HOUSE WEEK IN REVIEW

HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION

BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK

NOTE: THESE SUMMARIES ARE PREPARED BY THE STAFF OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ARE NOT THE EXPRESSION OF THE LEGISLATION'S SPONSOR(S) OR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THEY ARE STRICTLY FOR THE INTERNAL USE AND BENEFIT OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ARE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED BY A COURT OF LAW AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.

The House of Representatives amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3041, a joint resolution for a PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION THAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, upon the advice and consent of the Senate, rather than elected by the state’s voters. Under the proposed state constitutional amendment, the Superintendent of Education would be removed from the list of Constitutional Officers who are elected statewide, beginning upon the expiration of the term of the Superintendent of Education serving in office on January 10, 2019, and the State Superintendent of Education would instead be appointed by the Governor, upon the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve at the Governor’s pleasure. The General Assembly would provide by law for the duties, compensation, and qualifications for office, and the procedures by which the appointment is made. Should the legislation be approved by the General Assembly, the proposed amendment to South Carolina’s Constitution would be placed before the voters as a ballot question at the next general election.

The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4666, a bill that makes provisions for local DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW COMMITTEES by requiring each Circuit Solicitor to establish an interagency circuit-wide review committee to assist local agencies in identifying and reviewing domestic violence deaths, including homicides and suicides, and facilitating communication among the various agencies involved in domestic violence cases. These local domestic fatality review committees are also charged with reporting to the state’s Domestic Violence Advisory Committee and others regarding recommended improvements to domestic violence response and prevention initiatives.

The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3653, a bill providing authorization for local governments to enter into a LAW ENFORCEMENT MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TASK FORCE arrangement in order to share officers and other law enforcement resources. The legislation makes provisions for a multijurisdictional task force to be governed by a written contract that must be approved by the appropriate governing bodies of each concerned county, incorporated municipality, or other political subdivision.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.4457, a bill DOUBLING THE MAXIMUM DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE CIVIL JURISDICTION OF MAGISTRATES COURT by providing for magistrates to have civil jurisdiction in matters that do not exceed $15,000, rather than the current maximum limit of $7,500.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.4639, a bill relating to INTERSTATE RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS FOR POSTSECONDARY DISTANCE EDUCATION. The legislation provides that the Commission on Higher Education may enter into interstate reciprocity agreements, such as the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, governing the operation of postsecondary distance education programs offered by accredited degree-granting institutions of higher learning in South Carolina. Since colleges and universities that offer online education programs must obtain authorization in every state where a pupil resides, the legislation is offered as a means of making this authorization process less complex and expensive by allowing the institutions of higher learning in South Carolina to make use of a single distance education protocol that applies in all the states that have entered into a reciprocity agreement.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.3420, a bill relating to the ISSUANCE OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS TO VETERANS. The legislation expands provisions crafted for the issuance of high school diplomas to World War II veterans by adding veterans of the eras encompassing the Korean War and the Vietnam War to those who must be issued a high school diploma upon presentation to the South Carolina Department of Education of documentation of school enrollment and honorable discharge from the military.

The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4515, a bill relating to IN-STATE HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION RATES FOR VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS. Through the passage of Act 11 of 2015, the General Assembly revised eligibility criteria for in-state higher education tuition rates for veterans and their dependents to ensure that South Carolinians can continue to take advantage of federal G.I. Bill provisions. H.4515 makes further revisions to provide that the three-year post discharge enrollment time limit put in place by last year’s legislation does not apply to spouses or children dependents of veterans who are entitled to receive federal educational assistance transferred from veterans so that these individuals may take full advantage of the transferred benefits.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.3166, a bill making revisions to conditions that disqualify someone from receiving unemployment compensation, including an additional DISQUALIFICATION FROM UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO FAIL SCREENINGS FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS REQUIRED BY PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS as a condition of employment or who refuse to comply with such pre-employment drug tests.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.4679, a bill to provide for the TOTAL DEREGULATION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY and complete the telecommunications deregulation initiatives that the General Assembly has approved over the course of many years as a means of enhancing the state’s competitive advantage in the industry. The legislation provides for full implementation by extending deregulation provisions to the final segment of the telecommunications industry that was excluded from previous deregulation initiatives when basic service telephone lines were kept under the regulatory authority of the Public Service Commission.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.4857, a bill establishing LANDFILL REQUIREMENTS FOR COAL ASH FROM ELECTRICAL POWER PLANTS. The legislation provides that coal combustion residuals that result from an electrical utility, an electric cooperative, a governmental entity, a corporation, or an individual producing electricity for sale or distribution by burning coal must be placed in a Class 3 solid waste management landfill, unless the coal combustion residuals are: (1) located contiguous with the electric generating unit; (2) intended to be beneficially reused; (3) placed into beneficial reuse; or (4) placed in an appropriate landfill owned or operated by the entity that produced the electricity that resulted in the coal combustion residuals. The legislation establishes a five-year sunset date for these requirements, unless they are reenacted or otherwise extended by the General Assembly.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.4447, a bill providing authorization for MOBILE BARBERSHOPS that can be transported from one location to another and offer temporary portable barber operations in such settings as a client’s home or a nursing home. The legislation makes provisions for mobile barbershop permitting and regulation by the State Barber Board and subjects mobile barbershops to all state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to the practice of barbering.

The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4141, a bill enacting the "LIMITED LINES TRAVEL INSURANCE ACT" to provide authority for travel retailers to offer and disseminate, under a limited lines travel insurance producer business entity license, travel insurance coverage for personal risks incident to planned travel such as: interruption or cancellation of trip or event; loss of baggage or personal effects; damages to accommodations or rental vehicles; and sickness, accident, disability, or death occurring during travel.

The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4090, a bill revising requirements governing the operation of PAWNBROKERS. Offered as a comprehensive update of the provisions regulating pawnbrokers, the legislation includes among its revisions an increase in the maximum amount of a loan that a pawnbroker is allowed to make from $2,000 to $15,000.

The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4507, a bill REVISING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HALL OF FAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE by adding the President of the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, or his designee. The legislation also allows the President of the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association to select a designee to serve on the advisory committee.

The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3685, a bill making provisions for the ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF TRAFFIC TICKETS to bring South Carolina into compliance with federal electronic ticketing provisions.

The House approved and sent the Senate to H.3657, a bill revising provisions for the COMMENCEMENT OF SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE TERMS to allow for greater flexibility regarding when a local school board member’s term begins than the current statutory requirement which provides that the term of office of every elected trustee of a school district must commence one week following the certification of his election.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4633, and enrolled the legislation for ratification. The joint resolution provides for an EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE BY WHICH AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL MUST APPLY TO BECOME AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION FOR PURPOSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL TAX CREDIT FOR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS CHILDREN until May 1, 2016.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.4532, a bill revising the boundaries of the MURRELL’S INLET-GARDEN CITY FIRE DISTRICT.

The House rejected H.4862, a bill making REVISIONS TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES ISSUED TO RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The House Education and Public Works Committee met on Wednesday, February 10th and passed out six bills (all of which were Committee Bills).

The Committee passed H.4936 (formerly H.4783 EDUCATIONAL GOALS) as a Committee Bill whose purpose is to ensure that graduates have world class knowledge based on college and career ready standards. The bill states that students should have the opportunity to learn one of a number of foreign languages, and have offerings in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts and social sciences. These are based on the declaration that the principles outlined in "The Profile of the South Carolina Graduate" are the standards by which our state’s high school graduates should be measured and are this state’s achievement goals for all high school students. Students must be offered the ability to obtain an array of world class skills such as critical thinking and problem solving; collaboration, teamwork and communication; and information, media, and technology.

The Committee approved H.4937 as a Committee Bill (formerly H.4781 SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL). The bill reestablishes the South Carolina Education and Economic Development Coordinating Council. The Council is comprised of the 28 individuals, including, but not limited to, the following: the State Superintendent of Education; Director of the Department of Employment and Workforce; the Secretary of Commerce; Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education; Executive Director of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce; Chair of the Education Oversight Committee; legislators; business leaders; and representatives from the K-12 and higher education sectors. The Chair must be one of the Governor’s appointees. The Council must advise the State Department of Education (SDE) regarding implementation of the Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA), review accountability and performance measures, report on the progress and compliance of the EEDA to the General Assembly, Governor and others, make recommendations for statewide awareness of EEDA, and provide input to the Department of Commerce and State Board of Education. The Council must be staffed by personnel from SDE.

The Committee approved H.4938 as a Committee Bill (formerly H.4782 STUDENT SURVEYS). This joint resolution requires the State Department of Education (SDE) and the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) to collaborate with the Commission of Higher Education in surveying students enrolled in the South Carolina colleges and universities. At a minimum, the survey must include the following questions: whether students have considered teaching in a rural and economically challenged districts; what incentives, if any, would cause them to move to, and work in, such a district and any additional questions SDE and CERRA consider useful. The survey results must be reported to the General Assembly by December 1, 2016.

The Committee approved H.4939 as a Committee Bill (formerly H.4780 EDUCATION REFORM SERVICES). House Bill 4939 establishes a committee to review Title 59 (Education) of the South Carolina Code of Laws, determine which statutes are obsolete or inapplicable, and report its findings to the General Assembly by December 31, 2016. The Committee must be comprised of representatives for the following individuals: the State Superintendent of Education; the Executive Director of the Education Oversight Committee; the Chair of the House Education and Public Works Committee and the Chair of the Senate Education Committee. The report must be updated at least every five years. The State Department of Education (SDE) must develop a system for providing services and technical assistance to districts on a regional basis. This assistance includes both academic and financial assistance. The State Superintendent must report on the design of the system to the General Assembly by December 31, 2016. Every year after 2016, the Superintendent must report on the assistance provided to districts and the impact of the assistance on student achievement. The SDE must monitor the professional development of teachers, staff, and administrators in underperforming districts and determine what improvements are necessary. The Department must also monitor the operations of school boards in underperforming districts and recommend improvements to them as well. Oversight of professional development is limited to the provisions of the Education Accountability Act. Professional development created and provided by associations and local districts do not come under the purview of SDE.

The Committee approved H.4940 as a Committee Bill (formerly H.4779 OFFICE OF TRANSFORMATION). House Bill 4940 codifies the Office of Transformation within the State Department of Education (SDE). The office will provide service and support to schools throughout the state, but must focus on building the capacity of staff serving in the lowest performing districts and schools. The office must provide leadership and curriculum coaches to work with teachers, superintendents, schools boards, families, communities, and other educational partners. Direct coaching and support must be provided through the analysis of data and the development of interventions within the context of strategic plans. Every two years, schools must have a diagnostic review of plans and practices. The review must include a leadership capacity report and a review of the school’s mission/vision, governance, teaching and learning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement practices. Coaches must help leaders implement the plan of action. SDE must identify priority and focus schools that are in need of comprehensive support and intervention. The Education Accountability Act must be followed when defining low performing schools and determining which schools and districts are at risk. Criteria for exiting the priority and focus categories must be established, and schools must show three years of sustained improvement before they are removed from the categories. (Priority schools are in need of comprehensive support and intervention. Focus schools are in need of targeted support and intervention.) The Office must also identify best practices from other states in regard to innovations that produce improvements in academic growth and achievement of students, especially in low performing schools.

The Committee approved H.4941 as a Committee Bill (formerly H.4777 SCHOOL FISCAL PRACTICES). House Bill 4941 requires the State Department of Education (SDE) to establish a program for identifying fiscal practices and budgetary conditions that could compromise the fiscal integrity of a school district. The program must contain the following three levels of concern: "fiscal watch," "fiscal caution," and "fiscal emergency." SDE must work with district superintendents and finance officers to develop the program’s guidelines. If the Superintendent determines corrections have not occurred, or there is a law enforcement investigation involving the district, a fiscal watch must be declared. If an audit shows the district is operating outside of accounting principles or does not maintain at least a two percent reserve fund, a watch may be announced. Once a watch is in place, a district must submit a recovery plan to the State Superintendent within sixty days. If approved the district must implement the plan, and SDE will provide assistance. A district may not be released from a fiscal watch in the same fiscal year in which it was declared, but it may be released the following fiscal year if SDE believes that corrections have been implemented. If audits show the possibility of a fiscal emergency, the Superintendent may declare a "fiscal caution." If the audit shows one of the following the Superintendent must declare a fiscal caution: accounting practices are outside acceptable accounting limits; a district’s audit is more than sixty days late; audits from the past two years show conditions that may lead to a fiscal emergency; district records are unauditable; the district is not maintaining a two percent fund reserve; there are significant weaknesses and deficiencies that have a significant impact on the district; or, there is a law enforcement investigation involving the board of trustees. Should a district fail to develop or follow a correction plan, is at risk of defaulting on any type of debt, is under a fiscal watch or fiscal caution for three fiscal years, or problems are severe enough that additional action is necessary, the State Superintendent must declare fiscal emergency. Once declared, the State Auditor must direct SDE to assume emergency management of the district until the emergency is ended.

The House Judiciary Committee met on February 9, 2016, and reported out several bills.

H.3653 MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS
This bill empowers county, municipality, or other political subdivision law enforcement agencies to enter into multijurisdictional task force agreements or assignments of their law enforcement officers to other law enforcement agencies for the aid and benefit of the participating agencies. The governing bodies of each county, municipality, or state political subdivision must vote to approve these agreements before they can become effective between these participating agencies. The agreements can be terminated in writing and may last in perpetuity if they are not terminated.

H.4507 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HALL OF FAME
Membership on the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame Advisory Committee is expanded to include the President of the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, or his designee, to the committee.

H.4666 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE
Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committees are established under this legislation to review instances of domestic violence in each judicial circuit. Membership will be individuals within law enforcement, legal, medical, as well as other fields with expertise in domestic violence. The committee will make recommendations for changes to existing practices in an effort to reduce the number of domestic violence events in our state.

The House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee met on February 9, 2016, and reported out several bills.

The committee gave a favorable report on H.3166, a bill making revisions to conditions that disqualify someone from receiving unemployment compensation, including an additional DISQUALIFICATION FROM UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO FAIL SCREENINGS FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS REQUIRED BY PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS as a condition of employment or who refuse to comply with such pre-employment drug tests.

The committee gave a report of favorable with amendments on H.4141, a bill enacting the "LIMITED LINES TRAVEL INSURANCE ACT" to provide authority for travel retailers to offer and disseminate, under a limited lines travel insurance producer business entity license, travel insurance coverage for personal risks incident to planned travel such as: interruption or cancellation of trip or event; loss of baggage or personal effects; damages to accommodations or rental vehicles; and sickness, accident, disability, or death occurring during travel.

The committee gave a report of favorable with amendments on H.4548, a bill addressing CLOSING FEES CHARGED BY MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS. Responding to a 2015 ruling from the South Carolina Supreme Court, the legislation provides for clarification in the provisions authorizing motor vehicle dealers to charge closing fees in motor vehicle sales for all administrative and financial work needed to transfer a motor vehicle to the consumer.

The committee gave a favorable report on H.4679, a bill to provide for the TOTAL DEREGULATION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY and complete the telecommunications deregulation initiatives that the General Assembly has approved over the course of many years as a means of enhancing the state’s competitive advantage in the industry. The legislation provides for full implementation by extending deregulation provisions to the final segment of the telecommunications industry that was excluded from previous deregulation initiatives when basic service telephone lines were kept under the regulatory authority of the Public Service Commission.

The committee gave a report of favorable with amendments on H.4090, a bill revising requirements governing the operation of PAWNBROKERS. Offered as a comprehensive update of the provisions regulating pawnbrokers, the legislation includes among its revisions an increase in the maximum amount of a loan that a pawnbroker is allowed to make from $2,000 to $15,000.

The House Ways and Means Committee met on February 10, 2016, and reported out several bills.

The committee gave a report of favorable with amendments on H.4717, a bill that responds to the unprecedented damage of the October 2015 floods by creating the "SOUTH CAROLINA FARM AID FUND" to assist farmers in order to prevent the economic collapse of many of the state’s farms which could cause a severe disruption in the state’s economy and food supply chain. Established with a $40 million appropriation from the 2014-2015 Contingency Reserve Fund and authorized to accept private funds, grants, and property, the South Carolina Farm Aid Fund is created for making financial awards to farmers who have experienced a verifiable loss of agricultural commodities of at least forty percent as a result of certain declared natural disasters, excluding drought. Grant awards must be used for agricultural production expenses and losses due to the declared disaster, such as purchases of seed and fertilizer, but may not be used for the purchase of new equipment or the paying down of debt. Grant awards that are falsely obtained or misspent must be refunded. The legislation makes provisions for each grant to equal twenty percent of the person’s verifiable loss of agricultural commodities, and establishes limitations so that grants may not exceed one hundred thousand dollars and may not, when combined with losses covered by insurance, exceed one hundred percent of the actual loss. The grant application process and other fund administration is to be conducted by a Farm Aid Board composed of: the Commissioner of Agriculture, ex officio, or his designee, who serves as chairman; one member representing the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; one member representing a Farm Credit Association appointed by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; one member of the crop insurance industry appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; one agricultural commodities producer appointed by the Chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee; the Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture of Clemson Public Service Activities, or his designee; and the Vice President for Land Grant Services of South Carolina State Public Service Activities, or his designee.

The committee gave a favorable report on H.4328, a bill SYNCHRONIZING CERTAIN FILING DEADLINES REGARDING INCOME TAX WITHHOLDINGS to eliminate a lag time that presents an opportunity for fraud. The legislation revises two requirements for filing income tax withholdings information with the Department of Revenue that relate to fourth quarter returns and final annual statements so that they both have due dates of the last day of January rather than the last day of February.

The committee gave a favorable report on H.4577, a bill that provides for AIRCRAFT PROPERTY TAX PROCEEDS TO BE CREDITED TO THE STATE AVIATION FUND to support the maintenance and upkeep of airports.

The committee gave a report of favorable with amendments on H.4092, a bill making provisions for a RETENTION OF THE OWNER-OCCUPIED SPECIAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT RATE FOR A DECEASED INDIVIDUAL’S ESTATE. The legislation provides that when a homeowner receiving the four percent property tax assessment ratio dies, the property shall continue to receive the special owner-occupied assessment rate until the deceased’s estate is closed, or upon recording of a deed or deed of distribution out of the estate, whichever occurs first. This extension of the special assessment rate only applies if the property is not rented.

The committee gave a report of favorable with amendments on H.4712, a bill making clarifications regarding the CLASSIFICATION OF OFF-PREMISES OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGNS AS PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR TAX PURPOSES. The legislation classifies off-premises outdoor advertising signs as tangible personal property for tax purposes, and provides that the value of a lease or lease income on such billboards may not be used in the assessment of the tax value of the real property on which the advertising sign is erected.

The committee gave a report of favorable with amendments on H.4537, a bill codifying provisions for an INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES TUITION GRANTS FOR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS STUDENTS TO ATTEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, including religious institutions and other eligible private schools. The legislation takes the initiative, which has been authorized by general appropriations acts since 2013, out of the year-by-year temporary law of budget provisos and places it in the ongoing law of state statutes.

S.780 IMPORTING, POSSESSING OR SELLING IMPORTED FISH Sen. McElveen
This bill outlines that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources may issue permits for the release or stocking of sterile white amur, grass carp, or grass carp hybrids in this state.

S.984 SC MARINE RESOURCE ACT OF 2000 Sen. Campsen
This bill provides for the term "Southern Cobia Management Zone" which means all waters of this state south of Jeremy Inlet, Edisto Island.

The bill also states that the provision relating to certain Federal fishing regulations does not apply to cobia located in the Southern Cobia Management Zone. It further states that it is subject to the size limit established by federal regulation. The possession of cobia caught in the Southern Cobia Management Zone is limited to one person per day, and no more than three per boat per day, from June 1 to April 30. It is unlawful to take and possess cobia in the Southern Cobia Management Zone from May 1 to May 31, and at any time federal regulations provide for the closure of the recreational cobia season in the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean.

S.1030 PROTECTION OF NONGAME FISH Sen. Cromer
The bill outlines that it is unlawful for a recreational fisherman to take more than twenty-five American eels (Anguilla rostrate) a day. Each American eel must be at least nine inches long.

H.4876 STRIPED BASS Rep. V. S. Moss
The bill revises the periods of time when striped bass may be taken in various bodies of water. The bill also provides for geographic boundaries for the portion of the Intracoastal Waterway located in Horry County and to make a technical change.

H.4943 DEER HUNTING Rep. Hixon
Among many things, this bill revises the procedure whereby the Department of Natural Resources issues and charges a person for the privilege of hunting and taking deer. It also provides for bag limits for antlered deer and deer taken with a Deer Quota Program Permit.

S.933 HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA Sen. Johnson
This bill provides a two year extension for high school diploma petitions for a person who is no longer enrolled in a public school and who previously failed to receive a high school diploma or was denied graduation solely for failing to meet the exit exam requirements.

S.1043 DISTRICT AND SCHOOL PLANNING Senate Education Committee
This joint resolution approves regulations of the state board of education, relating to district and school planning, designated as regulation document number 4605, pursuant to the provisions of Article 1, Chapter 23, and Title 1 of the 1976 Code.

H.4864 VETERAN’S DAY Rep. Williams
This bill provides that all public schools must be closed on Veterans Day, that the day must not be considered as one of the regular school days for the year and to exempt state-supported institutions of higher education from this requirement.

H.4869 CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Rep. Erickson
This bill increases the age for which a child must be secured in a passenger restraint system from five years old to seven years old, adds certain height requirements, and prohibits a child from occupying the front passenger seat until the child is thirteen years old instead of six years old.

H.4874 CODE MODIFICATIONS REGARDING DMV Rep. Newton
This bill makes numerous changes to the Code regarding references to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Comptroller General’s Office, particularly regarding drivers’ licenses, plates and registration.

H.4932 VEHICLE AND TRAILER SPECIFICATIONS Rep. Allison
This bill relates to maximum lengths and weights of vehicles that may be operated along the state’s highways.

H.4933 CHARTER SCHOOLS Rep. R. L. Brown
This bill relates to reporting requirements of charter schools to their sponsors and the state Department of Education, so as to provide these reports must include information concerning its racial composition and the degree to which the school complies with requirements concerning its racial composition.

H.4877 ADDITIONAL FAMILY COURT JUDGES Rep. Delleney
Adds two additional family court judges, who will serve at-large terms of six years. Consistent with existing law, they must be elected without regard to their county or circuit of residence.

H.4878 CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS Rep. Tallon
Communication between a client and any member of a peer-support team, providing emotional and moral support after a critical incident, will be confidential and privileged except under certain, limited occurrences.

H.4944 AUTHORITY OF A MUNICIPALITY TO CONDUCT GENERAL ELECTIONS Rep. Funderburk
Changes existing law to require Municipal General Elections even if only one person has filed for the Municipal office and even if no one has declared a write-in candidacy for the office.

S.850 STANDARD VALUATION UNDER INSURANCE PROVISIONS Sen. Hayes
This bill makes provisions for relating to standard valuation within state laws governing insurance.

S.976 SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE PLACED THROUGH A LICENSED INSURANCE BROKER Sen. Hayes
This bill revises provisions relating to limited line and special producer licensure, so as to provide that a licensed property casualty insurance producer may place surplus lines insurance through a licensed insurance broker without being appointed by the surplus lines insurer.

H.4931 REGULATION OF PROFESSIONAL BONDSMEN, SURETY BONDSMEN, AND RUNNERS Rep. Gambrell
This bill revises provisions relating to education and continuing education requirements for professional bondsmen, surety bondsmen, and runners, so as to increase the number of hours of education required for licensure and for continuing education. The legislation revises provisions relating to visiting and examining professional bondsmen by the Department of Insurance, so as to subject sureties to these visits and examinations. The legislation requires bondsmen to maintain a properly zoned office in this state that is accessible to the general public and department during normal business hours, and requires the bondsman to provide certain contact information.

H.4863 PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Rep. G. M. Smith
A person may possess and store in a pill box a drug prescribed by a licensed practitioner for his/her use; provided, however, upon request by law enforcement or within thirty days thereafter, he/she must be able to produce a valid prescription for the drug or written statement of the prescribing licensed practitioner attesting that the practitioner had prescribed the drug for use by the patient. The bill outlines that "pill box" for this provision means a special, compartmentalized container intended and used to store scheduled doses of a person’s medications.

S.932 APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING CERTAIN ARMED FORCES PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT RATIOS Sen. Bright
This bill revises provisions relating to property tax assessment ratios, so as to revise an application deadline for certain property owned by certain members of the armed forces.

H.4875 HOUSE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL Rep. Newton
This bill provides for various statutory updates and revisions recommended by the House Legislative Oversight Committee as a result of its study of the Comptroller General’s Office.

H.4934 STATE EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PROGRAM REQUIRED TO PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES RESULTING FROM AN ACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Rep. Tinkler
This bill provides that the State Employee Insurance Program must provide benefits for medical expenses resulting from an act of domestic violence.

H.4935 STATE EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PROGRAM REQUIRED TO PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES RESULTING FROM INTENTIONALLY SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES OR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE Rep. Henegan
This bill provides that the State Employee Insurance Program must provide benefits for medical expenses resulting from intentionally self-inflicted injuries or attempted suicide.

H.4942 INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR PURE BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES Rep. J. E. Smith
This bill revises provisions for the income tax credit for plug-in hybrid vehicles, so as to add a tax credit for pure battery electric vehicles and to extend the time the tax credit is allowed.

H.4945 "CONSERVATION BANK REAUTHORIZATION AND WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT" Rep. Bingham
This bill enacts the "Conservation Bank Reauthorization and Wetlands Conservation Act". The legislation increases the portion of the state deed recording fee credited to the South Carolina Conservation Bank Trust Fund from twenty-five cents to thirty cents. The legislation revises South Carolina Conservation Bank Trust Fund grant provisions, so as to add isolated wetlands, Carolina Bays and the value of the proposal for the acquisition, reclamation, or improvement of wetlands to the list of conservation criteria of the Conservation Bank and to allow the board of the Conservation Bank to authorize up to eight and thirty-three one hundredths percent of the monies credited to the bank to be applied to applications that primarily or solely relate to the acquisition, reclamation, or improvement of wetlands. The legislation revises restrictions on the transfer of deed recording fees to the trust fund, so as to provide that the transfer of deed recording fees shall be decreased by twice the average percentage reduction of appropriations to each agency in a fiscal year when the General Assembly provides less appropriations than what was provided in the previous year. The legislation repeals certain provisions relating to deed recording fees and sunset provisions.

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