Journal of the House of Representatives
of the First Session of the 111th General Assembly
of the State of South Carolina
being the Regular Session Beginning Tuesday, January 10, 1995

Page Finder Index

| Printed Page 3040, May 4 | Printed Page 3060, May 9 |

Printed Page 3050 . . . . . Thursday, May 4, 1995

RETURNED WITH CONCURRENCE

The Senate returned to the House with concurrence the following:

H. 4181 -- Reps. R. Smith, Sharpe, Clyburn, Huff, Spearman and Mason: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SALUTING BOBBY RUTLAND OF AIKEN COUNTY FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING AND DEVELOPING THE USE OF, AND ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING, LANGLEY POND IN AIKEN COUNTY AS A TRAINING SITE FOR THE 1996 OLYMPIC ROWING TEAMS, AND RECOGNIZING MR. RUTLAND AS A "SOUTH CAROLINA STAR".

H. 4182 -- Reps. Vaughn, Allison, Anderson, Askins, Bailey, Baxley, Beatty, Boan, Breeland, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, T. Brown, Byrd, Cain, Canty, Carnell, Cato, Cave, Chamblee, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cooper, Cotty, Cromer, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Elliott, Fair, Felder, Fleming, Fulmer, Gamble, Govan, Hallman, Harrell, J. Harris, P. Harris, Harrison, Harvin, Harwell, Haskins, Herdklotz, Hines, Hodges, Howard, Huff, Hutson, Inabinett, Jaskwhich, Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Keyserling, Kinon, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Koon, Lanford, Law, Limbaugh, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Marchbanks, Martin, Mason, McAbee, McCraw, McElveen, McKay, McMahand, McTeer, Meacham, Moody-Lawrence, Neal, Neilson, Phillips, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Richardson, Riser, Robinson, Rogers, Sandifer, Scott, Seithel, Sharpe, Sheheen, Shissias, Simrill, D. Smith, R. Smith, Spearman, Stille, Stoddard, Stuart, Thomas, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Tucker, Waldrop, Walker, Wells, Whatley, L. Whipper, S. Whipper, White, Wilder, Wilkes, Wilkins, Williams, Witherspoon, Wofford, Worley, Wright, A. Young and J. Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE MICHELIN COMPANY ON ITS TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF MANUFACTURING AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, AND COMMENDING MICHELIN, THE NUMBER ONE LEADER IN WORLDWIDE TIRE SALES AND TIRE TECHNOLOGY, FOR ITS NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND FOR STANDING AS THE EXEMPLARY BENCHMARK FOR ALL OTHER COMPANIES IN THE PALMETTO STATE.


Printed Page 3051 . . . . . Thursday, May 4, 1995

ADJOURNMENT

At 11:35 A.M. the House in accordance with the motion of Rep. STODDARD adjourned in memory of Joe S. Berry of Columbia, to meet at 10:00 A.M. tomorrow.

* * *


Printed Page 3052 . . . . . Friday, May 5, 1995

Friday, May 5, 1995

(Local Session)

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:

Almighty God, we thank You for this new day, for its open doors of promise, for hours to be filled with worthy endeavors. Make strong within us the desire to do the very best we can for our God and for the people we serve. May we never break faith with our highest ambitions or leave unrepaired any of yesterday's wrongs. Any action by us that would make the world better, any word that would cheer a despondent heart or brace a weak will, there let us speak and act. This day and every day, grant us the virtues of courtesy, charity, sincerity, understanding and diligence in our service.

We pray in the Name of Him Who went about doing good. Amen.

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

MOTION ADOPTED

Rep. SHISSIAS moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Nicholas Valassakis of London, England, and Columbia, which was agreed to.

SENT TO THE SENATE

The following Bill was taken up, read the third time, and ordered sent to the Senate.

H. 4159 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-21-3495 SO AS TO LIMIT THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS DERIVED FROM THE GAME OF BINGO.


Printed Page 3053 . . . . . Friday, May 5, 1995

ADJOURNMENT

At 10:15 A.M. the House in accordance with the motion of Rep. SHISSIAS adjourned in memory of Nicholas Valassakis of London, England, and Columbia, to meet at 12:00 Noon, Tuesday, May 9.

* * *


Printed Page 3054 . . . . . Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

(Statewide Session)

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The House assembled at 12:00 Noon.

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

In thanksgiving, Lord, we have joined so many far and near in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the events officially marking the end of World War II. We praise You for the liberty that is ours made possible by the sacrificial efforts of so many. We thank You for heroes' valor, patriots' devotion that have made and kept us as a Nation "the land of the free, and the home of the brave."

While with thankful hearts we recall the past so full of hallowed memories, spare us from the error that merely fondles the past. But move us to a deeper devotion to our heritage, that we may be good enough and strong enough for things yet to come - that in a common endeavor we may move forward to maintain the blessings of liberty for ourselves, for our children and our children's children, and ever remain "one Nation under God."

Amen.

Pursuant to Rule 6.3, the House of Representatives was led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America by the SPEAKER.

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

MOTION ADOPTED

Rep. J. BROWN moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Paul Clinkscales of Columbia, which was agreed to.


Printed Page 3055 . . . . . Tuesday, May 9, 1995

REGULATION RECEIVED

The following was received and referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.

Document No. 1863
Promulgated By Department of Social Services
Supervised Independent Living
Received By Speaker May 5, 1995
Referred to House Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
120 Day Review Expiration Date April 10, 1996

H. 3362--POINT OF ORDER

The Senate amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration.

H. 3362

GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL

Rep. H. BROWN proposed the following Amendment No. 1A (Doc Name L:\COUNCIL\LEGIS\AMEND\PFM\7476HTC.95).

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting the bill as passed by the House of Representatives.

Amend further, Part II, Permanent Provisions, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

/SECTION ___

TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 11-11-330 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE STATE PROPERTY TAX CREDIT FUND AND REQUIRE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS TO THE FUND; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 12-37-251 SO AS TO ALLOW A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM PROPERTY TAXES LEVIED FOR SCHOOLS OTHER THAN THOSE LEVIED FOR BONDED INDEBTEDNESS AND LEASE PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND AFTER 1995 FROM ALL PROPERTY TAXES EXCEPT THOSE LEVIED FOR BONDED INDEBTEDNESS AND LEASE PURCHASE PAYMENTS; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 12-43-217 SO AS TO REQUIRE QUADRENNIAL REASSESSMENT; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTIONS 4-9-142, 5-21-70, 6-1-60, AND 59-73-35 SO AS TO IMPOSE SPENDING LIMITS ON COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES, AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS AND IMPOSE AN AD VALOREM TAX
Printed Page 3056 . . . . . Tuesday, May 9, 1995

REVENUE LIMITATION ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 12-43-350 SO AS TO PROVIDE A STANDARDIZED TAX BILL; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 6-1-80 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETING; TO ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE JOINT AD HOC COMMITTEE ON UNFUNDED MANDATES; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 12-47-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREDITING OF ERRONEOUS PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-43-220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROPERTY TAX, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE FOUR PERCENT CLASSIFICATION FOR OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY; TO AMEND SECTION 11-11-440, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON GENERAL TAX INCREASES IN APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, SO AS TO REQUIRE GENERAL TAX INCREASES TO RECEIVE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN EACH HOUSE; AND TO EXTEND THE TIME FOR FILING FOR AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE.

A. Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 11 of the 1976 Code, is amended by adding:

"Section 11-11-330. (A) Funds credited to the `State Property Tax Relief Fund' must be used to provide property tax relief in the manner prescribed in Section 12-37-251. The first phase of property tax relief must be to remove that portion of the homeowner's tax levied for public school operating costs. For fiscal years beginning after June 30, 1996, the General Assembly shall, in addition to the funds referenced, appropriate one-half of the estimated recurring revenue growth expected for the fiscal year until such time that the phase-out of the residential property tax is complete. For fiscal years after the implementation of the phase-out of the residential property tax, the General Assembly shall appropriate an amount sufficient to reimburse local governments sums equal to the amount of taxes that were not collected for the local government by reason of the exemption provided in Section 12-37-251.

(B) This appropriation required by subsection (A) must be contained in the executive budget, Ways and Means Committee report on the general appropriations bill, the general appropriations bill at the time of third reading in the House of Representatives, the Senate Finance Committee report on the general appropriations bill, the general appropriations bill at the time of a third reading in the Senate, and in any conference report on the general appropriations bill."


Printed Page 3057 . . . . . Tuesday, May 9, 1995

B. Article 3, Chapter 37, Title 12 of the 1976 Code, is amended by adding:

"Section 12-37-251. (A) Property classified pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c) is exempt from property taxes levied for other than bonded indebtedness and payments pursuant to lease-purchase agreements for capital construction as provided in this subsection. For the 1995 property tax year, the exemption applies against millage imposed for school operations and the amount of fair market value of the homestead that is exempt from such millage must be set by the Director of the Department of Revenue and Taxation and the Comptroller General by September 30, 1995, based on the amount available in the State Property Tax Relief Fund for fiscal year 1995-96 applying the reimbursement requirements of this section. In subsequent tax years, after the first phase as stated in Section 11-11-330(A) and its growth is funded, the exemption extends to all operating millages on homesteads and the amount of fair market value exempt from tax must be established by the Director of the Department of Revenue and Taxation and the Comptroller General by September thirtieth of the year based on the amount available in the Property Tax Relief Fund for the fiscal year applying the reimbursement requirements of this section. It is the intention of the General Assembly annually and cumulatively to provide funds in the State Property Tax Relief Fund so that the percentage of fair market value exempt pursuant to this section attains and thereafter remains at one hundred percent of fair market value. The exemption allowed by this section is in addition to the exemption provided in Section 12-37-250.

(B) Taxing entities must be reimbursed, in the manner provided in Section 12-37-270 for the revenue lost as a result of the homestead exemption provided in this section except that ninety percent of the reimbursement must be paid in the last quarter of the calendar year.

(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, property exempted from property taxation in the manner provided in this section is considered taxable property for purposes of bonded indebtedness pursuant to Sections 14 and 15 of Article X of the Constitution of this State, and for purposes of computing the `index of taxpaying ability' pursuant to Section 59-20-20(3).

(E) In the year of reassessment the millage rate for all real and personal property must not exceed the rollback millage as disclosed in Section 6-1-80(B)(10), except that the rollback millage may be increased by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for the year immediately preceding the year of reassessment.


Printed Page 3058 . . . . . Tuesday, May 9, 1995

(F) The exemption allowed by this section is conditional on full funding of the Education Finance Act and on an appropriation by the General Assembly each year reimbursing school districts an amount equal to the Department of Revenue and Taxation's estimate of total school tax revenue loss resulting from the exemption in the next fiscal year."

C. (1) Article 3, Chapter 43, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-43-217. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, once every fourth year each county or the State shall appraise and equalize those properties under its jurisdiction. Upon completion of the reassessment program, the county or State shall notify every taxpayer of any change in value or classification if the change is one thousand dollars or more. The county and State shall have one year to resolve appeals in value or classification. In the fifth year, the county or State shall implement the program and assess all property on the newly appraised values."

(2) Subsection (A) of Section 12-45-75 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 443 of 1994, is amended to read:

"(A) The governing body of a county may by ordinance allow a taxpayer to elect to pay all ad valorem taxes on real property located in the county in quarterly installments. No installment election is allowed for taxes paid through an escrow account.

The ordinance must specify the installment due dates and it may provide for installments due and payable before January fifteenth, but the final installment due date must be January fifteenth. The ordinance may provide for a service charge of not more than two dollars on installment payments. For purposes of payment and collection, these service charges are deemed property taxes. The ordinance may not provide penalties for late installments."

D. Article 1, Chapter 9, Title 4 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 4-9-142. (A) The governing body of a county may not increase the millage rate and fee rates imposed for operating purposes, excluding utilities, above the rates imposed for such purposes for the prior tax year. However, the millage rate and fee rates may be increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index upon a three-fifths vote of the governing body of the county. Notwithstanding the limitation upon millage rate and fee rate increases contained in this subsection, the millage rate and fee rates may be increased for the following purposes:

(1) in response to a natural or environmental disaster as declared by the Governor;


Printed Page 3059 . . . . . Tuesday, May 9, 1995

(2) to offset a prior year's deficit, as required by Section 7, Article X of the South Carolina Constitution, or to offset a deficit in providing a service or function which is funded through the imposition of fees by increasing such fees in an amount necessary to cover that deficit; or

(3) to raise the revenue necessary to comply with judicial mandates requiring the use of county funds, personnel, facilities, or equipment.

(B) Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, the millage rate and fee rates may be further increased upon a two-thirds vote of the governing body. Any new sources of revenues for operating purposes must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the governing body of the county. However, if the governing body has fewer than six members, a three-fifths vote is required.

(C) The restriction contained in this section shall not affect millage which is levied to pay bonded indebtedness or payments for real property purchased using a lease-purchase agreement or used to maintain a reserve account. Nothing in this section prohibits the use of energy-saving performance contracts as provided in Section 48-52-670."

E. Article 1, Chapter 21, Title 5 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 5-21-70. (A) The governing body of a municipality may not increase the millage rate and fee rates, excluding utilities, imposed for operating purposes above the rate and fee rates imposed for such purposes for the prior tax year. However, the millage rate and fee rates may be increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index upon a three-fifths vote of the governing body of the municipality. Notwithstanding the limitation upon millage rate and fee rate increases contained in this subsection, the millage rate and fee rates may be increased for the following purposes:

(1) in response to a natural or environmental disaster as declared by the Governor;

(2) to offset a prior year's deficit, as required by Section 7, Article X of the South Carolina Constitution, or to offset a deficit in providing a service or function which is funded through the imposition of fees by increasing such fees in an amount necessary to cover that deficit; or

(3) to raise the revenue necessary to comply with judicial mandates requiring the use of municipal funds, personnel, facilities, or equipment.

(B) Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, the millage rate and fee rates may be further increased upon a two-thirds vote of the governing body. Any new sources of revenues for operating purposes must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the governing body of


Printed Page 3060 . . . . . Tuesday, May 9, 1995

the municipality. However, if the governing body has fewer than six members, a three-fifths vote is required.


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