South Carolina House of Representatives
James H. "Jay" Lucas, Speaker of the House
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND CONSTITUENT SERVICES
Room 212, Blatt Building, P.O. Box 11867, Columbia,
S.C. 29211, (803) 734-3230
The House of Representatives took up three bills that draw upon the work of the special House Opioid Abuse Prevention Study Committee that was appointed by the Speaker of the House to examine the growing misuse of prescription painkillers and recommend legislative actions to counter the epidemic of ruinous addiction and fatal overdoses. The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4492, a bill that provides new DOSAGE LIMITATIONS ON PRESCRIPTIONS FOR SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, including opioid painkillers. The legislation revises the thirty-one day supply limitation imposed upon prescriptions for controlled substances classified in Schedule II to provide that this supply must not exceed one hundred twenty tablets or capsules or four hundred eighty milliliters of an opiate containing liquid.
The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3819, a bill establishing new REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE PRESCRIBING OPIOID ANALGESICS TO MINORS. The legislation provides that, before the first prescription for an opioid analgesic may be issued to someone under eighteen years of age who is not emancipated, the prescriber must satisfy a set of requirements that include: assessing whether the minor has suffered from a mental health or substance abuse disorder and if prescription drugs have been taken for treatment; discussing with the minor and their parent or guardian such matters as the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid analgesics and the dangers of drug interactions with benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants; and, obtaining written consent for the prescription from the minor's parent, guardian, or other adult authorized to consent to the minor's medical treatment. The legislation includes requirements for the written consent, the name and quantity of the opioid analgesic being prescribed, the number of any authorized refills, and certain other information to be recorded on a "Start Talking!" consent form developed by the State Board of Medical Examiners. Exceptions are provided that apply in such circumstances as medical emergencies.
The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3820, a bill requiring OPIOID ABUSE EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS. This bill requires, as a part of the public school Comprehensive Health Education Program, certain instruction in prescription opioid abuse prevention in grades nine through twelve beginning with the 20172018 School Year. This instruction must include an emphasis on the prescription drug epidemic and the connection between opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin.
The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4810, a joint resolution creating a temporary SCHOOL METAL DETECTOR STUDY COMMITTEE to examine whether it is in the public interest to require the installation and use of metal detectors at public schools in the state. In making its study, the committee must consider the costs and benefits of the metal detectors to the residents of this state, potential sources of funding, and the feasibility of having each school install metal detectors. The seven member committee will be comprised of three members from the Senate appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, three members from the House appointed by the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee, and one additional member with a background in law enforcement appointed by the State Superintendent of Education. After making a report of its recommendations to the General Assembly within ninety days of the effective date of this legislation, the committee will dissolve.
The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4705, a bill ENHANCING REQUIREMENTS FOR MANDATORY REPORTING OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. The legislation expands the category of those who are required to report suspected child abuse and neglect by adding firefighters, camp counselors, scout leaders, school or college administrators, coaches, and clerical or nonclerical religious counselors who are licensed counselors or holds themselves out as counselors or regularly counsel others. The legislation specifies that mandatory reporters must make their reports of suspected child abuse and neglect to law enforcement agencies and cannot satisfy their legal duties simply by making reports to their supervisors. The duty to report is not superseded by an internal investigation within an institution, school, facility, or agency.
The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3329, a bill providing ENHANCEMENTS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING PENALTIES that draws upon the work of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children. The legislation includes revised criminal definitions, more stringent penalties that apply when a victim is under the age of eighteen, and provisions for human trafficking specialized service providers and Human Trafficking Acute Crisis Care and Resource Centers.
The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4434, a bill making provisions for comprehensive DYSLEXIA SCREENING AND INTERVENTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. This bill requires the state Department of Education to establish and provide training and support for a statewide multitiered support system (MTSS) framework with three tiers of interventions. The MTSS framework will consist of a data based system to match instructional resources to educational needs, an ongoing system of student assessment, and a layered continuum of support. The department would develop a universal screening process to screen for identifying students who may be at risk for problems in reading, math, writing, and socialemotional development. The screening would be used by local school districts through their existing response to intervention framework. Beginning in the 201920 school year, school districts are to use the universal screening process to screen each child from kindergarten through second grade at least three times a year. Each district will convene a schoolbased team to analyze screening data and progressmonitoring data to assist teachers and students. If the screening process indicates the student is at risk for problems the district will notify the parent or guardian and provide information regarding the problem, provide the student with appropriate intervention and monitor the progress of the student. Additionally, this bill requires the department to provide professional development resources for educators for identification and intervention methods for students who are at risk, including students with dyslexia.
The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.4078, the "MILITARY PRIORITY REGISTRATION ACT". The legislation makes provisions for the state's public institutions of higher learning to give enrollment priority to militaryrelated students, including activeduty members of the uniformed services, reservists, members of the South Carolina National Guard, and honorably discharged veterans.
The House approved and sent the Senate H.4977. The legislation implements in statute changes authorized with the adoption of the amendment to the South Carolina Constitution which provides for the JOINT ELECTION OF THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR beginning with the general election of 2018. Under the revised system, a gubernatorial candidate selects a running mate for the post of Lieutenant Governor in a manner comparable to the selection of the President and Vice President at the federal level. The legislation establishes a timeline of requirements to govern the election of this joint ticket and makes provisions for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be considered as a single candidate under campaign contribution and election committee requirements.
The House approved and sent the Senate H.4116, a bill that revises the state's Medical Practice Act to provide that PHYSICIANS CANNOT BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN NATIONAL CERTIFICATION AS A CONDITION OF LICENSURE, REIMBURSEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT A HOSPITAL. This prohibition applies to "Maintenance of Certification" or "MOC" continuing education programs that measure core competencies in the practice of medicine and surgery and are approved by a nationallyrecognized accrediting organization.
The House approved and sent the Senate H.4529, a bill that revises practice acts to provide AUTHORIZATION FOR NURSES AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TO UTILIZE TELEMEDICINE.
The House approved and sent the Senate H.4676, a bill to provide that those included on the list of RESPONSIBLE ADULTS WHO CAN SIGN APPLICATIONS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A BEGINNER'S PERMIT, A CONDITIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND A SPECIAL RESTRICTED DRIVER'S LICENSE can fulfill various requirements for accompanying young drivers which currently require the presence of a parent or legal guardian. The legislation also provides that someone on the list of responsible adults is authorized to sign the consent form at the Department of Motor Vehicles to register the applicant with the federal Selective Service System upon attaining eighteen years of age.
The House approved and sent the Senate H.4682, a bill revising OPTIONS FOR SATISFYING THE "MOTOR VEHICLE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT". The legislation eliminates the options of filing a bond and filing of a certificate of deposit of money or securities as methods of establishing proof of financial responsibility. Drivers have been obtaining automobile insurance that satisfies "Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act" requirements and have not been using the other methods for establishing proof of financial responsibility.
The House and Senate adopted a conference committee report on H.3649 and the bill was enrolled for ratifications. The legislation makes revisions to allow for greater CONFORMITY BETWEEN THE ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACTS and eliminate ambiguity concerning the issuance of local government permits for buildings and structures.
The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3337, a bill REVISING FILING AND RECORDING FEES CHARGED BY THE REGISTER OF DEEDS AND CLERKS OF COURT to make provisions for charging certain flat fees.
The House approved and sent the Senate H.4704, a bill that codifies current procedures for the issuance by the Department of Health and Environmental Control of GENERAL PERMITS AVAILABLE FOR TIDELAND CRITICAL AREAS OF THE COASTAL ZONE.
The House amended, approved, and sent to the Senate H.3139, a bill revising provisions allowing the issuance of biennial permits and licenses for the SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR AT SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEXES to include a soccer complex.
The House approved and sent the Senate H.4475, a bill enacting a recommendation from the House Legislative Oversight Committee that eliminates obsolete statutory references to DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY and provides for DPS to maintain a list of its divisions on the department's website.
The House gave third reading approval to H.4377, a bill providing REFORMS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, and sent the legislation to the Senate.
The full committee gave a favorable report, as amended, to H.3139 BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR SALES AT PROFESSIONAL SOCCER VENUES. This reported bill would make professional soccer complexes, as defined in it, eligible for permits for on-premises consumption of beer, wine, and liquor. These sales are already permitted at baseball, motorsports entertainment, or tennis-specific, complexes.
Also receiving a favorable report, as amended, was H.3329 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS. This proposed legislation deletes the definition of "trafficking in persons." It also would restructure this offense and add penalties when a victim is a minor. These revisions include increasing the criminal penalties for first offense trafficking in minors to up to 30 years in prison.
Last, the committee issued a favorable report, with amendments, to H.3337 REGISTER OF DEEDS FLAT RATE FILING FEES. It would set flat-rate filing and recording fees, including a flat fee of $25.00, for certain documents recorded with the Register of Deeds, or filed with the Clerk of Court. They include deeds, mortgages, installment contracts, Uniform Commercial Code filings, leases, and other such documents. Shorter documents, including partitions, expungements, trustee qualifications, memorandums of trusts, certification of trusts, and revocations of powers of attorney would be assessed a flat rate of $10 instead. Also sets other flat fees for other documents recorded, or filed, in these offices.
The full Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee met on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, and reported out several bills.
H.4116, a bill that revises the state's Medical Practice Act, was given a favorable recommendation by the committee. The bill provides that PHYSICIANS CANNOT BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN NATIONAL CERTIFICATION AS A CONDITION OF LICENSURE, REIMBURSEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT A HOSPITAL. This prohibition applies to "Maintenance of Certification" or "MOC" continuing education programs that measure core competencies in the practice of medicine and surgery and are approved by a nationallyrecognized accrediting organization.
The committee gave a favorable recommendation to H.4438, legislation regarding changes to the COMMISSION OF HEARING AID SPECIALISTS which provides guidance and makes recommendations to DHEC, the administering agency. This bill gives DHEC another option for penalizing a hearing aid specialist not in compliance with licensing requirements by allowing the agency to impose a monetary penalty. It also transfers responsibility for approving and verifying continuing education compliance from the Commission to DHEC. The bill outlines that DHEC has the authority to allow a third party to administer the licensure examination instead of directly administering the examination. However, if DHEC administers the licensure examination, it may charge applicants an exam fee and the funds must be used to defray the costs of administering the exam. If DHEC chooses to use a third party to administer the licensure examination the exam fees will be submitted directly to the third party.
H.4529 was given a favorable report by the committee. This bill authorizes the PRACTICE OF TELEMEDICINE by advanced practice registered nurse (APRNS). The bill does not authorize an APRN to perform services beyond the scope authorized in the Nurse Practice Act and the Physician Practice Act. The bill also authorizes physician assistants (PAs) to practice telemedicine. These practices are currently authorized under the Appropriations Act in Proviso 117.135.
The committee gave a favorable recommendation to H.4488, legislation revising the PRESCRIPTION MONITORING PROGRAM. This bill expands the list of persons to which the DHEC's Bureau of Drug Control may provide prescription monitoring program data. The list includes a coroner, deputy coroner, medical examiner, and deputy medical examiner involved in a specific inquiry into the cause and manner of death of a designated person.
The Ways and Means Committee reported out H.4950, the General Appropriation Bill, and H.4951, the joint resolution making appropriations from the Capital Reserve Fund, which together comprise the $8.8 billion FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 STATE GOVERNMENT BUDGET. The budget includes $8.2 billion in recurring state general fund revenue and $145 million in Capital Reserve Funds.
$32.4 million is devoted to the 1% increase in the employer contribution rates for the South Carolina Retirement System and the Police Officers Retirement System that is in keeping with the schedule for addressing the unfunded liability facing the state's pensions established in Act 13 of 2017.
$56.4 million is included to cover the increased costs of operating the state's health insurance plan with no increases in the premiums paid by employees and small increases in deductibles and copayments. Coverage is expanded to include well visits.
For K-12 public education, $32 million is used to maintain the base student cost at $2,425 per pupil.
$24.3 million is provided for a statewide 2% teacher salary increase.
$13 million in Education Improvement Act funds is included to address S.C. Public Charter School District growth.
$3 million in recurring funds and $5 million in nonrecurring funds is allocated to purchasing or leasing new school buses.
The Department of Administration is charged with reviewing the state transportation operations at the Department of Education to determine if safety improvements, efficiency, and cost savings are possible. The Department of Education is directed to take part in various state fleet programs and services.
$2 million in Education Improvement Act funds is provided for career and technology education.
A total of $49 million in nonrecurring funds is distributed among the state's institutions of higher learning to address various capital needs and maintenance issues.
Full funding is provided for the LIFE, HOPE, and Palmetto Fellows higher education scholarship programs.
The Commission on Higher Education is afforded $17.5 million in lottery funds for need-based grants, $8.8 million in lottery funds for tuition grants, 496 thousand in lottery funds along with $1.9 million in unclaimed prize money for National Guard Tuition Repayment, and $6 million in unclaimed prize money for the Higher Education Excellence Enhancement Program.
$51.1 million in lottery funds is allocated for tuition assistance through the Commission on Higher Education and the Board of Technical and Comprehensive Education.
The Board of Technical and Comprehensive Education is afforded $9.9 million in lottery funds for high demand skill training equipment, $9.4 million in lottery funds for worker training through the Ready SC Program at the state's technical colleges, and $11 million in unclaimed prize money for workforce scholarships and grants through Career Pathways.
The Department of Health and Human Services is afforded $26.4 million for Medicaid maintenance of effort to address program cost growth, $3.8 million to enhance access and increase provider reimbursement rates for Autism Spectrum Disorder Services, and $4.4 million for opioid use disorder treatment and services.
$7.7 million is provided from the Capital Reserve Fund for a Medicaid Management Information System
The budget provides for the continuation of Medicaid accountability and quality improvement programs as: the Healthy Outcomes Initiative for meeting the needs of chronically ill uninsured patients through home visits and care in other settings outside the emergency room; a Primary Care Safety Net utilizing such resources as Federally Qualified Health Centers and free clinics; and efforts to enhance provider capacity in rural and underserved areas.
$1.5 million in recurring funds is provided for the state's telemedicine network.
$4 million in recurring funds is provided for a Rural Health Initiative partnership between DHHS and the USC School of Medicine to improve access to life-saving emergency room care in the wake of rural hospital closures. $2 million in nonrecurring funds is provided for medical contracts.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control receives $1 million for Best Chance Network/Colon Cancer preventative screenings, $499 thousand for communicable diseases initiatives, $500 thousand for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, $350 thousand for an EMS Performance Improvement Center, and $1 million in nonrecurring funds for water quality initiatives.
The Department of Mental Health is afforded $4.5 million for supported community housing expansion, $500 thousand for school-based services, and $2 million for Child and Adolescent Intensive Community and Residential Services.
The Department of Disabilities and Special Needs receives $11.3 million for a frontline workforce pay increase and $500 thousand for statewide access to genetic services, especially in the area of autism.
The Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services is afforded $1.25 million for an enhanced response to Opioid Use Disorder and $1.75 million for increased opioid treatment and services.
The Department of Social Services is appropriated $20.3 million for a child and family service review, $2.7 million for the state's share in a federal child care match, and $25 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for the development of the child support system.
A $25 thousand increase is provided for children's services at the Commission for the Blind.
$2.5 million in recurring funds and $2.7 million from the Capital Reserve Fund is provided for the Deal Closing Fund that the Department of Commerce uses to recruit new business to the state. The Department of Commerce is afforded appropriations of $4 million in nonrecurring funds $6 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for the Locate SC Site Inventory, $1 million in nonrecurring funds for applied research centers, $250 thousand for the SC Manufacturing Extension Partnership, $150 thousand for Appalachian Regional Commission statewide assessment, and $600 thousand in nonrecurring funds for the Military Base Task Force.
The State Treasurer is directed to loan the State Ports Authority up to $50 million in excess debt service to assist with cash flow needs related to the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. When the federal government's share of the project is received, the state is to be reimbursed for the full amount of this loan.
$1.5 million is appropriated to the Department of Agriculture for statewide agribusiness infrastructure.
The Clemson PSA receives $2 million for water resource research, $3 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for water research facility renovation, and $3 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for research and education center infrastructure.
The Department of Natural Resources is allocated $3 million in recurring funds and $500 thousand in nonrecurring funds for statewide public wildlife and fisheries management projects, $1.9 million for salary realignment, $404 thousand for law enforcement officer step increases, $415 thousand for vehicle rotation, and $502 thousand for information technology.
The Conservation Bank Trust is afforded $3.5 million in recurring funds and $1.5 million from the Capital Reserve Fund.
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism receives $11 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for beach renourishment, $3 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for State Park maintenance, $2.5 million for its sports marketing grants program, and $4 million in nonrecurring funds for the Parks and Recreation Development Fund for PARD grants to local communities.
The Sea Grant Consortium receives $50 thousand for a coastal economist.
The Forestry Commission is afforded $1.5 million for forester recruitment and retention, $945 thousand for forest inventory and analysis, and $1.5 million in nonrecurring funds for firefighting equipment.
The Arts Commission is appropriated $350 thousand for community arts development and $500 thousand in nonrecurring funds for SC Children's Theater.
A Lottery Reserve Trust Fund is established in case the state should need to pay claims from December 2017 when the South Carolina Education Lottery issued more winning tickets than intended. The trust fund is afforded $41 million in lottery funds along with all net lottery proceeds, investment earnings, and unclaimed prize money for the year.
A proviso is included to allow Education Lottery tickets to be purchased not only with cash, but also with debit cards. Credit cards and other forms of payment remain prohibited.
Full funding is provided for the constitutional reserve accounts that the state uses to cope with revenue shortfalls.
The Local Government Fund is maintained at a funding level of $222 million.
The Judicial Department is afforded $357 thousand for a family court judge position, $7 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for case management modernization, $900 thousand from the Capital Reserve Fund for building maintenance, and $1.1 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for Supreme Court security.
The State Law Enforcement Division is provided $956 thousand for law enforcement officer rank change, $1 million in recurring funds for vehicle rotation, $1 million in recurring funds for technology equipment and software, and $1.1 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for a case management system.
The Illegal Immigration Unit is transferred from the Department of Public Safety to the State Law Enforcement Division.
The Department of Public Safety is appropriated $1 million in recurring funds for Highway Patrol officer overtime and $400 thousand in recurring funds for local law enforcement grants.
The Department of Corrections receives $3.7 million for its correctional officer hiring rate adjustment and retention plan to reduce turnover rate at the agency and $1.7 million for the first half of the department's Workforce and Reentry Services initiative for equipping inmates with skills that will help them to reenter society.
The Department of Corrections is authorized to conduct a pilot program on the therapeutic use of cannabidioil oil for eligible incarcerated individuals to determine whether this CBD oil is a more effective and less expensive alternative to the psychotropic drugs currently used to treat various mental illnesses.
The Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services is provided $1.1 million in recurring funds for the middle phase of its agent vehicle support plan and $863 thousand for an expansion of its offender supervision specialist program.
The Department of Juvenile Justice receives $3.7 million for the treatment of the severely mentally ill and $170 thousand in nonrecurring funds for child advocacy centers.
The Department of Administration is afforded $3 million for its Information Technology Shared Services Program Management Office, $1 million for the Guardian Ad Litem Program, and $4.5 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for state-owned building maintenance.
The scope of the current Healthcare Employee Recruitment and Retention Program is expanded so that agencies can use the program's incentives to attract employees in other fields that are critically needed for the public's safety and welfare.
The State Election Commission receives $250 thousand for election security infrastructure and $4 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for the refurbishment of the current statewide voting system. In anticipation of purchasing a replacement for the current system, $4 million is placed in a New Statewide Voting System Reserve Fund.
The State Ethics Commission receives $133 thousand for program assistants and $123 thousand for an investigator position.
The Human Affairs Commission receives $20 thousand for administrative hearings and $80 thousand for compliance programs.
Clarification is provided for how the Department of Transportation may hold emergency meetings to address such circumstances as hurricanes, floods, ice storms, and other natural disasters.
The Adjutant General receives appropriations of $451 thousand for emergency preparedness operations, $120 thousand for South Carolina State Guard personnel expenses, $115 thousand for state operations expenses, and $1 million in recurring funds along with $3 million from the Capital Reserve Fund to be used with federal matching dollars for armory revitalizations.
The Department of Motor Vehicles is afforded $379 thousand in recurring funds and $5.6 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for REAL ID implementation costs and $428 thousand in recurring funds for implementing the recently enacted Moped legislation.
$275 thousand is provided from the Capital Reserve Fund to the Division of Aeronautics for facilities maintenance.
The Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging receives $20 thousand for state matching dollars.
The Department of Archives and History receives $200 thousand in nonrecurring funds for the conservation of South Carolina's constitutions, $250 in nonrecurring funds for the Charleston Library Society Beaux Arts Building, and $200 thousand from the Capital Reserve Fund for architectural heritage preservation.
The State Library is afforded $167 thousand to expand the DISCUS virtual library system and $431 thousand for bookmobile services.
S.913 YOUTH HUNTING DAYS Sen. Campsen
The bill outlines that youth hunters who have not completed a hunter education program and who hunt on a youth hunting day must be accompanied by an adult who is at least twenty-one years of age. A license or tag requirement is waived for a youth hunter on a youth hunting day.
H.4971 CATCH LIMITS FOR RED DRUM FISH Rep. Hixon
The bill reduces the catch limit for red drum from three to two in any one day, not to exceed six red drum in any one day on any boat.
H.4976 WATERCRAFT ABANDONMENT Rep. McCoy
The bill outlines that a sheriff may enforce the watercraft abandonment provisions under certain circumstances.
H.4963 CONTINUOUS PRESENCE OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS Rep. King
This bill provides that public school districts shall ensure the continuous presence of school resource officers in public schools during regular operating hours, provides that one such officer must be provided for every five hundred students enrolled at the school, provides various means by which districts may satisfy this requirement and makes these provisions applicable July 1, 2018.
H.4966 ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING DRILLS Rep. Pendarvis
This bill requires separate monthly active shooter training drills, requires the State Department of Education and the State Law Enforcement Division to collaborate on the development of related training materials and provides related annual training for teachers.
H.4972 SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICER ACT Rep. Lowe
This bill enacts the "School Protection Officer Act" providing that beginning with the 20182019 school year, the governing boards of public k12 schools and public institutions of higher education may designate employees as school protection officers to provide armed protection and other related public safety functions on their campuses. The Law Enforcement Council must develop guidelines for school protection officer training that must be offered by the Criminal Justice Academy and provide specific requirements for this training. Also, changes are made relating to the exemptions from the prohibition of possessing firearms on public school property, so as to exempt school protection officers.
H.4973 SPECIAL PLATES FOR RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE GA Rep. Bales
This bill provides that two special license plates may be issued to a member of the General Assembly who is receiving retirement benefits.
H.5003 BLEEDING CONTROL KITS Rep. Bradley
This bill requires the placement of bleeding control kits in all public schools, specifies the required contents of bleeding control kits and requires certain training of district employees who are reasonably expected to use bleeding control kits. The bill also integrates use of bleeding control kits into district emergency plans and emergency drills, provides requirements concerning their use and maintenance and provides certain immunity from civil liability related to these requirements.
H.5008 SCHOOL SURVEILLANCE OPERATORS Rep. Jefferson
This bill provides that beginning with the 20182019 school year, each public school of this state must have at least one fulltime employee whose responsibility is to monitor, during regular school hours, the school surveillance equipment at the school and to notify appropriate school administrators, resource officers, or law enforcement, if necessary, if this employee observes situations on the surveillance equipment which raises a significant cause for concern regarding safety of students, school property, or the commission of a crime.
S.954 BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT MORATORIUM Senator Leatherman
This proposed joint resolution would prevent the SC Public Service Commission from issuing any base load review act-based orders until 90 days after the 2018 South Carolina General Assembly adjourns sine die. It would still allow experimental rate orders to be used to revise certain, specified electric rates.
H.4964 ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ACT Rep. Clemmons
This proposed legislation updates procedures, terms, requirements, licensing, fees, reporting, and sanctions under the South Carolina Anti-Money Laundering Act.
H.4969 ALCOHOL DISTRIBUTION VIA WHOLESALERS Rep. Bannister
Alcohol to be sold in South Carolina would have to rest at a licensed wholesaler warehouse before it could be sold to any retailer. Updates definitions and penalties for violations.
H.4975 ASSAULT WEAPON AND BUMP STOCKS BAN Rep. Brawley
Adds to existing laws the terms "assault weapon" and "high-capacity magazines."
These two would be added to the criminal offenses of unlawful transportation, storing, keeping, or possessing of banned weapons or weaponry. It would also add them to the list of prohibited sales, rentals, or giveaways. They would also be added to the list of banned weapons that already includes machine guns, specified military firearms, sawed-off shotguns or rifles. Also, so-called ‘bump stocks,' as well as any other weapon accessory intended to accelerate the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms-- including devices known as "trigger cranks"--would be banned.
H.4990 ASSAULT WEAPON SALES TO MINORS Rep. Rutherford
This bill would prevent sales of assault rifles to anyone less than 20 years old. Also defines what an "assault rifle" is.
H.5004 CLOSING OUT CAMPAIGN FUND ACCOUNTS Rep. Finlay
Former public members and officials would have to close their campaign accounts before serving as a lobbyist.
H.5005 LOBBYING REFORMS Rep. Taylor
Would expand the definition of "lobbying," "lobbyist," "public body," "public employee," and "public official." It also would increase lobbyist, and lobbyist principal, registration fees to $200 per year. If passed, it would also expand the list of prohibited acts by lobbyists, public officials, and employees, in regard to state agency actions.
H.5006 LURING CHILDREN Rep. Hewitt
This bill would create the criminal offense of luring children into a motor vehicle, dwelling, or structure. Sets penalties and affirmative defenses to prosecutions for this crime.
H.5007 CAUSING DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH ON PUBLIC PROPERTY Rep. Mace
This legislation would make it unlawful for anyone to threaten, ask someone to threaten, or conspire to threaten to cause damage, injury, or death on primary, secondary, or post-secondary education properties. It also would make it illegal to cause damage, or destroy, any real or personal property by using a weapon on any school, college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary property, as well as in any publicly-owned building.
H.4962 TITLE INSURERS AND RETALIATORY TAXES BY OTHER STATES Rep. Sandifer
This bill revises provisions governing retaliatory taxes by other states against insurance companies chartered in this state, so as to provide title insurers only may include their portion of the premium in the retaliatory tax computations and are prohibited from including these amounts in the South Carolina column of retaliatory tax worksheets.
H.4967 PUBLIC BUILDING ENERGY STANDARDS Rep. Atwater
This bill establishes energy standards with which governmental improvement projects, construction projects, renovation projects, or improvements to real property must comply. The legislation revises requirements that state agencies and school districts submit energy conservation plans, so as to establish new metering requirements. The legislation repeals the provisions of the "Energy Independence and Sustainable Construction Act of 2007".
H.4987 INTERNATIONAL MAJOR MEDICAL INSURANCE Rep. Gagnon
This bill defines international major medical insurance as a temporary health insurance policy that covers the expenses associated with illnesses or accidents that occur while traveling or when temporarily residing outside of a person's home country. The legislation includes this form of insurance in the definition for the term "surplus lines insurance".
H.5001 "CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS ACT" Rep. Clary
This bill enacts the "Clean Energy Access Act" to require that electrical utilities provide participating customers with access to renewable energy programs. The legislation establishes procedures for participating customers to select renewable energy facilities from which electrical utilities are to procure energy, capacity, and environmental attributes on behalf of participating customers.
H.4958 PRESCRIPTIONS Rep. Spires
The bill outlines, with exceptions, that a pharmacist may exercise his professional judgment to dispense varying quantities of medication per refill up to the total number of dosage units as authorized by the prescriber on the original prescription, including any refills.
H.4978 ATHLETIC TRAINER'S CERTIFICATE TO PRACTICE Rep. V. S. Moss
The bill changes the definition of "athletic trainer". The bill also authorizes the Department of Health and Environmental Control to take certain disciplinary actions, including imposition of monetary penalties, as it relates to the suspension or revocation of an athletic trainer's certificate to practice.
H.5002 BARBERS Rep. Parks
The bill provides that a registered barber may practice barbering in a beauty salon; and as a result revises the definition of "beauty salon" to include barbering within the professional scope.
H.4974 ELIGIBILITY FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS TO PURCHASE
INSURANCE COVERAGE THROUGH THE STATE HEALTH AND DENTAL PLANS Rep. Forrest
This bill eligibility for state health and dental coverage, so as to provide that certain active volunteer firefighters may choose to purchase health and dental insurance through the State Health and Dental Plans provided that he pays the employer and employee share of the cost.
H.5000 "DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PRIMARY RETIREMENT PLAN" Rep. Lucas
This bill creates the optional sharedrisk defined benefit plan providing for retirement requirements and benefits, establishing a maximum six percent rate of return, requiring the plan to be one hundred percent funded at inception, and imposing certain restrictions on plan enrollment. The legislation revises retirement system provisions to add a "class four member". The legislation revises provisions governing the amount that may be earned by a retired employee returning to work, so as to provide that an employee who returns to covered employment after retirement may not continue to receive the monthly retirement allowance the member is receiving from the system and to provide that the employer may choose to participate in a deferred compensation program for those individuals. The legislation revises provisions for the State Optional Retirement Program, so as to: rename the program the "Defined Contribution Primary Retirement Plan" (DCPRP); provide for a default vendor and investment option; establish selection criteria for vendors; provide responsibilities for vendors; provide for the length of vendor contracts; provide for the number of vendors that the Public Employee Benefit Authority may contract with; provide that at least one vendor offers fixed rate and variable annuities; provide that a member may not borrow against his DCPRP; establish vesting requirements; provide for employer and employee contribution rates; require that certain education be offered to members; and, provide that a Class Two or Class Three member may choose to become a Class Four member.