AND FOCUSES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AN APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN MANUFACTURING DEGREE IF STATE FUNDS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Thursday, May 10, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has appointed Senator Grooms in lieu of Senator Cromer to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate on S. 1043:

S. 1043 (Word version) -- Senators Turner and Talley: A BILL TO EXTEND THE PROVISIONS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ABANDONED BUILDINGS REVITALIZATION ACT AS CONTAINED IN CHAPTER 67, TITLE 12 OF THE 1976 CODE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2025.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Thursday, May 10, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has overridden the Veto by the Governor on R. 181, H. 4592 by a vote of 42 to 0.

(R. 181, H. 4592 (Word version)) -- Reps. Allison and Forrester: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 248 OF 1969, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CREATION OF THE STARTEX AREA FIRE DISTRICT IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SO AS TO INCREASE THE BORROWING LIMITS OF THE DISTRICT FROM FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND TO SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5413 (Word version) -- Reps. Huggins and Ballentine: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO SALUTE THE CHAPIN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER TEAM ON ITS EXCELLENT SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THE TEAM'S FINE ATHLETES ON THEIR IMPRESSIVE WIN OF THE 2018 CLASS AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5414 (Word version) -- Rep. Taylor: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE MAJORS DAVID AND AMBER PHELPS OF THE SALVATION ARMY FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF AIKEN COUNTY, AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR NEW POSITIONS WITH THE SALVATION ARMY'S MINISTRY IN ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5415 (Word version) -- Rep. D. C. Moss: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE GAFFNEY HIGH SCHOOL GOLF TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5416 (Word version) -- Reps. G. M. Smith and Weeks: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR THE WILSON HALL SOFTBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO APPLAUD THEM FOR WINNING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5417 (Word version) -- Reps. Huggins and Ballentine: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR THE CHAPIN HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY BASEBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5418 (Word version) -- Reps. Pope, Bryant, Delleney, Felder, King, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, B. Newton and Simrill: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR DR. VERNON PROSSER UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT ON JUNE 30, 2018, AFTER THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN EDUCATION AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5419 (Word version) -- Rep. Dillard: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE SUMTER NATIVE DR. AUDREY POTTS NEAL ON HER LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENTS AS A COMMITTED EDUCATOR AND CHURCHWOMAN AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5420 (Word version) -- Rep. Chumley: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LEE HANEY, FOUNDER OF THE HANEY HARVEST HOUSE, AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM FOR HIS LEGENDARY BODYBUILDING CAREER AND FOR HIS DESIRE TO GIVE BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5421 (Word version) -- Rep. Rutherford: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE LYNDA "JEAN" WEST HICKS, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5422 (Word version) -- Reps. M. Rivers, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE WILLIAM K. "BILL" BOWERS OF HAMPTON COUNTY FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives learned with sincere regret that Representative William K. "Bill" Bowers will depart from the House of Representatives at the conclusion of his current term; and

Whereas, born in the Hampton County town of Brunson on July 25, 1952, he is the son of William Lonnie Bowers and Betty Jean Hubbard Wall; and

Whereas, Bill Bowers earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Clemson University in 1974 and later attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned a master of business administration degree in 1980 and a doctor of philosophy degree in tax accounting in 1994. A certified public accountant and certified management accountant, Representative Bowers has served on the faculty of the University of South Carolina Beaufort since 1982; and

Whereas, deeply involved in his community, Bill Bowers has served as a board member of the Colleton Center and the South Carolina Artisans Center, and has received the Paul Harris Fellow Award; and

Whereas, Representative Bowers has faithfully served the citizens of District 122 in Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties in the House of Representatives since 1997, during which time he has served on the Legislative Oversight Committee and on the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee as its second vice chair; and

Whereas, in all of his service, Bill Bowers has provided reasoned leadership and clear insight into critical legislative issues. In particular, his unique academic and professional expertise has proven invaluable to the understanding of tax policy implications of legislation; and

Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives will miss the keen and impassioned service that Bill Bowers, their friend and colleague, has given to the House of Representatives, and hope that he will enjoy deep fulfillment in the years to come. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend the Honorable William K. "Bill" Bowers of Hampton County for his dedicated service in the House of Representatives on behalf of his constituents and the citizens of South Carolina and wish him much success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable William K. "Bill" Bowers.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5423 (Word version) -- Reps. Loftis, Allison, Bannister, Burns, Chumley, Dillard, Elliott, Hamilton, Putnam, Robinson-Simpson, G. R. Smith, Stringer, Trantham, Willis, Alexander, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Caskey, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Douglas, Duckworth, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE PHYLLIS J. HENDERSON OF GREENVILLE COUNTY FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON BEHALF OF HER CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO WISH HER MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, Representative Henderson earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1982 and a master's degree from Indiana University in 1984; and

Whereas, a businesswoman and community leader, she served as a management analyst for the City of Greenville from 1985 to 1986 and as vice president of governmental affairs for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce from 1986 to 1989; and

Whereas, Representative Henderson served as the business manager for the Greenville Chorale from 1994 to 1996 and as the campaign manager for Jim DeMint for Congress from 1997 to 1998; and

Whereas, she served on the Greenville County Planning Commission from 1998 to 1999, as a board member of the Greenville Area Development Corporation from 2003 to 2004, on the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority from 2005 to 2009, and as a field operation supervisor for the United States Census Bureau from 2009 to 2010; and

Whereas, from 2000 to 2004, Representative Henderson served on the Greenville County Council and as its chairman from 2003 to 2004; and

Whereas, she is a faithful member of Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, and when away from her duties in the House of Representatives, she resides in Greer; and

Whereas, deeply involved in her community, Representative Henderson served on the Eastside High School PTA Board from 2006 to 2010 and as its president from 2008 to 2010, and she has served as the chairman of the Greenville Polo Classic Charity since 2011; and

Whereas, she has served the citizens of District 21 with dedication in the House of Representatives since 2010, during which time she has served on the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee and on the Legislative Oversight Committee. Since 2013, she has served on the Joint Legislative Committee to Screen Candidates for College Boards of Trustees; and

Whereas, in all of her service, Representative Henderson has provided respected and cogent expertise, as well as visionary leadership; and
Whereas, the members will miss the keen and impassioned service that Phyllis Henderson, their friend and colleague, has given to the House of Representatives and hope that she will enjoy deep fulfillment in the years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend the Honorable Phyllis J. Henderson of Greenville County for her dedicated service in the House of Representatives on behalf of her constituents and the citizens of South Carolina and wish her much success and happiness in all her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Phyllis J. Henderson.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5424 (Word version) -- Reps. Ridgeway, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE MARYGAIL K. DOUGLAS OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON BEHALF OF HER CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO WISH HER MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives learned with sincere regret that MaryGail Douglas will depart from the House of Representatives at the conclusion of her current term; and

Whereas, born in Fairfield County on January 19, 1950, she is the daughter of Evelyn Roberts Kelly and Abie Kelly, Sr., and she earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina in 1972; and

Whereas, deeply involved in her community, Representative Douglas served as the president of the South Carolina Association Council on Aging Directors from 1988 to 1989, and she was a charter member of Eldercare Trust Fund, serving since 1995; and

Whereas, she married her beloved husband, the late Jerry W. Douglas, on April 18, 1969, and together they reared two fine children, Bradley W. Douglas and Jarrett L. Douglas. When away from her duties in the House of Representatives, she resides in historic Winnsboro; and

Whereas, a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Winnsboro, Representative Douglas has served as the church's pianist and organist since 1979; and

Whereas, retired from her career, she has faithfully served the citizens of Chester, Fairfield, and Richland counties of District 41 as a fulltime legislator in the House of Representatives since 2013, during which time she has served on the Legislative Oversight and on the Education and Public Works committees; and

Whereas, in all of her service, Representative Douglas has provided steadfast and principled guidance among her colleagues in the House; and

Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives will miss the clear and candid participation of MaryGail Douglas, their friend and colleague, in the House of Representatives, and hope that she will enjoy deep fulfillment in the years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend the Honorable MaryGail K. Douglas of Fairfield County for her dedicated service in the House of Representatives on behalf of her constituents and the citizens of South Carolina and wish her much success and happiness in all her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable MaryGail K. Douglas.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5425 (Word version) -- Reps. Clemmons, Anderson, Atkinson, Crawford, Fry, Hardee, Hayes, Johnson, McGinnis, Alexander, Allison, Anthony, Arrington, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hart, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE HONORABLE GREGORY D. "GREG" DUCKWORTH FOR HIS COMMITTED SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT 104 IN HORRY COUNTY AND TO WISH HIM FULFILLMENT AND SUCCESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, for four years, the Honorable Gregory D. "Greg" Duckworth has represented the citizens of House District 104 in Horry County with faithfulness in the House of Representatives of this great State; and

Whereas, the founder, owner, and landscape architect of Environmental Concepts, LLC, Greg Duckworth earned his bachelor's degree in landscape architecture at West Virginia University, followed by work at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design (Professional Development Program), where he studied golf course design; and

Whereas, during his years in the House of Representatives, Greg Duckworth has used his experience for the benefit of his constituents and other citizens of our State as a member of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee and Rules Committee; and

Whereas, Representative Duckworth firmly believes in active participation in the community, and his convictions have led him to serve that community and beyond in various ways. Named for his outstanding service a Silver Beaver of the Pee Dee Area Council (Boy Scouts of America, 2008), Greg Duckworth served as Scoutmaster for Troop 888 from 2005 to 2011. Further, he served on the Pee Dee Area Council Executive Board for a number of years and is himself an Eagle Scout. As a man of faith, he is a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. In addition, he has served as a councilman for the City of North Myrtle Beach (2001-2013) and as a pilot, USCG-A, Air Station Savannah (2004-2016); and

Whereas, professionally, he holds present or past membership in several organizations, including the South Carolina chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (president, 2001-2002), Professional Advisory Council of the Clemson University Department of Landscape Architecture (2014-2017), and American Society of Landscape Architects Council of Fellows (2016); and
Whereas, he finds strength for his labors in the strong support of his lovely wife, Christine Marie Arneman Duckworth, as well as the couple's two fine sons, Brandon Gregory and Trevor Jonathan; and

Whereas, on the occasion of his departure from the House of Representatives, his House colleagues, grateful for Greg Duckworth's dedicated service to this body and the people of District 104, extend sincere best wishes for much contentment and satisfaction in the days to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend the Honorable Gregory D. "Greg" Duckworth for his committed service to the South Carolina House of Representatives and the citizens of District 104 in Horry County and wish him fulfillment and success in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to our distinguished colleague, the Honorable Gregory D. "Greg" Duckworth.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5426 (Word version) -- Reps. J. E. Smith, Bales, Ballentine, Bernstein, Douglas, Finlay, Hart, Howard, Rutherford, Thigpen, Brawley, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE HONORABLE JOSEPH A. "JOE" MCEACHERN FOR HIS COMMITTED SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT 77 IN RICHLAND COUNTY AND TO WISH HIM FULFILLMENT AND SUCCESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS UPON HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Whereas, for ten years, the Honorable Joseph A. "Joe" McEachern has represented the citizens of House District 77 in Richland County with faithfulness in the House of Representatives of this great State; and

Whereas, a Columbia real estate broker, this Dillon native attended Furman University and Columbia International University, majoring in political science and Christian education, respectively; and

Whereas, during his years in the House of Representatives, Joe McEachern has used his experience for the benefit of his constituents and other citizens of our State as a member of the Judiciary Committee. Further, he is a former member of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee, as well as of the House Invitations Committee; and

Whereas, in relation to his work at the State House, Joe was appointed to the state's Workforce Review Committee. Prior to his service as a member of the South Carolina House, he served on Richland County Council from 1997 to 2008 (chairman, 2007-2008); and

Whereas, Representative McEachern firmly believes in active participation in the community, and his convictions have led him to serve his community and beyond in various ways. These include service as a member of the Regional Transportation Authority and South Carolina Association of Counties Legislative Committee. He is also a former Richland County deputy sheriff and former member of the board of directors for the Central Midlands Council of Governments and the South Carolina Central Carolina Economic Alliance; and

Whereas, as a man of faith, Joe serves as director of Christian education at Ridgewood Baptist Church; and
Whereas, Joe McEachern, proud husband of the former Penny Smith, finds strength for his labors in her strong support. The McEacherns have two fine sons, Joseph II and Aaron; and

Whereas, on the occasion of his departure from the House of Representatives, his House colleagues, grateful for Joe McEachern's committed service to this body and the people of District 77, extend warmest best wishes for much contentment and satisfaction in this new phase of his life. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend the Honorable Joseph A. "Joe" McEachern for his committed service to the South Carolina House of Representatives and the citizens of District 77 in Richland County and wish him fulfillment and success in all his future endeavors upon his departure from the House of Representatives.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to our distinguished colleague, the Honorable Joseph A. "Joe" McEachern.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5427 (Word version) -- Reps. Daning, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR LAUREN ALEXIS GERGICK OF BERKELEY COUNTY UPON HER GRADUATION AS VALEDICTORIAN FROM STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5428 (Word version) -- Rep. Dillard: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR DR. WILLIE JOE HILL, JR., FOR HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TO WISH HIM MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5429 (Word version) -- Reps. Pope, Bryant, Delleney, Felder, King, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, B. Newton and Simrill: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR DR. MARC J. SOSNE, SUPERINTENDENT FOR CLOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER A DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF FORTY-SIX YEARS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5430 (Word version) -- Reps. G. M. Smith, Weeks, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE DEATH OF CORINNE EDITH "DOLLY" HILL OF SUMTER AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5431 (Word version) -- Reps. Bowers, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE JACKSON BRANCH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF BRUNSON ON THE OCCASION OF ITS HISTORIC ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND TO COMMEND THE CHURCH FOR A CENTURY AND A HALF OF SERVICE TO GOD AND THE COMMUNITY.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5432 (Word version) -- Reps. McCravy, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO SALUTE THE CAMBRIDGE ACADEMY GIRLS SOCCER TEAM ON ITS EXCELLENT SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THE TEAM'S FINE ATHLETES ON THEIR IMPRESSIVE WIN OF THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5433 (Word version) -- Reps. Daning, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE JAZMIN ELAINE BROWN ON THE OCCASION OF HER GRADUATION FROM STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN GOOSE CREEK WITH THE DISTINCTION OF A PERFECT ATTENDANCE RECORD FROM FIRST GRADE THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5434 (Word version) -- Reps. Huggins, Ballentine, Atwater, Toole, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Bales, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE DR. WENDELL ESTEP, PASTOR OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF COLUMBIA, ON HIS RETIREMENT AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO HIS CONGREGATION AND THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5435 (Word version) -- Reps. Erickson, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE PARRIS ISLAND YOUNG MARINES FOR GARNERING SECOND PLACE FOR THE KIKI CAMARENA AWARD IN THE 3RD DIVISION PRESENTED BY THE UNITED STATES DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AND TO DESIGNATE OCTOBER 23 TO OCTOBER 31, 2018, AS "RED RIBBON WEEK" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5436 (Word version) -- Reps. Brown, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE HEBRON ZION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) OF JOHNS ISLAND ON THE OCCASION OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS MERGER AND TO COMMEND THE CHURCH FOR A CENTURY AND A HALF OF SERVICE TO GOD AND THE COMMUNITY.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5437 (Word version) -- Reps. Gagnon, West, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE MICHAEL GENEVIE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, HONOR HIM FOR HIS NEARLY FORTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ABBEVILLE OPERA HOUSE, AND WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS TO COME.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5438 (Word version) -- Reps. Douglas, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE CHARLENE NORTHCUTT HERRING ON HER RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC SERVICE AFTER COMPLETION OF A THIRD TERM AS MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF RIDGEWAY, TO THANK HER FOR HER DEDICATION TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND TO THE TOWN OF RIDGEWAY, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED HAPPINESS IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5439 (Word version) -- Reps. Govan, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE UNTIMELY PASSING OF JASMINE MACIE ELMORE OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY, AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER LOVING FAMILY AND HER MANY FRIENDS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5440 (Word version) -- Reps. J. E. Smith, Hart, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE DR. HERBERT BAILEY, JR., ON THE OCCASION OF HIS ELEVATION TO THE OFFICE OF BISHOP AND TO WISH HIM MANY YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES AND IMPACTING FUTURE GENERATIONS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5441 (Word version) -- Reps. Parks, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE REVEREND RAY C. HOLLOWAY OF MCCORMICK COUNTY UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS AN EDUCATOR, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5442 (Word version) -- Reps. Atwater, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR DORIS AND REDD REYNOLDS FOR THEIR INDEFATIGABLE WORK WITH AMERICAN LEGION POST 7 AND AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY AND TO WISH THEM MUCH CONTINUED HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5443 (Word version) -- Reps. Pitts, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE NELL JEAN SWANSON OF LAURENS COUNTY FOR HER DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HICKORY TAVERN FIRE DEPARTMENT THROUGH NEARLY FORTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5444 (Word version) -- Rep. Taylor: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE NAVY JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS (NAVY JROTC) FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS IT HAS MADE TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE PALMETTO STATE AND TO DECLARE OCTOBER 2018 AS NAVY JROTC MONTH IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5445 (Word version) -- Reps. Bernstein, Finlay, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE HAMMOND SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY SOCCER TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5446 (Word version) -- Reps. Bernstein, Howard, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE CARDINAL NEWMAN VARSITY BASEBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND FOR CAPTURING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5447 (Word version) -- Reps. Gilliard, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR KELLY GOLDEN OF CHARLESTON COUNTY ON A DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM AND TO WISH HER MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5448 (Word version) -- Rep. King: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO MOLD TODAY'S YOUTH INTO TOMORROW'S LEADERS AND TO WISH THEM MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THEIR NOBLE EFFORTS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5449 (Word version) -- Reps. G. R. Smith, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE KILLINGSWORTH HOME ON PROVIDING ITS FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN MINISTRY FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DECADES AND TO WISH THIS FINE INSTITUTION GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS AS IT CONTINUES TO SERVE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5450 (Word version) -- Reps. Funderburk, Lucas, Wheeler, Bales, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE KERSHAW COUNTY ON BEING NAMED A 2018 ALL-AMERICA CITY AWARD WINNER AND TO APPLAUD THE COUNTY'S CITIZENS FOR THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THAT BROUGHT THEM THIS COVETED HONOR.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5451 (Word version) -- Reps. Hiott, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE CAROLINA MUSIC MUSEUM OF GREENVILLE ON ITS RECENT GRAND OPENING AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR A FLOURISHING FUTURE TO THIS OUTSTANDING NEW ADDITION TO THE CITY'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5452 (Word version) -- Reps. Howard, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McGinnis, McKnight, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and Yow: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE DR. IVORY TORREY THIGPEN ON HIS TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF GOSPEL MINISTRY AS SENIOR PASTOR OF COLUMBIA'S REHOBOTH BAPTIST CHURCH AND TO WISH HIM GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS AS HE CONTINUES TO SERVE THE LORD.

The Resolution was adopted.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The Senate sent to the House the following:

S. 1267 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE MID-CAROLINA MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON WINNING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP OF ACADEMICS.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.

ROLL CALL

The roll call of the House of Representatives was taken resulting as follows:

Alexander              Allison                Anderson
Anthony                Atkinson               Atwater
Bales                  Ballentine             Bannister
Bennett                Bernstein              Blackwell
Bowers                 Bradley                Brawley
Brown                  Bryant                 Burns
Caskey                 Chumley                Clary
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter
Cogswell               Cole                   Collins
Crawford               Crosby                 Daning
Davis                  Delleney               Dillard
Douglas                Duckworth              Elliott
Erickson               Felder                 Forrest
Forrester              Fry                    Funderburk
Gagnon                 Gilliard               Govan
Hamilton               Hardee                 Hart
Hayes                  Henderson              Henderson-Myers
Henegan                Herbkersman            Hewitt
Hill                   Hiott                  Hixon
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jefferson              Johnson                Jordan
King                   Kirby                  Knight
Loftis                 Long                   Lowe
Lucas                  Mace                   Mack
Magnuson               Martin                 McCoy
McCravy                McEachern              McGinnis
McKnight               D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
Murphy                 B. Newton              W. Newton
Norrell                Ott                    Parks
Pendarvis              Pitts                  Pope
Putnam                 Ridgeway               M. Rivers
S. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson       Sandifer
Simrill                G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith
J. E. Smith            Sottile                Spires
Stavrinakis            Stringer               Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Thigpen
Toole                  Trantham               Weeks
West                   Wheeler                White
Whitmire               Williams               Willis
Wooten                 Young

Total Present--119

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. YOW a leave of absence for the day.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. ARRINGTON a leave of absence for the day due to medical reasons.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. MCEACHERN a temporary leave of absence.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. JEFFERSON a leave of absence for the remainder of the day.

STATEMENT BY REP. BRADLEY

Rep. BRADLEY made a statement relative to Rep. BOWERS' service in the House.

STATEMENT BY REP. BOWERS

Rep. BOWERS made a statement relative to his service in the House.

Rep. BRADLEY moved that Rep. BOWERS' remarks be printed in the Journal as follows:

Well, folks, as a professor, I am seldom at a loss for words. But, when Speaker Jay Lucas notified me that I could speak today, I became totally and completely dumbfounded as to what to say. So, I brought these two buses to help me to tell a story. The story is a bit painful for me, but I hope there is no pain for you or, at least, as little pain as possible. I will not be asking for your vote on any bill or any amendment on this date. So, if you're of a mind to listen, please let me tell my unlikely story.

For starters, sometime people sometimes ask me, "Bill, how far have you gone in life?" To which I say "About a 100 yards." Indeed, I moved two doors down from my parent's home in my hometown of Brunson. We lived across the street from my grandparents. My mother, born Betty Jean Hubbard of Hardeeville, is here with us today along with my sister who works at SCE&G. Please stand Mama. My father is at home in Brunson where some people still say "Tell your father that I voted for him again."

When I left for Clemson, my little hometown of Brunson had not grown and the county had lost its biggest employer, Westinghouse. After Clemson, I was living the dream of nearly every Lowcountry boy by working as a game warden with DNR. Suddenly, I was asked to teach at Beaufort Tech. While teaching, I became more and more interested in tax policy as I heard people losing property in tax sales. Some tore down buildings because they couldn't pay the property taxes. Jobs were leaving and rural South Carolina needed investment. So, I earned a Ph.D. in Tax Policy at USC and now teach at USC-B. And, that's the point of the little USC-B bus.

In 1996, I started a political journey thinking that I'd get a few business things done fairly quickly. I thought the journey would be short and that I would end it after finishing up a few business things fairly quickly. Instead, I have been here 22 years, my business is unfinished and I've been fired. So, please listen because my rural South Carolina needs your help more than ever. And, if you can't help for goodness sake, please don't hurt us.

When the opportunity came to run for the House, I first felt the need to ask my grandmother Hubbard's approval. So, I asked my Grandmother Hubbard, "Should I run for office?" and got a quick response "I wish you wouldn't." Because that was not the expected response I asked "Why not?" To which she replied "Bill, all politicians lie, cheat, steal, drink liquor and chase wild women."

I was shocked, perplexed, and even wondered if that was a comment on family history. After all, my great-grandfather was Senator Hubbard of Jasper County. His name is even on the courthouse door. But as an accounting professor, I did the math analytical thing and convinced myself that 40% is a pretty good expected outcome. It's about the same percentage of votes that I usually get here. And incidentally, if a super majority is needed for some bills, then I think 40% should be sufficient to pass others.

In 1996, Clem Pinckney and I were both newbies running for House seats. We quickly realized that we had much in common. We both had great mothers, supportive families, and both had Dad's that were auto mechanics. And we both had a great time and both won. Soon, he and I held a press conference on the Savannah River to announce that Jasper County would build a port in under 10 years. Again, we were both freshman and events proved that service here may need to be long term.

My first District 120 covered the waterfront from Bluffton, to Port Royal, to Beaufort, to Hampton County, and Jasper County. We were all new except Sen Holly Cork. I pledged to stay until I got some basic things done like making sure SC lived up to its 1) "Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places" story and that 2) "rural SC gets its fair shake of the SC Pie. "And South Carolina is indeed like a slice of pie."

In my first two years, I endured five elections in four counties and two Districts. Three years later, I inherited most of Colleton County. I believe I have had at least 16 elections and have represented all cities and most of all counties of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper except the cities of Edisto Beach and Hilton Head.

So the years passed, and the House has confronted serious matters, tried to mend fences and solidify a prosperous future during long days and even some sleepy all-nighters. Battles ranged from vicious to humorous over such things as bond offerings, budgets, battle flags, irrigation backflow valves, straws, trout lines and hunter orange...you name it.

Some debates were down right funny. I recall a well-liked legislator explaining various religions when he mistakenly referred to one as Budi-ism.

And then there was the humorous hunter orange debate. It went something like this. The Clerk read the Bill.

Then Rep. Rhoad begrudgingly explained saying "All deer hunters must wear orange."

To which Rep. Ken Kennedy from Greelyville, asked, "You don't mean to tell me that I must get dressed up in orange from head toe, on my own land, behind my own house simply to hunt my own deer?"

To which Rep. Rhoad replied, "Yes, that's right Mr. Kennedy you must dress up in orange all over."

To which Rep. Kennedy replied, "Well I just don't like orange, I just don't like it and I'm not gonna do it."

So Rep. Rhoad asked, "Just what do you like to wear, Rep. Kennedy?"

To which Rep. Kennedy replied, "Nothing at all, absolutely nothing."

To which Rep. Rhoad replied, "That's ok Mr. Kennedy. I can help. See, you are simply confused. We are not talking about DEAR. We are talking about DEER".

The bill passed and sadly, so has Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Rhoad. Somehow things seemed a bit more relaxed then than now.

Here are a few more funny memories for me during introductions. I was introduced as the Reverend Doctor Bowers and once as my opponent.

Desk mates are wonderful. And I have been blessed with desk-mates who really had my best interest at heart, yet I pestered them relentlessly. Many were freshman such as Mark Willis who tried to teach me not to laugh out loud, and Mandy Powers-Norwell who taught me to fear bankruptcy, and Jeff Bradley who unsuccessfully tried to instill within me the fear of God about some hypothetical unfunded pension liability hidden on the books someplace. All the while, I expected them to be my personal computer tech. To each of all of you, I apologize and thank you for your concern.

And then there are others who seemed to take my success to heart like the folks in the Blatt Building, in this chamber especially Speaker Pro Tem Pope, Reps. Erickson, Lonnie Hosey, Robert Brown and Chairman Bill Sandifer. Each listened to my concerns and tolerated my independence.

But here's the most tragic of all. On Wednesday the 17th day of June 2015, we met for the last legislative day. Much of that day was in the Senate Chamber discussing an undecided matter with Senator Pinckney with whom I had worked for 19 years. At midday we adjourned without agreement. I promised Senator Pinckney that I would seriously consider his proposal and get back with him on Monday. I also reminded him that I still wanted to visit his church and hear him preach. He replied, "Why don't you go tonight to Charleston for bible study."

But I said "No, I want to finish all my work here today, work late and maybe even spend tonight here in Columbia." So I did stay in Columbia and went to bed about 8 pm still thinking that I had until Monday to get back to Senator Pinckney. Of course I didn't.

At about 9:15, I was awaked by a call from Rep. Powers-Norwell that there was a gunman at Senator Pinckney's church. I had no TV at the cabin where I was staying, so I checked my text messages. I had but one text that read. "Call me tonight PLEASE (with caps) after bible study". Then Mandy called again saying that Senator Pinkney was believed to be dead. But I couldn't believe.

So, about 11 pm, I texted Rep. Newton to inquire if he knew anything. He replied that he had spoken directly with Rep. Todd Rutherford whom was confirming that Senator Pinckney was killed. What a day to never forget.

This July 17, his mother's church, St Johns of Ridgeland, is celebrating his life with a historical roadside marker. I will always wonder if events would have been different had I said yes to Senator Pinckney's invitation. Could I have been in the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time? Hampton County also lost another sister that night, Myra Thomson. And then there was a funeral where the President of the United States sang "Amazing Grace" to help console all of the nation.

Well by now, I bet you're ready for me to end this up and so I will with these busses. Each of these buses represents at least one third of my life.

First, the USCB bus represents my privileged journey to help my students get to where they want to be in life.

Second, the big bus represents my efforts to turn the bus around. Here is what I mean. I was born and live in Brunson Zip Code 29911. And work and stay often at Bluffton Zip Code 29910. These places are worlds apart in opportunity. The big bus leaves from the gas station at my Brunson home without much opportunity to make a living at 5 am each day headed to Hilton Head Island for work. The big bus returns at 715 pm each night after a long day. Its passengers have a strong work ethic and work long hours. My goal has been to turn that bus around- or at least have it go both ways. You can help make this happen by changing the property tax laws in this state. The current law punishes poor rural counties with the highest tax rates and rewards the city counties with the lowest tax rates. This system is broken at best and sinful at worst.

For certain we know that if this property tax system is not changed, then poor will become poorer until they have to move to the city. I am so thankful that Speaker Lucas placed me on the Tax Policy committee to help deal with this matter. As a tax policy professor and a resident of a poor rural county, it has been my dream to repair this broken system.

So if you don't remember anything that I have said, please ask why the poorest should pay the most, and change our antiquated property tax system so that the poor are not punished and that we have prosperity for all no matter where you live. A car is a car and should have the same tax no matter where it lives. And a small house should never pay more tax than the big house next door.

Finally, please write down one more shocking statement from this country boy who is a strong advocate for solar energy. Are you ready for the truth? Here it is. Please remember that

"Solar farms and not farms. To the contrary, the solar farm lingo is nothing other than a brilliant marketing guise to sneakily destroy our agricultural, forest, and timber lands into industrial sites that may one day be nothing more than a brownfield disaster. Agricultural lands are the only truly natural solar energy systems. There are plenty of large roof tops and city buildings for artificial solar.

I had hoped to retire from USC in December and continue these fights. But now I must go another path in January. So what will it be?

I am considering a Sharing Economy business like Airbnb with house, boathouse, boat, and treehouse. And I'll be serving you with recycled fast-food cups and utensils. Or finishing my captain's license and go for a boat trip to Key West and Tortugas National Park. Or maybe simply dusting off my fishing gear that's collected 22 years of dust and rust.

Finally this is but a small part of what I'd like to say, but more probably than you possibly wanted. So I'll close for your sake in the manner that I often close.

I thank everyone here for your help. And I thank the people of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties for allowing me to take the ultimate journey of a lifetime with service in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

So I close by asking that you all

"Keep on keeping on! Because while I breathe I hope for SC.

Or as I usually end my classes by saying

"Thanks for listening and have a good day too."

STATEMENT BY REP. LOFTIS

Rep. LOFTIS made a statement relative to Rep. HENDERSON'S service in the House.

STATEMENT BY REP. HENDERSON

Rep. HENDERSON made a statement relative to her service in the House.

Rep. OTT moved that the House recede until 2:45 p.m., which was agreed to.

THE HOUSE RESUMES

At 2:45 p.m. the House resumed, the SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE in the Chair.

POINT OF QUORUM

The question of a quorum was raised.
A quorum was later present.

SPEAKER IN CHAIR

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. ANDERSON a leave of absence for the remainder of the day.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference on H. 3789:

H. 3789 (Word version) -- Reps. Govan, Yow, Henegan, J. E. Smith, Thigpen, Hart, Clemmons, Whipper and Brown: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY AND SOUTH CAROLINA JOBS CHALLENGE PROGRAM EXPUNGEMENT ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 TO CHAPTER 22, TITLE 17 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF A CRIMINAL RECORD PURSUANT TO SECTION 17-22-910 WHO SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE AND COMPLETE THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY AND SOUTH CAROLINA JOBS CHALLENGE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MAY APPLY TO HAVE THEIR RECORD EXPUNGED UPON SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION AND COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAMS UNDER CERTAIN DELINEATED CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 17-22-940, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY ATTESTING TO THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE CHARGE FOR EXPUNGEMENT ON AN EXPUNGEMENT APPLICATION.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference on S. 954:

S. 954 (Word version) -- Senators Leatherman, Setzler, Massey and Fanning: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL RATE FOR CUSTOMERS OF A PUBLIC UTILITY WHO ARE PAYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT; TO PROHIBIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FROM HOLDING A HEARING ON THE MERITS FOR A MATTER RELATED TO THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2018, BUT MUST ISSUE A FINAL ORDER ON THE MERITS BY DECEMBER 21, 2018; AND TO SUSPEND PROVISIONS IN TITLE 58 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.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference on S. 709:

S. 709 (Word version) -- Senator Hembree: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 4 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO REQUIRE FIRE AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES AT LEAST ANNUALLY, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference on H. 4375:

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: A BILL 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 REPEAL ARTICLES 4 AND 5, CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58, RELATING TO THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT, AND TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC EXCEPTION TO THIS REPEAL; 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.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference on H. 4931:

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: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-103-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MISSIONS AND FOCUSES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AN APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN MANUFACTURING DEGREE IF STATE FUNDS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference on H. 4009:

H. 4009 (Word version) -- Reps. Lucas, Williams, Crawford, Alexander, McCoy, Hiott, Clemmons, Bales, Bedingfield, Ott, G. R. Smith, Herbkersman, Sandifer and S. Rivers: A BILL 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.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

R. 237, H. 3209--ORDERED PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL

The SPEAKER ordered the following Veto printed in the Journal:

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

May 19, 2018
The Honorable James H. Lucas
Speaker of the House of Representatives
State House, Second Floor
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:

I am hereby vetoing and returning without my approval R. 237, H. 3209 (Word version), which seeks to, inter alia, expand the universe of criminal convictions that individuals can have expunged from their records and prevent most employers from considering such convictions.

By way of example, this Bill would allow an individual who has been convicted of possessing, with the intent to distribute, a significant quantity of drugs to erase any record of their conviction. This legislation would also allow individuals to expunge multiple criminal convictions in certain instances. As Governor Haley noted in vetoing expungement legislation in 2012, "[t]he result would be businesses and communities being unfairly deprived of the ability to be informed about the criminal histories of those caring for our children, minding our cash registers, and installing out alarm systems."

Criminal history, like all history, should not be erased. It can be instructive, but it need not be destructive or determinative; where complicated, it can be contextualized. I believe in the rule of law, but I also believe in grace, and I am cognizant of the challenges that individuals with criminal records face when reentering our communities and applying for jobs. Second chances should be freely given when individuals have paid their debt to society; however, forgiveness should be informed by fact and should not be forced upon unwitting participants and prospective employers. Therefore, I am unwilling to sign legislation that would have the practical effect of erasing large categories of criminal records and telling employers what they can and cannot consider when making critical hiring decisions.

It is well recognized that a job is the best way to reduce recidivism. Accordingly, I am willing to work with the General Assembly to pass laws to improve employment opportunities for individuals with non-violent, low-level drug convictions without compromising the safety of our communities. However, I am compelled to veto this legislation.

For the foregoing reasons, I am respectfully vetoing R. 237, H. 3209 and returning the same without my signature.

Yours very truly,
Henry McMaster
Governor

R. 237, H. 3209--GOVERNOR'S VETO OVERRIDDEN

The Veto on the following Act was taken up:

(R. 237, H. 3209 (Word version)) -- Reps. Pope, Robinson-Simpson, Crosby, Whipper, Brown, M. Rivers, King, Magnuson, Norrell, Martin, B. Newton, Long, Govan, Henegan, Dillard and Gilliard: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-22-910, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR THE EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES, SO AS TO ADD FIRST OFFENSE SIMPLE POSSESSION OR POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE DRUGS TO THE LIST OF OFFENSES ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF OFFENSES SUBSEQUENTLY REPEALED WHEN THE ELEMENTS OF THE OFFENSE ARE CONSISTENT WITH AN EXISTING SIMILAR OFFENSE WHICH IS SUBJECT TO EXPUNGEMENT AND TO CLARIFY THAT EXPUNGEMENT PROVISIONS APPLY RETROACTIVELY TO THE OFFENSES DELINEATED; TO AMEND SECTION 22-5-910, RELATING TO SUMMARY COURT OFFENSES ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT, SO AS TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY BEYOND FIRST OFFENSES AND CLARIFY THAT EXPUNGEMENT PROVISIONS APPLY RETROACTIVELY; TO AMEND SECTION 22-5-920, RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT OF PERSONS CONVICTED AS YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS, SO AS TO REDEFINE "CONVICTION" TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY, TO INCLUDE THAT A PERSON REQUIRED TO REGISTER ON THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT, AND PROVIDE RETROACTIVE APPLICATION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY ADDING SECTION 22-5-930 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR EXPUNGEMENT ELIGIBILITY FOR FIRST OFFENSE CONVICTIONS OF CERTAIN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OFFENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 63-19-2050, RELATING TO DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS OF PERSONS ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF ANY NUMBER OF OFFENSES FROM A SINGLE SENTENCING PROCEEDING FOR CLOSELY CONNECTED OFFENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 17-22-940, RELATING TO FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS, SO AS TO RESTRUCTURE THE FEES PROCESS AND ALLOW FOR THE COLLECTION OF PRIVATE DONATIONS, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 17-22-960 SO AS TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY FOR EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE PERSONS WHOSE CRIMINAL RECORDS HAVE BEEN EXPUNGED.

Rep. POPE explained the Veto.

The question was put, shall the Act become a part of the law, the Veto of his Excellency, the Governor to the contrary notwithstanding, the yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 108; Nays 1

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Allison                Anthony                Atkinson
Atwater                Bales                  Ballentine
Bannister              Bennett                Bernstein
Blackwell              Bowers                 Bradley
Brawley                Brown                  Burns
Caskey                 Chumley                Clary
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter
Cogswell               Cole                   Collins
Crawford               Crosby                 Daning
Davis                  Delleney               Dillard
Douglas                Duckworth              Elliott
Erickson               Felder                 Finlay
Forrest                Forrester              Fry
Funderburk             Gagnon                 Gilliard
Govan                  Hamilton               Hardee
Hart                   Hayes                  Henderson-Myers
Henegan                Herbkersman            Hewitt
Hill                   Hiott                  Hixon
Hosey                  Huggins                Johnson
Jordan                 King                   Knight
Loftis                 Long                   Lowe
Lucas                  Mace                   Mack
Magnuson               Martin                 McCoy
McCravy                McGinnis               McKnight
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Murphy
B. Newton              W. Newton              Ott
Parks                  Pendarvis              Pitts
Pope                   Putnam                 Ridgeway
M. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson       Rutherford
Sandifer               Simrill                G. M. Smith
G. R. Smith            J. E. Smith            Sottile
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Stringer
Tallon                 Taylor                 Thayer
Thigpen                Toole                  Trantham
Weeks                  West                   Wheeler
Williams               Wooten                 Young

Total--108

Those who voted in the negative are:

Bryant

Total--1

So, the Veto of the Governor was overridden and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

RECORD FOR VOTING

I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on H. 3209. If I had been present, I would have voted to override the Governor's veto.
Rep. William Whitmire

STATEMENT BY REP. RIDGEWAY

Rep. RIDGEWAY made a statement relative to Rep. DOUGLAS' service in the House.

STATEMENT BY REP. DOUGLAS

Rep. DOUGLAS made a statement relative to her service in the House.

R. 272, H. 4973--ORDERED PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL

The SPEAKER ordered the following Veto printed in the Journal:

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

May 19, 2018
The Honorable James H. Lucas
Speaker of the House of Representatives
State House, Second Floor
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:

I am hereby vetoing and returning without my approval R. 272, H. 4973 (Word version), which principally pertains to special motor vehicle license plates for former members of the General Assembly.

At a time when the General Assembly should be focused on the pressing issues facing South Carolina, expanding the number of former elected officials who can receive specialty license plates is indicative of misplaced priorities. Time is precious, and this Bill reflects a waste of it. My aim with this veto is not to disregard or diminish the contributions of former public officials. Rather, in a system which contemplates citizen legislators, I question the need for legislative license plates of any kind. If one serves well in office, his or her own sense of accomplishment and the gratitude of the people will endure without the assistance of words on a license plate. Accordingly, I must veto this legislation.

For the foregoing reasons, I am respectfully vetoing R. 272, H. 4973 and returning the same without my signature.

Yours very truly,
Henry McMaster
Governor

R. 272, H. 4973--GOVERNOR'S VETO SUSTAINED

The Veto on the following Act was taken up:

(R. 272, H. 4973 (Word version)) -- Reps. Bales, Taylor, Brown, Hosey, Simrill, Hixon, Blackwell and Young: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-2150, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES ISSUED TO CERTAIN CURRENT AND RETIRED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES A FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO RECEIVE RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO OBTAIN A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE, TO PROVIDE THAT A FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY BE ISSUED TWO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO RESIGNS FROM OFFICE AS A RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION OR CONVICTION OF CERTAIN CRIMES MAY NOT APPLY FOR OR MAINTAIN A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-2350, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL REGISTRATION FOR A PERSON ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF CERTAIN VEHICLES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "FINANCIAL INSTITUTION", AND TO PROVIDE THAT A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF REPOSSESSING VEHICLES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES MAY APPLY FOR SPECIAL REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO THIS PROVISION, TO REVISE THE APPLICATION FOR PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF OPERATING VEHICLES TO MOVE VEHICLES FROM A MANUFACTURER TO A DEALER OR DISTRIBUTOR OR FROM A RAILROAD TERMINAL TO CERTAIN LOCATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ALL REGISTRATION RECORDS AND REGISTERED VEHICLES MUST BE AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR INSPECTION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-2370, RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF TRANSPORTER LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO REVISE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE LICENSE PLATES MAY BE USED.

Rep. TAYLOR explained the Veto.

The question was put, shall the Act become a part of the law, the Veto of his Excellency, the Governor to the contrary notwithstanding, the yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 60; Nays 46

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allison                Anthony
Atkinson               Bales                  Bannister
Bernstein              Blackwell              Bowers
Bradley                Brawley                Brown
Clary                  Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter
Cogswell               Cole                   Collins
Dillard                Douglas                Elliott
Erickson               Forrest                Gilliard
Govan                  Hamilton               Hart
Hayes                  Henderson-Myers        Henegan
Herbkersman            Hewitt                 Hosey
Howard                 Jordan                 King
Knight                 Lowe                   Lucas
Mack                   McKnight               Murphy
Norrell                Parks                  Pendarvis
Ridgeway               M. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson
Rutherford             G. M. Smith            J. E. Smith
Sottile                Spires                 Stavrinakis
Tallon                 Taylor                 Thigpen
Weeks                  Williams               Young

Total--60

Those who voted in the negative are:

Atwater                Ballentine             Bennett
Bryant                 Burns                  Chumley
Clemmons               Crosby                 Davis
Duckworth              Felder                 Finlay
Forrester              Fry                    Funderburk
Gagnon                 Hardee                 Hill
Hiott                  Huggins                Johnson
Long                   Mace                   Magnuson
Martin                 McCoy                  McCravy
McGinnis               D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
B. Newton              Ott                    Pitts
Putnam                 S. Rivers              Sandifer
Simrill                G. R. Smith            Stringer
Thayer                 Toole                  Trantham
West                   Whitmire               Willis
Wooten

Total--46

So, the Veto of the Governor was sustained and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

S. 709--CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED

CONFERENCE REPORT
S. 709 (Word version)
The General Assembly, Columbia, S.C., June 27, 2018

The Committee of Conference, to whom was referred:

S. 709 (Word version) -- Senator Hembree: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 4 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO REQUIRE FIRE AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES AT LEAST ANNUALLY, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

Beg leave to report that they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend:

That the same do pass with the following amendments:

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

/SECTION   1.   Chapter 17, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-17-160.   (A)   Prior to the beginning of the 2019-2020 School Year, the State Department of Education and the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall collaborate and develop model fire and safety policies and program guidelines that must be made available to each school district and charter school in the state. The provisions of this section do not apply to charter schools whose instruction is primarily delivered online.

(B)   Each school district board of trustees and the governing body of each charter school shall adopt a policy and program for school facility fire and safety, including inspections, before the beginning of the 2020-2021 School Year. The policy and program must:

(1)   be adopted in open meetings in which the public may provide comment on the terms of the policies and programs;

(2)   include routine self-assessments; and

(3)   be published on the district's or charter school's Internet website in a prominent location that is easily accessible by the public.

(C)   Prior to July 1, 2021, each district and charter school shall submit its fire and safety policy and program to the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the State Department of Education. The office and department shall collaborate in the review of the school policies and programs. Within one hundred twenty days of the receipt of a policy or program, the office and department must jointly provide written comments to the district on how the policies and programs may be improved.

(D)   Local school district boards of trustees and charter school governing bodies may request technical assistance in the development of fire and safety policies and programs."

SECTION   2.   Section 59-63-910 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-63-910.   (A)   All teachers or superintendents in charge of the schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by taxationpublic schools, including charter schools whose instruction is not primarily delivered online, shall conduct fire, active shooter/intruder, and severe weather/earthquake drills at least once each month. Any teacher or superintendent failing to observe the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than twenty-five dollars for each offense. Such fine shall be deducted from his salary and turned over to the county treasurer for ordinary county purposesWithin each school year, schools must conduct at least two fire drills, two active shooter/intruder drills, and two severe weather/earthquake drills, with at least one of each drill conducted each semester.

(B)   Before August 1, 2018, the State Department of Education and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division shall develop guidelines for the conduct of active shooter/intruder training required in this section, and developmentally appropriate training materials. The department and the State Law Enforcement Division must consult with school-employed mental health professionals and the State Fire Marshal in creating and updating the guidelines. These guidelines must be included in annual teacher collegial development required by Section 59-1-425(A)."

SECTION   3.   Section 59-63-920 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-63-920.   The principal or supervising teachercharter school leader of each school shall indicate on his monthly pay voucher whether he has compliedcomply with the requirements of Section 59-63-910, and should it appear that he has failed to do so the superintendent of education shall deduct from that teacher's salary the minimum fine for the first offense and the maximum fine for each following offenseand document their compliance."

SECTION 4. Section 59-63-930 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION   5.   Article 9, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is redesignated "Safety and Security Drills."

SECTION   6.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./

Amend title to conform.

/s/Sen. Floyd Nicholson   /s/Rep. Merita Ann Allison
/s/Sen. Greg Hembree   /s/Rep. R. Raye Felder

/s/Sen. Clarence Ross Turner, III   /s/Rep. Marvin R. Pendarvis
On Part of the Senate.            On Part of the House.

Rep. ALLISON explained the Conference Report.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 109; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allison                Anthony
Atkinson               Atwater                Bales
Ballentine             Bannister              Bennett
Bernstein              Blackwell              Bowers
Bradley                Brawley                Brown
Bryant                 Burns                  Caskey
Chumley                Clary                  Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cogswell
Collins                Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Davis                  Delleney
Dillard                Douglas                Duckworth
Elliott                Erickson               Felder
Finlay                 Forrest                Forrester
Fry                    Funderburk             Gagnon
Gilliard               Govan                  Hamilton
Hardee                 Hart                   Hayes
Henderson-Myers        Henegan                Herbkersman
Hewitt                 Hill                   Hiott
Hixon                  Hosey                  Huggins
Johnson                Jordan                 King
Kirby                  Knight                 Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   Lucas
Mace                   Mack                   Magnuson
Martin                 McCoy                  McCravy
McGinnis               D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
B. Newton              W. Newton              Norrell
Ott                    Parks                  Pendarvis
Pitts                  Pope                   Putnam
M. Rivers              S. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson
Sandifer               G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith
J. E. Smith            Sottile                Spires
Stavrinakis            Stringer               Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Thigpen
Toole                  Trantham               Weeks
West                   White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Wooten
Young

Total--109

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

The Conference Report was adopted and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

S. 954--CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED

CONFERENCE REPORT
S. 954 (Word version)
The General Assembly, Columbia, S.C., June 27, 2018

The Committee of Conference, to whom was referred:

S. 954 (Word version) -- Senators Leatherman, Setzler, Massey and Fanning: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL RATE FOR CUSTOMERS OF A PUBLIC UTILITY WHO ARE PAYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT; TO PROHIBIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FROM HOLDING A HEARING ON THE MERITS FOR A MATTER RELATED TO THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2018, BUT MUST ISSUE A FINAL ORDER ON THE MERITS BY DECEMBER 21, 2018; AND TO SUSPEND PROVISIONS IN TITLE 58 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.

Beg leave to report that they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend:

That the same do pass with the following amendments:

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

/Whereas, while SCANA has taken steps to reduce its own costs related to the abandoned Project, such as obtaining a guaranty settlement from Toshiba in the amount of approximately $1.2 billion for SCANA's ownership interests, and also has received benefits from the recent federal tax code amendments, its customers' rates continue to reflect 100% of authorized Project costs prior to abandonment; and

Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes that SCANA, as a corporate entity, has legal rights and remedies that must be considered and respected throughout the process of resolving cost recovery issues for the abandoned Project, yet believes that recognition of SCANA's legal rights and remedies does not require that SCANA customers continue to pay 100% of the rates previously authorized by the Commission when the Project was expected, upon completion, to provide valuable services to the customers; and

Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the need for adequate discovery by all parties, and therefore is extending the time period for the Public Service Commission to issue its final order in this matter; and

Whereas, the General Assembly passed the BLRA in 2007 for the explicit purpose of providing "recovery of the prudently incurred costs associated with new base load plants...when constructed by investor-owned electrical utilities, while at the same time protecting customers of investor-owned electrical utilities from responsibility for imprudent financial obligations or costs"; and
Whereas, the General Assembly, with the passage of the BLRA in 2007 did not intend to, and could not, overrule a fundamental regulatory principal for utility rate-making that rates must be just and reasonable, the fundamental regulatory principal codified in South Carolina Code Section 58-27-810; and

Whereas, the General Assembly is concerned that the rates that SCANA customers are currently paying are unjust and unreasonable; and

Whereas, Section 1, Article IX of the Constitution of this State vests the General Assembly with authority to regulate investor-owned utilities in order to protect the public interest; and

Whereas, based upon information identified in this Joint Resolution, along with other information recently made available to the South Carolina House of Representative and the South Carolina Senate, the General Assembly finds that serious questions have arisen regarding the prudency of incurred costs that have led to rate increases pursuant to the BLRA for the abandoned Project, including SCANA's apparent failure to avoid or minimize costs that should have been avoided or minimized since at least 2011; and

Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the protections provided by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of South Carolina, and has no desire or intention to set a rate that is unjust, unreasonable, or confiscatory, nor does it intend to jeopardize SCANA's ability to satisfy bond payment obligations associated with the V.C. Summer nuclear units 2 and 3; and

Whereas, the General Assembly also believes it is in the public interest of all its citizens, both private citizens and corporate, to rely upon incentives offered by the General Assembly to encourage growth in South Carolina, however, this reliance should be predicated upon a good faith effort to comply with all terms of any incentives so that noncompliance or misrepresentation in order to obtain offered incentives are not unfairly born by South Carolina's citizens;

Now, therefore, be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION   1.   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; however, the Public Service Commission may hold an administrative or procedural hearing for such a docket prior to a hearing on the merits. The Public Service 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.

SECTION   2.   No final determination of matters described in this joint resolution, whether by a final order issued by the Public Service Commission or by operation of law, shall occur earlier than the time period prescribed in SECTION 1. The Public Service Commission's failure to issue a final order prior to the time period established in this joint resolution shall not constitute approval by the Public Service Commission and a utility must not put into effect the change in rates it requested in its schedule.

SECTION   3.   Any statute in Title 58 in conflict with the provisions of this joint resolution are suspended for purposes of the utility rates for matters related to V.C. Summer Nuclear Reactor Units 2 and 3 at Jenkinsville, South Carolina. This suspension remains in effect until the Public Service Commission issues its final order in this matter.

SECTION   4.   If any provision of this joint resolution is held or determined to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, it is the intention of the General Assembly that the provision is severable from the remaining provisions of this joint resolution and that the holding does not invalidate or render unenforceable another provision of this joint resolution.

SECTION   5.   This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.   /

Amend title to conform.

/s/Sen. Nikki G. Setzler   /s/Rep. Peter M. McCoy, Jr.
/s/Sen. Luke A. Rankin, Sr.   /s/Rep. Kirkman Finlay, III
/s/Sen. A. Shane Massey   /s/Rep. J. Todd Rutherford
On Part of the Senate.            On Part of the House.

Rep. MCCOY explained the Conference Report.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 115; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allison                Anthony
Atkinson               Atwater                Bales
Ballentine             Bannister              Bennett
Bernstein              Blackwell              Bowers
Bradley                Brawley                Brown
Bryant                 Burns                  Caskey
Chumley                Clary                  Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cogswell
Cole                   Collins                Crawford
Crosby                 Daning                 Davis
Delleney               Dillard                Douglas
Duckworth              Elliott                Erickson
Felder                 Finlay                 Forrest
Forrester              Fry                    Funderburk
Gagnon                 Gilliard               Govan
Hamilton               Hardee                 Hart
Hayes                  Henderson-Myers        Henegan
Herbkersman            Hewitt                 Hill
Hiott                  Hixon                  Hosey
Howard                 Huggins                Jordan
King                   Kirby                  Knight
Loftis                 Long                   Lowe
Lucas                  Mace                   Mack
Magnuson               Martin                 McCoy
McCravy                McGinnis               D. C. Moss
V. S. Moss             Murphy                 B. Newton
W. Newton              Norrell                Ott
Parks                  Pendarvis              Pitts
Pope                   Putnam                 Ridgeway
M. Rivers              S. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson
Rutherford             Sandifer               Simrill
G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith            J. E. Smith
Sottile                Spires                 Stavrinakis
Stringer               Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Thigpen                Toole
Trantham               Weeks                  West
Wheeler                White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Wooten
Young

Total--115

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

The Conference Report was adopted and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

RECORD FOR VOTING

I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on S. 954. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of adopting the Conference Report.
Rep. Carl Anderson

RECORD FOR VOTING

As I have been granted excused leave, I was not in the Chamber when the House voted on the Conference Report for S. 954. I would like the record to show that had I been in the Chamber, I would have voted in favor of adopting the Conference Report.
Rep. Joe Jefferson

S. 954--ORDERED ENROLLED FOR RATIFICATION

The Report of the Committee of Conference having been adopted by both Houses, and this Joint Resolution having been read three times in each House, it was ordered that the title thereof be changed to that of an Act and that it be enrolled for ratification.

SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE IN CHAIR

H. 4375--CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED

CONFERENCE REPORT
H. 4375 (Word version)
The General Assembly, Columbia, S.C., June 27, 2018

The Committee of Conference, to whom was referred:


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: A BILL 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 REPEAL ARTICLES 4 AND 5, CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58, RELATING TO THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT, AND TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC EXCEPTION TO THIS REPEAL; 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.

Beg leave to report that they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend:

That the same do pass with the following amendments:

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

/   SECTION   1.   Section 58-33-220 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding appropriately numbered items to read:

"( )   'Imprudent' or 'imprudence' includes, but is not limited to, lack of caution, care, or diligence as determined by the commission in regard to any action or decision taken by the utility or one acting on its behalf including, but not limited to, its officers, board, agents, employees, contractors, subcontractors, consultants affecting the project or any other person acting on behalf of or for the utility affecting the project. Imprudent or imprudence includes, but does not require, a finding of negligence, carelessness, or recklessness.

Imprudence on behalf of any contractor, subcontractor, agent, or person hired to construct a plant or perform any action or service on behalf of the utility shall be attributed to the utility.

( )   'Prudent', 'prudence', or 'prudency' means a high standard of caution, care, and diligence in regard to any action or decision taken by the utility or one acting on its behalf including, but not limited to, its officers, board, agents, employees, contractors, subcontractors, consultants affecting the project or any other person acting on behalf of or for the utility affecting the project.

To the extent a utility enters a contract with a third party that delegates some or all decision-making authority related to the project, the utility retains the burden of establishing the prudency of specific items of cost or specific third-party decisions.

'Prudent', 'prudence', or 'prudency' also requires that any action or decision be made in a timely manner.
In determining whether any action or decision was prudent, the commission shall consider, including, but not limited to:

(a)   whether the utility acts in a timely manner, with any passage of time which results in increased costs or expense prior to the utility acting or making the decision weighing against a finding of prudency;

(b)   whether prior actions or decisions by the utility were imprudent and such imprudent actions led to a decision by the utility that could otherwise be prudent. Such circumstances weigh against a finding of prudency; and

(c)   any other relevant factors, including commission of a fraudulent act, which are deemed not to be prudent.
As used in item (c), 'fraud' includes, in addition to its normal legal connotation, concealment, omission, misrepresentation, or nondisclosure of a material fact in any proceeding or filing before the commission or Office of Regulatory Staff. Proceedings and filings to which the provisions of this paragraph apply include, but are not limited to, rate or revised rate filings, responsive filings, motions, pleadings, briefs, memoranda, document requests, and other communications before the commission or Office of Regulatory Staff."

SECTION   2.   A.   As of the effective date of this act, 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 of Title 58 other than in a docket currently pending before the Commission.

B.   The provisions of Article 4, Chapter 33 of Title 58 are repealed upon the conclusion of litigation concerning the abandonment of V.C. Summer Units 2 and 3.

SECTION   3.   Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"CHAPTER 34
Determination of Electricity Rates

Section 58-34-10.   (A)   The investor-owned utility holding the majority interest in the V. C. Summer Nuclear Reactor Units 2 and 3 at Jenkinsville, South Carolina, has entered into a merger agreement with an out-of-state investor-owned utility. This merger agreement contemplates the continuation of rate increases imposed under the Base Load Review Act contained in Article 4, Chapter 33, Title 58.

(B)   Pursuant to the authority vested in the General Assembly by Section 1, Article IX of the Constitution of this State, the General Assembly is required to regulate investor owned utilities in order to protect the public interest. The General Assembly has determined that Section 1, Article IX of the Constitution requires that the General Assembly exercise its authority to set certain utility rates for the purpose of protecting the public interest until a determination can be made by the appropriate regulatory and judicial authorities. This rate shall apply to all customers of the investor-owned utility identified in subsection (A), which has imposed nine rate increases for the purpose of funding the V. C. Summer project.

Section 58-34-20.   Within five calendar days after the effective date of this chapter, the Public Service Commission, by order, is directed to exercise its authority pursuant to Section 58-27-870(F) to provide an experimental rate that customers of the utility identified in Section 58-34-10 shall pay during the pendency of litigation currently before the commission which shall include full and final compliance by the utility with the order issued by Public Service Commission under this section or until replaced by an order of the commission under Section 58-34-30. This experimental rate shall cause rates to be reduced on a going forward basis in an amount equal to the electric utility rates these ratepayers are paying reduced by the following rate increases imposed under the provisions of the Base Load Review Act in the Public Service Commission's orders Docket No. 2011-207-E , Order No. 2011-738, Docket No. 2012-186-E , Order No. 2012-761, Docket No. 2013-150-E, Order No. 2013-680(A), Docket No. 2014-187-E , Order No. 2014-785, Docket No. 2015-160-E , Order No. 2015-712, Docket No. 2016-224-E, Order No. 2016-758, for the period of no earlier than April 1, 2018, until the issuance of the Public Service Commission's final order on the merits on the matters before the commission.

Section 58-34-30.   Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the experimental rate set pursuant to Section 58-34-20 shall remain in full force and effect during the pendency of the matters before the commission. However, the commission shall monitor the net effect of the experimental rate and may alter the experimental rate, on its own motion, only if it determines that an adjustment to the experimental rate is necessary to satisfy constitutional requirements of utility ratemaking. If required to adjust the rate, the commission shall, under applicable provisions of law, determine the just and reasonable rates for these ratepayers after considering all factors and evidence. In determining such rate and in considering the constitutionally allowable zone of reasonableness in which rates may properly fall, the commission is directed to set the lowest possible rate within the zone of reasonableness. Nothing herein prevents the commission from adopting as its own rate the experimental rate directed by the General Assembly in Section 58-34-10 and ordered pursuant to Section 58-34-20.

Section 58-34-40.   Any provision of Article 7, Chapter 27, Title 58 in conflict with the provisions of this chapter, including, but not limited to, Section 58-27-870(B), are suspended for purposes of the utility rates provided for by this chapter and for any pending matters related to V.C. Summer Nuclear Reactor Units 2 and 3 at Jenkinsville, South Carolina, pending before the commission on or after the effective date of this chapter. The suspension remains in effect during the pendency of any litigation or appeal concerning the experimental or interim rates directed by the General Assembly or ordered by the Public Service Commission pursuant to this chapter, or related issues surrounding the establishment of these rates, until a final determination of the matter, including any subsequent appeals, is made by the appropriate court.

Section 58-34-50.   Section 58-27-930 and the time limitations contained in Section 58-33-240(A) and (E) are hereby suspended for purposes of the utility rates provided for by this chapter and for any pending matters related to V.C. Summer Nuclear Reactor Units 2 and 3 at Jenkinsville, South Carolina, pending before the commission on or after the effective date of this chapter. The suspension remains in effect during the pendency of any litigation or appeal concerning the experimental or interim rates directed by the General Assembly or ordered by the Public Service Commission pursuant to this chapter, or related issues surrounding the establishment of these rates, until a final determination of the matter, including any subsequent appeals, is made by the appropriate court."

SECTION   4.   Section 58-33-280(G) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(G)   Where both Office of Regulatory Staff and the utility agree in writing on the revised rates to be implemented, the commission shallmay give substantial weight to the agreement in issuing its revised rates order but may consider additional factors at its discretion."

SECTION   5.   Section 37-6-602 of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended to read:

"Section 37-6-602.   The Consumer Advocate may be the Administrator of Consumer Affairs or he may be appointed by the administrator with the approval of the Commission on Consumer Affairs. The Consumer Advocate must be an attorney qualified to practice in all courts of this State with a minimum of threeeight years' practice experience."

SECTION   6.   Section 37-6-604 of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended to read:

"Section 37-6-604.   (A)   The functions and duties of the Division of Consumer Advocacy are:

(1)to provide legal representation of the consumer interest before the state and federal regulatory agencies which undertake to fix rates or prices for consumer products or services or to enact regulations or establish policies related thereto and to provide legal representation of the consumer interest concerning insurance matters, certificates of need for health facilities and services as required for an activity under Section 44-7-160, and other health-related provisions;

(2)   to monitor existing regulations, rate structures, and policies of that agency of special interest to consumers and report to the public through the news media proposed changes therein under consideration and the effect of those changes on the lives of the citizens of the State; and

(3)   to evaluate and act upon requests from consumers concerning the matters set forth in items (1) and (2), except that any proceedings initiated by the Consumer Advocate must be brought on behalf of the public at large and not for individuals; initiation or continuation of any proceedings is in the sole discretion of the Consumer Advocate.

(B)   The annual report required of the Commission on Consumer Affairs must include a report on the activities of the Division of Consumer Advocacy.

(C)   After January 1, 2005, the division must not represent consumers in matters arising under Title 58. Matters or appeals under Title 58 that are pending on January 1, 2005, shall be transferred to the Office of Regulatory Staff.The Consumer Advocate shall be provided notice of any matter filed at the Public Service Commission that could impact consumers' utility rates, and may intervene as a party to advocate for the interest of consumers before the Public Service Commission and appellate courts in such matters as the Consumer Advocate deems necessary and appropriate."

SECTION   7.   Section 37-6-607 of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended to read:

"Section 37-6-607.     With the exception of matters arising under Title 58, theThe Consumer Advocate is considered to have an interest sufficient to maintain actions for judicial review and may, as of right and in the manner prescribed by law, intervene or otherwise participate in any civil proceeding which involves the review or enforcement of an agency action that the Consumer Advocate determines may substantially affect the interests of consumers."

SECTION   8.   Section 58-4-10 of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended to read:

"Section 58-4-10.   (A)   There is hereby created the Office of Regulatory Staff as a separate agency of the State with the duties and organizations as hereinafter provided.

(B)   Unless and until it chooses not to participate, the Office of Regulatory Staff must be considered a party of record in all filings, applications, or proceedings before the commission. The regulatory staff must represent the public interest of South Carolina before the commission. For purposes of this chapter, 'public interest' means thea balancing of the following:

(1)   concerns of the using and consuming public with respect to public utility services, regardless of the class of customer;

(2)   economic development and job attraction and retention in South Carolina; and

(3)   preservation of the financial integrity of the state's public utilities and continued investment in and maintenance of utility facilities so as to provide reliable and high quality utility services.

(C)   The Office of Regulatory Staff is subject to the provision of Section 58-3-260 prohibiting ex parte communications with the commission, and any advice given to the commission by the regulatory staff must be given in a form, forum, and manner as may lawfully be given by any other party or person."

SECTION   9.   Section 58-4-80 of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended to read:

"Section 58-4-80.   The executive director representing the regulatory staff is considered to have an interest sufficient to maintain actions for judicial review from commission orders or decisions and may, as of right and in a manner prescribed by law, intervene or otherwise participate in any civil proceeding which involves the review or enforcement of commission action that the executive director determines may substantially affect the public interest. This right includes intervention in any action for judicial review from commission orders or decisions that are pending at any stage of the action. The executive director representing the regulatory staff has the same rights of appeal from commission orders or decisions as other parties to commission proceedings. On appeal, the Office of Regulatory Staff does not represent the commission."

SECTION   10.   Section 58-4-55 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 58-4-55.   (A)   The regulatory staff, in accomplishing its responsibilities under Section 58-4-50, may require the production of books, records, and other information to be produced at the regulatory staff's office, that, upon request of the regulatory staff, must be submitted under oath and without the requirement of a confidentiality agreement or protective order being first executed or sought. The regulatory staff must treat the information as confidential or proprietary unless or until the commission rules such information is not entitled to protection from public disclosure or the public utility agrees that such information is no longer confidential or proprietary. Unless the commission's order contains a finding to the contrary, all documents or information designated as confidential or proprietary pursuant to this subsection are exempt from public disclosure under Sections 30-4-10, et seq. and the regulatory staff shall not disclose such documents and information, or the contents thereof, to any member of the commission or to any other person or entity; provided, however, that, if the commission determines that it is necessary to view such documents or information, it shall order the regulatory staff to file the documents or information with the commission under seal, and such documents or information shall not be available for public inspection unless otherwise ordered by the commission.

If the books, records, or other information provided do not appear to disclose full and accurate information and, if such apparent deficiencies are not cured after reasonable notice, the regulatory staff may require the attendance and testimony under oath of the officers, accountants, or other agents of the parties having knowledge thereof at such place as the regulatory staff may designate and the expense of making the necessary examination or inspection for the procuring of the information must be paid by the party examined or inspected, to be collected by the regulatory staff by suit or action, if necessary. If, however, the examination and inspection and the reports thereof disclose that full and accurate information had previously been made, the expense of making the examination and inspection must be paid out of the funds of the regulatory staff.

(B)   If the regulatory staff initiates an inspection, audit, or examination of a public utility, the public utility that is the subject of the inspection, audit, or examination may petition the commission to terminate or limit the scope of such inspection, audit, or examination. The commission must grant such petition if it finds that such inspection, audit, or examination is arbitrary, capricious, unnecessary, unduly burdensome, or unrelated to the public utility's regulated operations.

(1)   If such an inspection, audit, or examination is not part of a contested case proceeding, the public utility may also raise objections or seek relief available under the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure to a party upon whom discovery is served or to a person upon whom a subpoena is served. The commission shall provide the regulatory staff reasonable notice to respond to any such objection or request. Absent the consent of the public utility raising such an objection or request and the Office of Regulatory Staff, the commission must rule on such an objection or request within sixty days of the date it was filed. During the pendency of the commission's ruling, the public utility making such an objection or request is not required to produce or provide access to any documents or information that is the subject of the objection or request.

(2)   If such an inspection, audit, or examination is part of a contested case proceeding, the commission shall address objections to information sought by the regulatory staff in the same manner in which it addresses objections to discovery issued by the parties to the contested case proceeding.

(C)   Any public utility that provides the regulatory staff with copies of or access to documents or information in the course of an inspection, audit, or examination that is not part of a contested case proceeding may designate any such documents or information as confidential or proprietary if it believes in good faith that such documents or information would be entitled to protection from public disclosure under the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure or any provision of South Carolina or federal law. The regulatory staff may petition the commission for an order that some or all of the documents so designated are not entitled to protection from public disclosure and it shall be incumbent on the utility to prove that such documents are entitled to protection from public disclosure under the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure or any provision of South Carolina or federal law. The commission shall rule on such petition after providing the regulatory staff and the utility an opportunity to be heard. Unless the commission's order on such a petition contains a finding to the contrary, all documents or information designated as confidential or proprietary pursuant to this subsection are exempt from public disclosure under Sections 30-4-10, et seq. and the regulatory staff shall not disclose such documents and information, or the contents thereof, to any member of the commission or to any other person or entity; provided, however, that, if the commission determines that it is necessary to view such documents or information in order to rule on such a petition, it shall order the regulatory staff to file the documents or information with the commission under seal, and such documents or information shall not be available for public inspection during the pendency of the petition.

(D)   Nothing in this section restricts the regulatory staff's ability to serve discovery in a contested case proceeding that seeks the type of documents or information the regulatory staff has obtained in the course of any review, investigation, inspection, audit, or examination, nor does anything in this section restrict the ability of any public utility to object to such discovery or to seek relief regarding such discovery, including without limitation the entry of a protective order. The regulatory staff shall not be required to execute a confidentiality agreement or seek a protective order prior to accessing the public utility's documents or information, and such information or documents shall be treated as confidential or proprietary unless or until the commission rules such information is not entitled to protection from public disclosure or the public utility agrees that such information is no longer confidential or proprietary. Unless the commission's order contains a finding to the contrary, all documents or information designated as confidential or proprietary pursuant to this subsection are exempt from public disclosure under Sections 30-4-10, et seq. and the regulatory staff shall not disclose such documents and information, or the contents thereof, to any member of the commission or to any other person or entity; provided, however, that, if the commission determines that it is necessary to view such documents or information, it shall order the regulatory staff to file the documents or information with the commission under seal, and such documents or information shall not be available for public inspection unless otherwise ordered by the commission.

(E)   The Office of Regulatory Staff, in order to accomplish any of the responsibilities assigned to it by Chapter 4, Title 58 or any other provision of law, may apply to the circuit court for subpoenas to be issued to entities over which the Public Service Commission does not have jurisdiction. Such subpoenas will be issued by the circuit court in the same manner as subpoenas are issued to parties to proceedings before that court, and all rules applicable to the issuance of such subpoenas, including enforcement and penalties, shall apply to subpoenas issued at the request of the regulatory staff."

SECTION   11.   If any provision of this act is enjoined, held, or determined to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, it is the intention of the General Assembly that the provision is severable from the remaining provisions of this act and that the injunction or holding does not invalidate or render unenforceable another provision of this act.

SECTION   12.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to all cases, proceedings, petitions, or matters pending before the Public Service Commission or in any other court or venue on or after the effective date of this act.     /

Amend title to conform.

/s/Sen. Nikki G. Setzler   /s/Rep. J. Todd Rutherford
/s/Sen. Luke A. Rankin   /s/Rep. Peter M. McCoy, Jr.
/s/Sen. A. Shane Massey   /s/Rep. Kirkman Finlay III
On Part of the Senate.            On Part of the House.

Rep. FINLAY explained the Conference Report.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 109; Nays 4

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allison                Anthony
Atwater                Bales                  Ballentine
Bennett                Bernstein              Blackwell
Bradley                Brawley                Brown
Bryant                 Burns                  Caskey
Chumley                Clary                  Clemmons
Clyburn                Cogswell               Cole
Collins                Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Davis                  Delleney
Dillard                Douglas                Duckworth
Elliott                Erickson               Felder
Finlay                 Forrest                Forrester
Fry                    Funderburk             Gagnon
Gilliard               Govan                  Hamilton
Hardee                 Hart                   Hayes
Henderson              Henderson-Myers        Henegan
Herbkersman            Hewitt                 Hiott
Hixon                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jordan                 King
Kirby                  Knight                 Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   Lucas
Mace                   Mack                   Magnuson
Martin                 McCoy                  McCravy
McGinnis               McKnight               D. C. Moss
V. S. Moss             Murphy                 B. Newton
W. Newton              Ott                    Parks
Pendarvis              Pitts                  Pope
Putnam                 Ridgeway               M. Rivers
S. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson       Rutherford
Sandifer               Simrill                G. M. Smith
G. R. Smith            Sottile                Spires
Stavrinakis            Stringer               Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Thigpen
Toole                  Weeks                  West
Wheeler                White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Wooten
Young

Total--109

Those who voted in the negative are:

Hill                   Norrell                J. E. Smith
Trantham

Total--4

The Conference Report was adopted and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

RECORD FOR VOTING

I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on H. 4375. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of adopting the Conference Report.
Rep. Carl Anderson

RECORD FOR VOTING

As I have been granted excused leave, I was not in the Chamber when the House voted on the Conference Report for H. 4375. I would like the record to show that had I been in the Chamber, I would have voted in favor of adopting the Conference Report.
Rep. Joe Jefferson

STATEMENT FOR THE JOURNAL

I abstained from voting on H. 4375 because there may be the appearance of a conflict of interest and wish to have my recusal noted for the record in the House Journal.
Rep. Bruce Bannister

STATEMENT FOR THE JOURNAL

Dear Speaker Lucas,
I am notifying you that I will not participate in the debate or vote on H. 4375, which would create a Utilities Consumer Advocate in the office of the Attorney General. In accordance with Section 8-13-700(B) of the SC Code, I recuse myself from voting on this Bill because a potential conflict of interest due to an economic interest of myself, an immediate family member, or an individual or business with which I am associated may be affected.
I wish to have my recusal noted for the House Journal.
Sincerely,

Rep. Jeff Johnson

SPEAKER IN CHAIR

H. 4009--CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED

CONFERENCE REPORT
H. 4009 (Word version)
The General Assembly, Columbia, S.C., May 23, 2018

The Committee of Conference, to whom was referred:

H. 4009 (Word version) -- Reps. Lucas, Williams, Crawford, Alexander, McCoy, Hiott, Clemmons, Bales, Bedingfield,   Ott, G.R. Smith, Herbkersman, Sandifer and S. Rivers: A BILL 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, TO CREATE THE MOTORSPORTS TOURISM INCENTIVE FUND TO AWARD GRANTS OR LOANS TO ATTRACT AND EXPAND TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY PROJECTS RELATED TO EVENTS AT SUCH COMPLEXES, TO PROVIDE THAT A COMPLEX IS ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS FROM THE CLOSING FUND, TO ALLOW A TAX CREDIT OF TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE COSTS INCURRED BY A TAXPAYER TO INSTALL EQUIPMENT OR TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS INFORMATION TO BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH A WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK AT A COMPLEX; TO AMEND SECTION 12-20-110, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF CORPORATION LICENSE FEE PROVISIONS, SO AS TO MAKE SUCH PROVISIONS INAPPLICABLE TO A COMPLEX; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-21-2425, RELATING TO THE ADMISSION LICENSE TAX, SO AS TO INCREASE THE EXEMPTION ON A COMPLEX, TO REMOVE THE TIME PERIOD FOR THE EXEMPTION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXEMPTED REVENUE MUST BE USED ON MARKETING FOR EVENTS AT THE COMPLEX.

Beg leave to report that they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend:

That the same do pass with the following amendments:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking after the title and before the enacting clause and inserting:

/Whereas, since 1950, with the inaugural running of the Southern 500, the first stock car race on a paved track, South Carolina has served as a cornerstone in the development of stock car racing, one of the fastest growing and most popular spectator sports in the country; and

Whereas, South Carolina lays claim to many of the legends of NASCAR racing, including Rex White, David Pearson, Bud Moore, James Hylton, Tiny Lund, and Cale Yarborough; and

Whereas, the State of South Carolina is rich in historical references to the sport of stock car racing, as evidenced by the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, in addition to dirt raceways across the State of South Carolina that served as home to the fledgling sport of NASCAR racing in the 1950s; and

Whereas, the NASCAR events in South Carolina focus our nation's attention and the attention of the world upon our great State as a sport and tourism destination each year; and

Whereas, the annual economic impact that NASCAR racing has on South Carolina is in excess of fifty million dollars, as NASCAR fans from across the country and around the world visit the State each year to attend racing events and then vacation in communities throughout the Palmetto State. Now, therefore, /

Amend further by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/SECTION   1.   Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"CHAPTER 69
Motorsports Entertainment Complex Investment

Section 12-69-10.   This chapter may be cited as the 'Motorsports Entertainment Complex Investment Act'.

Section 12-69-20.   For purposes of this chapter:

(1)   'Company' means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity.

(2)   'Department' means the Department of Revenue.

(3)   'Motorsports entertainment complex' has the same meaning as provided in Section 12-21-2425.

Section 12-69-30.   (A)   A company, upon making application for, meeting the requirements of, and receiving written certification of that designation from the department, as provided in subsection (B), is exempt from state and local sales tax on building materials, supplies, fixtures, and equipment for the construction, repair, or improvement of or that become a part of a motorsports entertainment complex.

(B)   A company shall become a qualified company by applying with the department. The director of the department shall approve the application so long as the application is accompanied by a practical plan to make a capital investment of at least ten million dollars on any motorsport entertainment complex in this State within the five-year period immediately following the approval of the application. Upon receiving written certification from the department, a company may utilize the exemption specified in subsection (A).

(C)   Once a company has met the requirements of subsection (B), the department shall issue a sales and use tax exemption certificate to the company as evidence of the exemption. The exemption is effective upon receipt and shall remain effective until December thirty-first of the fifth full calendar year after its issuance. Once the exemption certificate is ineffective, the company must return the exemption certificate to the department and submit a report to the department of the actual expenditures made in South Carolina in connection with the investment. The company must designate a member or representative of the company to work with the department on reporting of the investment.

(D)   A company that is approved and receives a sales and use tax exemption certificate but fails to meet the capital investment requirements within the five-year period, is liable for the sales and use taxes that would have been paid had the approval not been granted in the same proportion as the actual capital investment failed to meet the required capital investment. The company must be given a sixty-day period in which to pay the sales and use taxes without incurring penalties. The sales and use taxes are considered due as of the date the tangible personal property was purchased in or brought into South Carolina for use, storage, or consumption."

SECTION   2.   Except where specified otherwise, this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to tax years beginning after 2017./

Amend title to read:

/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./

/s/Sen. Gerald Malloy   /s/Rep. James H. "Jay" Lucas
/s/Sen. Paul G. Campbell, Jr.   /s/Rep. J. Gary Simrill
/s/Sen. Shane R. Martin   /s/Rep. Robert Q. Williams
On Part of the Senate.            On Part of the House.

Rep. SIMRILL explained the Conference Report.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 107; Nays 2

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allison                Anthony
Atkinson               Atwater                Bales
Ballentine             Bennett                Bernstein
Blackwell              Bradley                Brawley
Brown                  Bryant                 Burns
Chumley                Clary                  Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cogswell
Collins                Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Davis                  Delleney
Dillard                Douglas                Duckworth
Elliott                Erickson               Felder
Finlay                 Forrest                Forrester
Fry                    Funderburk             Gagnon
Gilliard               Govan                  Hamilton
Hardee                 Hart                   Hayes
Henderson-Myers        Henegan                Herbkersman
Hewitt                 Hiott                  Hixon
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jordan                 King                   Kirby
Knight                 Loftis                 Long
Lowe                   Lucas                  Mack
Martin                 McCoy                  McCravy
McGinnis               McKnight               D. C. Moss
V. S. Moss             Murphy                 B. Newton
W. Newton              Norrell                Ott
Parks                  Pendarvis              Pitts
Pope                   Putnam                 Ridgeway
M. Rivers              S. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson
Rutherford             Sandifer               Simrill
G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith            J. E. Smith
Sottile                Spires                 Stavrinakis
Stringer               Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Thigpen                Trantham
Weeks                  West                   Wheeler
White                  Whitmire               Willis
Wooten                 Young

Total--107

Those who voted in the negative are:

Hill                   Toole

Total--2

The Conference Report was adopted and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

STATEMENT FOR THE JOURNAL

I abstained from voting on H. 4009 because there may be the appearance of a conflict of interest and wish to have my recusal noted for the record in the House Journal.
Rep. Bruce Bannister

H. 4009--ORDERED ENROLLED FOR RATIFICATION

The Report of the Committee of Conference having been adopted by both Houses, and this Bill having been read three times in each House, it was ordered that the title thereof be changed to that of an Act and that it be enrolled for ratification.

H. 4931--CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED

CONFERENCE REPORT
H. 4931 (Word version)
The General Assembly, Columbia, S.C., June 26, 2018

The Committee of Conference, to whom was referred:

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: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-103-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MISSIONS AND FOCUSES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AN APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN MANUFACTURING DEGREE IF STATE FUNDS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM.

Beg leave to report that they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend:

That the same do pass with the following amendments:

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

/   SECTION   1.   Section 59-103-15 of the 1976 Code is further amended to read:

"Section 59-103-15.   (A)(1)   The General Assembly has determined that the mission for higher education in South Carolina is to be a global leader in providing a coordinated, comprehensive system of excellence in education by providing instruction, research, and life-long learning opportunities which are focused on economic development and benefit the State of South Carolina.

(2)   The goals to be achieved through this mission are:

(a)   high academic quality;

(b)   affordable and accessible education;

(c)   instructional excellence;

(d)   coordination and cooperation with public education;

(e)   cooperation among the General Assembly, Commission on Higher Education, Council of Presidents of State Institutions, institutions of higher learning, and the business community;

(f)   economic growth;

(g)   clearly defined missions.

(B)   The General Assembly has determined that the primary mission or focus for each type of institution of higher learning or other post-secondary school in this State is as follows:

(1)   Research institutions

(a)   college-level baccalaureate education, master's, professional, and doctor of philosophy degrees which lead to continued education or employment;

(b)   research through the use of government, corporate, nonprofit-organization grants, or state resources, or both;

(c)   public service to the State and the local community;

(2)   Four-year colleges and universities

(a)   college-level baccalaureate education and selected master's degrees which lead to employment or continued education, or both, except for doctoral degrees currently being offered;

(b)   bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering approved by the Commission on Higher Education at South Carolina State University;

(c)   bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering approved by the Commission on Higher Education at South Carolina State University;

(d)   doctoral degree in Marine Science approved by the Commission on Higher Education;

(e)   subject to subsection (C), doctoral degree in Nursing Practice approved by the Commission on Higher Education at Francis Marion University;

(f)   subject to subsection (C), doctoral degree in Nursing Practice approved by the Commission on Higher Education at the University of South Carolina Aiken;

(g)   subject to subsection (C), doctor of philosophy degree in Education Administration approved by the Commission on Higher Education at Coastal Carolina University;

(h)   subject to subsection (C), doctor of philosophy degree in Computer and Information Science approved by the Commission on Higher Education at the College of Charleston;

(i)     limited and specialized research;

(j)     public service to the State and the local community;

(3)   Two-year institutions - branches of the University of South Carolina

(a)   college-level pre-baccalaureate education necessary to confer associates degrees which lead to continued education at a four-year or research institution;

(b)   public service to the State and the local community;

(4)   State technical and comprehensive education system

(a)   all post-secondary vocational, technical, and occupational diploma and associate degree programs leading directly to employment or maintenance of employment and associate degree programs which enable students to gain access to other post-secondary education;

(b)   up-to-date and appropriate occupational and technical training for adults;

(c)   special school programs that provide training for prospective employees for prospective and existing industry in order to enhance the economic development of South Carolina;

(d)   public service to the State and the local community;

(e)   continue to remain technical, vocational, or occupational colleges with a mission as stated in item (4) and primarily focused on technical education and the economic development of the State;

(f)   subject to subsection (C), an Applied Baccalaureate in Advanced Manufacturing Technology degree approved first by the Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and then the Commission on Higher Education.

(C)   Notwithstanding subsection (B), the doctoral degrees set forth in subsection (B)(2)(c), (d), and (e), (f), (g), and (h), and subsection (B)(4)(f) are only allowed so long as new state general funds are not appropriated for the operations of the degree program."

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

Amend title to conform.

/s/Sen. Clarence Ross Turner, III   /s/Rep. Bill Taylor
/s/Sen. Tom Young, Jr.   /s/Rep. Jason Thomas Elliott
/s/Sen. Karl B. Allen   /s/Rep. Terry Alexander
On Part of the Senate.            On Part of the House.

Rep. TAYLOR explained the Conference Report.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 108; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allison                Anthony
Atkinson               Atwater                Bales
Ballentine             Bennett                Bernstein
Blackwell              Bradley                Brawley
Brown                  Burns                  Caskey
Chumley                Clary                  Clemmons
Cobb-Hunter            Cogswell               Collins
Crawford               Crosby                 Daning
Davis                  Delleney               Dillard
Douglas                Duckworth              Elliott
Erickson               Felder                 Forrest
Forrester              Fry                    Funderburk
Gagnon                 Gilliard               Govan
Hamilton               Hardee                 Hart
Hayes                  Henderson-Myers        Henegan
Herbkersman            Hewitt                 Hiott
Hixon                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jordan                 King
Kirby                  Knight                 Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   Lucas
Mace                   Mack                   Magnuson
Martin                 McCoy                  McCravy
McGinnis               McKnight               D. C. Moss
V. S. Moss             Murphy                 B. Newton
W. Newton              Norrell                Ott
Parks                  Pendarvis              Pitts
Pope                   Putnam                 Ridgeway
M. Rivers              S. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson
Rutherford             Sandifer               Simrill
G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith            Sottile
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Stringer
Tallon                 Taylor                 Thayer
Thigpen                Toole                  Trantham
Weeks                  West                   Wheeler
White                  Whitmire               Williams
Willis                 Wooten                 Young

Total--108

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

The Conference Report was adopted and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

STATEMENT BY REP. CLEMMONS

Rep. CLEMMONS made a statement relative to Rep. DUCKWORTH'S service in the House.

STATEMENT BY REP. DUCKWORTH

Rep. DUCKWORTH made a statement relative to his service in the House.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that the Report of the Committee of Conference, having been adopted by both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for ratification.

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: A BILL 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 REPEAL ARTICLES 4 AND 5, CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58, RELATING TO THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT, AND TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC EXCEPTION TO THIS REPEAL; 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.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that the Report of the Committee of Conference, having been adopted by both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for ratification.

S. 709 (Word version) -- Senator Hembree: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 4 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO REQUIRE FIRE AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES AT LEAST ANNUALLY, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

R. 272, H. 4973--VETO RECONSIDERED AND OVERRIDDEN

Rep. SIMRILL moved to reconsider the vote whereby the veto on the following Bill was sustained, which was agreed to:

(R. 272, H. 4973 (Word version)) -- Reps. Bales, Taylor, Brown, Hosey, Simrill, Hixon, Blackwell and Young: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-2150, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES ISSUED TO CERTAIN CURRENT AND RETIRED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES A FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO RECEIVE RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO OBTAIN A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE, TO PROVIDE THAT A FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY BE ISSUED TWO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO RESIGNS FROM OFFICE AS A RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION OR CONVICTION OF CERTAIN CRIMES MAY NOT APPLY FOR OR MAINTAIN A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-2350, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL REGISTRATION FOR A PERSON ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF CERTAIN VEHICLES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "FINANCIAL INSTITUTION", AND TO PROVIDE THAT A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF REPOSSESSING VEHICLES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES MAY APPLY FOR SPECIAL REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO THIS PROVISION, TO REVISE THE APPLICATION FOR PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF OPERATING VEHICLES TO MOVE VEHICLES FROM A MANUFACTURER TO A DEALER OR DISTRIBUTOR OR FROM A RAILROAD TERMINAL TO CERTAIN LOCATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ALL REGISTRATION RECORDS AND REGISTERED VEHICLES MUST BE AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR INSPECTION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-2370, RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF TRANSPORTER LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO REVISE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE LICENSE PLATES MAY BE USED.

Rep. TAYLOR spoke against the Veto.

The question was put, shall the Act become a part of the law, the Veto of his Excellency, the Governor to the contrary notwithstanding, the yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 74; Nays 17

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allison                Anthony
Atkinson               Bennett                Blackwell
Bradley                Brawley                Bryant
Burns                  Clary                  Clyburn
Cobb-Hunter            Collins                Crawford
Crosby                 Davis                  Delleney
Douglas                Elliott                Erickson
Felder                 Forrest                Forrester
Gagnon                 Gilliard               Govan
Hamilton               Hardee                 Hayes
Henderson-Myers        Henegan                Hewitt
Hixon                  Hosey                  Howard
Jordan                 King                   Kirby
Knight                 Loftis                 Lowe
Lucas                  Mack                   Martin
McEachern              McGinnis               McKnight
D. C. Moss             Murphy                 B. Newton
Ott                    Pendarvis              Pope
Ridgeway               M. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson
Rutherford             Simrill                G. M. Smith
G. R. Smith            Sottile                Spires
Stavrinakis            Taylor                 Thayer
Thigpen                Trantham               Weeks
West                   Wheeler                White
Williams               Young

Total--74

Those who voted in the negative are:

Atwater                Chumley                Clemmons
Duckworth              Fry                    Hill
Hiott                  Johnson                Long
Magnuson               McCravy                V. S. Moss
Pitts                  S. Rivers              Stringer
Tallon                 Willis

Total--17

So, the Veto of the Governor was overridden and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

H. 3789--CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED

CONFERENCE REPORT
H. 3789 (Word version)
The General Assembly, Columbia, S.C., June 27, 2018

The Committee of Conference, to whom was referred:

H. 3789 (Word version) -- Reps. Govan, Yow, Henegan, J.E. Smith, Thigpen, Hart, Clemmons, Whipper and Brown: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY AND SOUTH CAROLINA JOBS CHALLENGE PROGRAM EXPUNGEMENT ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 TO CHAPTER 22, TITLE 17 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF A CRIMINAL RECORD PURSUANT TO SECTION 17-22-910 WHO SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE AND COMPLETE THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY AND SOUTH CAROLINA JOBS CHALLENGE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MAY APPLY TO HAVE THEIR RECORD EXPUNGED UPON SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION AND COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAMS UNDER CERTAIN DELINEATED CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 17-22-940, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY ATTESTING TO THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE CHARGE FOR EXPUNGEMENT ON AN EXPUNGEMENT APPLICATION.

Beg leave to report that they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend:

That the same do pass with the following amendments:

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

/Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly recognizes the efforts of the South Carolina National Guard in administering the South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy program designed to help at-risk youth learn basic skills and achieve the education necessary to succeed in life; and

Whereas, offering two classes a year, the program provides a unique educational environment and serves the state's youth looking for a second chance to succeed; and

Whereas, the program is led by current and retired members of the South Carolina Army National Guard and other branches of the military providing military leadership and discipline to students in the program with the eight core components of the intensive residential program being academic excellence, life-coping skills, job skills, health and hygiene, responsible citizenship, service to community, leadership/followership, and physical fitness; and

Whereas, in partnership with the federal Department of Labor, the State is pleased to offer youth who successfully graduate from the program an opportunity to take part in a five and one-half month South Carolina Jobs Challenge Program which provides training for careers in such fields as nursing assistance, welding, and computer technology; and
Whereas, this approximate yearlong commitment by youths ages sixteen to nineteen towards building a better future warrants allowing those youths that may have a criminal record otherwise eligible for expungement to apply to have their record expunged upon the successful graduation and completion of the South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy and the South Carolina Jobs Challenge Program administered by the South Carolina Army National Guard. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION   1.   This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy and South Carolina Jobs Challenge Program Expungement Act".

SECTION   2.   Chapter 22, Title 17 of the 1976 Code is amended by
adding:

"Article 10
South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy
and South Carolina Jobs Challenge Program Expungement

Section 17-22-1010.   (A)   A person who is eligible for expungement of his criminal record pursuant to the provisions of Sections 22-5-910, 22-5-920, 34-11-90(e), and 56-5-750(F) may apply to have his record expunged pursuant to the procedures provided in Article 9 if he graduates and successfully completes the South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy and the South Carolina Jobs Challenge Program administered by the South Carolina Army National Guard. Notwithstanding another provision of law, such person may apply for expungement immediately upon graduation and successful completion of the South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy and the South Carolina Jobs Challenge Program.

(B)   If the person has had no other conviction during the approximately one-year period as provided in subsection (A), the circuit court may issue an order expunging the records including any associated bench warrant. No person may have his records expunged under this section more than once.

(C)   If the expungement order is granted by the court, the records must be destroyed or retained by any law enforcement agency or municipal, county, or state agency or department pursuant to the provisions of Section 17-1-40.

(D)   The effect of the expungement order is to restore the person, in the contemplation of the law, to the status he occupied before the arrest or indictment or information. No person as to whom the order has been entered may be held pursuant to another provision of law to be guilty of perjury or otherwise giving a false statement by reason of his failure to recite or acknowledge the arrest, or indictment or information, or trial in response to an inquiry made of him for any purpose.

(E)   After the expungement, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is required to keep a nonpublic record of the offense and the date of the expungement to ensure that no person takes advantage of the rights of this section more than once. This nonpublic record is not subject to release pursuant to Section 34-11-95, the Freedom of Information Act, or any other provision of law except to those authorized law or court officials who need to know this information in order to prevent the rights afforded by this section from being taken advantage of more than once.

(F)   As used in this section, 'conviction' includes a guilty plea, a plea of nolo contendere, or the forfeiting of bail."

SECTION   3.   Section 17-22-910 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 22 of 2015, is further amended to read:

"Section 17-22-910.   (A)   Applications for expungement of all criminal records must be administered by the solicitor's office in each circuit in the State as authorized pursuant to:

(1)   Section 34-11-90(e), first offense misdemeanor fraudulent check;

(2)   Section 44-53-450(b), conditional discharge;

(3)   Section 22-5-910, first offense conviction in magistrates court;

(4)   Section 22-5-920, youthful offender act;

(5)   Section 56-5-750(F), first offense failure to stop when signaled by a law enforcement vehicle;

(6)   Section 17-22-150(a), pretrial intervention;

(7)   Section 17-1-40, criminal records destruction, except as provided in Section 17-22-950;

(8)   Section 63-19-2050, juvenile expungements;

(9)   Section 17-22-530(A), alcohol education program;

(10)   Section 17-22-330(A), traffic education program; and

(11)   Section 17-22-1010, youth challenge academy and jobs challenge program; and

(11)(12)   any other statutory authorization.

(B)   A person's eligibility for expungement of an offense contained in this section, or authorized by any other provision of law, must be based on the offense that the person pled guilty to or was convicted of committing and not on an offense for which the person may have been charged. In addition, if an offense for which a person was convicted is subsequently repealed and the elements of the offense are consistent with an existing similar offense which is currently eligible for expungement, a person's eligibility for expungement of an offense must be based on the existing similar offense.

(C)   The provisions of this section apply retroactively to allow expungement as provided by law for each offense delineated in subsection (A) by persons convicted prior to the enactment of this section or the addition of a specific item contained in subsection (A)."

SECTION   4.   Section 17-22-940(E) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 276 of 2014, is further amended to read:

"(E)   In cases when charges are sought to be expunged pursuant to Section 17-22-150(a), 17-22-530(a), 22-5-910,or44-53-450(b), or 17-22-1010, the circuit pretrial intervention director, alcohol education program director, traffic education program director, South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy director, or summary court judge shall attest by signature on the application to the eligibility of the charge for expungement before either the solicitor or his designee and then the circuit court judge, or the family court judge in the case of a juvenile, signs the application for expungement."

SECTION   5.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./

Amend title to conform.

/s/Sen. George E. Campsen III   /s/Rep. Thomas E. Pope
/s/Senator John L. Scott   /s/Rep. J. David Weeks
/s/Senator Tom Young, Jr.   /s/Rep. Chris Murphy
On Part of the Senate.            On Part of the House.

Rep. WEEKS explained the Conference Report.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 100; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allison                Anthony
Atkinson               Atwater                Ballentine
Bannister              Bennett                Blackwell
Bradley                Brawley                Bryant
Burns                  Caskey                 Chumley
Clary                  Clemmons               Cobb-Hunter
Collins                Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Davis                  Delleney
Dillard                Douglas                Duckworth
Elliott                Erickson               Felder
Forrest                Forrester              Fry
Gagnon                 Gilliard               Govan
Hamilton               Hardee                 Hayes
Henderson-Myers        Henegan                Herbkersman
Hewitt                 Hiott                  Hixon
Howard                 Huggins                Johnson
Jordan                 King                   Kirby
Knight                 Loftis                 Long
Lowe                   Lucas                  Mack
Magnuson               Martin                 McCoy
McCravy                McEachern              McGinnis
McKnight               D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
Murphy                 B. Newton              W. Newton
Ott                    Parks                  Pendarvis
Pitts                  Pope                   Ridgeway
M. Rivers              S. Rivers              Robinson-Simpson
Rutherford             Sandifer               Simrill
G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith            Sottile
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Stringer
Tallon                 Taylor                 Thayer
Thigpen                Trantham               Weeks
West                   White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Wooten
Young

Total--100

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

The Conference Report was adopted and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

RECORD FOR VOTING

I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on H. 3789. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of adopting the Conference Report. Rep. William Clyburn

RETURNED WITH CONCURRENCE

The Senate returned to the House with concurrence the following:

H. 5302 (Word version) -- Reps. Johnson, Duckworth, McGinnis, Hewitt, Hardee, Crawford, Clemmons and Fry: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 135 (CATES BAY HIGHWAY) AND FIREHOUSE ROAD IN HORRY COUNTY "JAMES RONALD HUCKS MEMORIAL INTERSECTION" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS LOCATION CONTAINING THIS DESIGNATION.

Rep. PENDARVIS moved that the House do now adjourn to next meet at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 28, which was agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT

At 5:09 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. CLARY, adjourned in memory of Thomas Young Coleman, and in accordance with H. 5383, the Sine Die Adjournment Resolution, to meet in Statewide Session at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

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