(June 7, 2023)
The House and Senate have adopted
the conference report on S. 96 that allows minors aged 16 and younger
to go jet skiing after obtaining safety certification. It
is being enrolled for ratification. It would prohibit any minor from
operating a ‘personal watercraft,’ jet ski, or other specialty prop-craft, less than 16 feet long, along with other
specifications set out in this bill, until they have successfully completed a
SC Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR) approved boating safety education
class. Exceptions to these requirements include riding with someone 18 years or
older who has a boating operation certification or other licensure from the
United States Coast Guard, someone operating a personal watercraft while
hunting or fishing, or when an operator is heading out to lawfully hunt or
fish.
The House has concurred in Senate amendments to, and
enrolled for ratification, H. 3503 that establishes
and enhances criminal penalties for trafficking or distributing fentanyl, or
fentanyl-related substances, which would be considered Schedule I drugs.
Anyone possessing over 4 grams of fentanyl would trigger these new
criminal enforcement penalties.
First time offenders with four grams or more, but less
than 14 grams, of fentanyl would face mandatory minimum jailtime sentences of 10 years, and maximum
incarceration for 25 years. A fine of $50,000 would also be levied. Second and
subsequent offenders trafficking these amounts potentially face a minimum of 25
years in jail and a fine of $100,000.
Second or subsequent, offenders with 14, but less than 28,
grams of fentanyl would face a minimum 25 years in jail and a fine of $100,000.
Subsequent offenders with 28, or more, grams of fentanyl would face a minimum
of 25 years in jail and up to a maximum of 40 years incarcerated once convicted.
All these categories of subsequent offenders also would be fined $200,000. No
part of any of these listed sentences or fines could be suspended by a judge. Judges
also could not put these offenders on probation.
As amended by the
Senate, anyone violating this law while in possession of firearms or
ammunition would face additional penalties for doing so.
The House has concurred in Senate amendments to, and is
enrolling for ratification, H. 3553, which removes the
Adoption Waiting Period in specified situations. This bill would eliminate
the existing statutory 90-day waiting period after petitions have been filed
before adoptions may be finalized with a decree. Adoptions would still
have to be completed within six months of the adoption petition
being filed. However, adoptions of
special needs children would be allowed to take up to twelve months for
completion.
The
House approved and sent the Senate H. 4486, a bill providing authority
for the Department of Health and Environmental Control to create a pilot
program that allows septic tank installers to conduct septic tank field
evaluation tests for the Department. In order to take part in this pilot
program conducted in designated areas of the state, a septic tank installer
must register with and be granted written approval by DHEC, hold a valid
license, and be in good standing. The written approval records must be made
available upon request to those for whom the work is being completed.
The House has overridden the
governor’s veto of H. 3890, which facilitates Youthful Offender Driving
Under Suspension Conviction Expungements. Youthful offenders convicted of driving under suspension would
be able to expunge these convictions after they meet specified prerequisites. These
include having no other in-state or out-of-state convictions, other than one
for driving under suspension or, prior to May 17, 2018, a conviction for
disturbing schools, during their service of a youthful offender sentence
including probation and parole or during the five‑year period following completion of their youthful
offender sentence, also including probation and parole time.
The
House and Senate overrode the Governor’s veto on S. 31 to allow the bill
to become law. The legislation revises requirements for local government
financial audits to make them less stringent for small towns and counties. The
legislation provides that the council of each municipality having total
recurring revenues below a set threshold may elect to provide for either an
audit of financial statements or follow a procedure for providing a compilation
of financial statements in lieu of an audit. The legislation provides authority
for the State Treasurer to grant a county an extension of ninety days on its
required financial audit deadlines.
INTRODUCTIONS
H. 4525 Use
of LIFE Scholarship for Academic Programs Not Offered in South Carolina Rep. Hartnett
This bill authorizes a student to use a LIFE Scholarship
at an out-of-state public institution of higher learning for a program of study
offered by the institution but not offered by an institution in this state
H. 4526 State
Government Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 in Excess of
FY 2022-2023 Rep. Bannister
This joint resolution makes provision for appropriations
for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 in excess of amounts appropriated in Fiscal Year
2022-2023. It is being referred to as a “Continuing Resolution PLUS.”
NOTE: These summaries are prepared by the South Carolina House of
Representatives staff and are not the expression of the legislation's
sponsor(s) or the House of Representatives. They are strictly for the use and
benefit of members of the House of Representatives and are not to be construed
by a court of law as an expression of legislative intent.