Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
The Senate assembled at 12:00 Noon, the hour to which it stood adjourned and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.
A quorum being present the proceedings were opened with a devotion by the Chaplain as follows:
Beloved, in the parable of the talents, St. Matthew in Chapter 25 (v.21) says:
"(The) Master said: 'Well done, good
and faithful servant; you have been faithful
over a little, I will set you over much;
enter into the joy of your Lord (Master).'"
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, as Jean Harris is laid to rest today in the soil of her beloved Cheraw, we celebrate her life among us, and give thanks for her faithfulness to her people and her God.
Grant, O Lord, to her husband, Anthony, who also served faithfully... here with us in the Senate from which he went to his judgeship, and their family, a full measure of Your grace.
We are grateful for the memories of the kind... and beautiful... and talented lady... called Jean... that shared many years with us under the great dome of our State House!
May we also be able to look forward to the Resurrection, hearing the words:
"Enter into the joys of your Lord." Amen.
The following were introduced:
S. 257 -- Senator McConnell: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-41-45, TO AMEND ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 71, TITLE 38, RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES BY ADDING SUBARTICLE 7; TO AMEND ARTICLE 5, CHAPTER 71, TITLE 38, RELATING TO GROUP ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE BY ADDING SUBARTICLE 2; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-135, RELATING TO MINIMUM POSTPARTUM HOSPITALIZATION SERVICES FOR MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS, TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-335, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CANCELLATION AND RENEWAL POLICIES FOR ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-730, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUP ACCIDENT AND HEALTH POLICIES; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-737, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS OF COVERAGE FOR PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS IN GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-920, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH SMALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-960, RELATING TO REQUIRED DISCLOSURE IN SOLICITATION AND SALES MATERIAL FOR SMALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-1330, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH SMALL EMPLOYER HEALTH INSURANCE AVAILABILITY; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-1360, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT INSURERS MARKET TWO PLANS FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-1370, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CODE SECTIONS TO INSURANCE PLANS REQUIRED TO BE OFFERED BY SMALL EMPLOYER INSURERS AND PREEXISTING CONDITION COVERAGE FOR LATE ENROLLEES; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-1410 RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SMALL EMPLOYER INSURER REINSURANCE PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-1440, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL EMPLOYER INSURERS, ALL SO AS TO COMPLY WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996, INCLUDING GUARANTEED AVAILABILITY IN THE SMALL GROUP MARKET, GUARANTEED RENEWABILITY IN THE LARGE GROUP MARKET, THE SMALL GROUP MARKET, THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET, AND FOR MULTIPLE EMPLOYER WELFARE ARRANGEMENTS; REVISIONS TO REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION SERVICES FOR MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS; EQUALITY IN THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN LIMITS TO MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS, ANTIDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE LARGE AND SMALL GROUP MARKETS, AND LIMITATIONS ON PREEXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSIONS IN THE LARGE AND SMALL GROUP MARKETS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 38-71-950, RELATING TO RENEWABILITY AND NOTICE OF NONRENEWAL OF SMALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
S. 258 -- Senator McConnell: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-685 SO AS TO IMPLEMENT GUARANTEED AVAILABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WITH PRIOR GROUP COVERAGE AS MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996 AND TO REQUIRE ISSUERS IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET TO OFFER AND ACCEPT ENROLLMENT OF ANY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT THE IMPOSITION OF A PREEXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSION, TO DEFINE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL AS ONE WHO HAS AN AGGREGATE OF EIGHTEEN MONTHS OF CREDITABLE COVERAGE, WHOSE MOST RECENT COVERAGE WAS UNDER A GROUP HEALTH PLAN, WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE UNDER ANOTHER GROUP HEALTH PLAN, MEDICARE, OR MEDICAID, WHOSE MOST RECENT PRIOR COVERAGE WAS NOT TERMINATED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF PREMIUMS OR FRAUD, AND WHO HAS EXHAUSTED COBRA, IF ELIGIBLE, TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUER TO LIMIT THE GUARANTEED ISSUE SO LONG AS IT OFFERS AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT POLICY FORMS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THESE FORMS.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
S. 259 -- Senator McConnell: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-74-90; TO AMEND SECTION 38-74-10, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE POOL; TO AMEND SECTION 38-74-30, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY FOR POOL COVERAGE; AND SECTION 38-74-60, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO MAJOR MEDICAL EXPENSE COVERAGE, ALL SO AS TO MAKE THE POOL AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996 AND TO INCREASE THE AGGREGATE BENEFIT LIMIT, DELETE THE EXCLUSION OF INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED AS BEING INFECTED WITH AIDS, REDUCE THE PREMIUM CAP ON CERTAIN ASSESSMENTS, ALLOW FEDERALLY DEFINED ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS TO ENTER THE POOL WITHOUT SATISFYING CURRENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, REDUCE THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, REQUIRE FEDERALLY DEFINED ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS TO BE RESIDENTS, ENSURE THAT THE PREEXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSION IS NOT APPLIED TO FEDERALLY DEFINED ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS, REMOVE THE PROVISIONS ALLOWING EXTRA CHARGES WHERE A PREEXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSION IS WAIVED, AND ENSURE THAT FEDERALLY DEFINED ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS ARE PROVIDED A CHOICE OF COVERAGE.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
S. 260 -- Senator McConnell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-920, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH SMALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE, SO AS TO REVISE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS AND ADD NEW DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-940, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PREMIUM RATES AND RATING FACTORS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS AND THE PROHIBITION OF INVOLUNTARY BUSINESS CLASS TRANSFER, SO AS TO USE AN INDEX RATE VERSUS AN ACTUARIAL BASE RATE AS A MEASURE OF THE "AVERAGE RATE", TO STRENGTHEN ACTUARIAL CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, TO ALLOW RATE VARIATION FROM THE INDEX RATE, TO LIMIT THE INDEX RATE VARIATION FOR A CLASS OF BUSINESS, TO CHANGE THE PROVISIONS FOR PREMIUM RATE INCREASES TO ALLOW AN ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT DUE TO CLAIM EXPERIENCE, HEALTH STATUS, OR DURATION OF COVERAGE, TO ADD GROUP SIZE AS A CASE CHARACTERISTIC AND DELETE IT AS MEANS OF CREATING A CLASS OF NEW BUSINESS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-960, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DISCLOSURE TO SMALL EMPLOYERS IN SOLICITATION AND SALES MATERIAL FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, SO AS TO EXPAND INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE DISCLOSED.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
S. 261 -- Senators Short, Mescher, Williams, Bryan, Rankin, Jackson, Washington, Matthews, Reese, Glover, Alexander, Patterson, Land, Moore, Hutto, Anderson, Lander and Saleeby: A BILL TO ENACT THE "COORDINATED SERVICES FOR YOUTH ACT OF 1997", BY AMENDING CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CHILDREN'S CODE, BY ADDING ARTICLE 28 SO AS TO DIRECT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO CONVENE A SCHOOL HEALTH PLANNING COMMITTEE TO ASSESS THE HEALTH STATUS OF CHILDREN AND TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM TO COMPLEMENT EXISTING HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS AT THE OPTION OF THE PARENTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED, CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS, AND BILLING AND PROGRAM REVIEW PROCEDURES.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs.
S. 262 -- Senator Peeler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-7860, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPECIAL SHRINER LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ONLY ONE PLATE MAY BE ISSUED TO A SHRINER.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
S. 263 -- Senators Wilson, Courson and Giese: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 56-1-146, 56-1-147, AND 56-1-148 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY MUST BE NOTIFIED OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF FELONIES AND PERSONS INCARCERATED OR ON PAROLE OR PROBATION FOR FELONIES SO THAT AN IDENTIFYING CODE CAN BE AFFIXED TO THEIR DRIVERS' LICENSES OR SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS IN A SPECIFIED MANNER; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-80, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CONTENTS OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE APPLICATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN APPLICATION MUST CONTAIN A STATEMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY IN THIS STATE AND, IF SO, THE FELONY; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A DRIVER'S LICENSE MUST HAVE A ONE-DIGIT CODE IF THE PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE IDENTIFYING THE PERSON IN THIS MANNER, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS CODE MUST BE MADE KNOWN TO THE APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF THE STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-3350, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL APPLICATION CARD MUST REQUEST WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY IN THIS STATE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-3370, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SIZE, SHAPE, AND DESIGN OF A SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARD MUST HAVE A ONE-DIGIT CODE IF THE PERSON HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE IDENTIFYING THE PERSON IN THIS MANNER, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS CODE MUST BE MADE KNOWN TO THE APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF THIS STATE.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
H. 3041 -- Reps. Wilkins, Fleming, Wilder, Haskins, Harrison, Harrell, Lloyd, Limbaugh, Mason, Vaughn, Young-Brickell, Cotty, Simrill, Stuart, Bailey, Walker, Altman, Whatley, Meacham, Robinson, Kelley, Chellis, Barfield, Townsend, J. Brown, Sandifer, Sharpe, Rodgers, H. Brown, Cato, Leach, Campsen, Beck, Davenport, Allison, Law, Barrett, D. Smith, Felder, Rice, Woodrum, Knotts, Bauer, Seithel, Riser, Klauber, Young and Limehouse: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMENCING AT VARYING TIMES IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS AND ODD-NUMBERED YEARS AND FOR AN ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION FOR THE SENATE IN CERTAIN YEARS, DELETE CERTAIN OBSOLETE LANGUAGE, PROVIDE FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN MEETINGS FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE OF LEGISLATION, AND PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
H. 3042 -- Reps. Wilkins, Fleming, Haskins, Harrell, Young, Limbaugh, Woodrum, Vaughn, Stille, Young-Brickell, Witherspoon, Simrill, Stuart, Cotty, Bailey, Walker, Altman, Whatley, Kirsh, Inabinett, Meacham, J. Brown, Sharpe, Cato, Campsen, Robinson, Kelley, Wilder, Rodgers, Harrison, Beck, Chellis, Barfield and Townsend: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 2-1-180, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DATE FOR THE MANDATORY ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THE FIRST THURSDAY IN JUNE TO THE SECOND THURSDAY IN MAY, AND PROVIDE THAT IN ANY YEAR THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FAILS TO GIVE THIRD READING TO THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL BY MARCH FIFTEENTH, RATHER THAN MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, THE DATE OF ADJOURNMENT IS EXTENDED BY ONE STATEWIDE DAY FOR EACH STATEWIDE DAY AFTER MARCH FIFTEENTH, RATHER THAN MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, THAT THE HOUSE FAILS TO GIVE THE BILL THIRD READING.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
On motion of Senators DRUMMOND, ALEXANDER, ANDERSON, BRYAN, CORK, COURSON, COURTNEY, ELLIOTT, FAIR, FORD, GIESE, GLOVER, GREGORY, HAYES, HOLLAND, HUTTO, JACKSON, LAND, LANDER, LEATHERMAN, LEVENTIS, MARTIN, MATTHEWS, McCONNELL, McGILL, MESCHER, MOORE, O'DELL, PASSAILAIGUE, PATTERSON, PEELER, RANKIN, RAVENEL, REESE, ROSE, RUSSELL, RYBERG, SALEEBY, SETZLER, SHORT, J. VERNE SMITH, THOMAS, WALDREP, WASHINGTON, WILLIAMS and WILSON, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of the Honorable Jean Laney Harris, of Cheraw, S.C., member of the House of Representatives (service 1979-present).
At 12:15 P.M., on motion of Senator DRUMMOND, the Senate adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.
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