Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The House assembled at 2:00 p.m.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by Rep. GOURDINE as follows:

Gracious God, Whose love is throughout generations, we turn to You for guidance and support. Let us not miss the blessings that You have in store for us. Teach us to see clearly, walk uprightly, to endure patiently, and ever to accept life as a great gift. Endow us with good judgment, with a right sense of values. Make us thankful for faith that dispels the shadows of earth and lifts us out of despair. Keep us in Your care both now and always. 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 yesterday, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.

Rep. MEACHAM-RICHARDSON moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Melvin G. Gottschalg, which was agreed to.

The following was received:

January 16, 2001
The Honorable Gloria Haskins
326A Blatt Building
Columbia, S.C. 29201

It is with pleasure that I appoint you to serve on the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, effective January 16, 2001. I know that you will serve this committee with honor and distinction. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to our working together.

Sincerely,
David H. Wilkins
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

The following were received and referred to the appropriate committees for consideration:

Document No. 2559
Agency: Department of Education
Statutory Authority: 1976 Code Sections 59-5-60, 59-39-190, 59-39-105
STAR Diploma
Received by Speaker of the House of Representatives
January 16, 2001
Referred to Education and Public Works Committee
Legislative Review Expiration May 16, 2001

Document No. 2572
Agency: Department of Health and Environmental Control
Statutory Authority: 1976 Code Section 48-1-10 et seq.
Water Classifications and Standards
Received by Speaker of the House of Representatives
January 16, 2001
Referred to Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee
Legislative Review Expiration May 16, 2001

Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report on:

H. 3138 (Word version) -- Reps. Wilkins, W. D. Smith, Harrison, Harrell, Townsend, Sharpe, J. Brown, Cato, Campsen, Wilder, Jennings, Coates, Vaughn, Sandifer, Whatley, Cobb-Hunter, Delleney, Simrill, Walker, Altman, Robinson, Merrill, Cotty and Gilham: 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.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report on:

H. 3139 (Word version) -- Reps. Wilkins, W. D. Smith, Harrison, Harrell, Townsend, Sharpe, J. Brown, Cato, Campsen, Wilder, Jennings, Coates, Vaughn, Sandifer, Whatley, Cobb-Hunter, Delleney, Simrill, Walker, Altman, Owens, Whipper, Robinson, Merrill, Cotty and Gilham: 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

Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report on:

H. 3140 (Word version) -- Reps. Wilkins, Harrison, Campsen, Coates, Walker and Altman: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ADOPT REVISED CODE VOLUME 14 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO THE EXTENT OF ITS CONTENTS, AS THE ONLY GENERAL PERMANENT STATUTORY LAW OF THE STATE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2001.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:

H. 3053 (Word version) -- Reps. J. Young, G. M. Smith, Kirsh, W. D. Smith, Harrison, Davenport and Whipper: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 8, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, BY ADDING SECTION 8-1-115, SO AS TO CREATE A GENERAL LIEN UPON THE REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY, INCLUDING WAGES, ANNUITIES, PENSIONS, AND CHOSES IN ACTION, OF ANY PUBLIC OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO IS FOUND GUILTY OF AN OFFENSE INVOLVING EMBEZZLEMENT OR APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS OR PROPERTY TO PRIVATE USE, TO THE EXTENT OF THE TOTAL LOSS, DAMAGE OR EXPENSE TO THE STATE, OR TO A COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, TO PROVIDE FOR FILING A NOTICE OF LIEN, TO PROVIDE THAT AN ACTION TO ENFORCE THE LIEN CREATED BY THIS SECTION MAY BE BROUGHT AT ANY TIME UP TO THREE YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF A PERSON WHOSE REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO THE LIEN, TO PROVIDE FOR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF THE LIEN CREATED BY THIS SECTION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR HIS DESIGNEE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1680, RELATING TO EXEMPTION OF

Rep. KENNEDY, from the Williamsburg Delegation, submitted a favorable report on:

S. 118 (Word version) -- Senators McGill and Elliott: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 191 OF 1971, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY RECREATION DISTRICT, SO AS TO TRANSFER TO THE COUNTY GOVERNING BODY THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT COMMISSION MEMBERS.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

The following was introduced:

H. 3278 (Word version) -- Reps. Gourdine, Law, Hinson, Dantzler and Merrill: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO NAME A PORTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 17A IN BERKELEY COUNTY AS THE "SAMUEL D. COOPER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" IN MEMORY OF SAMUEL D. COOPER, A DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN OF BERKELEY COUNTY.
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

The following was introduced:

H. 3279 (Word version) -- Reps. Barrett and Sandifer: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE JOHN KELLEY OF WALHALLA FOR BEING NAMED A DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.

The following was introduced:

H. 3280 (Word version) -- Rep. Rutherford: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DECLARE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2001, AS "ETIQUETTE DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA" AND TO COMMEND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM AND ITS PARTICIPANTS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN BECOMING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Education and Public Works.

The Senate sent to the House the following:

S. 152 (Word version) -- Senators J. V. Smith, Alexander, Anderson, Bauer, Branton, Courson, Drummond, Elliott, Fair, Ford, Giese, Glover, Gregory, Grooms, Hawkins, Hayes, Holland, Hutto, Jackson, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Martin, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Passailaigue, Patterson, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Ravenel, Reese, Richardson, Ritchie, Ryberg, Saleeby, Setzler, Short, Thomas, Verdin, Waldrep and Wilson: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE SINCERE AND GENUINE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO OUR GOOD FRIEND, MS. NAOMI EVELYN MEDLIN OF CHARLESTON COUNTY, ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT FROM THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO OFFER OUR SPECIAL THANKS FOR HER BOUNDLESS COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION IN

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.

The following Bills and Joint Resolution were introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committees:

H. 3277 (Word version) -- Education and Public Works Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DISAPPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE INCENTIVES FOR FUTURE EXCELLENCE (LIFE) SCHOLARSHIP, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 2360, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
Without Reference

H. 3281 (Word version) -- Rep. Altman: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-350, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CERTIFIED CANDIDATES NOMINATED BY PETITION, PRIMARY, OR CONVENTION SO AS TO PROHIBIT A CANDIDATE FROM BEING NOMINATED BY MORE THAN ONE POLITICAL PARTY AND REQUIRE THE AUTHORITY CHARGED BY LAW WITH PRINTING THE BALLOT TO PRINT THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE WITH THE ONE PARTY WHICH NOMINATED HIM.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

H. 3282 (Word version) -- Reps. Townsend, Neilson, Jennings and Harrison: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 387 OF 2000, RELATING TO THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000-2001, BY AMENDING PART 1B (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS), PARAGRAPH 1.25 SO AS TO INCREASE FROM SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS THE PERIOD THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MAY WAIVE THE REQUIRED PRAXIS II SUBJECT AREA EXAM FOR CERTAIN TEACHERS.
On motion of Rep. TOWNSEND, with unanimous consent, the Bill was ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.

H. 3284 (Word version) -- Reps. Littlejohn and W. D. Smith: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 178 OF 1963, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CONVERSE AREA FIRE DISTRICT IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SO AS TO INCREASE THE DISTRICT'S BORROWING LIMIT FROM TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
On motion of Rep. LITTLEJOHN, with unanimous consent, the Bill was ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.

H. 3286 (Word version) -- Rep. Davenport: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 34-11-70, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF FRAUDULENT INTENT IN DRAWING CHECKS AND SERVICE CHARGES FOR DRAWING FRAUDULENT CHECKS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE SERVICE CHARGE ON CHECKS OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OR LESS FROM TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS TO THIRTY DOLLARS.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

The following was introduced:

H. 3285 (Word version) -- Rep. Cotty: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND DISTINGUISH SPRING VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH OF COLUMBIA FOR CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS OF WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2000, AND WISH THEM MANY MORE YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

The Resolution was adopted.

The roll call of the House of Representatives was taken resulting as follows:

Allen                  Allison                Altman
Bales                  Barfield               Barrett
Battle                 Bingham                Bowers
Breeland               Brown, J.              Brown, R.
Campsen                Carnell                Cato
Chellis                Clyburn                Coates
Cobb-Hunter            Coleman                Cooper
Cotty                  Dantzler               Davenport
Delleney               Easterday              Edge
Emory                  Fleming                Freeman
Frye                   Gilham                 Gourdine
Govan                  Hamilton               Harrell
Harrison               Harvin                 Haskins
Hayes                  Hines, J.              Hines, M.
Hinson                 Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jennings               Keegan
Kelley                 Kennedy                Kirsh
Klauber                Knotts                 Koon
Law                    Leach                  Lee
Littlejohn             Lloyd                  Loftis
Lourie                 Lucas                  Mack
Martin                 McCraw                 McGee
McLeod                 Meacham-Richardson     Merrill
Miller                 Moody-Lawrence         Neal, J.H.
Neal, J.M.             Neilson                Ott
Owens                  Parks                  Perry
Phillips               Rhoad                  Rice
Riser                  Rivers                 Robinson
Rodgers                Sandifer               Scarborough
Scott                  Sharpe                 Sheheen
Simrill                Sinclair               Smith, D.C.
Smith, F.N.            Smith, G.M.            Smith, J.E.
Smith, J.R.            Smith, W.D.            Snow
Stille                 Stuart                 Talley
Taylor                 Thompson               Townsend
Trotter                Vaughn                 Walker
Webb                   Weeks                  Whatley

White                  Wilder                 Wilkins
Witherspoon            Young, A.              Young, J.

I came in after the roll call and was present for the Session on Wednesday, January 17.

Jackson Whipper                   H.B. "Chip" Limehouse
Todd Rutherford                   Grady Brown

Rep. GOVAN signed a statement with the Clerk that he came in after the roll call of the House and was present for the Session on Tuesday, January 16.

Announcement was made that Drs. William H. Hester and Travis Novinger of Florence are the Doctors of the Day for the General Assembly.

Rep. D. C. SMITH moved that the House recede until 6:45 p.m., which was agreed to.

At 6:45 p.m. the House resumed, the SPEAKER in the Chair.

The House stood at ease, subject to the call of the Chair.

At 6:55 p.m. the House resumed, the SPEAKER in the Chair.

At 7:00 p.m. the Senate appeared in the Hall of the House. The President of the Senate called the Joint Assembly to order and announced that it had convened under the terms of a Concurrent Resolution adopted by both Houses.

H. 3191 (Word version) -- Reps. Wilkins, W. D. Smith, Harrison, Harrell, J. Brown, Cato, Sharpe, Townsend and Kelley: A CONCURRENT

Governor James H. Hodges and distinguished party were escorted to the rostrum by Senators Drummond, J.V. Smith, Land, Leatherman, McConnell and Matthews and Representatives J.H. NEAL, JENNINGS, GILHAM, QUINN, LAW and WEBB. The President of the Senate introduced Governor Hodges who then addressed the Joint Assembly as follows:

Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentleman of the General Assembly, distinguished guests and my fellow South Carolinians.

Even in the dead of winter, an optimist can always find a ray of hope. For example, in Major League Baseball, spring training is only six weeks away, along with the promise of a new season for all baseball fans.
I'm one of those fans. A few summers before I became Governor ... I gathered with a group of friends for a trip to historic ballparks around the country. We were Democrats, Republicans and Independents, but we shared a bipartisan love of baseball. Together, we traveled to historic ballparks. We shared stories about the game and learned about its history. It became an annual tradition.
And so I say to all of you tonight ... to Speaker Wilkins and Senate President Pro Tempore McConnell ... let's work together for the common good of all South Carolinians. Let's make that an annual bipartisan tradition.
Now back to baseball.
One of the outstanding ballplayers of our age is Hammerin' Hank Aaron, the Home Run King. After he retired from baseball, Hank Aaron once told a group of college graduates the difference between a .280 and a .300 hitter. The difference is bigger than 20 points, he said. It's the difference between being pretty good and truly great.

Let me introduce you to someone who's hit some tough pitches this year -- literally. Ray Tanner is the coach of the nationally-ranked USC baseball team. He's one of 20 South Carolinians who competed in the 2000 Olympics. And he helped manage America's gold-medal winning baseball team.
South Carolina has faced a lot of tough pitches in the last two years. And we've hit a lot of them out of the park.

We've focused like a laser-beam on improving our schools. And that focus is working.
We've heard a lot of talk about South Carolina being last in education. Well, here are some new statistics:
Of the fifty states, South Carolina now ranks sixth in accountability, fourth in improving teacher quality and first in the nation in SAT improvement.

Since 1998, South Carolina's SAT scores have gone up 15 points.
At East Clarendon High School in Turbeville, students posted a 157-point increase on the SAT. Penny King is one of the coaches for their SAT prep team. She remembers TV reporters coming to Turbeville ... tiny Turbeville ... to find out how they did it. Penny has a simple answer for them -- "There's no reason why other schools in the State can't do the same thing."
Other schools around the State have improved. In fact, we've seen a bigger increase in SAT scores over the last two years than in the last ten years combined.
Here are some other home runs in education...
Thanks to full-day kindergarten and First Steps, more children than ever are testing ready for the first grade.
We've provided a billion dollars for school construction without raising taxes. I've seen children and teachers make the move from old portables into new classrooms.
At Paul Knox Middle School in North Augusta, I saw an entire wing of new classrooms rising from the ground.

The people have endorsed a lottery framework. It has four parts: First, a free technical education for anyone at any age. Second, college scholarships that dramatically expand the number of students receiving aid. Third, master's degrees for our teachers who want to upgrade their skills. And finally, classroom technology to make our State a national leader in high-tech learning.
This plan is the people's plan. So let's meet two of the people who stand to benefit from our education lottery:
Let me introduce you to Kandi Oxner and Valencia Edwards. Kandi is a nursing student at Midlands Tech. Kandi has big dreams. But because of her mother's medical bills, Kandi's family also has big debts.
Valencia is a freshman at Columbia College. She wants to be an elementary school teacher. Valencia worked hard in high school to earn a B-plus average. But Valencia doesn't have a LIFE scholarship to help pay her bills.
Kandi and Valencia have big dreams. And we shouldn't let financial obstacles stand in their way. Don't disappoint them: use the education lottery to make technical and two-year college education free to anyone who wants it. Use the education lottery to give a $2,000 HOPE scholarship to every South Carolina student who earns a "B" average. And use the education lottery to make South Carolina first in the nation for per-pupil spending on technology.

I support using $30 million from our State Infrastructure Bank to build highway medians along some of our most dangerous stretches of road ... as Speaker Wilkins has proposed.
I support adding a new class of state troopers to patrol our highways and catch reckless drivers.
And I support teaching our young people responsible driving habits at an early age. Teenagers make up less than four percent of the drivers in South Carolina. But they are responsible for twice that number of traffic fatalities. And many of these crashes happen late at night.
So I challenge the legislature to adopt a youth driving curfew -- no teenage drivers on our roads after midnight.
Every death on the highway is more than a statistic. It is a promising life snuffed out forever. Most tragic is the loss of our young people.
I've seen this tragedy strike my own hometown of Lancaster. Larry and Elizabeth Williams will never forget the late September evening when a highway patrolman came to their home. Their beautiful 15-year-old daughter, Lisa, had been killed in a crash that afternoon on Potter Road. A seat belt would have saved her.
For Larry and Elizabeth, the pain of losing Lisa will never go away. Elizabeth told me, "We hurt every time someone else dies in a crash." Their sadness is mixed with frustration every time they see a driver

Upon the conclusion of his address, Governor Hodges and his escort party retired from the Chamber.

The purposes of the Joint Assembly having been accomplished, the PRESIDENT announced that under the terms of the Concurrent Resolution the Joint Assembly would recede from business.
The Senate accordingly retired to its Chamber.

At 7:45 p.m. the House resumed, the SPEAKER in the Chair.

Rep. CATO moved that the House do now adjourn, which was agreed to.

At 7:46 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. MEACHAM-RICHARDSON, adjourned in memory of Melvin G. Gottschalg, to meet at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

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