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Week in Review

Committee Action

Bills Introduced

Footnote

Having received third reading in the House last week with no amendments added, several Senate bills have been sent to the Governor to be signed into law. S. 468 provides for a five dollar ($5) fee for filing a judgement by confession with a clerk of court. S. 730 allows for accreditation of respiratory care programs in South Carolina by either the American Medical Association or a successor authority recognized by the Board. S. 731 establishes the passing score for physical therapists, and provides for a one hundred twenty dollar ($120) application fee and an examination fee. S. 759 deletes provisions regarding issuing occupational therapy licenses to foreign trained applicants. S. 772 allows poll managers to remove absentee ballots from their outer envelopes, verify addresses, and place the inner envelopes in the ballot box beginning at two o'clock on election day rather than having to wait until polls close.

S. 189 requiring that candidates names be listed in alphabetical order on ballots also received third reading in the House last week. However, the bill was sent back to the Senate for concurrence on an amendment concerning nonpartisan elections.

Final approval was given last week to three House sponsored measures which were sent to the Senate. H. 3858 allows family court judges to suspend or restrict the driver's license of a juvenile delinquent. H. 4523 is a joint resolution approving Health and Human Services Finance Commission regulations concerning categorically needy eligible groups. Another joint resolution, H. 4524, concerns Department of Health and Environmental Control regulations of retail food stores.

Three other House sponsored bills received second reading in the House last week. H. 3732 makes driving with a canceled, suspended or revoked license a misdemeanor. The first offense remains a two hundred dollar ($200) fine or a thirty day sentence. The sentence for a second offense was decreased so that charges could be handled in magistrate's court rather than circuit court. So while the fine for a second offense remains five hundred dollars ($500), the sentence would be thirty days rather than sixty. A third offense invokes a sentence of three to six months which cannot be suspended. H. 4341 allows judges to require financially able parents of juvenile delinquents to reimburse the Indigent Defense Fund or court-ordered attorneys. H. 4474 gives the director of the Department of Transportation (DOT) greater flexibility in hiring/firing of employees and encourages more privatization of the department's planning and engineering services. The department already contracts construction. Eventually the role of the Department would be to oversee not perform projects. If the bill becomes law, over thirteen hundred DOT employees would serve at-will. They would be exempted from the general state employee grievance process and subject to a grievance and appeals process established by the department and appealed to the commission.

Representatives rejected H. 3772 , a joint resolution providing for a voter referendum to determine the fate of a state lottery. While the measure received a vote of 71-40, it fell short of the 83 votes, reflecting the support of two-thirds of that body, needed to make a change affecting the state constitution.

Three bills were placed on the contested calendar for second reading last week. H. 4338 permits Sunday deer hunting, and H. 4398 requires retailers of transient or temporary businesses to keep records of the sources of their new merchandise. H. 4490 repeals the mandate to write physical damage coverage for safe drivers. Coverage still would be available through the State Reinsurance Facility at self-sustaining rates.

Representatives committed H. 4100 to the Judiciary Committee. The measure allowing counties to put liens on real estate when solid waste collection and disposal fees become delinquent had been reported favorably by the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee. Two bills reported favorably by the Ways and Means Committee were recalled and committed to the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee. H. 3326 creates the "Individual Medical Account Act." The measure allows a person to deposit funds in a trust to pay future medical, dental, and long-term care expenses. Up to two thousand dollars ($2000) for the account holder and up to one thousand dollars ($1000) for each dependent child may be deposited annually. Interest on this account would be exempt from taxation as adjusted gross income except in cases of early withdrawal. H. 4497 also was committed to the Judiciary Committee. The bill is needed for continued accreditation of insurers in South Carolina. Current state statutory capital and surplus requirements are the same regardless of risks undertaken by insurers. The measure enacts formulas which can be used by the Department of Insurance to trigger needed regulatory actions for insurers with weak or deteriorating fiances.

Finally, for Representatives who are homesick for the Capitol building or simply curious about how renovations are coming along, tours are being held Wednesday afternoons at 4:00 p.m.. Groups are limited to twelve people. Contact House Clerk Sandra McKinney to arrange a tour.

Several senators joined Lt. Bob Peeler in calling for a shorter legislative session. The senators proposed that only committees meet during the first part of the session. The General Assembly then would begin meeting once the legislative calendars fill up.

The Senate concurred with House amendments on S. 641. The bill allows a recently discharged serviceman to register to vote until five o'clock on election day. The measure now goes to the governor to be signed into law. Senators also concurred with House amendments on S. 272, but later reconsidered and recalled the bill from Legislative Council. The bill allows a special election which would be held within sixty days of a general election to be held during the general election instead. The Senate amended the measure to conform to S. 771 so that filing for petition candidates would begin at noon on the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy occurs and would close at noon seven days later. S. 272 was sent back to the House for concurrence.

Two House sponsored bills were given third reading by the Senate and sent to the governor to be signed into law. H. 3751 allows South Carolina pharmacies to transfer prescriptions to another pharmacy in this state for one refill. H. 4397, also known as the "Economic Development Industrial Cluster Act," promotes expansion in our state by Michelin and UNUM Corporation, the parent organization of Colonial Life and Accident Company. The bill allows these two companies to pay lower state income and property taxes. The measure also provides for a lower equipment depreciation rate for Michelin and sets up two new enterprise zones for that company's expansion. Under the measure, any company would be allowed to extend their jobs tax credit from the current ten years to fifteen years. Another provision in the bill permits local governments to keep up to half of their collected admissions tax to improve infrastructure.

H. 3878, concerning the sale of white perch, also was given third reading by the Senate. However, a technical amendment was added so the measure was sent back to the House for concurrence.

Final approval was also received on six Senate sponsored measures. S. 62 restricts a prisoner who escapes or attempts to escape from serving the rest of his sentence or additional sentences at a minimum security facility for at least five years after the escape or one year before his projected release date. S. 95 prohibits violent offenders from being eligible for work release programs. S. 260 requires the Department of Transportation to construct and maintain turning lanes at public secondary education facilities if deemed necessary. S. 760 sets forth the definition of "psychologist." S. 823 provides that a municipal court judge may order restitution in addition to imposing fines or sentences. S. 922 revises Foster Care Review Boards and their reporting requirements.

Several other measures received second reading in the Senate last week. H. 3132 allows a person to serve as a juror more often than once every three years. H. 3486 provides that fraudulent check legislation applies to checks written on preexisting debt on revolving credit accounts. S. 267 concerns attorney fees in mortgage foreclosure cases. S. 606 requires health screenings for students entering public kindergarten or first grade. S. 1084 makes technical changes to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

While the full Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee did not meet last week, the Wildlife Subcommittee reported favorably on H. 4339 which allows Sunday deer hunting. Another subcommittee approved H. 4462 which combines the current two-tier pesticide registration fee schedule into a single fee. H. 4101 was also reported favorably. This measure approves an assessment on marketed tobacco to fund tobacco production research. The assessment would be paid only by tobacco growers. Currently tobacco is the only commodity in South Carolina which has no marketing board.

The Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee continued its process of amending H. 3388, "The South Carolina Charter Schools Act of 1995." The subcommittee decided to remove language which would allow a charter school to be a for-profit corporation; the charter school committee is still fully empowered to contract with for-profit corporations. The subcommittee also decided to include certain requirements for charter school boards of directors, with regard to their composition, terms of office, and the way in which they are elected. Lastly, the subcommittee focused on a scenario in which a teacher, first, takes a leave of absence from a district in order to work in a charter school newly created within that district, then, opts to return to traditional employment within the district. In such a situation, the subcommittee allowed the local school district to decide whether or not to reemploy the returning teacher. Previously, the bill required a school district to find a place for a teacher returning from such a stint at a new charter school. Additional feedback on H. 3388 will be gathered through public hearings.

The Postsecondary Education Subcommittee gave a favorable report on R. 1853, regarding the licensing of nonpublic postsecondary institutions. The regulation eases burdens which very small institutions face in licensing and periodic reporting, supplies a penalty for missing deadlines on an institution's annual report to the Commission on Higher Education, and requires postsecondary institutions to include in their advertisements for course offerings the location where courses will be taught.

The Intermodal Transportation and Public Works Subcommittee amended then reported favorably on H. 3883. The amended H. 3883 requires those who have newly purchased or transferred a vehicle into the state to affix a sign to their vehicle while awaiting a license tag. The sign must be displayed in place of a tag and contain the vehicle purchase date, the expiration date of the sign, and the owner's driver's license number. Penalties are provided for neglecting to display the sign and for displaying incorrect information. The Subcommittee also reported favorably on H. 4447 which removes the qualification allowing a child who owns certain real estate in a district to attend school in that district.

The Judiciary Committee reported favorably on S. 772. The measure allows poll managers to take absentee ballots from their outer envelopes, verify addresses, and place the inner envelopes in the ballot box beginning at two o'clock on election day rather than having to wait until polls close. This bill received third reading in the House last week as well. S. 468 also was reported favorably by the committee and given third reading in the House. The measure provides for a five dollar ($5) fee for filing a judgement by confession with a clerk of court. Both S. 772 and S. 468 have been sent to the Governor to be signed into law.

Three other measures also were approved by committee members. H. 3062 prohibits legislators from being elected by the General Assembly to a salaried office or position. The measure requires that the member must resign before filing for the office. The bill also removes a four year waiting period before former legislators can be elected as administrative law judges or public service commissioners. H. 4433 sets forth the conditions for reinstatement of a driver's license to a person whose license has been suspended or revoked for at least five years. H. 4341 allows a judge to order financially able parents to reimburse the Indigent Defense Fund or the court-appointed attorney. The bill received second reading in the House last week as well.

H. 3943 and H. 4384 were recommitted to subcommittees. H. 3943 deals with the Tort Claims Act, and H. 4384 concerns voting by officials on public agency budgets in which they have an economic interest.

This week, the Labor and Commerce Subcommittee reported favorably on both H. 3536 and H. 4267. H. 3536 makes explicit in statutory law that a truck driver and/or owner who works with a motor carrier as an independent contractor is not considered an employee of the motor carrier for the purposes of worker's compensation coverage. H. 4267 gives employers the option of lowering their worker's compensation insurance premiums by agreeing to certain deductibles thereby paying for small claims "out of pocket." Should an employer opt to accept any of the deductibles which the bill lays out, then, in any worker's compensation claim filed, the insurer would pay the full award to the injured worker, then seek reimbursement from the employer in the amount of the deductible.

The Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee gave a favorable report to an amended version of H. 4365 which allows such agencies as fire departments to provide the advanced emergency medical technician care which is currently performed exclusively by licensed transport services (i.e. ambulance services). Three Senate bills, S. 730, S. 731, and S. 759, received favorable reports. S. 730 allows the S.C. Board of Medical Examiners to make use of a new national accreditation program to replace the program which had been in use until discontinued by the American Medical Association. S. 731 adopts the criteria of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy to set the passing score for the physical therapist license exam. S. 759 prevents the Board of Occupational Therapy from issuing temporary licenses to foreign-trained occupational therapists. The committee reported favorably on R. 1865, a regulation proposed by the Health and Human Services Finance Commission, which sets up an additional Medicaid coverage group. The change extends benefits to certain disabled children under the age of eighteen who live at home, but would be eligible for Medicaid if they were in an institution. The full committee also reported favorably on R. 1900, a regulation proposed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control, repealing regulations for inspection and permitting of convenience stores which sell only prepackaged food. The regulations targeted for repeal have become obsolete under last year's regulatory changes which consolidated health and sanitation provisions in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. R. 1865, R. 1900 (recommended for acceptance by the House as joint resolutions H. 4523 and H. 4524, respectively), S. 730, S. 731, and S. 759 were all scheduled for a second reading by the House on Thursday, and a third reading on Friday.

The Social Services, Mental Health, and Children's Affairs Subcommittee reported favorably on H. 4493, a measure which expands the scope of limits imposed upon amounts of infectious waste which may be burned each year. No longer would such limits apply only to commercial incinerator facilities; instead, limits would also apply to currently-exempted hospitals and other facilities which incinerate infectious waste on a non-profit basis.

The Ways and Means Committee voted favorably on a joint resolution (H. 4402) which allows the Commission for Minority Affairs to receive funds from public and private sources for research, forums, and training. Unused funds may be carried over into following fiscal year 1996-1997. Committee members approved H. 4360 requiring that real property tax bills contain statements of the preceding year's taxes by categories. The committee also reported favorably on H. 4478. This measure raises the tobacco tax on all products, except cigarettes, to five per cent of the manufacturer's price. Cigarettes would continue to be taxed three and one half mills. The bill also provides that timely payments be granted a three and one half per cent discount as opposed to the current two per cent discount.

The committee also adopted 4.1 billion dollars as the appropriations bill base for fiscal year 1996-1997. Chairman Brown requested that Subcommittee budgets be submitted by Thursday, February 8th so that the full committee can begin debate on the appropriations bill (H. 4600) on Monday, February 12th.

Thomas J. Cavanaugh with Gabriel, Roeder, Smith and Company, reported on the actuarial review of the State Retirement System and the State Police Officers Retirement System. According to Cavanaugh, the pension plans are the forty-second largest in the United States. Cavanaugh told committee members these two funds are adequately funded and currently able to meet their financial responsibilities.

Four major recommendations are included in the actuarial report. The first is that the state invest in equities as well as fixed income securities, as every state except South Carolina and Indiana do now. Cavanaugh advised this would reduce overall risk and increase long term returns. The report also proposed that the state adopt a written annual financing policy with quarterly reports, and change the asset evaluation method to recognize long term trends for additional stability. The final suggestion is that the state needs to use actuarial gains to cover cost of living adjustment costs for retirees. Cavanaugh said this would provide advance funding of the systems rather than relying on the pay-as-you-go method. He also advised committee members that to allow retirement of state employees with twenty-five years of service as opposed to the current thirty years, would cost an additional nine hundred million dollars resulting in a two to two and one half per cent increase by employers.

Following the actuarial report, State Treasurer Richard Eckstrom also addressed the Ways and Means Committee to advocate fully funding the State Retirement System and the State Police Officers Retirement System. Eckstrom cautioned members that the future expenditures of these systems currently are only seventy- five per cent funded. The Treasurer told committee members that of ten southeastern states, only Virginia, Florida, and South Carolina fund their pension plans under one hundred per cent. (Virginia funds at seventy- four per cent while Florida funds at ninety-three per cent.) Eckstrom warned that currently the two pension plan have a $3.4 billion dollar unfunded accrued liability (UAL), and suggested the best way to decrease that liability is not to give Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA's) to retirees. He told committee members that getting the best returns is not a matter of making accounting changes but of adopting a new funding method. The second of three public hearings concerning Medicaid reform was held on Thursday, February 1st. Over fifty providers spoke at the hearing, which was sponsored by the House and Senate Health Care subcommittees. Recommendations were that the state increase primary care access to Medicaid recipients, provide better transportation, put emphasis on hospice, and community based services, provide education and prevention services especially to mothers and children, and reimburse nurse practioners. Providers also suggested that Medicaid be put on a capitated, managed care basis and that the current level of services be maintained while increasing rates for providers. In addition, they advocated bar-coded patient identification cards to cut down on paperwork.

H. 4534 MINING PERMITS Rep. Sharpe
This bill provides for a general mining permit to be issued by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). The permit will specify environmental protection plans, stormwater management, health and safety plans, and plans for reclamation of affected lands. Before a permit can be issued, DHEC must receive an application from the operator to determine eligibility before an operator can be authorized to begin mining. If an operator begins mining before receiving written notification from DHEC or does not comply with the requirements of the general permit, a cease and desist order must be issued. Also, the operator is subject to civil penalties.

EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS

H. 4508 AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONUMENT Rep. Howard
This joint resolution calls for an African American history monument to be erected on the State House grounds and creates a commission to select its design and placement.

S. 1067 SCHOOL ABSENCES FOR SNOW AND ICE FORGIVEN Sen. Reese
This joint resolution provides that school days missed in Spartanburg School Districts 1-7 during the snow and ice of January 1996 need not be made up.

JUDICIARY

H. 4509 EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION ELECTIONS Rep. Hodges
This bill provides that Employment Security Commissioners must be nominated by the Employment Security Commission Selection Panel. The measure requires that lawmakers who apply for seats must first resign from the General Assembly before filing since the Legislature will continue to elect Commissioners. Seats will be numbered specifically according to tenure. The commissioner with the longest tenure will have Seat 1; the next longest will have Seat 2, etc.. The proposed legislation also abolishes the four year waiting period for ex-legislators wanting to become administrative law judges or members of the Public Service Commission.

H. 4514 DIVORCE Rep. Harrison
The measure provides that desertion for four months is grounds for divorce. Currently divorce is granted only after a period of desertion of one year.

H. 4520 STATE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE Rep. Brown
The bill allows binding arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution for state employee grievances.

H. 4522 ORDERS OF PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE Rep. Allison
This measure provides that no fee is necessary to file an order of protection from domestic abuse. The bill also requires that in the case of a mutual order of protection, both parties must file a petition and prove the allegations of abuse by a preponderance of evidence before the order can be granted.

H. 4526 UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY INTO THE CAPITOL Rep. Wilkins
Relating to the crime of Unauthorized Entry into (or picketing of) the Capitol Building, the proposed legislation expands the measure to include the Carolina Plaza or any other building in which the General Assembly is meeting.

H. 4529 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION Rep. Inabinett
This joint resolution provides that Representatives would be elected every four years as opposed to every two years as it now stands.

H. 4531 DESECRATION OF HUMAN REMAINS/CHARITABLE FUNDS ACT Rep. Simrill
The bill increases the fine for unlawful destruction or desecration of human remains from the current two thousand dollars ($2000) to five thousand dollars ($5000). Sentencing for this felony would remain at not less than one year nor more than ten years. Unlawful destruction or desecration of repositories would be subject to a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) fine rather than the current two thousand dollar ($2000) fine. Sentencing for this felony would be up to ten years. The bill also takes away the discretion of the court to determine the fine for destruction or vandalization of landscaping or fencing around repositories or on burial grounds. The measure proposes the fine for this felony be not more than five thousand dollars ($5000).

Another provision in H. 4531 relates to knowingly and wilfully providing false or incorrect information to the Secretary of State concerning charitable organizations. The first offense for this misdemeanor would be a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1000) or imprisonment of six months to one year. Currently the fine for a first offense is not more than one thousand dollars ($1000) with sentencing of not more than thirty days. The fine for a second offense remains at not more than five thousand dollars ($5000), but the sentence increases to not more than three years rather than not more than one year as it now stands.

H. 4533 NONPARTISAN COUNTY ELECTIONS Rep. Stille
The bill provides for nonpartisan elections to fill countywide offices.

H. 4536 LEGISLATOR LAWYERS Rep. Hutson
The measure prohibits Senators who are lawyers from representing clients in a magistrate's court of any county that is part of the election district from which the senator is chosen.

H. 4537 DAYCARE EMPLOYEES Rep. Hutson
The proposed legislation prohibits daycare centers from hiring or being owned by a person convicted of certain crimes. Such a person would be guilty of a misdemeanor and could be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5000), imprisoned for up to one year, or both. In most cases, fingerprinting of applicants, owners, and anyone living in the home who is fifteen years old or older would be required.

S. 62 CONFINEMENT OF PRISONERS Sen. McConnell
The bill requires that a prisoner who has escaped or attempted an escape may not serve the rest of his sentence or any additional sentence at a minimum security facility for at least five years after the escape and one year before the projected release date.

S. 95 WORK RELEASE PROGRAM Sen. McConnell
The proposed legislation prohibits a prisoner convicted of a violent crime from participating in a work release program or being released into the community in which he committed the offense. However under the measure, a prisoner convicted of a violent crime in which he was a victim of criminal domestic violence would be allowed to participate in the work release program.

S. 823 MUNICIPAL COURT RESTITUTION Sen. Wilson
The bill allows a municipal judge to order restitution as he deems appropriate in addition to imposing a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) and/or a thirty day sentence.

LABOR, COMMERCE, AND INDUSTRY

H. 4516 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Rep. Dantzler
This bill narrows existing provisions which exempt municipal utilities from regulation by the Public Service Commission by specifying that the Public Service Commission may not regulate the contracts which a municipal utility makes with customers located within the limits of the municipality. Contracts with customers outside the municipal limits are no longer exempt.

H. 4525 DEFINITION OF "GENERAL CONTRACTOR" Rep. Scott
For licensing purposes, this bill redefines a "general contractor" as one who undertakes a construction project having a minimum cost of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). The current minimum on project cost is thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).

H. 4538 HEALTH INSURANCE AND CANCER DETECTION Rep. Shissias
This bill requires Health Maintenance Organization contracts, group health insurance policies, and group accident and health insurance policies to include coverage for mammography screening, pap smears, and testing for prostate cancer.

H. 4516 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Rep. Dantzler
This bill narrows existing provisions which exempt municipal utilities from regulation by the Public Service Commission by specifying that the Public Service Commission may not regulate the contracts which a municipal utility makes with customers located within the limits of the municipality. Contracts with customers outside the municipal limits are no longer exempt.

H. 4525 DEFINITION OF "GENERAL CONTRACTOR" Rep. Scott
For licensing purposes, this bill redefines a "general contractor" as one who undertakes a construction project having a minimum cost of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). The current minimum on project cost is thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).

H. 4538 HEALTH INSURANCE AND CANCER DETECTION Rep. Shissias
This bill requires Health Maintenance Organization contracts, group health insurance policies, and group accident and health insurance policies to include coverage for mammography screening, pap smears, and testing for prostate cancer.

MEDICAL, MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

S. 760 PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY Sen. Moore
This bill makes it more difficult to offer psychological and counseling services without the requisite licenses. Where the law prohibits unlicensed individuals to make use of particular titles and occupational terms in advertising their services, this bill specifies the counseling and psychological services which the unlicensed may not lawfully perform.

WAYS AND MEANS

H. 4510 STATE INSURANCE PLAN Rep. Townsend
This measure allows former legislators with at least eight years service in the General Assembly to participate in the State Health Plan paying the rate charged current state employees rather than full premium cost.

H. 4513 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES/BOATS AS RESIDENCES Rep. Witherspoon
The bill provides that the state may tax recreational vehicles and boats as primary or secondary residences as long as it is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as such. Their classification for this purpose would be changed from personal property to real property.

H. 4517 STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENTS Rep. Haskins
This bill would amend the State Constitution to allow the State Treasurer to undertake a broader range of investments with funds from the State Retirement System and the Police Officers Retirement System. Currently the state invests in only fixed income securities. This measure allows investment in equity securities. An Equity Investment Advisory Council would be formed and a written annual financing policy would be required with quarterly reports.

H. 4518 STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENTS Rep. Haskins
This joint resolution provides for a voter referendum to amend the state constitution so that the state and its political subdivisions would be allowed to become joint owners of or stockholders in a company, association, or corporation.

H. 4519 STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM ELIGIBILITY Rep. Knotts
This bill affects retired judges who have at least twenty-five years of service but continue to have full judicial duties. The measure allows these retirees to contribute to the State Retirement System at the same rate as active judges and to receive additional benefits.

H. 4521 FACILITIES AT DENMARK AND BEAUFORT TECH Rep. Hallman
This measure eliminates the local matching funds exemption for capital facilities at Denmark and Beaufort Technical Colleges. Currently all other technical institutions are required to raise from local support a minimum of twenty per cent of the costs of each project.

H. 4530 PRIVATE VEHICLE PROPERTY TAXES Rep. Cromer
This bill eliminates property taxes on private passenger vehicles and trucks weighing up to five thousand pounds when registered to individuals for personal use. Money from the State General Fund will be reimbursed to jurisdictions to make up for lost revenue.

H. 4532 GAS TAX REVENUE Rep. Stille
The proposed legislation provides that the one cent tax per gallon of gas which currently is credited to the General Fund be credited instead to the State Highway Fund for road projects.

S. 656 LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION Senate Judiciary Committee
This committee bill requires that a member of the General Assembly who resigns or is expelled must repay any compensation on a pro rata basis. If he does not, the Comptroller General will withhold that amount from the former member's retirement benefits.

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Last Updated: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 2:41 P.M.