Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The House assembled at 10:00 A.M.

Deliberations were opened with prayer by the Chaplain of the House of Representatives, the Rev. Dr. Alton C. Clark as follows:

Eternal Father, Author of our beings, Sustainer of our lives, and the Giver of every good gift, we lift our thoughts praying that Your truths may possess us that they may crowd out all evil intentions and enable us to think great thoughts, to do worthy deeds, and to live upright lives. In our hours of decision, during times of temptation, through days of responsibility, and amid periods of uncertainly, may we have the inner confidence that comes to those whose faith is stayed in You.

In our every thought, word and deed may we glorify Your holy Name. In the spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen.

After corrections to the Journal of the proceedings of yesterday, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.

The following Bills and Joint Resolution were taken up, read the third time, and ordered sent to the Senate.

H. 4444 -- Reps. P. Harris, Blackwell, Waldrop, Felder, Ferguson, Moss, Cooper and White: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 62-5-304, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN FOR AN INCAPACITATED PERSON, SO AS TO DEFINE THE COURT'S AUTHORITY PERTAINING TO THE PERSON AND THE APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN; SECTION 62-5-309, RELATING TO NOTICES IN A GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDING, SO AS TO REQUIRE NOTICE TO AN ATTORNEY IN FACT UNDER A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY; SECTION 62-5-310, RELATING TO THE COURT EXERCISING GUARDIAN POWERS AND A TEMPORARY GUARDIAN, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE POWERS ARE EXERCISED AND A TEMPORARY GUARDIAN IS APPOINTED, DEFINE EMERGENCY, AND PROVIDE FOR NOTICE AND HEARING AFTER THE APPOINTMENT; SECTION 62-5-311, RELATING TO GUARDIANS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONS WHO MAY BE APPOINTED AS GUARDIAN SUBJECT TO A FINDING OF GOOD CAUSE INSTEAD OF THE COURT'S DISCRETION; AND SECTION 62-5-501, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A POWER OF ATTORNEY NOT AFFECTED BY PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR MENTAL INCOMPETENCE, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTENT OF THE APPOINTMENT AND PROVIDE FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A POWER IS TERMINATED.

H. 4765 -- Judiciary Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 1205, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

H. 4559 -- Rep. Hodges: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1350, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PUNISHMENT OF CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR A PERSON WHO WILFULLY VIOLATES A LAWFUL ORDER OF THE COURT TO MAKE CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION MAY EARN GOOD TIME AND WORK CREDITS AND PARTICIPATE IN A WORK/PUNISHMENT PROGRAM.

H. 4775 -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 41-10-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF PAYMENT OF WAGES, SO AS TO DELETE THE REFERENCE TO SEVERANCE PAYMENTS IN AMOUNTS DUE AN EMPLOYEE BY CONTRACT OR POLICY IN THE DEFINITION OF WAGES; TO AMEND SECTION 41-10-30, RELATING TO NOTICE AND RECORDKEEPING FOR WAGES AND DEDUCTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS EXTEND ONLY TO THE NORMAL HOURS AND WAGES AGREED UPON, DELETE WAGE INCREASES FROM THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, AND LIMIT TO THREE YEARS THE TIME DURING WHICH EMPLOYERS SHALL RETAIN THE NAME, ADDRESS, WAGE, AND DEDUCTION INFORMATION OF EMPLOYEES; TO AMEND SECTION 41-10-50, RELATING TO PAYMENT OF WAGES DUE DISCHARGED EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO DELETE THE REFERENCE TO WRITTEN NOTICE, TO AMEND SECTION 41-10-70, RELATING TO INVESTIGATIONS OF PAYMENT OF WAGE COMPLAINTS BY THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, SO AS TO DELETE THE COMMISSIONER'S AUTHORITY TO DECIDE DISPUTES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 41-10-80, RELATING TO VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES WITH RESPECT TO PAYMENT OF WAGES, SO AS TO MAKE PERMISSIVE THE ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES FOR FIRST VIOLATIONS OF THE PAYMENT OF WAGES LAW, TO LIMIT CIVIL PENALTIES FOR MULTIPLE OFFENSES ARISING FROM ONE TRANSACTION, TO PROVIDE THAT A CIVIL ACTION TO RECOVER UNPAID WAGES MUST BE BROUGHT WITHIN THREE YEARS AFTER THE WAGES BECOME DUE, AND TO DELETE THE CRIMINAL PENALTY AGAINST CERTAIN EMPLOYERS FAILING TO PAY WAGES WITHIN TEN DAYS AFTER WRITTEN DEMAND.

H. 4202 -- Reps. Vaughn, Baker, Fair, Snow, Cooper, Blackwell, Rudnick, Haskins and Moss: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 30-4-30, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE INSPECTION AND COPYING OF PUBLIC RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND THE FEES A PUBLIC BODY MAY COLLECT FOR MAKING COPIES OF THESE RECORDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF PARTICULAR RECORDS OR DOCUMENTS ARE FURNISHED TO A PERSON WITHOUT CHARGE OR AT A REDUCED FEE, THE SAME RECORDS OR DOCUMENTS MUST BE FURNISHED TO ALL PERSONS REQUESTING THEM WITHOUT CHARGE OR AT THAT REDUCED FEE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF A FEE OR HIGHER FEE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHARGED, IT MUST BE REFUNDED TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSON WHO EARLIER WAS CHARGED THE FEE OR HIGHER FEE.

The following Bill was read the third time, passed and, having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act, and that it be enrolled for ratification.

S. 1105 -- Judiciary Committee: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-35, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE AUTHORITY CHARGED BY LAW WITH CONDUCTING AN ELECTION IN EACH COUNTY PUBLISH NOTICES OF ELECTIONS HELD IN THE COUNTY, SO AS TO INCLUDE IN THIS REQUIREMENT NOTIFICATION OF WHEN THE PROCESS OF EXAMINING THE ENVELOPES CONTAINING ABSENTEE BALLOTS BEGINS; TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION IN EACH COUNTY, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONERS TO APPOINT A CLERK FROM AMONG MANAGERS FOR EACH POLLING PLACE IN THE COUNTY AND ONE FOR EACH POLLING PLACE IN A PRIMARY, SPECIAL, OR MUNICIPAL ELECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-80, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A CLERK BY THE MANAGERS OF ELECTION, SO AS TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT A CLERK AND ADD REFERENCES TO CLERKS; TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-810, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF MANAGERS OF ELECTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CHALLENGES MAY BE MADE AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE ENVELOPES CONTAINING THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS INSTEAD OF WHEN THE BALLOTS ARE COUNTED; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-370, RELATING TO THE ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE FURNISHED EACH PERSON QUALIFIED TO RECEIVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, SO AS TO REQUIRE AN ENVELOPE MARKED "BALLOT HEREIN" INSTEAD OF AN UNMARKED ENVELOPE BE FURNISHED EACH QUALIFIED PERSON; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-420, RELATING TO THE TABULATION AND REPORTING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE TIME FOR PROCESSING THE BALLOTS FROM THE CLOSING OF THE POLLS TO 2:00 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY, AUTHORIZE WATCHERS TO BE PRESENT WHEN ABSENTEE BALLOT ENVELOPES ARE EXAMINED, REQUIRE ALL RETURN-ADDRESSED ENVELOPES RECEIVED BEFORE THE CLOSING OF THE POLLS BE EXAMINED, AND MAKE OTHER TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

At 10:45 A.M. the House in accordance with the motion of Rep. McLELLAN adjourned to meet at 2:00 P.M. Monday, March 12, in Statewide Session.

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