On Tuesday, January 10, 2017, lawmakers gathered in Columbia to commence the 122nd South Carolina General Assembly. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives and the Senate sat in joint assembly to receive the Governor's annual State of the State Address. During the week, committees began their work on legislation to report out for consideration by the full House.

This bill states that the Department of Natural Resources may issue a combination license or a fishing license to a constable, reserve police officer, volunteer firefighter or member of the State Guard at no cost.

This bill specifies that school crossing guards shall carry and use handheld stop paddles.

This bill requires the State Department of Education to provide a universal screening tool for use (beginning with the 20172018 school year) by local school districts to screen students in kindergarten through second grade for characteristics of dyslexia.

This bill (relating to requirements for certain teacher certification requirements and for literacy endorsements in the South Carolina Read to Succeed Act) includes training in identifying and assisting students with dyslexia among the required coursework and to make these requirements effective beginning with the 20172018 school year.

This bill enacts the "South Carolina Computer Science Education Initiative" and provides that (beginning with the 20182019 school year) public high schools and public charter high schools shall offer certain computer science coursework, require the State Board of Education to adopt and ensure implementation of gradeappropriate standards for computer science and computational thinking for public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, provide related requirements of the State Department of Education, and to provide requirements for the Office of the Governor to establish criteria and processes for designating science, technology, engineering, and math communities and regions.

This bill enacts "Charlie's Law" (relating to the use of safety devices by a vehicle which is towing another vehicle) so as to define the term "vehicle" and to revise the type of equipment that must be used to attach a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle.

This Joint Resolution creates the Alamo Monument Commission to design and establish (on the grounds of the Capitol complex) an appropriate statue or monument to honor the memory of the brave South Carolinians who died at the Alamo and to provide for the commission's membership, duties, and related matters.

Would amend existing laws so that only landowners, their appointed representatives, or governing bodies responsible for the zoning regulations and maps regarding the property, could amend or change any zoning regulations applicable to, or map of, it.

The workers' compensation maintenance tax imposed on self-insurers, will continue to be in effect and not terminate in five years after its July 1, 2014 effective date, as the original enactment had provided.

Allows constables, police officers, volunteer firefighters, or members of the state guard, who are South Carolina residents, to enter any state park free of charge.

Proposes an amendment for our state constitution to disqualify anyone, convicted of a crime while holding elective office, from voting.

This constitutional amendment ballot question would ask voters whether our 1895 South Carolina Constitution should be amended to include an environmental bill of rights. With such an amendment, citizens would be extended the right to enforce the conservation, and protection, of our state environment. Local governments would also be empowered to enact environmental laws, regulations, ordinances, and charter provisions that are more restrictive and protective than ones adopted by state government.

State grand jury authority would be expanded to include insurance fraud. Filing false claims for payment under an insurance policy, under certain conditions, would allow seizure and forfeiture of assets associated with the fraudulent scheme. Revises penalties. The state may petition for the conversion of seized assets into state assets. Sets out when these ill-gotten assets may be disposed of, as well as the disposition of the sale proceeds from their deacquisition.

The property exempt from bankruptcy proceedings-- as well as attachment, levy, or forced sale-- are revised in this proposed legislation to include the interest of a deceased spouse, up to $50,000 as well as up to $5,000 worth of firearms.

Requires workers' compensation benefits to be paid in the form of a check or via direct deposit.

Amends existing adoption laws. Adds circumstances when nonresidents may adopt children in our state.

This bill would authorize county legislative delegations to abolish county recreation commissions. To do so, county legislative delegations would have to first adopt a resolution transferring all county recreation commission authority to county councils.

County legislative delegations would be able to remove, for cause, anyone the county legislative delegation has appointed, or recommended be appointed, to a board, commission, or council. Removal can only be effected after appointees have been given a written statement of reasons for their removal, and an opportunity to be heard.

Allows a county's legislative delegation to remove the governor's appointment authority over any county recreation commission. After doing so, that commission's authority is transferred to that county's council.

Establishes the "South Carolina Whistleblower and Public Employee Protection Act."

Revises the definition of "appropriate authority" to include our state inspector general. Eliminates the $2,000 cap on rewards for reports on wasteful practices that result in taxpayer savings. Establishes a procedure for rewarding multiple employees who report the same abuse. In civil actions against state public employers who have retaliated against public employees who reported violations of state or federal laws or regulations, the one-year limitation on their protection from adverse employment actions is repealed.

Any state statute that regulates highway traffic preempts a local ordinance, rule or regulation that conflicts with it. Local governmental bodies cannot enact any provision that conflicts with a state statute that regulates highway traffic. Deletes any current state laws that allow state political subdivisions to adopt traffic regulations which are not in conflict with state highway traffic laws.

Establishes procedures for voting by mail.

Directs the State Law Enforcement Division [SLED] to create a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system.

Changes the definition of a "party in interest" to include former foster parents. Requires the South Carolina Department of Social Services [SCDSS] to provide notice in certain additional circumstances. For permanency planning purposes, SCDSS must give permanency planning hearing notices to listed individuals. Sets out rights for individuals to file motions for case review at any time. Grants certain individuals the right to intervene in child abuse or neglect actions. In termination of parental right cases, certain evidence must be in the record before selecting a permanent child placement plan other than terminating parental rights. Adds circumstances under which nonresidents can adopt children in our state. For consents and relinquishments to adopt a child, allows a person, or agency, to specify a person to whom a consent and relinquishment is directed. Clarifies certain rights of foster parents.

Provides definitions of "crisis intervention team" and "technical assistance center council" for Criminal Justice Academy training purposes. Class 1-LE law enforcement officers must complete continuing law enforcement education credits in mental health or addictive disorders. The Law Enforcement Training Council would be authorized to establish a crisis intervention training center. Creates a crisis intervention training council, and requires every county to establish at least one crisis intervention team.

Proposes amending the 1895 South Carolina Constitution so that beginning with those House members elected in the 2020 General Election, or who take office after that date, their service is limited to four consecutive terms. State Senators are similarly limited to two consecutive terms.

AND EDUCATION LEVEL IN DETERMINING PREMIUM RATES Rep. Toole

This bill adds marital status and education level to the list of factors that an insurer may not consider when determining premium rates.

PURCHASE COVERAGE EXCEEDING THE VALUE OF ALL LIENS AGAINST THE INSURED PROPERTY Rep. Toole

This bill prohibits an insurer from requiring a homeowner to purchase coverage for an amount exceeding the value of all liens against the insured property unless the homeowner affirmatively consents to waive rights granted by this legislation.

METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR THE INSURED VEHICLE IN DETERMINING PREMIUM RATES Rep. Toole

This bill prohibits an insurer from considering the insured's credit rating or method of payment for the insured vehicle while determining premium rates.

Every public building owned by the state, or any agency, office, department, division, commission, or institution thereof, must supply feminine hygiene products in each female public restroom, free of charge.

The legislation authorizes the State Board of Barber Examiners to issue mobile barbershop permits, as well as establish permit requirements. The legislation further provide for the regulation of mobile barbershops. "Mobile barbershop" means a selfcontained unit in which the practice of barbering is conducted, which may be moved, towed, or transported from one location to another. A mobile barbershop includes a portable barber operation.

This bill creates the Shingles Vaccination Study Committee to study whether it is in the public interest for the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to establish a shingles vaccination program to offer the vaccination for shingles (herpes zoster) to individuals sixty years and older.

This bill provides that the director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs shall receive and respond to complaints from veterans regarding county Veterans' Affairs Officers. The Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs shall forward the complaint, along with a recommendation, to the appropriate legislative delegation for its consideration and final determination.

In current law under the Drug Product Selection Act" the term "substitute" means to dispense, with the practitioner's authorization, a ‘therapeutically equivalent' generic drug product of identical drug salt. This bill changes the definition of "substitute" to include an interchangeable biological product in place of the biological product ordered or prescribed. The bill further allows a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a specific biological product and allows pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biological products when appropriate.

In October 2016, the House Legislative Oversight Committee completed the studies and investigations of this agency to determine if the laws and programs were being implemented in accordance with the intent of the General Assembly. As a result, this bill, in agreement with the Committee's recommendations, requires three members of the Commission to meet the legal definition of blindness. In addition, the bill outlines the Commission to employ qualified itinerant counselors instead of teachers to assist teachers in public or private schools who are responsible for the teaching of visually handicapped students.

Among many things, this bill provides requirements for the work of electrology to ensure minimum standards of competency, protect the public from misrepresentation of status and qualifications by persons who hold themselves out to be ‘licensed electrologists. "Electrology" means the art and practice relating to the removal of hair from the normal skin of the human body by application of an electric current to the hair papilla by means of a needle or needles so as to cause growth inactivity of the hair papilla and thus permanently remove the hair.

The bill outlines that the director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs must be a veteran. As a result, the revised definition of "veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released from that service under conditions other than dishonorable. The bill also revises the minimum active service duty requirement for appointment to county veterans' affairs officer.

This bill provides that a South Carolina resident who is a constable, reserve police officer, member of the state guard, or volunteer firefighter may enter the State Museum without charge by presenting an identification card or badge.

This bill revises provisions relating to the Insurance Fraud Division of the Office of Attorney General, so as to increase the minimum funding appropriations for the division from two hundred thousand dollars to four hundred thousand dollars.

This bill revises provisions relating to an individual retirement account being exempt from attachment, levy, and sale, so as to eliminate the provision that the exemption applies only to the extent that is permitted in Section 522(d) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.

This bill revises the South Carolina Motion Picture Incentive Act to provide that, from the funds set aside for the program, any funds committed to film projects and any uncommitted funds must be carried forward from the prior fiscal year and must be used by the department for the same purpose. The funds must be placed in a separate and distinct fund before July thirtieth of the current fiscal year, and the interest accrued by the fund must remain in the fund. From the funds authorized to the department for use in the program, should either the wage rebate source of funds or the supplier rebate source of funds be depleted in a fiscal year, the department may use either rebate source of funds for the purpose of awarding either wage or supplier rebates.

This bill provide that beginning January 1, 2018, an adult sixtyfive years of age or younger whose income is at or below one hundred thirtyeight percent of the federal poverty level is eligible for Medicaid as provided for in the Federal Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act.

This bill revises property tax exemption provisions, so as to allow an exemption from all property tax equal to one hundred percent of the value subject to tax of an owneroccupied residence if the owner has attained the age of sixtyfive years.

This bill provides that if property was assessed as agricultural property or as farm machinery and equipment in 2016, the property must continue to be assessed with the same assessment ratio unless a change of use occurs.

This bill revises provisions of the South Carolina Textiles Communities Revitalization Act relating to tax credits allowable for a portion of the expenses incurred by a taxpayer in the rehabilitation, renovation, or redevelopment of a textile mill site, so as to make the income tax credits allowed transferable.