Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
The House assembled at 12:00 noon.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by Rev. Charles E. Seastrunk, Jr. as follows:
Our thought for today is from Psalm 119:89: "Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."
Let us pray. Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings, with Your most gracious flavor, and further us with Your continual help; that all our work begun, continued, and ended in You, we may glorify Your Holy name and receive Your mercy. Bless our Nation, our President, our Governor, our State and her leaders. Protect from harm our defenders of freedom and bless them. Hear our prayer, O Lord. 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.
Rep. ANTHONY moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of former Senator John D. Long III of Union, which was agreed to.
The following was received:
Columbia, S.C., Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the House to H. 3381:
H. 3381 (Word version) -- Reps. Cato, Skelton, Jennings, W. D. Smith, Townsend, Merrill, Ott, Rice, Mack, Viers and Walker: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 14 TO TITLE 39 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA LANDOWNER AND ADVERTISING PROTECTION AND PROPERTY VALUATION ACT", TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ACT, TO EMPOWER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF NONCONFORMING OFF-PREMISES OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGNS AND TO REGULATE THE USE OF THEM, TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH SIGN OWNERS TO RELOCATE AND RECONSTRUCT SIGNS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF JUST COMPENSATION WHEN A SIGN IS REMOVED WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR ARBITRATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES WHEN THEY FAIL TO REACH AN AGREEMENT.
and has ordered the Bill Enrolled for Ratification.
Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.
The SPEAKER ordered the following veto printed in the Journal:
February 6, 2006
The Honorable Robert Harrell, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Post Office Box 11867
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Dear Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
I am hereby vetoing and returning without my approval H. 4394 (Word version), R. 220.
I commend the thinking behind this bill because it represents an ongoing discussion between business and educational leaders on making two-year or technical education a more acceptable choice in the education marketplace. I am concerned, however, that this bill would set precedent for every technical school in South Carolina to chart its own course with regard to branding. Though this legislation simply leaves to the Spartanburg County Commission for Technical Education the ability to rename Spartanburg Technical College, I am concerned with this bill's statewide implications and its unintended consequences to economic recruitment and the structure of the technical system that may come with it.
South Carolina is one of the few states remaining with an established technical system, and it has developed a reputation nationally for being able to work with businesses coming into the State to quickly and effectively train workers. In addition, the technical system has become an important option for young workers as an affordable way to develop work skills.
Our Center for Accelerated Technology Training Program, or CATT program, is one of the oldest and most highly regarded workforce training programs in the United States. Over the past 45 years, the CATT program has received recognition at both the national and international level and has served as an effective economic recruitment tool. The CATT program was instrumental in bringing international companies, such as BMW and Fuji, to South Carolina. These companies have become important corporate citizens here in the State.
Changing technical school names in piecemeal fashion could, effectively, weaken the successful branding that we have accomplished over the last four decades.
A strength of the Technical College System is greater coordination than we see in the traditional university system here in South Carolina. One of the greatest challenges we face in South Carolina is the large number of higher education institutions. With 33 public institutions and 79 campuses, higher education in South Carolina has become fractured and uncoordinated. This lack of structure is costly and is contributory in the debate on higher education costs currently before our State.
To the credit of the General Assembly, it has been part of the formula that has led us to a great technical system that has a unified image, or brand throughout this country. Should it be determined that we do, in fact, need to rename our technical system, for the sake of economic development, I don't believe we should have 10 or 15 competing brands across the State. I believe this legislation could well set us on a course to do just that.
For the reasons stated above, I am vetoing H. 4394, and returning it without my approval.
Sincerely,
Mark Sanford
Governor
On motion of Rep. LEACH, with unanimous consent, the following was taken up for immediate consideration and accepted:
February 2, 2006
The Honorable Robert W. Leach, Sr.
Chairman, House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Dear Chairman Leach:
On behalf of the Transportation Association of SC the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a reception. This event will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2006, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at Seawell's.
Sincerely,
Christine Wilkenson
The following Bills and Joint Resolution were introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committees:
H. 4602 (Word version) -- Reps. Moody-Lawrence, Norman, Simrill, Kirsh, Sinclair and Duncan: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-96-321 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE SITING OF A CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION LANDFILL WITHIN THREE MILES OF AN ALREADY EXISTING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION LANDFILL.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
H. 4608 (Word version) -- Reps. Ballentine, Cotty, Haley, Bingham, Bales, Frye, Clark, Altman, Bailey, Bannister, Ceips, Chellis, Davenport, Delleney, Hagood, Huggins, Jennings, Kirsh, Leach, Limehouse, Mitchell, Neilson, Phillips, E. H. Pitts, Scarborough, Simrill, Sinclair, W. D. Smith, Townsend, Vaughn and Young: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-37-932 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROPERTY TAX IS ITS FAIR MARKET VALUE AS APPRAISED IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW WHEN OWNERSHIP OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAST WAS TRANSFERRED, INCREASED BY THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE REAL PROPERTY SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAST WAS TRANSFERRED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE ABOVE PROVISION IS EFFECTIVE UPON RATIFICATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE DEFINING FAIR MARKET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AS ITS FAIR MARKET VALUE WHEN IT'S OWNERSHIP LAST WAS TRANSFERRED, INCREASED BY THE VALUE OF IMPROVEMENTS.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
H. 4609 (Word version) -- Reps. Ballentine, Cotty, Haley, Bingham, Frye, Clark, E. H. Pitts, Altman, Bailey, Bannister, Ceips, Chellis, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Hagood, Hamilton, Hinson, Huggins, Kirsh, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Mitchell, Neilson, Phillips, Scarborough, Simrill, Sinclair, W. D. Smith, Townsend, Umphlett, Vaughn and Young: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO FINANCE AND TAXATION, BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 1A SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FAIR MARKET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF PROPERTY TAX MEANS ITS FAIR MARKET VALUE WHEN OWNERSHIP OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAST WAS TRANSFERRED, INCREASED BY THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE REAL PROPERTY SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAST WAS TRANSFERRED, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY LAW MAY DEFINE AN OWNERSHIP TRANSFER AND AN IMPROVEMENT TO REAL PROPERTY, AND MAY ESTABLISH A BASE YEAR FOR DETERMINING INITIAL FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR PURPOSES OF THIS NEW SECTION.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
H. 4610 (Word version) -- Reps. G. R. Smith and Harrison: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SUBARTICLE 22 TO ARTICLE 30, CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20 OF THE 1976 CODE SO AS TO ENACT THE "INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR JUVENILES" WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PROVIDES FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMPACT OPERATING AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER ONGOING COMPACT ACTIVITY, GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR ALL MEMBER STATES ON A NATIONAL GOVERNING COMMISSION, RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY, A MANDATORY FUNDING MECHANISM SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL COMPACT OPERATIONS, AND COLLECTION OF STANDARDIZED INFORMATION; AND TO REPEAL SUBARTICLE 21, ARTICLE 30, CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20, RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE COMPACT ON JUVENILES.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
H. 4611 (Word version) -- Rep. Talley: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3360, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE JOB DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT, SO AS TO INCLUDE AN APPRENTICESHIP AS AN ELIGIBLE "NEW JOB", TO DEFINE "APPRENTICE" FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
S. 1061 (Word version) -- Senators Gregory, Grooms, Courson, Drummond, Richardson, Campsen, Ryberg, Land, Hutto, Setzler, Hayes, Sheheen, Lourie and Verdin: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY REDESIGNATING SECTIONS 51-17-10 THROUGH 51-17-150 AS ARTICLE 1 OF CHAPTER 17, TITLE 51, ENTITLED "HERITAGE TRUST PROGRAM", AND BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 17, TITLE 51 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR BONDING AUTHORITY IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR LAND ACQUISITION, RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF PROPERTIES FOR INCLUSION IN THE HERITAGE TRUST PROGRAM.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
S. 1088 (Word version) -- Senators Moore, Ryberg and Setzler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN AIKEN COUNTY, SO AS TO REVISE AND RENAME CERTAIN PRECINCTS AND REDESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH LINES OF THESE PRECINCTS ARE DELINEATED AND MAINTAINED BY THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICS OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD.
Referred to Aiken Delegation
S. 1095 (Word version) -- Senator Land: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-16-25, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF RELEASING OR TRANSPORTING PIGS FOR HUNTING OR ESTABLISHING A FREE ROAMING POPULATION OF PIGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS OFFENSE DOES NOT APPLY WHEN PIGS ARE CAPTURED AND TRANSPORTED SOLELY FOR RELEASE INTO A CONTROLLED AND CONTAINED ENVIRONMENT.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
S. 1098 (Word version) -- Senator McGill: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-520, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY, SO AS TO ADD THE PERGAMOS VOTING PRECINCT IN WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY, AND TO REDESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER FOR THE MAP ON WHICH LINES OF THE AFFECTED PRECINCTS ARE DELINEATED AND MAINTAINED BY THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICS OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD.
Referred to Williamsburg Delegation
S. 1101 (Word version) -- Senator Bryant: A BILL TO PROVIDE THAT, IN ANDERSON COUNTY, ANY REFERENDUM HELD BY A LOCAL TAXING AUTHORITY TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR AN INCREASE IN MILLAGE RATES, TO ISSUE BONDS, OR FOR ANY OTHER REVENUE RAISING MEASURE MUST BE HELD IN EVEN NUMBERED YEARS AT THE TIME OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
On motion of Rep. CHALK, with unanimous consent, the following was taken up for immediate consideration:
H. 4603 (Word version) -- Reps. Chalk, Herbkersman, Ceips and Rivers: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR TO THE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS OF THE HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AT A DATE AND TIME TO BE DETERMINED BY THE SPEAKER TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THE 2005 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND TO HONOR THE PLAYERS AND COACH RON PEDUZZI ON A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL SEASON.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, extend the privilege of the floor to the players, coaches, and school officials of the Hilton Head Preparatory School Football Team at a date and time to be determined by the Speaker to congratulate them on the 2005 South Carolina Independent Schools Association AA State Championship Title, and to honor the players and Coach Ron Peduzzi on a truly exceptional season.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 4604 (Word version) -- Reps. Chalk, Herbkersman, Ceips and Rivers: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM OF BEAUFORT COUNTY ON ITS 2005 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND TO HONOR THE TEAM AND COACH RON PEDUZZI ON A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL SEASON.
The Resolution was adopted.
On motion of Rep. WITHERSPOON, with unanimous consent, the following was taken up for immediate consideration:
H. 4605 (Word version) -- Reps. Witherspoon, Barfield, Chellis, Edge, Hardwick and Hayes: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DECLARE AUGUST 12, 2006, AS "NATIONAL MARINA DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN ORDER TO HONOR SOUTH CAROLINA'S MARINAS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE OUR CITIZENS MORE AWARE OF THE OVERALL CONTRIBUTIONS OF MARINAS TO THEIR WELL-BEING.
Whereas, the citizens of South Carolina place a high value on recreation time and the ability to access one of American's greatest natural resources, its waterways; and
Whereas, in 1928, the word "marina" was used for the very first time by the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers to define a recreational boating facility; and
Whereas, South Carolina is home to hundreds of recreational boating facilities that contribute substantially to their communities by providing a safe, reliable gateway to boating for members of the community and welcomed guests; and
Whereas, South Carolina's marinas also serve as stewards of the environment, actively seeking to protect the surrounding waterways not only for the enjoyment of this generation but for generations to come; and
Whereas, South Carolina's marinas provide their communities and visitors to our State a place where friends and families, united by a passion for the water, can come together for recreation, rest, and relaxation; and
Whereas, South Carolina's marinas also provide an environmentally friendly gateway to boating for the citizens of and the visitors to our State. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, declare August 12, 2006, as "National Marina Day" in South Carolina in order to honor South Carolina's marinas for their contributions to the community and make our citizens more aware of the overall contributions of marinas to their well-being.
Be it further resolved that the citizens of our State are encouraged to join hands with other states and thousands of waterfront communities all across the United States in celebrating this day.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.
The following was introduced:
H. 4606 (Word version) -- Rep. Witherspoon: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND SOUTH CAROLINA'S FFA MEMBERS (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA) AND ALL WHO SUPPORT, PROMOTE, AND ENCOURAGE THESE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND TO JOIN THEM IN OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL FFA WEEK, FEBRUARY 19-26, 2006.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.
The following was introduced:
H. 4607 (Word version) -- Rep. Hayes: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO NAME THE INTERCHANGE AT THE INTERSECTION ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 95 AND SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 9 IN DILLON COUNTY IN HONOR OF RETIRED FAMILY COURT JUDGE WILLIAM J. MCLEOD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS, AND INSTALL APPROPRIATE SIGNS OR MARKERS AT THIS INTERCHANGE CONTAINING THE WORDS "JUDGE BILL MCLEOD INTERCHANGE".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.
The following was introduced:
H. 4612 (Word version) -- Reps. Bailey, Harrell, Young and Chellis: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE LATE MRS. DWYNELLE PRITCHARD "MISS NELL" BENNETT OF ST. GEORGE WHO DIED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM AND TO EXPRESS THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.
The roll call of the House of Representatives was taken resulting as follows:
Agnew Altman Anderson Anthony Bailey Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bingham Bowers Brady Branham Breeland G. Brown J. Brown R. Brown Cato Ceips Chalk Chellis Clark Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Coleman Cooper Cotty Dantzler Delleney Duncan Edge Emory Frye Funderburk Govan Hagood Haley Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Haskins Hayes Herbkersman J. Hines M. Hines Hinson Hiott Hodges Hosey Howard Huggins Jefferson Kennedy Kirsh Leach Limehouse Littlejohn Loftis Lucas Mahaffey Martin McCraw McGee McLeod Merrill Miller Mitchell Moody-Lawrence J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parks Perry Phillips Pinson E. H. Pitts M. A. Pitts Rhoad Rice Rivers Rutherford Sandifer Scarborough Scott Simrill Sinclair Skelton D. C. Smith G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith W. D. Smith Stewart Talley Taylor Thompson Toole Townsend Tripp Umphlett Vaughn Vick Walker Weeks White Whitmire Witherspoon Young
I came in after the roll call and was present for the Session on Tuesday, February 7.
Marty Coates Thad Viers Jackson "Seth" Whipper Doug Jennings Fletcher Smith
The SPEAKER granted Rep. MACK a leave of absence for the day due to illness.
The SPEAKER granted Rep. ALLEN a leave of absence due to family reasons.
The SPEAKER granted Rep. JENNINGS a temporary leave of absence due to a court appearance.
Announcement was made that Dr. Al Pakalnis of Columbia is the Doctor of the Day for the General Assembly.
In accordance with House Rule 5.2 below:
"5.2 Every bill before presentation shall have its title endorsed; every report, its title at length; every petition, memorial, or other paper, its prayer or substance; and, in every instance, the name of the member presenting any paper shall be endorsed and the papers shall be presented by the member to the Speaker at the desk. After a bill or resolution has been presented and given first reading, no further names of co-sponsors may be added. A member may add his name to a bill or resolution or a co-sponsor of a bill or resolution may remove his name at any time prior to the bill or resolution receiving passage on second reading. The member or co-sponsor shall notify the Clerk of the House in writing of his desire to have his name added or removed from the bill or resolution. The Clerk of the House shall print the member's or co-sponsor's written notification in the House Journal. The removal or addition of a name does not apply to a bill or resolution sponsored by a committee."
Bill Number: H. 4351 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
02/07/06 MCGEE
Bill Number: H. 3921 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
02/07/06 MARTIN
Bill Number: H. 4301 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
02/07/06 RICE
Bill Number: H. 4301 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
02/07/06 SIMRILL
Bill Number: H. 4301 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
02/07/06 CHELLIS
Bill Number: H. 4301 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
02/07/06 VIERS
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. 1078 (Word version) -- Senators Cleary, Rankin and McGill: A BILL TO AMEND JOINT RESOLUTION 272 OF 1985, RELATING TO THE MURRELL'S INLET-GARDEN CITY FIRE DISTRICT IN GEORGETOWN AND HORRY COUNTIES, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF FIRE CONTROL FOR THE DISTRICT TO USE A PORTION OF THE IMPACT FEES TO CONSTRUCT A FACILITY OR BUILDING IN WHICH TO HOUSE OR STORE FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT.
The following Bills and Joint Resolutions were taken up, read the second time, and ordered to a third reading:
H. 4542 (Word version) -- Education and Public Works Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 3017, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
Rep. WHITMIRE explained the Joint Resolution.
H. 4543 (Word version) -- Education and Public Works Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SC HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, AND PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP APPEALS REGULATIONS, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 3018, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
Rep. WHITMIRE explained the Joint Resolution.
H. 3993 (Word version) -- Rep. Edge: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 43-31-170 SO AS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS THAT A COUNSELOR FOR THE STATE AGENCY OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SHALL MEET.
Rep. MAHAFFEY explained the Bill.
H. 4580 (Word version) -- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION-BOARD OF NURSING, RELATING TO SUPERVISING LICENSEES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 3030, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
Rep. PARKS explained the Joint Resolution.
H. 4581 (Word version) -- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION-BOARD OF NURSING, RELATING TO NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 3035, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
Rep. PARKS explained the Joint Resolution.
S. 1036 (Word version) -- Senators Hayes, Peeler, Short and Gregory: A BILL TO DESIGNATE SECTIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 OF ACT 967 OF 1962, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO YORK COUNTY COMMISSION FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION AS SECTIONS 59-53-1310, 59-53-1320, 59-53-1330, AND 59-53-1340 OF THE 1976 CODE TO BE CONTAINED IN ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 53, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, ENTITLED "YORK COMMISSION FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION"; AND TO AMEND ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER 53 OF TITLE 59, RELATING TO THE YORK COMMISSION FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION, SO AS TO ADD A MEMBER TO THE COMMISSION FROM CHESTER COUNTY AND A MEMBER FROM LANCASTER COUNTY, TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS AND TERMS OF OFFICE; AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
Rep. KIRSH explained the Bill.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 3881 (Word version) -- Reps. Hagood, Brady, Altman, Limehouse, Scarborough, Taylor, R. Brown, Mack, Miller, Whipper, Bailey, Weeks and Funderburk: A BILL TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA PRIORITY INVESTMENT ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 6-29-510, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COMPREHENSIVE PLANS OF LOCAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS, SO AS TO AMEND THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND TO PROVIDE FOR TRANSPORTATION, INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION, AND PRIORITY INVESTMENT ELEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANS; TO AMEND SECTION 6-29-720, RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF ZONING DISTRICTS, SO AS TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP MARKET-BASED INCENTIVES AND ELIMINATION OF UNNECESSARY HOUSING REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PRIORITY INVESTMENT AREAS; TO AMEND SECTION 6-29-1110, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO DEFINE "AFFORDABLE HOUSING", "MARKET-BASED INCENTIVES", "TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN", AND "UNNECESSARY HOUSING REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS"; TO AMEND SECTION 6-29-1130, RELATING TO REGULATIONS OF A LOCAL GOVERNING BODY GOVERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LOCAL PLANNING COMMISSION, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE CONTENT OF THESE REGULATIONS RELATING TO LAND DEVELOPMENT; AND TO PROVIDE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AMEND THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS TO COMPLY WITH THESE PROVISIONS WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS OF ENACTMENT.
The Judiciary Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 (Doc Name COUNCIL\AGM\18082MM06):
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Priority Investment Act".
SECTION 2. Section 6-29-510(D) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(D) A local comprehensive plan must include, but not be limited to, the following planning elements:
(1) a population element which considers historic trends and projections, household numbers and sizes, educational levels, and income characteristics;
(2) an economic development element which considers labor force and labor force characteristics, employment by place of work and residence, and analysis of the economic base;
(3) a natural resources element which considers coastal resources, slope characteristics, prime agricultural and forestland, plant and animal habitats, parks and recreation areas, scenic views and sites, wetlands, and soil types. Where a separate board exists pursuant to this chapter, this element is the responsibility of the existing board;
(4) a cultural resources element which considers historic buildings and structures, commercial districts, residential districts, unique, natural, or scenic resources, archaeological, and other cultural resources. Where a separate board exists pursuant to this chapter, this element is the responsibility of the existing board;
(5) a community facilities element which considers transportation network; water supply, treatment, and distribution; sewage system and wastewater treatment; solid waste collection and disposal, fire protection, emergency medical services, and general government facilities; education facilities; and libraries and other cultural facilities;
(6) a housing element which considers location, types, age and condition of housing, owner and renter occupancy, and affordability of housing. This element includes an analysis to ascertain unnecessary housing regulatory requirements, as defined in this chapter, that add to the cost of developing affordable housing but are not necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare and an analysis of market-based incentives that may be made available to encourage development of affordable housing, which incentives may include density bonuses, design flexibility, and streamlined permitting processes; and
(7) a land use element which considers existing and future land use by categories, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, forestry, mining, public and quasi-public, recreation, parks, open space, and vacant or undeveloped;
(8) a transportation element that considers transportation facilities, including major road improvements, new road construction, transit projects, pedestrian and bicycle projects, and other elements of a transportation network. This element must be developed in coordination with the land use element, to ensure transportation efficiency for existing and planned development;
(9) a priority investment element that analyzes the likely federal, state, and local funds available for public infrastructure and facilities during the next ten years, and recommends the projects for expenditure of those funds during the next ten years for needed public infrastructure and facilities such as water, sewer, roads, and schools. The recommendation of those projects for public expenditure must be done through coordination with adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies. For the purposes of this item, "adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies" means those counties, municipalities, public service districts, school districts, public and private utilities, transportation agencies, and other public entities that are affected by or have planning authority over the public project. For the purposes of this item, "coordination" means written notification by the local planning commission or its staff to adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies of the proposed projects and the opportunity for adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies to provide comment to the planning commission or its staff concerning the proposed projects. Failure of the planning commission or its staff to identify or notify an adjacent or relevant jurisdiction or agency does not invalidate the local comprehensive plan and does not give rise to a civil cause of action."
SECTION 3. Section 6-29-720(C)(5), (6), and (7) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(5) 'overlay zone' or a zone which imposes a set of requirements or relaxes a set of requirements imposed by the underlying zoning district when there is a special public interest in a particular geographic area that does not coincide with the underlying zone boundaries; and
(6) 'conditional uses' or zoning ordinance provisions that impose conditions, restrictions, or limitations on a permitted use that are in addition to the restrictions applicable to all land in the zoning district. The conditions, restrictions, or limitations must be set forth in the text of the zoning ordinance; and
(7) 'priority investment zone' in which the governing authority adopts market-based incentives or relaxes or eliminates unnecessary housing regulatory requirements, as these terms are defined in this chapter, to encourage private development in the priority investment zone. The governing authority also may provide that traditional neighborhood design and affordable housing, as these terms are defined in this chapter, must be permitted within the priority investment zone."
SECTION 4. Section 6-29-1110 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 6-29-1110. As used in this article chapter:
(1) 'Affordable housing' means in the case of dwelling units for sale, housing in which mortgage, amortization, taxes, insurance, and condominium or association fees, if any, constitute no more than twenty-eight percent of the annual household income for a household earning no more than eighty percent of the area median income, by household size, for the metropolitan statistical area as published from time to time by the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) and, in the case of dwelling units for rent, housing for which the rent and utilities constitute no more than thirty percent of the annual household income for a household earning no more than eighty percent of the area median income, by household size for the metropolitan statistical area as published from time to time by HUD.
(2) 'Land development' means the changing of land characteristics through redevelopment, construction, subdivision into parcels, condominium complexes, apartment complexes, commercial parks, shopping centers, industrial parks, mobile home parks, and similar developments for sale, lease, or any combination of owner and rental characteristics.
(3) 'Market-based incentives' mean incentives that encourage private developers to meet the governing authority's goals as developed in this chapter. Incentives may include, but are not limited to:
(a) density bonuses, allowing developers to build at a density higher than residential zones typically permit, and greater density bonuses, allowing developers to build at a density higher than residential affordable units in development, or allowing developers to purchase density by paying into a local housing trust fund;
(b) relaxed zoning regulations including, but not limited to, minimum lot area requirements, limitations of multi-family dwellings, minimum setbacks, yard requirements, variances, reduced parking requirements, and modified street standards;
(c) reduced or waived fees including those fees levied on new development projects where affordable housing is addressed, reimburse permit fees to builder upon certification that dwelling unit is affordable and waive up to one hundred percent of sewer/water tap in fees for affordable housing units;
(d) fast-track permitting including, but not limited to, streamlining the permitting process for new development projects and expediting affordable housing developments to help reduce cost and time delays;
(e) design flexibility allowing for greater design flexibility, creating pre-approved design standards to allow for quick and easy approval, and promoting infill development, mixed use and accessory dwellings.
(2)(4) 'Subdivision' means all divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale, lease, or building development, and includes all division of land involving a new street or change in existing streets, and includes re-subdivision which would involve the further division or relocation of lot lines of any lot or lots within a subdivision previously made and approved or recorded according to law; or, the alteration of any streets or the establishment of any new streets within any subdivision previously made and approved or recorded according to law, and includes combinations of lots of record; however, the following exceptions are included within this definition only for the purpose of requiring that the local planning agency be informed and have a record of the subdivisions: (a) the combination or recombination of portions of previously platted lots where the total number of lots is not increased and the resultant lots are equal to the standards of the governing authority; (b) the division of land into parcels of five acres or more where no new street is involved and plats of these exceptions must be received as information by the planning agency which shall indicate that fact on the plats; and (c) the combination or recombination of entire lots of record where no new street or change in existing streets is involved.
(5) 'Traditional neighborhood design' means development designs intended to enhance the appearance and functionality of new development so that it functions like a traditional neighborhood or town. These designs make possible reasonably high residential densities, a mixture of residential and commercial land uses, a range of single and multi-family housing types, street connectivity both within the new development and to surrounding roadways, pedestrian, and bicycle features.
(6) 'Unnecessary housing regulatory requirements' mean those development standards and procedures that are not essential to protect the public health, safety, or welfare and that may otherwise make a proposed housing development economically infeasible. Unnecessary housing regulatory requirements may include, but are not limited to:
(a) standards or requirements for minimum lot size, building size, building setbacks, spacing between buildings, impervious surfaces, open space, landscaping, buffering, reforestation, road width, pavements, parking, sidewalks, paved paths, culvers and storm water drainage, and sizing of water and sewer lines that are excessive; and
(b) application and review procedures that require or result in extensive submittals and lengthy review periods."
SECTION 5. Section 6-29-1130(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A) When at least the community facilities element, the housing element, and the priority investment element of the comprehensive plan as authorized by this chapter has have been adopted by the local planning commission and the local governing body or bodies, the local planning commission may prepare and recommend to the governing body or bodies for adoption regulations governing the development of land within the jurisdiction. These regulations may provide for the harmonious development of the municipality and the county; for coordination of streets within subdivision and other types of land developments with other existing or planned streets or official map streets; for the size of blocks and lots; for the dedication or reservation of land for streets, school sites, and recreation areas and of easements for utilities and other public services and facilities; and for the distribution of population and traffic which will tend to create conditions favorable to health, safety, convenience, appearance, prosperity, or the general welfare. In particular, the regulations shall prescribe that no land development plan, including subdivision plats, will be approved unless all land intended for use as building sites can be used safely for building purposes, without danger from flood or other inundation or from other menaces to health, safety, or public welfare."
SECTION 6. All local governments that have adopted a local comprehensive plan in compliance with the provisions of Article 3, Chapter 29, Title 6 of the 1976 Code shall revise their local comprehensive plans within twenty-four months of the effective date of this act to comply with the provisions of this act.
SECTION 7. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. HAGOOD explained the amendment.
Reps. THOMPSON, WHITE, LOFTIS, STEWART, R. BROWN, RICE, M. A. PITTS, J. BROWN, COOPER, HAGOOD, MERRILL, BINGHAM, WITHERSPOON, HARDWICK and BRADY requested debate on the Bill.
Rep. SINCLAIR moved to adjourn debate upon the following Joint Resolution until Wednesday, February 8, which was adopted:
H. 4239 (Word version) -- Reps. Umphlett, Dantzler, Hinson and Jefferson: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 24 OF ARTICLE III, SECTION 3 OF ARTICLE VI, AND SECTION 1A OF ARTICLE XVII, TO THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO DUAL OFFICEHOLDING AND QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROHIBITION AGAINST HOLDING TWO OFFICES DOES NOT APPLY TO COMMISSIONED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY A COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN A COUNTY IN WHICH THEY DO NOT RESIDE WHO HOLD ANOTHER OFFICE.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 4301 (Word version) -- Reps. G. M. Smith, Bailey, Harrison, Altman, Vaughn, G. R. Smith, Battle, Kirsh, M. A. Pitts, Coates, Moody-Lawrence, Toole, Vick, Littlejohn, Sandifer, Owens, Ceips, Funderburk, Weeks, Rice, Simrill, Chellis and Viers: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 6, CHAPTER 11, TITLE 16 SO AS TO ENACT THE "PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY ACT", TO DEFINE THE TERMS "DWELLING", "GREAT BODILY INJURY", "RESIDENCE", AND "VEHICLE", TO AUTHORIZE THE LAWFUL USE OF DEADLY FORCE AGAINST AN INTRUDER OR ATTACKER IN A PERSON'S DWELLING, RESIDENCE, OR OCCUPIED VEHICLE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, TO PROVIDE THAT THERE IS NO DUTY TO RETREAT IF THE PERSON IS IN A PLACE WHERE HE HAS A RIGHT TO BE, INCLUDING THE PERSON'S PLACE OF BUSINESS, AND THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT DEATH, GREAT BODILY INJURY, OR THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT CRIME, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO LAWFULLY USES DEADLY FORCE IS IMMUNE FROM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND CIVIL ACTION AND MAY NOT BE ARRESTED UNLESS PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS THAT THE DEADLY FORCE USED WAS UNLAWFUL.
Rep. G. M. SMITH explained the Bill.
Rep. G. M. SMITH moved to adjourn debate on the Bill until Wednesday, February 8, which was agreed to.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 141 (Word version) -- Senators Hayes, Knotts and Elliott: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 15-49-20 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF A PETITIONER SEEKING A NAME CHANGE, TO PROVIDE THAT A PETITIONER REQUESTING A NAME CHANGE MUST SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT STATING HE HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME OTHER THAN THE NAME IN WHICH HE IS MAKING THE REQUEST AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION OF THE SECTION.
The Judiciary Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 (Doc Name COUNCIL\MS\7104AHB06), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting Section 15-49-20(G) through (I), as contained in SECTION 1, beginning on page 2, line 42 and inserting:
/ (G) A person who knowingly and wilfully falsifies the affidavit required in subsection (F), upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for a not more than six months, or both.
(H) A person convicted of an offense requiring registration with the State Law Enforcement Division's Sex Offender Registry, and who knowingly and willfully falsifies the affidavit required in subsection (F) in order to obtain employment, including employment with a child day care center, or other entity that cares for vulnerable individuals, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for a period of not more than ten years.
(F)(I) All costs associated with the requirements of this section are the sole responsibility of the petitioner.
(J) The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who wishes to resume her maiden name as a result of a domestic action filed in family court. A family court judge may authorize a name change for a person wishing to resume her maiden name in another order including, but not limited to, an order for separate support and maintenance or a final divorce decree."/
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. G. M. SMITH explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
The Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 293 (Word version) -- Senators Hayes and Knotts: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 17-13-47 SO AS TO ALLOW A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER EMPLOYED BY A NEIGHBORING STATE TO ENTER SOUTH CAROLINA IN FRESH PURSUIT OF A PERSON WHO IS IN FLIGHT FROM THE COMMISSION OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN THE NEIGHBORING STATE AND TO ARREST THE PERSON, TO PROVIDE FOR A PROCEDURE TO DETERMINE THE LAWFULNESS OF THE ARREST, THE RELEASE OF THE PERSON ARRESTED, AND THE EXTRADITION OF THE ARRESTED PERSON, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY A NEIGHBORING STATE WHEN HIS STATE HAS ENACTED A PROVISION SIMILAR TO THIS SECTION RELATING TO THE ARREST AND CUSTODY OF A PERSON PURSUED INTO A NEIGHBORING STATE.
The Judiciary Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 (Doc Name COUNCIL\SWB\6692CM06), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/SECTION 1. Chapter 13, Title 17 of the 1976 Code, is amended by adding:
"Section 17-13-47. (A) A law enforcement officer from Georgia or North Carolina who enters this State in fresh pursuit of a person has the same authority to arrest and hold in custody the person within this State as a law enforcement officer of this State has to arrest and hold in custody a person for committing a criminal offense in this State.
(B)(1) When an arrest is made in this State by a law enforcement officer of another state pursuant to subsection (A), the law enforcement officer must, without unnecessary delay, take the person arrested before a judicial official of this State.
(2) The judicial official must conduct a hearing for the limited purpose of determining whether the arrest meets the requirements of this section unless the person arrested executes a written waiver of his right to a hearing under this section. If the judicial official determines that the arrest was unlawful, he must discharge the person arrested. If the judicial official determines that the arrest was lawful, he must commit the person arrested to imprisonment for twenty days as provided in Section 17-9-10. Once the person is imprisoned pursuant to this section, the provisions of Title 17, Chapter 9 govern the extradition and return of the person to the state in which the criminal offense was committed.
(C) For the purpose of this section:
(1) 'law enforcement officer' means an appointed officer or employee who is hired by and regularly on the payroll of a state or any political subdivision, who is granted the statutory authority to enforce all or some of the criminal, traffic, or penal laws of their respective state, and who is granted or possesses with respect to those laws, the power to effect arrests for offenses committed or alleged to have been committed; and
(2) 'fresh pursuit' means a pursuit by a law enforcement officer of a person who is in the immediate and continuous flight from the commission of a criminal offense.
(D) The authority granted by this section is limited to criminal offenses of the pursuing state that also are criminal offenses under the laws of this State and that are punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year under the laws of the pursuing state.
(E) This section applies only to a law enforcement officer from Georgia or North Carolina if the officer's employing or appointing state has enacted a provision similar to this section relating to the arrest and custody of a person pursued into a neighboring state."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. G. M. SMITH explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
The Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 3921 (Word version) -- Reps. Clemmons and Martin: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-15-172 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MOBILE DENTAL FACILITIES OR PORTABLE DENTAL OPERATIONS MUST BE REGISTERED WITH THE STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY, TO PROVIDE REGISTRATION CRITERIA, AND TO ESTABLISH FACILITY OPERATION REQUIREMENTS.
The Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 (Doc Name COUNCIL\NBD\12093AC06), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 40-15-172(B)(9), page 2, line 39, after /order/ by inserting /in mobile dental facilities only/. So when amended Section 40-15-172(B)(9) will read:
/(9) the mobile dental facility or portable dental operation complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances including, but not limited to, those concerning radiographic equipment, flammability, construction, sanitation, zoning, infectious waste management, universal precautions, OSHA guidelines, and federal Centers for Disease Control guidelines, and the registrant possesses all applicable county, state, and city licenses or permits to operate the unit at the location where services are being provided; and that carbon monoxide detection devices are installed and in proper working order in mobile dental facilities only;/
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. PARKS explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Rep. CHALK proposed the following Amendment No. 2 (Doc Name COUNCIL\NBD\12098AC06), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 40-15-172(A)(1), page 1, line 26 by deleting /or operate/ and inserting /to operate/.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. CHALK explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Rep. PARKS explained the Bill.
The Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
H. 4594 (Word version) -- Reps. Vick, Witherspoon, Clemmons and Hardwick: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-5595 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF THE NONRECOGNITION OF GAIN UNDER SECTION 1031 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND COMPARABLE PROVISIONS OF STATE LAW, THE CONVEYANCE BY TIMBER DEED OF THE RIGHT TO CUT STANDING TIMBER IS CONSIDERED A CONVEYANCE OF A REAL PROPERTY INTEREST AND AS SUCH UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE IS A LIKE-KIND EXCHANGE WITH OTHER SIMILAR CONVEYANCES OF A REAL PROPERTY INTEREST OR WITH CONVEYANCES OF SIMILAR INVESTMENT REAL PROPERTY OWNED IN FEE SIMPLE.
Rep. WHITE made the Point of Order that the Bill was improperly before the House for consideration since its number and title have not been printed in the House Calendar at least one statewide legislative day prior to second reading.
The SPEAKER sustained the Point of Order.
The Senate amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:
H. 3010 (Word version) -- Reps. W. D. Smith, Wilkins, G. R. Smith, Vaughn, Harrison, Davenport, Sandifer, Coates, Young, Leach, Viers, Littlejohn, Rice, Hinson, Clark, Walker, Mahaffey, Duncan, Hagood and Clemmons: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 40, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF A CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT, ITS GOVERNANCE, AND ITS POWERS AND DUTIES; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH A CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSORED BY THE CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST BE FORMED, FUNDED, REGULATED, AND GOVERNED.
Rep. TOWNSEND proposed the following Amendment No. 1A (Doc Name COUNCIL\GGS\22392SJ06), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Chapter 40, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
Section 59-40-10. This chapter may be cited as the 'South Carolina Charter Schools Act of 1996'.
Section 59-40-20. This chapter is enacted to:
(1) improve student learning;
(2) increase learning opportunities for students;
(3) encourage the use of a variety of productive teaching methods;
(4) establish new forms of accountability for schools;
(5) create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site; and
(6) assist South Carolina in reaching academic excellence.
Section 59-40-30. (A) In authorizing charter schools, it is the intent of the General Assembly to create a legitimate avenue for parents, teachers, and community members to take responsible risks and create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating all children within the public school system. The General Assembly seeks to create an atmosphere in South Carolina's public school systems where research and development in producing different learning opportunities is actively pursued and where classroom teachers are given the flexibility to innovate and the responsibility to be accountable. As such, the provisions of this chapter should be interpreted liberally to support the findings and goals of this chapter and to advance a renewed commitment by the State of South Carolina to the mission, goals, and diversity of public education.
(B) It is the intent of the General Assembly that creation of this chapter encourages cultural diversity, educational improvement, and academic excellence. Further, it is not the intent of the General Assembly to create a segregated school system but to continue to promote educational improvement and excellence in South Carolina.
Section 59-40-40. As used in this chapter:
(1) A 'charter school' means a public, nonsectarian, nonreligious, nonhome-based, nonprofit corporation forming a school which that operates within a public school district or the Carolina Public Charter School District, but is accountable to the local school board of trustees of that district, which that grants its charter.
(2) A charter school:
(a) is considered a public school and part of the Carolina Public Charter School District or school district in which it is located for the purposes of state law and the state constitution;
(b) is subject to all federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services;
(c) must be administered and governed by a governing body in a manner agreed to by the charter school applicant and the sponsor, the governing body to be selected, as provided in Section 59-40-50(B)(9);
(d) shall may not charge tuition or other charges of any kind pursuant to Section 59-19-90(8) except as may be allowed by the sponsor and is comparable to the charges of the local school district in which the charter school is located.
(3) 'Applicant' means the person who or nonprofit corporate entity that desires to form a charter school and files the necessary application with the Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees or the local school board of trustees in which the charter school is to be located. The applicant also must be the person who applies to the Secretary of State to organize the charter school as a nonprofit corporation.
(4) 'Sponsor' means the Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees or the local school board of trustees in which the charter school is to be located established, as provided by law, from which the charter school applicant requested its charter and which granted approval for the charter school's existence.
(5) 'Certified teacher' means a person currently certified by the State of South Carolina to teach in a public elementary or secondary school or who currently meets the qualification outlined in Sections 59-27-10 and 59-25-115.
(6) 'Noncertified teacher' means an individual considered appropriately qualified for the subject matter taught and who has completed at least one year of study at an accredited college or university and meets the qualifications outlined in Section 59-25-115.
(7) 'Charter committee' means the governing body of a charter school formed by the applicant to govern through the application process and until the election of a board of directors is held. After the election, the board of directors of the corporation must be organized as the governing body and the charter committee is dissolved.
(8) 'Local school district' means any school district in the State except the Carolina Public Charter School District.
Section 59-40-50. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a charter school is exempt from all provisions of law and regulations applicable to a public school, a school board, or a district, although a charter school may elect to comply with one or more of these provisions of law or regulations.
(B) A charter school must:
(1) adhere to the same health, safety, civil rights, and disability rights requirements as are applied to public schools operating in the same school district or, in the case of the Carolina Public Charter School District, the local school district in which the charter school is located;
(2) meet, but may exceed, the same minimum student attendance requirements as are applied to public schools operating in the same district;
(3) adhere to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and audit requirements as are applied to public schools operating in the same school district;
(4) be considered a school district for purposes of tort liability under South Carolina law, except that the tort immunity does not include acts of intentional or wilful racial discrimination by the governing body or employees of the charter school. Employees of charter schools must be relieved of personal liability for any tort or contract related to their school to the same extent that employees of traditional public schools in their school district or, in the case of the Carolina Public Charter School District, the local school district in which the charter school is located are relieved;
(5) in its discretion hire noncertified teachers in a ratio of up to twenty-five percent of its entire teacher staff; however, if it is a converted charter school, it shall hire in its discretion noncertified teachers in a ratio of up to ten percent of its entire teacher staff. However, in either a new or converted charter school, a teacher teaching in the core academic areas of English/language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind law must be certified in those areas or possess a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the subject he or she is hired to teach. Part-time noncertified teachers are considered pro rata in calculating this percentage based on the hours which they are expected to teach;
(6) hire in its discretion administrative staff to oversee the daily operation of the school. At least one of the administrative staff must be certified or experienced in the field of school administration;
(7) admit all children eligible to attend public school in a school district to a charter school operating in that school district, subject to space limitations. However, it is required that the racial composition of the charter school enrollment reflect that of the school district in which the charter school is located or that of the targeted student population which of the local school district that the charter school proposes to serve, to be defined for the purposes of this chapter as differing by no more than twenty percent from that population. This requirement is also subject to the provisions of Section 59-40-70(D). If the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or building, students must be accepted by lot, and there is no appeal to the sponsor;
(8) not limit or deny admission or show preference in admission decisions to any individual or group of individuals; provided, however, that a charter school may give enrollment priority to a sibling of a pupil already enrolled, children of a charter school employee, and children of the charter committee, provided their enrollment does not constitute more than twenty percent of the enrollment of the charter school;
(9) elect its board of directors annually. All employees of the charter school and all parents or guardians of students enrolled in the charter school are eligible to participate in the election. Parents or guardians of a student shall have one vote for each student enrolled in the charter school;
(10) be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, including the charter school and its governing body.
(C)(1) If a charter school denies admission to a student, the student may appeal the denial to the school board of trustees sponsor. The decision is binding on the student and the charter school.
(2) If a charter school suspends or expels a student, other charter schools or the local school district in which the charter school is located has the authority but not the obligation to refuse admission to the student.
(3) The sponsor or the local school district has no obligation to provide extracurricular activities or access to facilities of the school district for extracurricular activities for students enrolled in the charter school; however, the charter contract may include participation in agreed upon interscholastic activities at a designated school within the sponsor local school district. Students participating under this agreement shall must be considered eligible to participate in league events if all other eligibility requirements are met.
(D) The State is not responsible for student transportation to a charter school unless the charter school is designated by the local school district as the only school selected within the local school district's attendance area.
(E) The Carolina Public Charter School District board of trustees may not use program funding for transportation.
Section 59-40-60. (A) An approved charter application constitutes an agreement, and the terms must be the terms of a contract between the charter school and the sponsor.
(B) The contract between the charter school and the sponsor shall reflect all agreements regarding the release of the charter school from local school district policies.
(C) A material revision of the terms of the contract between the charter school and the approving board may be made only with the approval of both parties.
(D) Except as provided in subsection (F), an applicant who wishes to form a charter school shall:
(1) organize the charter school as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to the laws of this State;
(2) form a charter committee for the charter school which includes one or more teachers;
(3) submit a written charter school application to the local charter school advisory committee and the school board of trustees for the school district in which the charter school is to be located from which the committee is seeking sponsorship.
(E) A charter committee is responsible for and has the power to:
(1) submit an application to operate as a charter school, sign a charter school contract, and ensure compliance with all of the requirements for charter schools provided by law;
(2) employ and contract with teachers and nonteaching employees, contract for other services, and develop pay scales, performance criteria, and discharge policies for its employees. All teachers whether certified or noncertified must undergo the background checks and other investigations required for certified teachers, as provided by law, before they may teach in the charter school; and
(3) decide all other matters related to the operation of the charter school, including budgeting, curriculum, and operating procedures.
(F) The charter school application shall be a proposed contract and must include:
(1) the mission statement of the charter school, which must be consistent with the principles of the General Assembly's purposes pursuant to Section 59-40-20;
(2) the goals, objectives, and pupil achievement standards to be achieved by the charter school, and a description of the charter school's admission policies and procedures;
(3) evidence that an adequate number of parents, teachers, pupils, or any combination of them support the formation of a charter school;
(4) a description of the charter school's educational program, pupil achievement standards, and curriculum which must meet or exceed any content standards adopted by the school district in which the charter school is located State Board of Education and must be designed to enable each pupil to achieve these standards;
(5) a description of the charter school's plan for evaluating pupil achievement and progress toward accomplishment of the school's achievement standards in addition to state assessments, the timeline for meeting these standards, and the procedures for taking corrective action if that pupil achievement falls below the standards;
(6) evidence that the plan for the charter school is economically sound, a proposed budget for the term of the charter, a description of the manner in which an annual audit of the financial and administrative operations of the charter school, including any services provided by the school district, is to be conducted;
(7) a description of the governance and operation of the charter school, including the nature and extent of parental, professional educator, and community involvement in the governance and operation of the charter school;
(8) a description of how the charter school plans to ensure that the enrollment of the school is similar to the racial composition of the local school district in which the charter school is to be located or the targeted student population of the local school district that the charter school proposes to serve and provide assurance that the school does not conflict with any school district desegregation plan or order in effect for the school district in which the charter school is to be located;
(9) a description of how the charter school plans to meet the transportation needs of its pupils;
(10) a description of the building, facilities, and equipment and how they shall be obtained;
(11) an explanation of the relationship that shall exist between the proposed charter school and its employees, including descriptions of evaluation procedures and evidence that the terms and conditions of employment have been addressed with affected employees;
(12) a description of a reasonable grievance and termination procedure, as required by this chapter, including notice and a hearing before the governing body of the charter school. The application must state whether or not the provisions of Article 5, Chapter 25 of Title 59 apply to the employment and dismissal of teachers at the charter school;
(13) a description of student rights and responsibilities, including behavior and discipline standards, and a reasonable hearing procedure, including notice and a hearing before the board of directors of the charter school before expulsion;
(14) an assumption of liability by the charter school for the activities of the charter school and an agreement that the charter school must indemnify and hold harmless the school district, its servants, agents, and employees, from any and all liability, damage, expense, causes of action, suits, claims, or judgments arising from injury to persons or property or otherwise which arises out of the act, failure to act, or negligence of the charter school, its agents and employees, in connection with or arising out of the activity of the charter school; and
(15) a description of the types and amounts of insurance coverage to be obtained by the charter school.
(G) Nothing in this section shall require a charter school applicant to provide a list of prospective or tentatively enrolled students or prospective employees with the application.
Section 59-40-70. (A) The Charter School Advisory Committee shall must be established by the State Board of Education to review charter school applications for compliance with established standards that reflect the requirements and intent of this chapter. Members shall must be appointed by the State Board of Education unless otherwise indicated.
(1) The advisory committee shall consist of eleven members as follows:
(a) South Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools--the president or his designee and one additional representative from the association;
(b) South Carolina Association of School Administrators--the executive director or his designee;
(c) South Carolina Chamber of Commerce--the executive director or his designee and one additional representative from the chamber;
(d) South Carolina Education Oversight Committee--the chair or a business designee;
(e) South Carolina Commission on Higher Education--the chair or his designee;
(f) South Carolina School Boards Association--the executive director or his designee;
(g) South Carolina Alliance of Black Educators--the president or his designee; and
(h) One teacher and one parent to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
(2) As an application is reviewed, a representative from the local school board of trustees of the affected school district from which the committee is seeking sponsorship and a representative of the charter committee shall serve on the advisory committee as ex officio nonvoting members. If the applicant indicates a proposed contractual agreement with the local school district in which the charter school is located, a representative from the local school board of trustees of that district shall serve on the advisory committee as an ex officio, nonvoting member.
(3) Appointing authorities shall give consideration to the appointment of minorities and women as representatives on the committee.
(4) The committee shall be convened by the State Superintendent of Education on or before July 1, 2002, who shall serve as interim chair. At the first meeting the membership shall elect a chairman and any other officers it deems necessary.
(5) The committee shall establish by-laws for its operation which shall must include terms of office for its membership.
(6)(5) An applicant shall submit the application to the advisory committee and a one copy to the affected school district school board of trustees of the district from which it is seeking sponsorship. In the case of the Carolina Public Charter School District, the applicant shall provide notice of the application to the local school board of trustees in which the charter school will be located for informational purposes only. The advisory committee shall receive input from the school district in which the applicant is seeking sponsorship and shall request clarifying information from the applicant. Within sixty days, An applicant may submit an application to the advisory committee at any time during the fiscal year and the advisory committee, within sixty days, shall determine whether the application is in compliance. An application that is in compliance must be forwarded to the school district from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship with a letter stating the application is in compliance. The letter shall also include a recommendation from the Charter School Advisory Committee to approve or deny the charter. The letter must specify the reasons for its recommendation. This recommendation is nonbinding on the school board of trustees. If the application is in noncompliance, it must be returned to the applicant with deficiencies noted. The applicant may appeal the decision to the State Board of Education.
(B) The local school board of trustees from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship shall rule on the application for a charter school in a public hearing, upon reasonable public notice, within thirty days after receiving the application. If there is no ruling within thirty days, the application is considered approved. Once the application has been approved by the school board of trustees, the charter school may open at the beginning of the following year. However, before a charter school may open, the State Department of Education shall verify the accuracy of the financial data for the school.
(C) A local school district board of trustees shall only shall deny an application if the application does not meet the requirements specified in Section 59-40-50 or 59-40-60, fails to meet the spirit and intent of this chapter, or adversely affects, as defined in regulation, the other students in the district in which the charter school is to be located. It shall provide, within ten days, a written explanation of the reasons for denial, citing specific standards related to provisions of Section 59-40-50 or 59-40-60 that the application violates. This written explanation immediately shall must be sent to the charter committee and filed with the State Board of Education and the Charter School Advisory Committee.
(D) In the event that the racial composition of an applicant's or charter school's enrollment differs from the enrollment of the local school district in which the charter school is to be located or the targeted student population of the local school district by more than twenty percent, despite its best efforts, the local school district board of trustees from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship shall consider the applicant's or the charter school's recruitment efforts and racial composition of the applicant pool in determining whether the applicant or charter school is operating in a nondiscriminatory manner. A finding by the local school district board of trustees that the applicant or charter school is operating in a racially discriminatory manner may justify the denial of a charter school application or the revocation of a charter as provided herein in this section or in Section 59-40-110, as may be applicable. A finding by the local school district board of trustees that the applicant is not operating in a racially discriminatory manner shall justify justifies approval of the charter without regard to the racial percentage requirement if the application is acceptable in all other aspects.
(E) If the local school district board of trustees from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship denies a charter school application, the charter applicant may appeal the denial to the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 59-40-90.
(F) If the local school district board of trustees approves the application, it becomes the charter school's sponsor and shall sign the approved application which constitutes a contract with the charter committee of the charter school. A copy of the charter must be filed with the State Board of Education.
(G) If a local school board of trustees has information that an approved application by the Carolina Public Charter School District adversely affects the other students in its district, as defined in regulation, or that the approval of the application fails to meet the spirit and intent of this chapter, the local school board of trustees may appeal the granting of the charter to the State Board of Education. The state board, within forty-five days, may affirm or reverse the application for action by the Carolina Public Charter School District in accordance with an order of the state board. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations outlining procedures for this type of appeal.
Section 59-40-80. A local school board sponsor may conditionally authorize a charter school before the applicant has secured its space, equipment, facilities, and personnel if the applicant indicates such authority is necessary for it to meet the requirements of this chapter. Conditional authorization does not give rise to any equitable or other claims based on reliance, notwithstanding any promise, parole, written, or otherwise, contained in the authorization or acceptance of it, whether preceding or following the conditional authorization.
Section 59-40-90. (A) The State Board of Education, upon receipt of a notice of appeal or upon its own motion, shall review a decision of any local school board of trustees concerning charter schools in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(B) A charter applicant who wishes to appeal an adverse decision shall provide the State Board of Education and the local school board of trustees issuing the decision with a notice of appeal within ten days of the local board's decision.
(C) If the notice of appeal or the motion to review by the State Board of Education relates to a local board's decision to deny, refuse to renew, or revoke a charter, the appeal and review process must be as contained in this section. Within thirty forty-five days after receipt of the notice of appeal or the making of a motion to review by the State Board of Education and after reasonable public notice, the State Board of Education, at a public hearing which may be held in the district where the proposed charter school is located, shall review the decision of the local school board of trustees and make its findings known. The state board may affirm or reverse the application for action by the local board in accordance with an order of the state board.
(D) A final decision of the state board may be appealed by any party to the circuit court for the county in which the proposed charter school is or was to have located.
Section 59-40-100. (A) An existing public school may be converted into a charter school if two-thirds of the faculty and instructional staff employed at the school and two-thirds of all voting parents or legal guardians of students enrolled in the school agree to the filing of an application with the local school board of trustees for the conversion and formation of that school into a charter school. All parents Parents or legal guardians of students enrolled in the school must be given the opportunity to vote on the conversion. Parents or guardians of a student shall have one vote for each student enrolled in the school seeking conversion. The application must be submitted pursuant to Section 59-40-70(A)(6) by the principal of that school or his designee who must be considered the applicant. The application must include all information required of other applications pursuant to this chapter. The local school board of trustees shall approve or disapprove this application in the same manner it approves or disapproves other applications.
(B) A converted charter school shall offer at least the same grades, or nongraded education appropriate for the same ages and education levels of pupils, as offered by the school immediately before conversion, and also may provide additional grades and further educational offerings.
(C) All students enrolled in the school at the time of conversion must be given priority enrollment.
(D) Teachers and other employees of a converted school who desire to teach or work at the converted school may do so but shall remain employees of the local school district with the same compensation and benefits including any future increases. The converted charter school quarterly shall reimburse the local school district for the compensation and employer contribution benefits paid to or on behalf of these teachers and employees. The provisions of Article 5, Chapter 25 of Title 59 apply to the employment and dismissal of teachers at a converted school.
(E) The Carolina Public Charter School District may not sponsor a public school to convert to a charter school.
Section 59-40-110. (A) A charter may be approved or renewed for a period of five school years; however, the charter may be revoked or not renewed under the provisions of subsection (C) of this section. The sponsor annually shall evaluate the conditions outlined in subsection (C). The annual evaluation results must be used in making a determination for non-renewal or revocation.
(B) A charter renewal application must be submitted to the school's sponsor, and it must contain:
(1) a report on the progress of the charter school in achieving the goals, objectives, pupil achievement standards, and other terms of the initially approved charter application; and
(2) a financial statement that discloses the costs of administration, instruction, and other spending categories for the charter school that is understandable to the general public and that allows comparison of these costs to other schools or other comparable organizations, in a format required by the State Board of Education.
(C) A charter must be revoked or not renewed by the sponsor if it determines that the charter school:
(1) committed a material violation of the conditions, standards, or procedures provided for in the charter application;
(2) Failed to meet or make reasonable progress, as defined in the charter application, toward pupil achievement standards identified in the charter application;
(3) failed to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management; or
(4) violated any provision of law from which the charter school was not specifically exempted.
(D) At least sixty days before not renewing or terminating a charter school, the sponsor shall notify in writing the charter school's governing body of the proposed action. The notification shall state the grounds for the proposed action in reasonable detail. Termination must follow the procedure provided for in this section.
(E) The charter school's governing body may request in writing a hearing before the sponsor within fourteen days of receiving notice of nonrenewal or termination of the charter. Failure by the school's governing body to make a written request for a hearing within fourteen days must be treated as acquiescence to the proposed action. Upon receiving a timely written request for a hearing, the sponsor shall give reasonable notice to the school's governing body of the hearing date. The sponsor shall conduct a hearing before taking final action. The sponsor shall take final action to renew or not renew a charter by the last day of classes in the last school year for which the charter school is authorized.
(F) A decision to revoke or not to renew a charter school may be appealed to the state board pursuant to the provisions of Section 59-40-90.
Section 59-40-115. A charter school may terminate its contract with a sponsor before the five-year term of contract if all parties under contract with the charter school agree to the dissolution. A charter school that terminates its contract with a sponsor directly may seek application for the length of time remaining on its original contract from another sponsor without review from the Charter School Advisory Committee.
Section 59-40-120. Upon dissolution of a charter school, its assets may not inure to the benefit of any private person. Any assets obtained through restricted agreements with a donor through awards, grants, or gifts must be returned to that entity. All other assets become property of the sponsor.
Section 59-40-130. (A) If an employee of a local school district makes a written request for a leave to be employed at a charter school, the school district shall grant the leave for up to five years as requested by the employee. The school district may require that the request for leave or extension of leave be made by the date provided for by state law for the return of teachers' contracts. Employees may return to employment with the local school district at its option with the same teaching or administrative contract status as when they left but without assurance as to the school or supplemental position to which they may be assigned.
(B) During a leave, the employee may continue to accrue benefits and credits in the South Carolina Retirement System by paying the employee contributions based upon the annual salary of the employee, and the charter school shall pay the employer contribution. The South Carolina Retirement System may impose reasonable requirements to administer this section.
(C) The provisions of this section do not apply to teachers and other employees of a converted school whose employment relation is governed by Section 59-40-100(C).
Section 59-40-140. (A) A local school board of trustees sponsor shall distribute state, county, and school district funds to a charter school as determined by the following formula: The previous year's audited total general fund expenditures, including capital outlay and maintenance, but not including expenditures from bonded indebtedness or debt repayment must be divided by the previous year's weighted students, then increased by the Education Finance Act inflation factor, pursuant to Section 59-20-40, for the years following the audited expenditures, then multiplied by the weighted students enrolled in the charter school, which will be subject to adjustment for student attendance and state budget allocations based on the same criteria as the local school district. These amounts must be verified by the State Department of Education before the first disbursement of funds. All state and local funding must be distributed by the local school district to the charter school monthly beginning July first following approval of the charter school application.
(B) The Carolina Public Charter School District shall receive and distribute state funds to the charter school as determined by the following formula: the current year's base student cost, as funded by the General Assembly, multiplied by the weighted students enrolled in the charter school, which must be subject to adjustment for student attendance and state budget allocations. However, the Carolina Public Charter School District may not retain more than two percent of its gross revenue for its internal administrative and operating expenses.
(C) During the year of the charter school's operation, as received, and to the extent allowed by federal law, a sponsor shall distribute to the charter school federal funds which are allocated to the local school district on the basis of the number of special characteristics of the students attending the charter school. These amounts must be verified by the State Department of Education before the first disbursement of funds.
(C)(D) Notwithstanding subsection (B) (C), the proportionate share of state and federal resources generated by students with disabilities or staff serving them must be directed to charter schools the school district board of trustees. The proportionate share of funds generated under other federal or state categorical aid programs must be directed to charter schools the school district board of trustees serving students eligible for the aid.
(D)(E) All services centrally or otherwise provided by the school district sponsor or local school district, if any, including, but not limited to, food services, custodial services, maintenance, curriculum, media services, libraries, and warehousing are subject to negotiation between a charter school and the school district sponsor or local school district.
(E)(F) All awards, grants, or gifts collected by a charter school must be retained by the charter school.
(F)(G) The governing body of a charter school is authorized to accept gifts, donations, or grants of any kind made to the charter school and to expend or use the gifts, donations, or grants in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the donor. No A gift or donation shall must not be required for admission. However, no a gift, donation, or grant may must not be accepted by the governing board if subject to any a condition contrary to law or contrary to the terms of the contract between the charter school and the governing body. All gifts, donations, or grants must be reported to the local school district sponsor in their annual audit report as required in Section 59-40-50(B)(3).
(G)(H) A charter school shall report to its sponsor and the Department of Education any change to information provided under its application. In addition, a charter school shall report at least annually to its sponsor and the department all information required by the sponsor or the department and including, at a minimum, the number of students enrolled in the charter school, the success of students in achieving the specific educational goals for which the charter school was established, and the identity and certification status of the teaching staff.
(H)(I) The sponsor shall provide technical assistance to persons and groups preparing or revising charter applications at no expense.
(I)(J) Charter schools may acquire by gift, devise, purchase, lease, sublease, installment purchase agreement, land contract, option, or by any other means, and hold and own in its own name buildings or other property for school purposes, and interests in it which are necessary or convenient to fulfill its purposes.
(J)(K) Charter schools are exempt from all state and local taxation, except the sales tax, on their earnings and property. Instruments of conveyance to or from a charter school are exempt from all types of taxation of local or state taxes and transfer fees.
(K) For those charter schools established on and after July 1, 2003, during the first year of its operation and upon verification by the State Department of Education that the charter school is receiving funding consistent with this chapter, the local school district shall receive through a state reserve fund established by the General Assembly beginning with fiscal year 2003-2004 an amount equivalent to the base student cost times a 1.0 weighted pupil unit for each student enrolled in the charter school who was enrolled in another noncharter public school in the district on the one hundred thirty-fifth day of the previous school year. The reserve fund shall be available only when the charter school is not initiated or operated by the district. Upon the filing of a charter school application, the State Department of Education must verify to the Charter School Advisory Committee and the affected school district that adequate funds are in the state reserve fund to meet this requirement.
Section 59-40-145. A child who resides in a school district other than the one where a charter school is located may attend a charter school outside his district of residence; however, the receiving charter school shall have authority to grant or deny permission for the student to attend pursuant to Sections 59-40-40(2)(b) and 59-40-50(B)(7) and (8) according to the terms of the charter after in-district children have been given priority in enrollment. However, the out-of-district enrollment shall not exceed twenty percent of the total enrollment of the charter school without the approval of the sponsoring district board of trustees. The district sending children to the charter school under the terms of this section must be notified immediately of the transferring students. Out-of-district students must be considered based on the order in which their applications are received. If the twenty percent out-of-district enrollment is from one school district, then the sending district must concur with any additional students transferring from that district to attend the charter school. The charter school to which the child is transferring shall be eligible for state and federal funding according to the formula defined in Section 59-40-140(A), (B), and (C), as applicable. However, this section does not apply to a charter school sponsored by the Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees.
Section 59-40-150. (A) The Department of Education shall disseminate information to the public, directly and through sponsors, on how to form and operate a charter school and how to utilize the offerings of a charter school.
(B) At least annually, the department shall provide upon request a directory of all charter schools authorized under this chapter with information concerning the educational goals of each charter school, the success of each charter school in meeting its educational goals, and procedures to apply for admission to each charter school.
(C) The department shall bear the cost of complying with this section.
Section 59-40-160. (A) The State Board of Education shall compile evaluations, to include, but not be limited to, school report cards, of charter schools received from local school boards of trustees sponsors. They shall review information regarding the regulations and policies from which charter schools were released to determine if the releases assisted or impeded the charter schools in meeting their stated goals and objectives.
(B) The State Board of Education shall review the implementation and effectiveness of this chapter, review comprehensive reports issued by local school boards concerning successes or failures of charter schools, report to the Governor and General Assembly interim results by July 1, 1998, and issue a final report and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly during the fifth year after the effective date of this chapter.
(C) In preparing the report required by this section, the State Board of Education shall compare the academic performance of charter school pupils with the performance of ethnically and economically comparable groups of pupils in other public schools who are enrolled in academically comparable courses.
(D) An impact study shall be conducted by the State Board of Education two years after the implementation of the Charter School Advisory Committee review process to determine the effectiveness of the application process.
Section 59-40-170. The Department of Education shall make available, upon request, a list of vacant and unused buildings and vacant and unused portions of buildings that are owned by school districts in this State and that may be suitable for the operation of a charter school. The department shall make the list available to applicants for charter schools and to existing charter schools. The list must include the address of each building, a short description of the building, and the name of the owner of the building. Nothing in this section requires the owner of a building on the list to sell or lease the building or a portion of the building to a charter school or to any other school or to any other prospective buyer or tenant. However, if a school district declares a building surplus and chooses to sell or lease the building, a charter school's board of directors or a charter committee operating or applying within the district must be given the first refusal to purchase or lease the building under the same or better terms and conditions as it would be offered to the public.
Section 59-40-180. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations and develop guidelines necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including standards which the Charter School Advisory Committee shall use to determine compliance with this chapter and an application process to include a timeline for submission of applications that will allow for final decisions, including state board appeal, by December first of the year preceding the charter school's opening.
Section 59-40-190. (A) The governing body of a charter school may sue and be sued. The governing body may not levy taxes or issue bonds.
(B) A sponsor is not liable for any of the debts of the charter school.
(C) A sponsor, members of the board of a sponsor, and employees of a sponsor acting in their official capacity are immune from civil or criminal liability with respect to all activities related to a charter school they sponsor. The governing body of a charter school shall obtain at least the amount of and types of insurance required for this purpose.
Section 59-40-200. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, charter schools with conditional charters, with applications pending with local school district boards, or with planning-implementation grants supported by the Public Charter Schools Grant Program whose timelines stipulate having charter applications approved prior to December 1, 2003, shall apply directly to the local school district board of trustees without review by the charter school advisory committee. An application already on file with the charter school advisory committee before the effective date of Section 59-40-220 is subject to the timeline in effect at the time the application was filed. An application filed after the effective date of Section 59-40-220 is subject to the new time lines established pursuant to this chapter.
Section 59-40-210. A school established as a private school, on the effective date of this section, which desires to convert to a charter school must dissolve and may not be allowed to open as a charter school for a period of twelve months.
Section 59-40-220. (A) The Carolina Public Charter School District is created as a public body. The Carolina Public Charter School District must be considered a local education agency and is eligible to receive state and federal funds and grants available for public charter and other schools. The Carolina Public Charter School District must not have a local tax base and may not receive local property taxes.
(B) The geographical boundaries of the Carolina Public Charter School District are the same as the boundaries of the State of South Carolina.
(C) The office of the Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees must be housed in and staffed by the Office of the Governor until the 2010-2011 school year at which time it must be transferred to the State Department of Education.
Section 59-40-230. (A) The Carolina Public Charter School District must be governed by a board of trustees consisting of not more than eleven members:
(1) three appointed by the Governor;
(2) three appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(3) three appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and
(4) two appointed by the State Superintendent of Education. Each member of the board of trustees shall serve terms of three years, except that, for the initial members, one appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the State Superintendent of Education shall serve terms of one year and one appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the State Superintend of Education shall serve terms of two years. A member of the board may be removed after appointment pursuant to Section 1-3-240. In making appointments, every effort must be made to ensure that all geographic areas of the State are represented and that the membership reflects urban and rural areas of the State as well as the ethnic diversity of the State.
(B) The Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees has the same powers, rights, and responsibilities with respect to charter schools as other school district boards of trustees of this State including, but not limited to, sponsoring charter schools and applying for federal charter school grants, except that the Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees may not offer application for a charter school, issue bonds, or levy taxes.
(C) The Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees annually shall elect a chairman and other officers as it considers necessary from among its membership.
(D) Members of the Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for per diem, mileage, and subsistence as provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.
(E) The Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees shall:
(1) exercise general supervision over public charter schools sponsored by the district;
(2) grant charter status to qualifying applicants for public charter schools pursuant to this chapter;
(3) adopt and use an official seal in the authentication of its acts;
(4) keep a record of its proceedings;
(5) adopt rules of governance;
(6) determine the policy of the district and the work undertaken by it;
(7) prepare a budget for expenditures necessary for the proper maintenance of the board and the accomplishment of its purpose;
(8) keep financial records in accordance with state and federal accounting codes and procedures;
(9) comply with and ensure compliance of applicable state and federal regulations;
(10) procure an outside annual certified financial audit on funds and submit to the State Department of Education as required by the State Department of Education;
(11) be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
(F) The Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees may contract, sue, and be sued.
Section 59-40-210 59-40-240. If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this chapter is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this chapter, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this chapter, and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words thereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective."
SECTION 2. Section 59-18-920 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-18-920. Charter schools established pursuant to Chapter 40, Title 59 will receive a performance rating must report the data requested by the Department of Education necessary to generate a report card. The Department of Education shall utilize this data to issue a report card with performance ratings. and The report card must issue a report card be provided to parents and the public containing the rating ratings and explaining its significance and providing other information similar to that required of other schools in this section. The performance of students attending charter schools must be included in the performance ratings of the sponsoring school district. Alternative schools are included in the requirements of this chapter; however, the purpose of such schools must be taken into consideration in determining their performance rating. The Education Oversight Committee, working with the State Board of Education and the School to Work Advisory Council, will develop a report card for vocational schools."
SECTION 3. Section 59-18-900 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding a subsection at the end to read:
"(G) The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations outlining the procedures for data collection, data accuracy, data reporting, and consequences for failure to provide data required in this section."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. WALKER explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Rep. SCARBOROUGH proposed the following Amendment No. 2A (Doc Name COUNCIL\GGS\22409SJ06):
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding a new section after 59-40-140 as contained in SECTION 1, to read:
/Section 59-40-142. A South Carolina charter school existing before the effective date of this section shall continue to receive the local per-pupil funding from its local school district for the duration of its charter, and any extensions of the charter, regardless of whether any subsequent renewals are granted by the local school district or the South Carolina Public Charter School District. The local per-pupil funding must be the same as all other students for that local school district./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. SCARBOROUGH explained the amendment.
Rep. SCARBOROUGH moved to adjourn debate on the amendment, which was agreed to.
Rep. WALKER moved to adjourn debate upon the Senate Amendments until Wednesday, February 8, which was agreed to.
Rep. MCGEE moved that the House do now adjourn, which was agreed to.
The Senate returned to the House with concurrence the following:
H. 4590 (Word version) -- Rep. J. R. Smith: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE SILVER SPIRIT MARCHING BAND OF SILVER BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL FOR WINNING THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAND DIRECTOR'S ASSOCIATION 2005 CLASS AA STATE MARCHING BAND CHAMPIONSHIP.
H. 4606 (Word version) -- Rep. Witherspoon: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND SOUTH CAROLINA'S FFA MEMBERS (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA) AND ALL WHO SUPPORT, PROMOTE, AND ENCOURAGE THESE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND TO JOIN THEM IN OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL FFA WEEK, FEBRUARY 19-26, 2006.
H. 4612 (Word version) -- Reps. Bailey, Harrell, Young and Chellis: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE LATE MRS. DWYNELLE PRITCHARD "MISS NELL" BENNETT OF ST. GEORGE WHO DIED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM AND TO EXPRESS THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
At 1:15 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. ANTHONY, adjourned in memory of former Senator John D. Long III of Union, to meet at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
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