This week the General Assembly concluded work on the regular legislative session, but lawmakers are scheduled to return during the coming weeks under the terms of H.5383, a resolution EXTENDING THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY beyond this year's May 10 deadline for final adjournment. The resolution allows the House of Representatives and Senate to convene, beginning on Wednesday, May 23, to take up a limited list of matters including budget legislation, legislation concerning the V.C. Summer Nuclear units and related matters, and the reports of conference committees that have been formed to address the differences between the House and Senate on particular pieces of legislation.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to S.918 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation imposes new LIMITATIONS ON INITIAL PRESCRIPTIONS OF AN OPIOID MEDICATION FOR ACUTE PAIN MANAGEMENT OR POSTOPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT. Under the bill, Initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain management or postoperative pain management must not exceed a sevenday supply, except when clinically indicated for chronic pain, cancer pain, hospice care, palliative care, major trauma, major surgery, treatment of sickle cell anemia, or medicationassisted treatment for substance abuse. Upon any subsequent consultation for the same pain, the practitioner may issue any appropriate renewal, refill, or new opioid prescription. The limitation does not apply when a practitioner orders an opioid prescription to be wholly administered in a hospital, nursing home, hospice facility, or residential care facility. The legislation makes provisions for the Department of Health and Environmental Control to use information in the state prescription monitoring program system to provide PRESCRIPTION REPORT CARDS to health care practitioner who prescribe controlled substances to inform them about their prescribing trends compared to other practitioners.

The House and Senate adopted the conference report on H.4117, a bill AFFORDING DRUG COURTS ACCESS TO PRESCRIPTION MONITORING PROGRAM INFORMATION, and the legislation was enrolled for ratification. The legislation revises confidentiality provisions for the Prescription Monitoring Program maintained by the Department of Health and Environmental Control to allow DHEC to provide program data to a presiding judge of a drug court pertaining to a specific case involving a designated person.

The House and Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.3819, a bill establishing new REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE PRESCRIBING OPIOID ANALGESICS TO MINORS, and the legislation was enrolled for ratification. 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. A signed ‘Start Talking!' consent form obtained pursuant to this section must be maintained in the minor's medical record. If the individual who signs the required consent form is a parent or other authorized adult, the prescriber shall prescribe not more than a single, seventytwo hour supply and indicate on the prescription the quantity that is to be dispensed. Exceptions are provided that apply in such circumstances as medical emergencies.

The House and Senate adopted the conference committee report on S.302 and the bill was enrolled for adoption. The legislation includes requirements for 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. 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 legislation includes provisions for a MANDATORY HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM ON PRESCRIBING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES in the training health care professionals. The bill requires public and private institutions of higher education offering degrees in a health care profession that allows graduates to prescribe controlled substances listed in Schedules II, III, and IV to develop mandatory course work on the prescription and monitoring of controlled substances, including Schedule II drugs used to treat or manage pain. The coursework must include instruction on strategies to recognize and reduce the likelihood of patient addiction to opioids and other controlled substances.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3329 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation provides ENHANCEMENTS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING PENALTIES that draw 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 to provide specialized services to the juveniles to address the concerns relating to human trafficking.

The House returned S.170 to the Senate with amendments. The Senate subsequently concurred in those amendments and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation establishes requirements for the coroner of each county, within a timeframe not exceeding seven working days, to schedule a LOCAL CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM to perform a review of a case where a child under the age of eighteen dies in the county.

The House and Senate adopted the free conference committee report on 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, to the extent funding is provided or that approved screening tools are available at no cost, 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. The department is required to provide professional development resources for educators for identification and intervention methods for students who are at risk, including students with dyslexia. A Learning Disorders Task Force is created to work with the department in matters relating to reading disorders such as dyslexia.

The House and Senate adopted the conference committee report on S.302 and the bill was enrolled for adoption. The legislation establishes a procedure that allows MARCHING BAND INSTRUCTION TO FULFILL PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS in public schools. A public school that offers instruction in marching band based on the South Carolina Academic Standards for the Visual and Performing Arts can consider this instruction be the equivalent of physical education instruction after the State Department of Education approves a plan submitted by the school district documenting that all South Carolina Academic Standards for Physical Education are met in the proposed marching band instruction.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.5042, a bill REVISING PROCEDURES IN THE STATEWIDE PROGRAM FOR ADDRESSING UNSOUND SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCES which affords the State Department of Education authority that extends beyond academic matters to include fiscal affairs. The legislation was enrolled for ratification.

The House approved S.131, legislation REVISING THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF DISTURBING SCHOOLS, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation narrows the scope of the criminal offense of disturbing schools so that this misdemeanor no longer applies to students, for the most part, and instead applies primarily to those who are not students who intentionally interfere with or disturb the normal operations of a school or college by committing the specified threatening or disruptive actions. The offense continues to apply to a student who returns to disrupt a school or college after being suspended or expelled. Penalties are increased for violations so that the misdemeanor carries a maximum fine of two thousand, rather than one thousand, dollars and maximum term of imprisonment of one year, rather than ninety days. The legislation also specifies that it is unlawful for a student of a school or college in this state to make threats to take the life of or to inflict bodily harm upon another by using any form of communication whatsoever. The restructuring of the criminal offense of disturbing schools is offered as a means of encouraging the state's educators and school administrators to exhaust all avenues of behavioral discipline in accordance with a school's code of conduct prior to requesting the involvement of law enforcement officials.

The House returned S.176, relating to TRESPASSING DRONES AT CORRECTIONS FACILITIES, to the Senate with amendments. The Senate subsequently concurred in the amendments and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation provides that it is unlawful to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle within a horizontal distance of five hundred feet or a vertical distance of two hundred fifty feet from any Department of Corrections facility without written consent from the Director of the Department of Corrections. A violator is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. Provisions are included for confiscation of drones. Exemptions are provided for any unmanned aerial vehicles registered with the FAA that are operated by electric, water, communications, and transportation providers who first notify the Director of the SC Department of Corrections about their planned activities.

The House approved S.959, legislation that lowers penalties for first offense ILLEGAL GRAFFITI VANDALISM, and enrolled the bill for ratification. Under current law, commission of first offense illegal graffiti vandalism carries a possible penalty of imprisonment of not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days. This legislation lowers that term of imprisonment to no more than thirty days. The possible fine for this misdemeanor offense is not altered by the legislation and remains set at no more than one thousand dollars.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3209, a bill providing greater clarification and uniformity for CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT provisions, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation makes provisions for offenses that are no longer crimes to be eligible for expungement if the elements of the former criminal offenses are consistent with current-day offenses. The legislation clarifies that these expungements apply retroactively as well as to out-of-state convictions.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4479 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation revises the process for addressing LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MISCONDUCT allegations to implement recommendations arising from the House Legislative Oversight Committee's study of the Law Enforcement Training Council and Criminal Justice Academy. The legislation authorizes the Law Enforcement Training Council to appoint attorneys employed by the Criminal Justice Academy to sit as hearing officers for contested case hearings. Under the legislation, no person who has a pending allegation of misconduct may be employed as a law enforcement officer or as a telecommunications operator or perform any law enforcement duties until a decision has been made that authorizes the employment. The legislation also makes revisions to the report that must be made to the Criminal Justice Academy whenever an officer separates from a law enforcement office. Under the changes, the officer making the report would be subject to disciplinary action for submitting intentionally misleading or incomplete information, such as characterizing a situation where an officer is leaving a department due to alleged misconduct as a simple resignation. The changes are offered as a means of reducing the likelihood that a law enforcement officer leaving one police department because of alleged misconduct could be hired by another department without the allegations being addressed.

The House and Senate adopted the free conference report on H.4727, legislation RESTRUCTURING AND REAUTHORIZING THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BANK on a permanent basis, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation establishes experience requirements for members of the Board that governs the South Carolina Conservation Bank which acquires interests from willing sellers in real property that is worthy of conservation for environmental, aesthetic, or historical reasons. Effective July 1, 2018, the South Carolina Conservation Bank board must be made up of members selected under the revised provisions of the legislation so that current members would need to be reappointed in order to continue serving on the board. The legislation establishes experiences requirements for the executive director, provides for the board to obtain the advice and consent of the Senate in hiring the executive director, and disallows certain individuals form serving in the position to prevent conflicts of interest. The legislation charges the Conservation Bank with the duty of creating and updating a conservation prioritization map. The legislation makes revisions to place a greater emphasis on public access to conserved land. The Conservation Bank is authorized to coordinate all the environmental mitigation that has been required of various state agencies. The legislation prohibits the award of a grant or loan unless the funds are presently available in the trust fund. However, the bank may make an award for an extraordinary conservation opportunity in excess of the funds in the trust fund. Such awards must be approved by a twothirds vote of the board members and go before the Joint Bond Review Committee to review the application. The bank may not authorize the purchase of a conservation easement of more than $1 million without obtaining approval from the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. Provisions are made for a grant review committee. The state's counties are added as eligible trust fund recipients. The bank's grant and loan criteria are revised to place an emphasis on public access to conserved land. The Bank may award grant money to the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, or the Forestry Commission for the acquisition of fee simple title to land to which the public will have full access. The additional funds must be used only for improvements that create or enhance wildlife habitats. The legislation eliminates provisions for funding the Conservation Bank with a portion of deed recording fees that has served as a dedicated revenue stream, and instead provides for the Bank to be funded through appropriations like most state agencies. The legislation eliminates the requirements for the General Assembly to reauthorize the Conservation Bank periodically in order for it to continue to exist.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4458, a bill REVISING PENALTIES FOR LITTERING in an effort to make them more effective, and enrolled the legislation for ratification. The legislation restructures penalties for violations so that their severity increases with the amount of litter waste involved. Under these graduated penalties, violations involving no more than fifteen pounds of litter are subject to comparatively lower fines and hours of community service. Fines and other penalties increase for violations involving the illegal dumping of more than fifteen pounds of litter, and become more severe for the illegal dumping of over five hundred pounds of waste.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3865, the "SOUTH CAROLINA PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS ACT", and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation enhances state laws that combat pregnancy discrimination, promote public health, and ensure full and equal participation for women in the labor force by requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees for medical needs arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including accommodations for lactation, that allow employees to remain on the job. The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission is charged with promulgating regulations to carry out this act, which shall identify some reasonable accommodations addressing medical needs arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions that must be provided to a job applicant or employee affected by these known limitations, unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4093 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation creates a temporary SOUTH CAROLINA EMPLOYMENT FIRST STUDY COMMITTEE for the purpose of studying and evaluating the need for an Employment First Initiative Act that would establish policies supportive of competitive and integrated employment of individuals with disabilities and create related responsibilities for state agencies and political subdivisions of the state. The committee is charged with reporting its findings and recommendations to the Governor and lawmakers by May 1, 2019.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3622, a bill EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF PODIATRISTS that provides authorization for podiatrists to treat not only the foot but also the ankle. A Joint Podiatric Surgery Advisory Committee is established as a committee of the Board of Podiatry Examiners to assist the board in matters pertaining to podiatrists who perform surgical procedures of the ankle and related soft tissue structures.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4486 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation provides authorization for South Carolina to join the EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL LICENSURE INTERSTATE COMPACT which allows for reciprocal recognition of licenses among member states.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4799 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation provides authorization for South Carolina to join the multi-state PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT to facilitate interstate practice of physical therapy with the goal of improving public access to physical therapy services.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to S.345, a bill revising the scope of practice and supervision requirements for an ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE (APRN), and enrolled the bill for ratification. The bill removes the existing requirement for an APRN to practice within a 45 mile radius of the supervising physician. It also increases the maximum number of APRNs a physician may supervise from three to the equivalent of six full time APRNs. A physician must not supervise more than six APRNs and physicians assistants at any one time. The supervising physician must have an active, unrestricted, permanent license to practice medicine in SC and practice within the geographic boundaries of this State. Among many other things, the bill allow APRNs to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances, under certain conditions. The legislation includes authorization for APRNs to participate in telemedicine.

The House approved S.506, a bill revising provisions for EMERGENCY PRESCRIPTION REFILLS, and enrolled the legislation for ratification. The legislation increases the amount, from a fifteen-day supply to a thirty-day supply, of necessary medication that an out-of-state pharmacist may prescribe as a one-time emergency refill while working in a county affected by a state of emergency declared by the Governor. No controlled substance may be dispensed under these emergency provisions.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3775, a bill AFFORDING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ADOPTED GREATER ACCESS TO MEDICAL INFORMATION AND OTHER RECORDS, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation establishes a protocol that allows a person eighteen years of age or older who was born in the state of South Carolina and who has had his original certificate of birth sealed due to an adoption to, upon written request to the state registrar, receive a copy of his original birth certificate and any evidence of the adoption held with the original record if the biological parent has completed a form consenting to the release of the original birth certificate. The form also must allow for the biological parent to indicate contact preference and to consent to release of medical history. The contact preference form and medical history form are private communications from the biological parent to the adoptee named on the sealed birth certificate. The copy of the original birth certificate must be in a form that clearly indicates it is not a certified copy and that it may not be used for legal purposes.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4698 and enrolled the bill for ratification. In order to attract needed professionals, this bill provides an EXEMPTION FOR LICENSED PHYSICIANS EMPLOYED WITH THE DISABILITY DETERMINATION SERVICES UNIT of the State Agency of Vocational Rehabilitation from additional examination requirements with the State Board of Medical Examiners.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4487, a bill that implements recommendations arising from the House Legislative Oversight Committee's study of the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The legislation makes technical adjustments and revisions relating to the SCHEDULING OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, and enrolled the bill for ratification.

The House approved and enrolled for ratification S.1190, a joint resolution directing the Department of Health and Environmental Control to focus the resources of the department's DAMS AND RESERVOIRS SAFETY PROGRAM on regulating the state's high and significant hazard dams only and reclassifying dams when the failure or improper operation of a dam will likely result in loss of human life.

The House approved S.862, relating to SECURITIES COMMISSION ACTIONS IN RICHLAND COUNTY and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation clarifies that, in Securities Commissioners' investigations, including any issued subpoenas, any affected parties would apply to the Richland County Court of Common Pleas to seek appropriate relief.

The House and Senate adopted the free conference report on H.4612, legislation authorizing SURETY BONDS FOR GENERAL AND MECHANICAL LICENSURE APPLICANTS. The legislation was enrolled for ratification. Rather than providing financial statements showing a minimum net worth, this legislation affords applicants for general and mechanical licensure the option of satisfying financial requirements by providing a surety bond in an amount of two times the required net worth for the applicant's license group. The surety bond option is offered as a means of accommodating those who operate under an employee option stock program arrangement which makes it difficult to satisfy minimum asset requirements.

The House returned on S.810, a bill revising provisions for the regulation of PAWNBROKERS to establish an expedited process for returning stolen property in the possession of a pawn shop to the rightful owners, to the Senate with amendments. The Senate subsequently concurred in the amendments and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation includes provisions for records on pledged items to be compiled in a centralized database maintained by the Department of Consumer Affairs that is accessible by law enforcement.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3068, a bill to provide for the "UNIFORM ATHLETE AGENTS ACT OF 2018", and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation updates protection of student athletes and makes extensive changes to the elements of the athlete - agent relationship. The substantial changes include the definitions of athlete agent and student agent, definitions of licensure and representation, clarifications regarding signing, requires more information regarding registering with the Department of Consumer Affairs (including social media accounts - noting the expanded impact of social media on the solicitation and recruitment of student athletes by athlete agents) and also includes information regarding previous convictions and bankruptcies. The provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act apply. More direct powers are given to the Department for the suspension or revocations of registrations. The bill also requires clear notices associated with the signing of athletes to athletic directors. Educational institutions or student athletes may bring actions if the athlete is adversely impacted by actions or omissions of the agent. The legislation also includes provisions regarding reciprocal registration between states and adds new requirements to signing agent contracts.

The House returned S.67 to the Senate with amendments. The Senate subsequently concurred in those amendments and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation provides and extension, until January 1, 2028, for redevelopment fees for the REDEVELOPMENT OF FORMER MILITARY BASES.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4077, a bill CODIFYING INCOME TAX CREDITS FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS, and enrolled the bill for ratification. These provisions have been included as a budget proviso in general appropriation acts for the last five years.

The House approved S.1027, a bill providing an EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALLER COMPANIES, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation revises unemployment insurance provisions, to provide that filing requirements imposed under certain Department of Employment and Workforce regulations or procedures relating to vacation time do not apply to employers in this state with fewer than fifty employees.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3549, legislation ALLOWING THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR ONPREMISES CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR WITH THE CONSENT OF NEARBY SCHOOLS, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation revises provisions that prohibit liquor licenses and permits from being issued to businesses located within certain distances of churches, schools, or playgrounds, so as to allow a permit for onpremises consumption of alcoholic liquor to be issued to a business so long as the local school board of any school located within the proximity provides a statement that it does not object to a permit being issued. At the time of license renewal, schools may withdraw their statements declaring that they do not object to the issuance of the license. Legislation was approved in 2014 to allow nearby churches and playgrounds to provide such permission.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.5153, a bill making revisions to the VENUE FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION HEARINGS, and enrolled the legislation for ratification. The legislation provides that hearings must be held in the Workers' Compensation Commission district, rather than the city or county, in which an injury has occurred, so long as the location is no greater than seventyfive miles from the county seat of the county in which the injury occurred.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4795, legislation establishing a MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER EXEMPTION that facilitates the annual Hilton Head Island Concours D'Elegance, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation provides an exemption from provisions governing motor vehicle dealers for persons conducting a limited number of charitable auctions each year of investment grade, collector, or other special interest motor vehicles.

The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.4973, a bill revising provisions governing the issuance by the Department of Motor Vehicles of SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES FOR CERTAIN RETIRED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, and enrolled the legislation for ratification. The legislation allows a former member of the General Assembly to be issued a second special license plate. The legislation includes provisions that disallow these special plates for someone who has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or another crime punishable by imprisonment for at least one year. The legislation also includes provisions on the use of transporter plates by credit unions.

The House approved S.933 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation reduces the CATCH LIMITS FOR RED DRUM FISH from three to two in any one day with a maximum of six in one day established for any one boat.

The House approved and enrolled for ratification S.1111 a bill regarding the COBIA (RACHVCENTRON CANADUM). The bill conforms the Federal law to state law which outlines that the possession of a cobia caught in the waters outside the Southern Cobia Management Zone is limited to one per person per day and no more than six per boat per day. The minimum size of the possession is thirty six inches in fork length.

The House approved S.1044, a bill establishing a YEAR-ROUND "CATCH AND RELEASE" ZONE ON THE LOWER REACH OF THE SALUDA RIVER. The legislation provides for the Department of Natural Resources shall make a study of the lower Saluda River trout fishery and make recommendations on any needed modifications to the fishery by November 1, 2023.

The House and Senate adopted the conference report on S.913, a bill making provisions for a YOUTH HUNTING DAY, and enrolled the legislation for ratification.

The House approved and enrolled for ratification S.758, a bill extending the period for DUCK HUNTING on Lake H. Taylor Blalock, located in Spartanburg County, through the 2023-2024 federal waterfowl hunting season.

The House returned S.820, a bill addressing TEMPORARY ALCOHOL SALES PERMIT REFERENDUMS, to the Senate with amendments. The Senate subsequently concurred in the amendments and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation relates to temporary alcohol permits, for nonprofits and on-premises-licensed businesses, approved in municipal, or county referendums. The legislation includes provisions for unsuccessful referendums to be reheld.

The House returned S.928 to the Senate with amendments. The Senate subsequently concurred in those amendments and enrolled the legislation for ratification. The legislation establishes provisions governing SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS DEACCESSIONING WORKS OF ART.

The House returned S.648 to the Senate with amendments. The Senate subsequently concurred in those amendments and enrolled the legislation for ratification. The legislation addresses the DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS PROPERTY BY THE MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE ENTERPRISE CAMPUS AUTHORITY.

The House returned S.671 to the Senate with amendments. The Senate subsequently concurred in those amendments and enrolled the legislation for ratification. The legislation is a joint resolution to provide for the CONTINUING AUTHORITY TO PAY THE EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT IF THE 20182098 FISCAL YEAR BEGINS WITHOUT A GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR THAT YEAR IN EFFECT.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on H.4375. As approved by the House, the bill is legislation ELIMINATING ALL CHARGES ON THE ELECTRIC BILLS OF SCE&G CUSTOMERS THAT SUPPORT THE FAILED V.C. SUMMER NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT and REPEALING THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT GOING FORWARD. The bill orders new electricity rates for customers of SCANA Corporation's South Carolina Electric and Gas to be reduced by eliminating all of the increases that have been imposed in recent years under the Base Load Review Act to finance the failed V.C. Summer nuclear power project in Fairfield County. These lower experimental rates would no longer include the increases, amounting to around 18% to 19.5%, that have been included on the power bills of SCE&G customers to fund construction of the nuclear reactors in Jenkinsville which have now been abandoned. The legislation repeals provisions of the Base Load Review Act prospectively so that utilities would no longer be able to make use of the provisions of this legislation to finance the construction of power generation projects with fees imposed on the electric bills of ratepayers. The repeal does not apply to pending legal matters. Existing disputes about the application of the Base Load Review Act will continue to be settled through administrative decisions of the Public Service Commission and judicial rulings from the courts. The legislation includes new definitions that provide detail on what constitutes imprudent actions of utilities under the Base Load Review Act.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on S.709. The bill establishes new requirements for PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE AND SAFETY POLICIES AND DRILLS.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on S.109, legislation involving TRESPASSING DRONES AT MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on H.4931. The legislation authorizes the state's technical colleges to offer an APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN MANUFACTURING DEGREE if the degree is approved first by the Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and then the Commission on Higher Education. The legislation also enacts a comprehensive WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS INITIATIVE.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on H.4009, the "MOTORSPORTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX INVESTMENT ACT", which establishes an exemption from state and local sales taxes for building materials, supplies, fixtures, and equipment used in motorsports entertainment complex construction, repair, improvements, or expansions. The tax exemption applies to a proposed capital investment of at least ten million dollars on any motorsport entertainment complex in this state within a fiveyear period.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on S.917, a bill addressing FUNDING FOR FLOOD REPAIRS AND PREVENTION AT TOURISMRELATED LANDS OR AREAS. The legislation revises provisions governing the expenditure of the state accommodations tax, local hospitality tax, and local accommodations tax to allow a portion of the revenue to be expended for the control and repair of flooding and drainage at tourismrelated lands or areas.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on S.1043. The legislation revises and extends tax incentives available for the REVITALIZATION OF ABANDONED BUILDINGS and textile mill sites.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on H.3138, which makes provisions for special FESTIVAL ALCOHOL PERMITS.

A conference committee has been appointed to address the differences between the House and Senate on H.5231, a bill restoring revenue generated from the sale of recreational and commercial marine fishing licenses, permits, and tags to the MARINE RESOURCES FUND.

H.5403 "SOUTH CAROLINA FETAL HEARTBEAT PROTECTION FROM ABORTION ACT" Rep. Long

H.5404 SOUTH CAROLINA MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LIABILITY JOINT UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION Rep. Sandifer