Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The Senate assembled at 11:00 A.M., the hour to which it stood adjourned, and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.

A quorum being present, the proceedings were opened with a devotion by the Chaplain as follows:

The Psalmist proclaims:

"Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul." (Psalm 86:4)
  Bow in prayer with me, please:

Gracious God, we ask you to be with each of these servants in very special ways. As they continue to wrestle with matters they hope to resolve during this session, as they inevitably look to the weeks ahead, weeks of campaigning in some cases (and of simply escaping from these buildings for a time), as they diligently strive to act wisely and conscientiously, guide and bless them all. We are so very grateful, Lord, for the dedication of every individual in this Senate. Continue your blessings upon them all, for the good of this State. We humbly pray this in your name, O Lord.
Amen.

The PRESIDENT called for Petitions, Memorials, Presentments of Grand Juries and such like papers.

Senator DRUMMOND introduced Dr. Gary A. Goforth of Greenwood, S.C., Doctor of the Day, along with his wife. Dr. Goforth was named 2008 Physician of the Year.

On motion of Senator PEELER at 11:05 A.M., Senator VAUGHN was granted a leave of absence for today.

Senator HUTTO rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.

Senator COURSON rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.

Senator SHEHEEN rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.

On motion of Senator PEELER, with unanimous consent, Senator HAWKINS was escorted to the podium by Senators PEELER and LAND upon the occasion of his retirement from the Senate.

Senators PEELER and LAND addressed the Senate with remarks.

Senator HAWKINS addressed the Senate.

Senator PEELER.presented a Resolution to Senator HAWKINS.

Thank you very much. Members of the Senate, you know, Senator from Clarendon, when they compared me to you, they told me that I was the "Republican JOHN LAND." I don't know if that may have been the beginning of the end for me, but I took it as a compliment too. To be half the lawyer you are and all the work you have done for the people is high praise.

Senator from Cherokee, HARVEY PEELER--wow, what a great friendship you and I have developed over the years. Of course, you knew and served with my dad and you were one of the first people I went to see when I was running for the House of Representatives. I will always treasure my friendship with you, as I will with all of you. It has been such an honor to serve with such a fine group of people--such an outstanding collection of South Carolina citizens--and I really am moved by what y'all have done today. I know sometimes I have kind of an abrasive edge, when I am fighting over something, but it is always meant in the sprit of debate and trying to get the point across, trying to make the best point I can make to try to carry what I believe in.

I want to thank the staff for what you have done, especially the Clerk. I particularly want to thank the three lovely ladies I have had the privilege of working with in my office. We have Debbie Barthe, who is with us today, Wendy Walton who was there before Debbie. I want to thank you for what you've meant, Debbie, to me and how you have kept everything running so wonderfully for me. I also want to thank Janet Evans who was here to help me when I first started in the Senate. Also, I want to thank my family as well, for all the support they have given me and, of course, my wife for putting up with this for twelve years. Each of you knows what that means. It is a significant sacrifice

You know I turned 40 this year, and the midlife crisis thing is significant. Turning 40 is a big milestone in your life. You start to really think and evaluate, and when I was looking at whether to look at run again, one of the things I thought about was, well, if I run again, I am going to want to do this and become, maybe the next JOHN DRUMMOND or GLENN REESE or somebody who is down here for a very long time and contributes so much. But I looked at that and I said, maybe I have other things I want to do with my life and who knows what else I have in store, so made the tough decision to get out of politics.

A big influence on my life was my father, David O. Hawkins, I literally grew up down here in this building. Daddy loved politics. He loved being a member of the House of Representatives. I can remember they had all night filibusters and my sister and I would sleep on the benches out there. He just loved every single minute of being down here. I remember he took me up in the dome back before they redid the State House and it was literally then as a child walking across these rickety old boards to get up there to the dome that I knew I wanted to be here. So that was my childhood. When I grew up, at the age of 27, I decided to run for the House. My Dad was with me all the way; my family was, too, and I never looked back. I never looked back.

One of the most significant things in my life has been my service as an attorney and I just want to say that serving as an attorney in the General Assembly is a unique privilege. Everybody here brings so much to the table, from all walks of life, and attorneys do, too. Being attorneys, we all catch a lot of grief for it, and being in here we hear a lot of people say, "Well, no more lawyer legislators." But I think everyone of you all can agree that the lawyers who also serve, provide invaluable insight into Bills and legislation, just like everybody does and so everybody is important from all walks of life.

But I am a proud attorney, a proud trial lawyer and I know what that means. I have never run from it and sometimes within my own party I've caught grief for it, because there aren't supposed to be any Republican trial lawyers and there are a significant percentage of people out there that don't think there should be. But I hope my fellow attorneys who serve in the General Assembly will continue to hold your heads high and know that you are doing honorable work by

I appreciate all the guidance that each of you has given me over the years and the wisdom you have shared. When you get down here in January and you're excited to get here; by June you are just ready to go home. It's kind of like the first day of high school and the last day of high school. But, it has just been wonderful to be here. You're just like family to me. I just consider each of you a dear, dear friend. I just want to tell you how honored I am to have served in this august body and it will be something that I will always take with me and cherish as one of my proudest accomplishments.

I just wish you all the very best, God Speed and God Bless You and thank you for letting me serve with you. Thank you.

On motion of Senator PEELER, with unanimous consent, the remarks of Senator HAWKINS were ordered printed in the Journal.

H. 4067 (Word version) -- Rep. Harrison: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-24-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEED RECORDING FEE, SO AS TO EXEMPT A DEED TRANSFERRING REAL PROPERTY FROM A TRUST TO A TRUST DISTRIBUTEE UPON THE DEATH OF THE SETTLOR UPON CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Senator LAND asked unanimous consent to make a motion to recall the Bill from the Committee on Finance.

There was no objection.

The Bill was recalled from the Committee on Finance and ordered placed on the Calendar for consideration tomorrow.

H. 4847 (Word version) -- Reps. Cotty, Brady and J.E. Smith: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5635, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE TOWING, STORAGE, AND DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN VEHICLES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY, SO AS TO DELETE THE TERM "LAW

Senator GROOMS asked unanimous consent to make a motion to recall the Bill from the Committee on Transportation.

There was no objection.

The Bill was recalled from the Committee on Transportation and ordered placed on the Calendar for consideration tomorrow.

H. 4448 (Word version) -- Reps. Bales, Ballentine, Bingham, Brady, Cotty, Frye, Haley, Harrison, Hart, Howard, Huggins, McLeod, J.H. Neal, Ott, E.H. Pitts, Rutherford, Scott, Spires, J.E. Smith and Toole: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 55-11-330, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS OF THE RICHLAND-LEXINGTON AIRPORT COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHAIRMANSHIP MUST BE ROTATED AMONG THE THREE PUBLIC MEMBER ENTITIES REPRESENTED ON THE COMMISSION AND THAT THE FREQUENCY OF A MEMBER OF EACH ENTITY SERVING AS CHAIRMAN MUST BE BASED UPON THE PERCENTAGE THAT EACH PUBLIC BODY'S MEMBERSHIP ON THE COMMISSION IS TO THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.

Senator GROOMS asked unanimous consent to make a motion to recall the Bill from the Committee on Transportation.

There was no objection.

The Bill was recalled from the Committee on Transportation and ordered placed on the Calendar for consideration tomorrow.

The following were introduced:

S. 1424 (Word version) -- Senators McConnell, Anderson, Alexander, Bryant, Campbell, Campsen, Ceips, Cleary, Courson, Cromer, Drummond, Elliott, Fair, Ford, Gregory, Grooms, Hawkins, Hayes, Hutto, Jackson, Knotts, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Lourie, Malloy, Martin, Massey, Matthews, McGill, O'Dell, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Ritchie, Ryberg, Scott, Setzler, Sheheen, Short, Thomas, Vaughn, Verdin and Williams: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE HONORABLE KAY PATTERSON OF RICHLAND COUNTY FOR HIS TWENTY-THREE YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF SENATE DISTRICT 19 AND TO WISH HIM HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 1425 (Word version) -- Senators Sheheen, Malloy and Lourie: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND HOWARD ELLIOTT DUVALL, JR. OF RICHLAND COUNTY FOR HIS SERVICE AS MAYOR IN HIS HOME TOWN OF CHERAW AND FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 1426 (Word version) -- Senator Pinckney: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 784 OF 1954, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE BEAUFORT-JASPER COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY, SO AS TO REAFFIRM THE ACTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ESTABLISHING THE COMPOSITION OF THE AUTHORITY AND TO PROHIBIT THE COUNTIES OF BEAUFORT AND JASPER FROM CHANGING THE COMPOSITION OF THE AUTHORITY.
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Read the first time and, on motion of Senator PINCKNEY, with unanimous consent, S.1426 was ordered placed on the Statewide Calendar.

S. 1427 (Word version) -- Senator Leatherman: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REYNOLDS WILLIAMS AS THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS INVESTMENT COMMISSION FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION, LEADERSHIP, AND SUCCESS IN DIVERSIFYING THE STATE'S PENSION INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS.
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The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered sent to the House.

S. 1428 (Word version) -- Senator Matthews: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REVEREND KENNETH L. SMITH, SR. OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO PINEVILLE AND ST. STEPHENS UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES.
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The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered sent to the House.

S. 1429 (Word version) -- Senator Elliott: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 6-21-180, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL LOANS AND GRANTS UNDER THE REVENUE BOND ACT FOR UTILITIES, SO AS TO PERMIT MORTGAGES TO FEDERAL AGENCIES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
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Read the first time and, on motion of Senator ELLIOTT, with unanimous consent, S. 1429 was ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.

S. 1430 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE GLORIA L. FREEMAN OF CHAPIN UPON BEING CHOSEN THE 2008 ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 1431 (Word version) -- Senator Alexander: A SENATE RESOLUTION IN MEMORY OF HELEN ANTOINETTE KNOX BUTTS UPON HER DEATH AT THE AGE OF ONE HUNDRED AND IN RECOGNITION OF HER BEING THE OLDEST RESIDENT OF THE VILLAGE OF NEWRY.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 1432 (Word version) -- Senator Bryant: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND CONGRATULATE MR. AND MRS. CLIFFORD W. BRYANT OF ANDERSON COUNTY UPON THE OCCASION OF THEIR FIFTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR MANY MORE YEARS OF BLESSING AND FULFILLMENT TOGETHER.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 1433 (Word version) -- Senators Knotts, Setzler, Alexander, Anderson, Bryant, Campbell, Campsen, Ceips, Cleary, Courson, Cromer, Drummond, Elliott, Fair, Ford, Gregory, Grooms, Hawkins, Hayes, Hutto, Jackson, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Lourie, Malloy, Martin, Massey, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, O'Dell, Patterson, Peeler, Pinckney,

The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 1434 (Word version) -- Senators Knotts, Setzler, Alexander, Anderson, Bryant, Campbell, Campsen, Ceips, Cleary, Courson, Cromer, Drummond, Elliott, Fair, Ford, Gregory, Grooms, Hawkins, Hayes, Hutto, Jackson, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Lourie, Malloy, Martin, Massey, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, O'Dell, Patterson, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Ritchie, Ryberg, Scott, Sheheen, Short, Thomas, Vaughn, Verdin and Williams: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE MRS. DOROTHY JONES HUNDLEY OF LEXINGTON COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER NINETIETH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND MUCH HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 1435 (Word version) -- Senator Martin: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ACCLAIMED MASTER CRAFTSWOMEN MAXIE MCCONNELL EADES AND JEAN MCCONNELL MOODY OF PICKENS COUNTY AND TO EXPRESS THE APPRECIATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE FOR THEIR SUCCESS IN HELPING TO PRESERVE THE CENTURIES-OLD CRAFTS TRADITION OF THIS GREAT STATE THROUGH THE CREATION OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL WOODEN BOWLS.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

H. 3533 (Word version) -- Reps. Talley, Kelly and Bannister: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A STUDY COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING WIND

Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

H. 5208 (Word version) -- Reps. F. N. Smith, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Anthony, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brantley, Breeland, G. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Chalk, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Crawford, Daning, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Erickson, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Govan, Gullick, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Hutson, Jefferson, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, Kirsh, Knight, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, Moss, Mulvaney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E. H. Pitts, M. A. Pitts, Rice, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Sellers, Shoopman, Simrill, Skelton, D. C. Smith, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, W. D. Smith, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Witherspoon and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO WISH MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY WELL AS HE BEGINS MEDICAL TREATMENT, AND TO OFFER THE PRAYERS OF THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR HIS RECOVERY.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.

H. 5209 (Word version) -- Reps. E. H. Pitts, Ballentine, Bingham, Frye, Haley, Huggins, McLeod, Ott, Spires and Toole: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND GIRL SCOUT JULIA MEGAN DIRKS OF LEXINGTON COUNTY FOR A MERITORIOUS EXPERIENCE IN SCOUTING AND TO CONGRATULATE HER UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A GOLD AWARD.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.

H. 5210 (Word version) -- Reps. E. H. Pitts, Ballentine, Bingham, Frye, Haley, Huggins, McLeod, Ott, Spires and Toole: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND GIRL SCOUT KATIE REBECCA WILSON OF LEXINGTON COUNTY FOR A MERITORIOUS CAREER IN SCOUTING AND TO CONGRATULATE HER UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.

H. 5212 (Word version) -- Reps. D. C. Smith, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Anthony, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brantley, Breeland, G. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Chalk, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Crawford, Daning, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Erickson, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Govan, Gullick, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Hutson, Jefferson, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, Kirsh, Knight, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, Moss, Mulvaney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E. H. Pitts, M. A. Pitts, Rice, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Sellers, Shoopman, Simrill, Skelton, F. N. Smith, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, W. D. Smith, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Witherspoon and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPON THE DEATH OF TONY L. CARR, SR. OF AIKEN COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.

H. 5214 (Word version) -- Reps. E. H. Pitts, Bingham, Frye, Haley, Huggins, McLeod, Ott, Spires and Toole: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND GIRL SCOUT SARAH ROSE WEBB OF LEXINGTON COUNTY FOR A MERITORIOUS CAREER IN SCOUTING, AND TO CONGRATULATE HER UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.

H. 5220 (Word version) -- Reps. Mack, Harrell, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Anthony, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brantley, G. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Chalk, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Crawford, Daning, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Erickson, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Govan, Gullick, Hagood, Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrison, Hart, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hodges, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Hutson, Jefferson, Jennings, Kelly, Kennedy, Kirsh, Knight, Leach, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lowe, Lucas, Mahaffey, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Mitchell, Moody-Lawrence, Moss, Mulvaney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E. H. Pitts, M. A. Pitts, Rice, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Sellers, Shoopman, Simrill, Skelton, D. C. Smith, F. N. Smith, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, W. D. Smith, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Umphlett, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Witherspoon and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE HONORABLE FLOYD BREELAND OF CHARLESTON FOR HIS SIXTEEN YEARS OF COMMITTED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT 111 IN CHARLESTON COUNTY AND TO WISH HIM HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.

Senator PEELER from the Committee on Medical Affairs submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

S. 1333 (Word version) -- Senator Setzler: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON AGING

S. 1333 (Word version) -- Senator Setzler: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON AGING TO CONVENE A PURPLE RIBBON ALZHEIMER'S TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE CURRENT AND FUTURE IMPACT OF ALZHEIMER'S IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO ASSESS THE RESOURCES FOR AND NEEDS OF PERSONS WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND RELATED DISORDERS SO AS TO DEVELOP A STATE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THIS HEALTH ISSUE.

Senator SETZLER asked unanimous consent to take the Concurrent Resolution up for immediate consideration.

There was no objection.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Resolution, the question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Medical Affairs.

The Committee on Medical Affairs proposed the following amendment (S-1333 AMENDMENT), which was adopted:

Amend the concurrent resolution, as and if amended, page 2, by striking lines 1-34 and inserting:

/       That the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, requests the Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging to convene a Purple Ribbon Alzheimer's Task Force to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease in South Carolina, to examine the existing services and resources addressing the needs of persons with Alzheimer's, their families and caregivers, and to develop a comprehensive strategy to provide a state response to this public health crisis.

Be it further resolved that the Purple Ribbon Alzheimer's Task Force is composed of 20 members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor to include;

(1) one member of the South Carolina Senate;

(2) one member of the South Carolina House of Representatives;

(3) one person with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder;

(4) one caregiver of a person with Alzheimer's disease;

(5) one member representing the State at-large;

(6) one member from the nursing facility industry;

(7) one member from the assisted living industry;

(8) one member from the adult day services industry;

(9) one member from the medical care provider community;

(10) one member from the nursing community;

(11) one member who specializes in Alzheimer's disease research;

(12) one member representing the Alzheimer's Disease Registry;

(13) one member representing the Alzheimer's Association;

(14) the director of the SC Department of Mental Health or his designee;

(15) the director of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs or his designee;

(16) the director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control or his designee;

(17) the director of the Department of Health and Human Services or his designee;

(18) the director of the Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging;

(19) one member representing the law enforcement community;

(20) one member representing labor and workforce development.

The director of the Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging shall serve as chairman of the task force. Members of the task force shall service without compensation. The Purple Ribbon Alzheimer's Task Force shall be so named for the color of Alzheimer's disease awareness.

Be it further resolved that the Purple Ribbon Alzheimer's Task Force include in its assessment and recommendations an examination of:

(1)   the Alzheimer's population needs, including, but not limited to, state policy and the role of the State in meeting these needs;

(2)   existing services, resources, and capacity, for serving persons with Alzheimer's and related disorders;

(3)   changes needed to state policies and resources, including, but not limited to, providing coordinated services and support to persons

Be it further resolved that the Purple Ribbon Alzheimer's Task Force is requested to develop a report and date-specific recommendations for responding to the task force findings, which the Office of Aging shall provide to the General Assembly and Governor no later than March 1, 2009, at which time the Office on Aging shall disband the task force.

Be if further resolved that the Office on Aging is requested to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Purple Ribbon Alzheimer's Task Force and to keep the General Assembly apprised of the progress of these matters.     /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

The committee amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted and ordered sent to the House.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

H. 3008 (Word version) -- Reps. Ballentine, Haskins, Cotty and Lowe: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-220, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION WHICH IS NOT USED FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S MEETINGS OR THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES BUT WHICH IS HELD FOR FUTURE USE BY THE ORGANIZATION IN PURSUIT OF ITS EXEMPT PURPOSES OR WHICH IS HELD BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR INVESTMENT IN PURSUIT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSES IF THIS REAL PROPERTY WHILE HELD IS NOT RENTED OR LEASED FOR A PURPOSE UNRELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSES AND THE USE OF THE REAL PROPERTY DOES NOT INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF ANY PRIVATE STOCKHOLDER OR INDIVIDUAL.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable report on:

H. 3975 (Word version) -- Reps. Delleney and Bowers: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY BY ORDINANCE TO POSTPONE FOR ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR A COUNTYWIDE PROPERTY TAX EQUALIZATION AND REASSESSMENT PROGRAM OTHERWISE SCHEDULED FOR IMPLEMENTATION BEGINNING FOR PROPERTY TAX YEAR 2007.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable report on:

H. 4339 (Word version) -- Reps. Cooper, Clyburn, Battle, Haskins, Harrison, Hosey, Cotty, Walker and Bales: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 9-10-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AFTER JUNE 30, 1993, MAY ALSO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL NATIONAL GUARD RETIREMENT BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE STATE NATIONAL GUARD RETIREMENT SYSTEM UNDER CHAPTER 10 OF TITLE 9 AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION APPLY TO NATIONAL GUARD PENSION BENEFITS PAYABLE ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable report on:

H. 4340 (Word version) -- Reps. Cooper, Clyburn, Battle, Kirsh and Hosey: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 8-23-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF THE DEFERRED COMPENSATION COMMISSION, SO AS TO ADD THE CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENT COMMISSION AS AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE DEFERRED COMPENSATION COMMISSION.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator RYBERG from the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

H. 4350 (Word version) -- Rep. Chalk: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 29-5-26 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "LANDSCAPE SERVICE"

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

H. 4355 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrell, Kirsh, Bales, Lowe, E.H. Pitts, Cotty, Mahaffey, Battle and Crawford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 4-10-20, 4-10-350, 4-10-580, AND 4-37-30, ALL AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX, THE CAPITAL PROJECT SALES TAX, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION SALES TAX, AND THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE SALES TAX, SO AS TO EXEMPT FROM THESE TAXES UNPREPARED FOOD ITEMS ELIGIBLE FOR PURCHASE WITH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD COUPONS AND MAKE THIS EXEMPTION APPLY PROSPECTIVELY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO ALLOW A COUNTY GOVERNING BOARD BY ORDINANCE TO EXTEND THE STATE SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR FOOD ITEMS TO A LOCALLY IMPOSED SALES AND USE TAX.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

H. 4470 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrell, Leach, Cato, Hagood, Hamilton, Harrison, Limehouse, Merrill, Scarborough, W.D. Smith, Stavrinakis, Walker, Young, Gambrell, Haley, Bedingfield, Mahaffey, Cotty, McLeod, Owens, Rice, Bowen, Viers and Shoopman: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3680 SO AS TO ALLOW A STATE INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR THE PURCHASE, INSTALLATION, OR IMPROVEMENT OF A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CREDIT; TO

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

H. 4499 (Word version) -- Rep. Kirsh: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-60-2545, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE AWARDING OF REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES IF A TAXPAYER PREVAILS IN THE ASSESSOR'S DENIAL OF AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AND A FINDING BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT THAT THE ASSESSOR'S ACTION WAS UNREASONABLE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO BOTH THE DENIAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE AND AN ACTION BY THE ASSESSOR TO REMOVE REAL PROPERTY FROM THAT STATUS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES PLUS ATTORNEY'S FEES, TO PROVIDE FOR THIS

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable report on:

H. 4743 (Word version) -- Reps. Mitchell, Davenport, Littlejohn, W.D. Smith, Allen, Anthony, Cato, Hardwick, Harrell, Hosey, Kennedy, Lowe, Mack, Miller, Phillips, F.N. Smith, Talley, Young, Knight and Hodges: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 31-6-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ACT FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND TO AMEND SECTION 31-7-30, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ACT FOR COUNTIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE TERM "REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT" ALSO INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS WHERE ALL OR A PART OF NEW PROPERTY TAX REVENUES GENERATED IN THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT ARE USED TO PROVIDE OR SUPPORT PUBLICLY-OWNED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE DISTRICT OR IS USED TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO SUPPORT PRIVATELY-OWNED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE DISTRICT; AND TO REPEAL CHAPTER 33 OF TITLE 6 OF THE 1976 CODE RELATING TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING FOR COUNTIES.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable report on:

H. 4773 (Word version) -- Reps. W.D. Smith, Walker, Talley, Mahaffey, Moss, Anthony, Kelly, Littlejohn, Mitchell and Phillips: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION TO EXPEND UP TO EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS OF THE FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE STATE UNDER SECTION 903 OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, AS AMENDED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ERECTING AND FURNISHING A BUILDING FOR USE BY THE

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

H. 4815 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrell, Merrill, Thompson, Brady, Stavrinakis, Haley, Ballentine, Cato, Cooper, Delleney, Harrison, Limehouse, Sandifer, Scarborough, Shoopman, Taylor, Viers, Walker, Young, Mahaffey, Neilson, Bales, R. Brown, Herbkersman, Edge, Bingham, Simrill, Whipper, Bedingfield and Bowers: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 64 TO TITLE 12 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA MOTION PICTURE INCENTIVE ACT OF 2008", REVISING AND UPDATING TAX INCENTIVES FOR MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTIONS IN THIS STATE BY ADDING AND MODERNIZING DEFINITIONS, MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS, ELIMINATING THE REBATE OF STATE AND LOCAL SALES TAXES PROVIDED UNDER FORMER LAW, PROVIDING FOR THE CARRY FORWARD OF REBATE FUNDS TO AVOID MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS, CLARIFYING THE WAGE INCENTIVE AND RESIDENT HIRING BONUS, ESTABLISHING A FIVE-YEAR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF DAYS STATE PROPERTY MAY BE USED WITHOUT FEE FROM SEVEN TO TEN DAYS, AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FILM

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

H. 4942 (Word version) -- Reps. Cotty, Clemmons, Hagood, E.H. Pitts, Sandifer, Brady, Erickson, Huggins, Haskins, Whipper and Edge: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-3140, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DETERMINING THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA REAL PROPERTY VALUATION REFORM ACT, SO AS TO POSTPONE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSFER VALUE OF A PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY UNIMPROVED SINCE THE LAST COUNTYWIDE REASSESSMENT PROGRAM UNTIL THE TIME OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEXT COUNTYWIDE REASSESSMENT PROGRAM AND TO REQUIRE THE FIFTEEN PERCENT LIMIT ON INCREASES IN VALUE TO BE CALCULATED SEPARATELY ON LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-3150, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TIME AN ASSESSABLE TRANSFER OF INTEREST OCCURS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE NOTICE OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE ACCURATE NOTICE TO THE ASSESSING AUTHORITY OF BUSINESS ENTITY TRANSFERS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-43-220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CLASSIFICATION AND VALUATION OF PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROPERTY TAX, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEED TO PROPERTY HELD IN TRUST TO RECITE THE NAME OF THE BENEFICIARY FOR THE PROPERTY TO QUALIFY AS THE BENEFICIARY'S LEGAL RESIDENCE AND REQUIRE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS OF APPLICANTS FOR THE LEGAL RESIDENCE ASSESSMENT RATIO; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-60-35, RELATING TO CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSESSORS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENT.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Senator LEATHERMAN from the Committee on Finance submitted a favorable with amendment report on:

H. 4950 (Word version) -- Rep. Cooper: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 12, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO TAXATION, SO AS TO MAKE MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES.

Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Columbia, S.C., May 27, 2008

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the Senate to:

H. 3058 (Word version) -- Reps. W.D. Smith, Haskins, Young, G.R. Smith, Cobb-Hunter, Kirsh, Mahaffey, Sandifer, Brady, Bedingfield, Funderburk, Mitchell, M.A. Pitts, Whipper and R. Brown: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-25-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SO AS TO ADD THAT CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONVICTIONS IN OTHER STATES ARE TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN DETERMINING A PREVIOUS CONVICTION FOR PURPOSES OF ENHANCING THE PENALTY.
and has ordered the Bill enrolled for Ratification.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

Columbia, S.C., May 27, 2008

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the Senate to:

H. 4363 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrison, G.M. Smith, Delleney, Bales, McLeod, Hart and Weeks: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 1-23-660, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES, DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES THE

Received as information.

Columbia, S.C., May 27, 2008

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the Senate to:

H. 4601 (Word version) -- Reps. W.D. Smith, Cobb-Hunter, Talley, Hagood, Scott, Viers, Mitchell, Clemmons and Whipper: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-1180, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO VICTIMS' COMPENSATION AWARDS, SO AS TO ALLOW THE CRIME VICTIM'S ADVISORY BOARD TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL COUNSELING FOR VICTIMS BASED ON DOCUMENTED NEED; TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-1230, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CRIME VICTIMS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS, SO AS TO ALLOW CLAIM SUBMISSION VIA FACSIMILE OR OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS; TO AMEND ARTICLE 14, CHAPTER 3 OF TITLE 16, RELATING TO THE VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO AS TO RESTRUCTURE THE PROGRAM SO AS TO EMPOWER THE STATE OFFICE OF VICTIM ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY THE VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND, TO RESTRUCTURE THE VICTIMS' SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED, TO CREATE THE VICTIM SERVICES COORDINATING COUNCIL AND PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP, AND TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF VICTIM SERVICES EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE CRIME VICTIMS' OMSBUDSMAN AND ESTABLISH CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-1680 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE CRIME VICTIMS' OMSBUDSMAN TO PROMULGATE NECESSARY REGULATIONS.
and has ordered the Bill enrolled for Ratification.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

Columbia, S.C., April 9, 2008

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it refuses to concur in the amendments proposed by the Senate to:

S. 144 (Word version) -- Senators Malloy, McConnell, Ford, Rankin, Knotts, Cleary, Vaughn, Campsen, Richardson, McGill, Elliott, Fair and Williams: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A SENTENCING GUIDELINES COMMISSION TO REVIEW, STUDY, AND RECOMMEND LEGISLATION FOR SENTENCING GUIDELINES, THE PAROLE SYSTEM, AND ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING PROCEDURES FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

S. 144 (Word version) -- Senators Malloy, McConnell, Ford, Rankin, Knotts, Cleary, Vaughn, Campsen, Richardson, McGill, Elliott, Fair and Williams: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A SENTENCING GUIDELINES COMMISSION TO REVIEW, STUDY, AND RECOMMEND LEGISLATION FOR SENTENCING GUIDELINES, THE PAROLE SYSTEM, AND ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING PROCEDURES FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

On motion of Senator MALLOY, the Senate insisted upon its amendments to S. 144 and asked for a Committee of Conference.

Whereupon, Senators MALLOY, RANKIN and CLEARY were appointed to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate and a message was sent to the House accordingly.

Columbia, S.C., May 28, 2008

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has appointed Reps. G.M. Smith, Kelly and Jennings to the Committee of Conference on the part of the House on:

S. 144 (Word version) -- Senators Malloy, McConnell, Ford, Rankin, Knotts, Cleary, Vaughn, Campsen, Richardson, McGill, Elliott, Fair and Williams: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A SENTENCING GUIDELINES COMMISSION TO REVIEW, STUDY, AND RECOMMEND LEGISLATION FOR SENTENCING GUIDELINES, THE PAROLE SYSTEM, AND ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING PROCEDURES FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

At 12:00 P.M., the Senate appeared in the Hall of the House.

The PRESIDENT of the Senate called the Joint Assembly to order and announced that it had convened under the terms of a Concurrent Resolution adopted by both Houses.

The PRESIDENT announced that elections were in order to elect successors to Boards of Trustees of State Colleges and Universities.

The PRESIDENT announced that nominations were in order to elect a successor to an At-Large position on the Board of Trustees for The Citadel.

Representative Phillips, on behalf of the Committee to Screen Candidates for State Colleges and Universities, indicated that Mr. Glenn D. Addison had been screened and found qualified to serve.

Representative Phillips placed his name in nomination, moved that the nominations be closed and, with unanimous consent, the vote was taken by acclamation, resulting in the election of the nominee.

Whereupon, the PRESIDENT announced that the Honorable Glenn D. Addison was elected to a position on the Board of Trustees for The Citadel, At-Large for the term prescribed by law.

The PRESIDENT announced that nominations were in order to elect a successor to the At-Large position on the Board of Trustees for Clemson University.

Representative Phillips, on behalf of the Committee to Screen Candidates for State Colleges and Universities, indicated that Mr. Pat Black, Jr., Mr. John L. Cote, Jr., Mr. Jack W. Erter, Jr., Mr. Nicky McCarter, Mr. Neil C. Robinson, Jr., Mr. Steven G. Strickland and Mr. Rodney Williams had been screened and found qualified to serve.

On motion of Representative Phillips, with unanimous consent, the names of Mr. Pat Black, Jr., Mr. John L. Cote, Jr., Mr. Jack W. Erter, Jr., Mr. Neil C. Robinson, Jr., and Mr. Steven G. Strickland were withdrawn from consideration.

Representative Phillips placed the names of Mr. Nicky McCarter and Mr. Rodney Williams in nomination.

The Reading Clerk of the Senate called the roll of the Senate, and the Senators voted viva voce as their names were called.

The following named Senators voted for Mr. McCarter:

Campbell               Ceips                  Cleary
Courson                Drummond               Elliott
Ford                   Gregory                Hawkins
Hayes                  Hutto                  Jackson
Land                   Leventis               Lourie
Malloy                 Massey                 Matthews
McGill                 O'Dell                 Peeler
Pinckney               Reese                  Ritchie
Ryberg                 Setzler                Sheheen
Short                  Verdin                 Williams

The following named Senators voted for Mr. Williams:

Alexander              Bryant                 Campsen
Cromer                 Fair                   Grooms
Leatherman             Martin                 McConnell
Patterson              Rankin                 Thomas

On motion of Rep. Phillips, with unanimous consent, the members of the House voted by electronic roll call.

The following named Representatives voted for Mr. McCarter:

Agnew                  Alexander              Anderson
Bales                  Barfield               Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brantley
G. Brown               Chalk                  Clyburn
Coleman                Cotty                  Crawford
Dantzler               Delleney               Edge
Erickson               Frye                   Gullick
Haley                  Hardwick               Harrison
Hart                   Harvin                 Herbkersman
Hodges                 Hosey                  Jefferson
Jennings               Kennedy                Kirsh
Loftis                 Lucas                  Moody-Lawrence
Moss                   Mulvaney               J. H. Neal
J. M. Neal             Neilson                Ott
Parks                  Perry                  Phillips
Pinson                 E. H. Pitts            Sellers
Simrill                D. C. Smith            F. N. Smith
J. E. Smith            Stewart                Toole
Weeks                  Williams               Witherspoon

The following named Representatives voted for Williams:

Allen                  Anthony                Ballentine
Bannister              Bedingfield            Bingham
Bowen                  Breeland               R. Brown
Cato                   Clemmons               Cobb-Hunter
Cooper                 Daning                 Duncan
Funderburk             Gambrell               Govan

Hagood                 Hamilton               Harrell
Haskins                Hayes                  Hiott
Howard                 Huggins                Kelly
Knight                 Leach                  Littlejohn
Lowe                   Mack                   Mahaffey
McLeod                 Merrill                Miller
Mitchell               Owens                  M. A. Pitts
Rice                   Rutherford             Sandifer
Scarborough            Scott                  Shoopman
Skelton                G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith
J. R. Smith            W. D. Smith            Spires
Stavrinakis            Talley                 Taylor
Thompson               Umphlett               Walker
Whipper                White                  Whitmire
Young

Total number of Senators voting   42
Total number of Representatives voting   118
Grand Total   160
Necessary to a choice   81
Of which McCarter received   87
Of which Williams received   73

Whereupon, the PRESIDENT announced that the Honorable Nicky McCarter was elected to a position on the Board of Trustees for Clemson University, At-Large for the term prescribed by law.

The PRESIDENT announced that nominations were in order to elect a successor to a position on the Board of Trustees for Lander University, 1st Congressional District, Seat #2.

Representative Phillips, on behalf of the Committee to Screen Candidates for State Colleges and Universities, indicated that Mr. Robert Brimmer had been screened and found qualified to serve and placed his name in nomination.

Representative Phillips moved that nominations be closed and, with unanimous consent, the vote was taken by acclamation, resulting in the election of the nominee.

Whereupon, the PRESIDENT announced that the Honorable Robert Brimmer was elected to a position on the Board of Trustees for Lander University, 1st Congressional District, Seat #2 for the term prescribed by law.

The PRESIDENT announced that nominations were in order to elect a successor to a position on the Board of Trustees for Winthrop University, 2nd Congressional District, Seat #2.

Representative Phillips, on behalf of the Committee to Screen Candidates for State Colleges and Universities, indicated that Ms. Donna G. Tinsley had been screened and found qualified to serve and placed her name in nomination.

Representative Phillips moved that nominations be closed and, with unanimous consent, the vote was taken by acclamation, resulting in the election of the nominee.

Whereupon, the PRESIDENT announced that the Honorable Donna G. Tinsley was elected to a position on the Board of Trustees for Winthrop University, 2nd Congressional District, Seat #2 for the term prescribed by law.

The purposes of the Joint Assembly having been accomplished, the PRESIDENT declared it adjourned, whereupon the Senate returned to its Chamber and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.

At 12:30 P.M., the Senate resumed.

At 12:31 P.M., on motion of Senator McCONNELL, the Senate receded from business until 2:00 P.M.

The Senate reassembled at 2:00 P.M. and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.

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

H. 4746 (Word version) -- Rep. Bowers: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-29-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA MANUFACTURED HOUSING BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD MUST BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY FROM A LIST OF CANDIDATES SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; TO AMEND SECTION 40-29-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THE LICENSURE AND REGULATION OF THE MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY, SO AS TO DEFINE MANUFACTURED HOME APPRENTICE RETAIL SALESPERSON AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-29-200, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN APPRENTICE SALESPERSON LICENSE.

The following House Bills were read the third time and ordered returned to the House with amendments:

H. 3547 (Word version) -- Reps. Moss, Gambrell, Leach, Ballentine and Toole: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-650, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES WITH REGARD TO INVESTIGATING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS, DETERMINING WHETHER SUCH REPORTS ARE FOUNDED OR UNFOUNDED, AND PLACING THE NAMES OF PERPETRATORS IN THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A PERPETRATOR'S NAME MUST BE PLACED IN THE REGISTRY BY PROVIDING THAT IF

H. 4312 (Word version) -- Rep. Kirsh: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 62-5-106 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A GUARDIANSHIP, CONSERVATORSHIP, OR OTHER PROTECTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHED BY REASON OF INCAPACITY, AND NOT MERELY MINORITY, DOES NOT TERMINATE AUTOMATICALLY UPON THE ATTAINMENT OF THE AGE OF MAJORITY BY THE INCAPACITATED PERSON AND TO DEFINE "INCAPACITATED PERSON" FOR THAT PURPOSE.

H. 5001 (Word version) -- Reps. Owens, Hiott, F.N. Smith, Cotty, Haley, Simrill, Merrill, Spires, M.A. Pitts, Skelton, E.H. Pitts, Bedingfield, Kirsh, Mitchell, Perry, D.C. Smith, J.R. Smith, Erickson, Crawford, Daning, Leach, Ballentine, Bowen, Brantley, Cato, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Dantzler, Duncan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Hosey, Jefferson, Kelly, Lowe, Mack, Moss, J.M. Neal, Rice, Scarborough, Shoopman, G.R. Smith, Taylor, Umphlett, Vick, Walker, White, Witherspoon and Young: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-25-125 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF TRESPASS UPON THE GROUNDS OR STRUCTURE OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 16-25-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO A WARRANTLESS ARREST OR SEARCH WHEN A PERSON IS BELIEVED TO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSE, SO AS TO CLARIFY A WARRANTLESS ARREST OR SEARCH MAY BE UNDERTAKEN BY LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE A VIOLATION HAS OCCURRED.

H. 4764 (Word version) -- Reps. Witherspoon and Branham: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 49-3-50 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN REGARD TO WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND COORDINATING, TO AMEND CHAPTER 23, TITLE 50, RELATING TO WATERCRAFT AND OUTBOARD MOTORS, TO

Senator GREGORY explained the Bill.

H. 4783 (Word version) -- Reps. Hagood, Cato, Harvin, Hutson, Brantley, Anthony, Battle, Herbkersman, Hodges, Hosey, Leach, Littlejohn, Mahaffey, Moss and Williams: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF TERMS IN THE LICENSURE AND REGULATION OF ARCHITECTS, SO AS TO DEFINE "INTERN ARCHITECT"; TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-115, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL EXAMINERS OVER LICENSEES AND FORMER LICENSEES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH AUTHORITY EXTENDS OVER UNLICENSED INDIVIDUALS AND TO FURTHER CLARIFY THIS AUTHORITY; TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-120, RELATING TO FINES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO INCREASE FROM TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TOTAL FINES THAT THE BOARD MAY IMPOSE; TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-240, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT APPLICATION FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE AND THAT APPLICANTS MUST BE ENROLLED AND PARTICIPATING IN AN INTERN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-250, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LICENSE RENEWAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO FURTHER CLARIFY REQUIRED CONTINUING EDUCATION TOPICS AND TO REQUIRE REGISTRANTS TO COMPLY WITH AUDIT DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-280, RELATING TO ARCHITECTS AND ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS HAVING A SEAL, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF AN ELECTRONIC SEAL AND SIGNATURE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-290, RELATING

H. 5009 (Word version) -- Reps. G.M. Smith, Weeks and Clemmons: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-80-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK FOR A FIREFIGHTER, SO AS TO PROVIDE NO PERSON MAY VOLUNTEER AS A FIREFIGHTER, BE EMPLOYED AS A FIREFIGHTER, OR PERFORM FIREFIGHTING DUTIES IF HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF, PLED GUILTY TO, OR PLED NOLO CONTENDERE TO ARSON.

H. 3880 (Word version) -- Reps. W.D. Smith, Hagood, Mitchell and McLeod: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 7, CHAPTER 56, TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE BROWNFIELDS/VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM, SO AS TO REVISE THE LIABILITY PROTECTION PROVIDED TO PARTIES WHO ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION OF PROPERTY AND WHO SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROPERTY; TO FURTHER SPECIFY THE SCOPE OF A COVENANT NOT TO SUE PROVIDED TO PARTIES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION OF PROPERTY; TO SPECIFY THAT PROPERTY ON TO WHICH A RELEASE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS OCCURRED IS PROPERTY ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM; TO FURTHER SPECIFY THE CONTENTS OF A VOLUNTARY CLEANUP CONTRACT AND GROUNDS FOR

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the third reading of the Bill.

Senator MASSEY made a motion to take up further amendments pursuant to the provisions of Rule 26B.

The motion was adopted.

Senator MASSEY proposed the following amendment (3880R001.ASM), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/     SECTION   1.   Article 7, Chapter 56, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

Section 44-56-710.   The purpose of the voluntary cleanup program is to:

(1)   enable the expansion, redevelopment or return to use of industrial and commercial facilities sites whose redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination;

(2)   provide an incentive to conduct response actions at a site by providing nonresponsible parties State CERCLA liability protection a covenant not to sue, contribution protection, and third party liability protection, or by providing responsible parties with a covenant not to sue for the work done in completing the response actions specifically covered in the contract and completed in accordance with the approved work plans and reports; and

(3)   provide reimbursement to the department for oversight costs.

Section 44-56-720.   As used in this article:

(1)   'CERCLA' means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and its amendments, 42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.

(2)   'Contaminant' includes, but is not limited to, any element, substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents,

(3)   'Contamination' means impact by a contaminant, petroleum, or petroleum product.

(3)(4)   'Department' means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

(4)(5)   'Nonresponsible party' means any party which is neither:

(i)   a responsible party at the time the voluntary cleanup contract is signed, including lenders, economic development agencies, fiduciaries, trustees, executors, administrators, custodians, subsequent holders of a security interest; nor

(ii)   a parent, subsidiary of, or successor to a responsible party.

(5)(6)   'Oversight costs' means those costs, both direct and indirect, incurred by the department in implementing the voluntary cleanup program.

(6)(7)   'Petroleum' and 'petroleum product' means crude oil or any fraction of crude oil which is liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (60 degrees Fahrenheit and 14.7 pounds for each square inch absolute), including any liquid which consists of a blend of petroleum and alcohol and which is intended for use as a motor fuel.

(8)   'Property' means that portion of the site which is subject to the ownership, prospective ownership, or possessory or contractual interest of a responsible party or a nonresponsible party.

(7)(9)   'Response action' means any assessment, cleanup, inspection, or closure of a site as necessary to remedy actual or potential damage to public health, public welfare, or the environment.

(8)(10)   'Responsible party' means:

(a)   the owner and operator of a vessel, as defined in CERCLA Section 101 (28), or a facility, as these terms are defined in CERCLA;

(b)   any person who at the time of disposal of any hazardous substance owned or operated any facility at which such hazardous substances were disposed of, as these terms are defined in CERCLA;

(c)   any person who by contract, settlement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment of hazardous substances owned or possessed by such person, by any other party or entity, at any facility or incineration vessel owned or operated by another party or entity and containing such hazardous substances, as these terms are defined in CERCLA; and

(d)   any person who accepts or accepted any hazardous substances for transport to disposal or treatment facilities, incineration vessels, as defined in CERCLA Section 101 (38), or sites selected by such person, from which there is a release or a threatened release which causes the incurrence of response costs of a hazardous substance, as such terms are defined in CERCLA; and

(e)   any person who owns or operates or who owned or operated an above ground or underground storage tank from which petroleum or petroleum products have been released or who owns and operates or who owned or operated a property on which a petroleum release has occurred; however, the exemptions of Section 44-2-80(B) and (C) apply.

(9)(11)   'Site' means all areas where a contaminant, petroleum, or petroleum product has been released, deposited, stored, disposed of, or placed or otherwise comes to be located; 'site' does not include any consumer product in consumer use or any vessel, as defined in CERCLA Section 101 (28).

(10)(12)   'Voluntary cleanup' means a response action taken under and in compliance with this article.

(11)(13)   'Voluntary cleanup contract' means a contract entered into between the department and a responsible or nonresponsible party to conduct a voluntary cleanup.

Section 44-56-730.   (A)   A site known or perceived to be impacted by a contaminant, petroleum, or a petroleum product is eligible for participation in the voluntary cleanup program unless the site is listed or proposed to be listed on the National Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA Section 105.

(B)   A responsible party who is not subject to a department order or permit for assessment and remediation for a site is eligible to participate in the voluntary cleanup program for that site.

(C)   All nonresponsible parties who demonstrate financial viability to meet their obligations under the contract and who will undertake or whose nonresponsible party lenders, signatories, parents, subsidiaries, and successors will undertake the expansion, redevelopment, or return to use of the property are eligible to participate in the voluntary cleanup program.

Section 44-56-740.   (A)(1)   A voluntary cleanup contract entered into by or on behalf of a responsible party shall contain at a minimum:

(a)   submission of a work plan, health and safety plan, and provisions from for written progress reports;

(b)   a grant of access to perform and oversee response actions; and

(c)   a legal description of the property.

(2)   A voluntary cleanup contract shall stipulate that it:

(a)   the contract is not a release of or covenant not to sue for any claim or cause of action against a responsible party who is a nonsignatory not a signatory to the contract;

(b)   the contract does not limit the right of the department to undertake future response actions; and

(c)   the contract becomes null and void if the responsible party submits information that is false or incomplete and that is inconsistent with the intent of the contract;

(d)   the contract is not a release or covenant not to sue for claims against a responsible party for matters not expressly included in the contract; and

(e)   the contract's covenant not to sue must be revoked for a responsible party, or its successors, for conducting activities at the site that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the voluntary cleanup contract, and these activities constitute cause to terminate the contract.

(3)   After signing a voluntary cleanup contract, the responsible party shall prepare and submit the appropriate work plans and reports to the department. The department shall review and evaluate the work plans and reports for accuracy, quality, and completeness. If a work plan or report is not approved, the department shall notify the party concerning additional information or commitments needed to obtain approval.

(4)   A voluntary cleanup contract executed on behalf of a responsible party inures to the benefit of the responsible party's signatories, parents, successors, assigns, and subsidiaries.

(5)   A voluntary cleanup contract must give the responsible party the department's covenant not to sue for the work done in completing the response actions specifically covered in the contract and completed in accordance with the approved work plans and reports. The covenant not to sue must be contingent upon the department's determination that the responsible party successfully and completely complied with the contract.

(B)(1)   Upon completion of the contract, the responsible party must submit a request to the department for a certificate of completion. If the department determines that a responsible party has successfully and completely complied with the contract and has successfully completed the voluntary cleanup approved under this article, the department shall certify that the action has been completed by issuing the party a certificate of completion. The certificate of completion shall:

(a)   provide a covenant not to sue for the benefit of the responsible party, its signatories, parents, successors, and subsidiaries;

(b)   indicate the proposed future land use and if a restrictive covenant is necessary for protection of health, safety, and welfare of the public, include a copy of the restrictive covenant entered into between the department and the responsible party and filed with the Register of Deeds or Mesne Conveyances in the appropriate county. A restrictive covenant remains in effect until a complete remediation is accomplished for unrestricted use; and

(c)   include a legal description of the site property and the name of the site's property's owner.

(2)   If the department determines that the responsible party has not completed the contract satisfactorily, the department shall notify in writing the responsible party and the current owner of the site property, if different from the responsible party who signed the contract, that the contract has not been satisfied and shall identify any deficiencies.

(3)   The covenant not to sue is revoked for a party or successor who changes the land use from the use specified in the certificate of completion to one which requires a more comprehensive cleanup.

(C)   The department shall charge for and retain all monies collected as oversight costs. The South Carolina Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund must be reimbursed for any funds expended from this fund pursuant to Section 44-56-200.

(D)   Public participation procedures for a voluntary cleanup contract entered into by a responsible party shall follow the same guidelines for public participation as those for the State CERCLA program and not inconsistent with the National Contingency Plan.

(E)(1)   The department or the responsible party may terminate a voluntary cleanup contract by giving thirty days advanced written notice to the other. The department may not terminate the contract without cause.

(2)   The covenant not to sue must be revoked for a party or its successors, or both, for conducting activities at the site that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the voluntary cleanup contract, and these activities constitute cause to terminate the contract.

(3)   If, after receiving notice that costs are due and owing, the responsible party does not pay the department oversight costs associated with the voluntary cleanup in a timely manner, the department may bring an action to recover the amount owed and all costs incurred by the department in bringing the action including, but not limited to, attorney's fees, department personnel costs, witness costs, court costs, and deposition costs.

(4)   Termination of the contract does not affect any right the department has under any law to require additional response actions or recover costs.

(F)   The department's decision to enter or not to enter into a contract is final and is not a contested case within the meaning of the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act, Section 1-23-10, et seq.

Section 44-56-750.   (A)(1)   Before entering into a voluntary cleanup contract, the nonresponsible party must:

(a)   submit to the department its proposed scope of work a Phase One Environmental Site Assessment conducted in accordance with the all appropriate inquiry standards of CERCLA, or other evidence of conducting all appropriate inquiry in accordance with CERCLA;

(b)   identify a contact person, whose name, address, and telephone number must be updated throughout the term of the contract;

(c)   provide a legal description of the property; and

(d)   describe the plan for the expansion, redevelopment, and return to use of the property identify the business activities planned to be carried out on the property.

(2)   Before entering into a voluntary cleanup contract, the nonresponsible party must certify to the department that:

(a)   it is not a responsible party at the site;

(b)   it is not a parent, successor, or subsidiary of a responsible party at the site;

(c)   its activities will not aggravate or contribute to existing contamination on the site or pose significant human health or environmental risks; and

(d)   it is financially viable to meet the obligations under the contract.

(B)(1)   A voluntary cleanup contract entered into by or on behalf of a nonresponsible party shall contain at a minimum:

(a)   agreement to conduct the scope of work provided for in the contract and submission of a work plan prepared in accordance with the scope of work required by the department, health and safety plan, and provisions for written progress reports;

(b)   a grant of access to perform and oversee response actions;

(c)   a legal description of the property;

(d)   a provision for the department to have the opportunity to inspect and to copy any and all documents or records in the nonresponsible party's custody, possession, or control which identifies or potentially identifies a responsible or potentially responsible party; and

(e)   a provision that the department has an irrevocable right of access to the property once the property is acquired by the nonresponsible party. The right of access remains until a complete remediation is accomplished for unrestricted use.

(2)   A voluntary cleanup contract shall stipulate that it:

(a)   is not a release or covenant not to sue for any claim or cause of action against a responsible party who is a nonsignatory not a signatory to the contract;

(b)   does not limit the right of the department to undertake future response actions;

(c)   is not a release or covenant not to sue for claims against a responsible party for matters not expressly included in the contract;

(d)   does not release the nonresponsible party from liability for any contamination that the nonresponsible party causes or contributes to the site; and

(e)   becomes null and void if the nonresponsible party submits information that is false or incomplete and that is inconsistent with the intent of the contract.

(3)   After signing a voluntary cleanup contract, the nonresponsible party shall prepare and submit the appropriate work plans, health and safety plan, and reports to the department. The department shall review and evaluate the work plans and reports for accuracy, quality, and completeness. If a work plan or report is not

(4)   A voluntary cleanup contract executed on behalf of a nonresponsible party must, in the department's sole discretion, provide a measurable benefit to the State, the community, or the department.

(5)   After considering existing and future use or uses of the site property, the department may approve submitted work plans or reports that do not require removal or remedy of all discharges, releases, and threatened releases at a site as long as the response action:

(a)   is consistent and compatible with the proposed future use of the site property;

(b)   will not contribute to or exacerbate discharges, releases, or threatened releases;

(c)   will not interfere with or substantially increase the cost of response actions to address the remaining discharges, releases, or threatened releases; and

(d)   requires deed notices or restrictions, or both, determined appropriate by the department, to be placed on the property after completion of the work plan.

(6)   A voluntary cleanup contract executed on behalf of a nonresponsible party inures to the benefit of the nonresponsible party's lenders, signatories, parents, subsidiaries, and successors. A voluntary cleanup contract executed on behalf of a nonresponsible party does not inure to the benefit of a responsible party.

(7)   The voluntary cleanup contract may provide the nonresponsible party protection from claims for contribution under CERCLA Section 113, 42 U.S.C. Section 9613 and Section 44-56-200, et seq. of the 1976 Code regarding environmental conditions at the site before the signing of the contract. This protection may be granted at the conclusion of the period allowed for comment from the site's potentially responsible parties as identified through a reasonable search.

(C)(1)   Upon completion of the contract, the nonresponsible party must submit a request to the department for a certificate of completion. If the department determines that a nonresponsible party has successfully and completely complied with the contract and has completed the voluntary cleanup approved under this article, the department shall certify that the action has been completed by issuing the party a certificate of completion. The certificate of completion shall:

(a)   provide the department's covenant not to sue the nonresponsible party for State CERCLA liability for existing

(b)   indicate the proposed future land use and if a restrictive covenant is required, include a copy of the restrictive covenant to be entered into between the department and the nonresponsible party and record the restrictive covenant with the Register of Deeds or Mesne Conveyances in the appropriate county. A restrictive covenant remains in effect until a complete remediation is accomplished for unrestricted use; and

(c)   include a legal description of the property and the name of the property's owner.

(2)   If the department determines that the nonresponsible party has not completed the contract satisfactorily, the department shall notify in writing the nonresponsible party and the current owner of the site property, if different from the nonresponsible party who signed the contract, that the contract has not been satisfied and shall identify any deficiencies.

(3)   The State CERCLA covenant not to sue, liability protection, is and contribution protection provided in this section shall be revoked, after reasonable notice and opportunity to cure as provided for by subsections (C)(2) and (F)(1) of this section, for a party or successor who changes the land use from the use specified in the certificate of completion to one which requires a more comprehensive cleanup.

(4)   The covenant not to sue, liability protection, and contribution protection provided in this section may be revoked, after reasonable notice and opportunity to cure as provided for by subsections (C)(2) and (F)(1) of this section, for a party who fails to make material progress toward the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of the property as provided for in the contract. These activities shall constitute cause to terminate the contract.

(D)   The department shall charge for and retain all monies collected as oversight costs. The South Carolina Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund must be reimbursed for any funds expended from the fund pursuant to Section 44-56-200.

(E)(1)   Upon signature of a voluntary cleanup contract by a nonresponsible party, the department shall provide notice and opportunity for public participation. Notification of the proposed

(2)   Beginning with the thirty-day notice period and continuing through completion of the terms of the contract, the nonresponsible party must post a sign, in clear view from the main entrance to the site property, stating the name, address, and telephone number of a contact person for information describing the site's property's response actions and reuse.

(F)(1)   The department or nonresponsible party may terminate a voluntary cleanup contract by giving thirty days' advance written notice to the other. The department may not terminate the contract without cause.

(2)   The State CERCLA covenant not to sue, liability protection, and contribution protection must be revoked for a party, or its successors, for conducting activities at the site property that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the voluntary cleanup contract, and these activities constitute cause to terminate the contract.

(3)   If, after receiving notice that costs are due and owing, the nonresponsible party does not pay to the department oversight costs associated with the voluntary cleanup contract in a timely manner, the department may bring an action to recover the amount owed and all costs incurred by the department in bringing the action including, but not limited to, attorney's fees, department personnel costs, witness costs, court costs, and deposition costs.

(4)   Termination of the contract does not affect any right the department has under any law to require additional response actions or recover costs.

(G)   The department's decision to enter or not to enter into a contract is final and is not a contested case within the meaning of the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act, Section 1-23-10, et seq.

(H)(1)   A nonresponsible party is not liable to any third party for contribution, equitable relief, or claims for damages arising from a release of contaminants, petroleum, or petroleum products that which is

(2)   This limitation of liability commences on the date of execution of the nonresponsible party voluntary cleanup contract by the department; however, this limitation must be withdrawn automatically if the nonresponsible party voluntary cleanup contract is lawfully terminated by any party. This limitation of liability applies only to:

(a)   the parties to the nonresponsible party voluntary cleanup contract and to the nonresponsible party's lenders, signatories, parents, subsidiaries, and successors; and

(b)   'existing contamination', as defined in the nonresponsible party voluntary cleanup contract.

This limitation of liability does not apply to any release caused by or attributable to the nonresponsible party or its lenders, signatories, parents, subsidiaries, or successors.

Section 44-56-760.   Beginning in the year 2010, the department shall review the voluntary cleanup program established pursuant to this article and report to the General Assembly on the activities of the program and, where applicable, make recommendations for any needed changes or improvements."

SECTION   2.   Section 12-6-3550(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A)   A taxpayer is allowed a credit against taxes due under Section 12-6-530 for costs of voluntary cleanup activity by a nonresponsible party pursuant to Article 7, Chapter 56 of Title 44, the Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program, in the manner provided in this section."

SECTION   3.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to party voluntary cleanup contracts entered into pursuant to Section 44-56-750 on or after this act's effective date.     /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator MASSEY explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered returned to the House of Representatives with amendments.

H. 4766 (Word version) -- Reps. Lowe, Merrill, Crawford, Ballentine, Cobb-Hunter, Hagood, Harrell, Limehouse, E.H. Pitts, Scarborough, Spires, Young, Brady, R. Brown and Mulvaney: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-52-620, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ENERGY CONSERVATION PLANS FOR STATE AGENCIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION REDUCTION GOALS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FROM ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR AN AGENCY IMPLEMENTING ALL AVAILABLE, COST-EFFECTIVE ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES, AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "ENERGY CONSUMPTION"; TO AMEND SECTION 48-52-640, RELATING TO PURCHASE OF ENERGY CONSERVATION PRODUCTS BY A STATE AGENCY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE ENERGY OFFICE MAY CERTIFY FOR PROCUREMENT ONLY A PRODUCT THAT MEETS OR EXCEEDS FEDERAL ENERGY STAR STANDARDS, AND TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF AN INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULB USED BY A STATE AGENCY WITH A COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULB WHEN THE INCANDESCENT BULB NEEDS REPLACING, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the third reading of the Bill.

Senator VERDIN made a motion to take up further amendments pursuant to the provisions of Rule 26B.

The motion was adopted.

Senator VERDIN proposed the following amendment (4766R002.DBV), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered new SECTION to read:

/   SECTION   __.   A.   (1)   There is created the Wind Energy Production Farms Feasibility Study Committee. This committee shall review, study, and make recommendations regarding the feasibility of windmill farms in the State including, but not limited to, whether South Carolina is a suitable site for wind production on land or in offshore

(2)   The committee is composed of:

(a)   two members of the public at-large appointed by the Governor;

(b)   two members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore;

(c)   two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(d)   one member of the Senate appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources;

(e)   one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs;

(f)   the Director of the State Energy Office of the Budget and Control Board, or his designee;

(g)   the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or his designee; and

(h)   The Secretary of the Department of Commerce, or his designee.

(3)   At the first meeting of the committee, the members shall elect a chairperson from among the committee members.

(4)   A vacancy occurring on the committee must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(5)   The staffing for the committee must be provided by the State Energy Office and the appropriate committees of the Senate and House of Representatives that oversee energy policy in the State.

(6)   The committee shall submit its report to the General Assembly and Governor before January 1, 2010, at which time the Wind Energy Production Farms Feasibility Study Committee is abolished.

B.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, this section takes effect upon approval by the Governor.     /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator VERDIN explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered returned to the House of Representatives with amendments.

The following Bills, having been read the second time, were ordered placed on the Third Reading Calendar:

H. 4816 (Word version) -- Reps. Bingham, Ballentine, Frye, Haley, Huggins, McLeod, Ott, E.H. Pitts, Spires and Toole: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 378 OF 2004, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE METHOD BY WHICH THE PROPERTY TAX CREDIT ALLOWED PURSUANT TO THIS ACT APPLIES WITH RESPECT TO THE NONSCHOOL-RELATED PROPERTY TAX LIABILITY OF AN OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENCE.

Senator KNOTTS asked unanimous consent to take the Bill up for immediate consideration.

There was no objection.

The Bill was read the second time and ordered placed on the Third Reading Calendar.

H. 4982 (Word version) -- Rep. Hayes: A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL LEVY OF MILLAGE FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES IN DILLON COUNTY AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS ALLOCATION FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.

Senator HAYES asked unanimous consent to take the Bill up for immediate consideration.

There was no objection.

The Bill was read the second time.

On motion of Senator ELLIOTT, H. 4982 was ordered to receive a third reading on Thursday, May 29, 2008.

H. 4867 (Word version) -- Reps. Cato, Harrell, Haley and Viers: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-2-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the second reading of the Bill.

Senator RYBERG proposed the following amendment (4867R001.WGR), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 5, page 8, by striking lines 20 through 25 and inserting:

/           (c)   possess the appropriate experience pursuant to Section 40-2-35(4)(a); or       /

Amend the bill further, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

/     SECTION   ___.   Section 40-2-35(4)(a) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(a)   at least two years one year of accounting experience satisfactory to the board in public, governmental, or private employment under the direct supervision and review of a certified public accountant or public accountant licensed to practice accounting in some state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia; or"     /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator RYBERG explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

H. 4747 (Word version) -- Rep. Harrison: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING TITLE 63 ENTITLED "SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S CODE" SO AS TO TRANSFER PROVISIONS FROM CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20 TO TITLE 63, TO INCLUDE THE STATE POLICY ON CHILDREN, FAMILY COURT AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES, LEGAL STATUS OF CHILDREN, CHILD PROTECTION AND PERMANENCY, ADOPTIONS, CHILDREN'S SERVICE AGENCIES, CHILDCARE FACILITIES, CUSTODY AND VISITATION, PATERNITY AND CHILD SUPPORT, AND JUVENILE JUSTICE; TO ADD ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 20, RELATING TO DIVORCE, SO AS TO TRANSFER THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 6, CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20, RELATING TO EQUITABLE APPORTIONMENT OF PROPERTY, TO THIS ARTICLE; TO ADD ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 5, TITLE 43, RELATING TO PUBLIC AID TO CHILDREN, SO AS TO TRANSFER THE PROVISIONS OF SUBARTICLE 7, ARTICLE 13, CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20, RELATING TO PUBLIC AID, TO THIS ARTICLE; TO ADD SECTION 44-53-378 SO AS TO TRANSFER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 20-7-105, WHICH CREATES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR EXPOSING A CHILD TO METHAMPHETAMINES, TO THIS SECTION; AND TO REPEAL CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20, RELATING TO THE CHILDREN'S CODE; TO REPEAL SECTION 43-5-585, RELATING TO REPORTING CHILD SUPPORT ARREARAGES TO CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES, WHICH WAS TRANSFERRED TO ARTICLE 21, CHAPTER 17, TITLE 63; AND TO REPEAL SECTIONS 43-5-595, 43-5-596, AND 43-5-597, RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT THROUGH FINANCIAL INSTITUTION DATA MATCHES, WHICH WERE TRANSFERRED TO ARTICLE 17, CHAPTER 17, TITLE 63.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

Senator RITCHIE proposed the following amendment (JUD4747.003), which was adopted:

Amend the Judiciary Committee amendment bearing Document Number (L:\S-JUD\AMEND\JUD4747.002.DOC), as and if amended, by adding the following at the end to read:

/   Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 78, by striking lines 26-29 in their entirety and inserting:

//   (C)   Upon receipt of a petition under this section, the family court shall schedule a hearing to be held within thirty-five days of the filing date to determine whether intervention is necessary.     /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator RITCHIE explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD4747.002), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, page 10, by striking lines 3-17 and inserting:

/   (D)   In actions initiated by the department pursuant to Section 63-7-1650 or 63-7-1660, the court, only after a hearing on the merits, may impose a fee of one hundred dollars against the defendant. If the court does not order removal of custody or intervention and protective services with the child remaining in the home, the fee must be waived. The court may assess the fee against any one defendant or apportion the fee among multiple defendants. The fee may be paid in installments as the court may order; however, the court may not assess a defendant a fee if the defendant's legal assistance is paid for with public funds or if the defendant is qualified for court appointment in accordance with Section 63-7-1620. The clerk of court shall collect the fee and remit it to the department. The department shall retain the fees remitted to be used to offset the expenses associated with its legal representation in child abuse and neglect cases.       /

Amend the bill further, as and if amended, pages 256-258, by striking Section 63-17-730 in its entirety and inserting:

/   Section 63-17-730.   The director shall issue a notice of financial responsibility to an obligor who owes a child support debt or who is responsible for the support of a child on whose behalf the custodian of that child is receiving support enforcement services from the division pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. The notice shall state that:

(1)   the obligor is required to appear at the time and location indicated in the notice for a negotiation conference to determine the obligor's duty of support;

(2)   the division may issue an order of default setting forth the amount of the obligor's duty of support, if the obligor:

(a)   fails to appear for the negotiation conference as scheduled in the notice;

(b)   fails to reschedule a negotiation conference before the date and time stated in the notice or within thirty days of service of the notice of financial responsibility, whichever is later; or

(c)   fails to send the division a written request for a court hearing before the time scheduled for the negotiation conference or within thirty days of service of the notice of financial responsibility, whichever is later;

(3)   the obligor may request a court hearing within thirty days after the receipt of the notice of financial responsibility pursuant to Section 63-17-780;

(4)   the order of default must be filed with the clerk of court of the county in which the obligor resides or, if the obligor does not reside in the State, with the clerk of court of the county in which the obligee resides; that as soon as the order of the default is filed, it shall have all the force, effect, and remedies of an order of the court including, but not limited to, income withholding or contempt of court; and that execution may be issued on the order in the same manner and with the same effect as if it were an order of the court;

(5)   no court order for judgment nor verified entry of judgment may be required in order for the clerk of court and division to certify past due amounts of child support to the Internal Revenue Service or Department of Revenue for purposes of intercepting a federal or state tax refund;

(6)   the name of the custodian of the child on whose behalf support is being sought and the name and birth date of the child;

(7)   the amount of the monthly support obligation must be based upon the child support guidelines as set forth in Sections 63-17-470 and 43-5-580;

(8)   the division may issue an administrative subpoena to obtain income information from the obligor;

(9)   the amount of any arrearage which has accrued under an administrative or court order from support;

(10)   the costs of collections may be assessed against and collected from the obligor;

(11)   the obligor may assert the following objections in the negotiation conference and that, if the objects are not resolved, the division shall schedule a court hearing pursuant to Section 63-17-750(C):

(a)   that the dependent child has been adopted by a person other than the obligor;

(b)   that the dependent child is emancipated; or

(c)   that there is an existing court or administrative order for support as to the monthly support obligation;

(12)   the duty to provide medical support must be established under this article in accordance with the state child support guidelines;

(13)   an order issued pursuant to this article or an existing order of a court also may be modified under this article in accordance with the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act;

(14)   the obligor is responsible for notifying the division of any change of address or employment within ten days of the change;

(15)   if the obligor has any questions, the obligor should telephone or visit the division;

(16)   the obligor has the right to consult an attorney and the right to be represented by an attorney at the negotiation conference;

(17)   other information as set forth in regulations promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.   /

Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 280, by striking line 16 and inserting:

/   purpose of imposing and enforcing income withholding under Section 63-17-1410.   /

Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 326, by striking line 40 in its entirety.

Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 408, by striking line 39 in its entirety and inserting:

/   _________ in the action, on the ___ day of __________, 20__, [in     /

Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 409, by striking line 4 in its entirety and inserting:

/   statutory rate from the ___ day of ___________, 20__, together with     /

Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 410, by striking lines 1 through 5 in their entirety and inserting:

/   (a)   who could meet the requirements of this section except for his removal from the home of a relative, specified in this section as a result of a judicial determination to the effect that continuation therein would be contrary to the welfare of the child;   /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator RITCHIE explained the committee amendment.

The committee amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

H. 3478 (Word version) -- Reps. Spires, Haley, Huggins, Bedingfield, F.N. Smith, Ballentine, Crawford, Frye, Harvin, Jefferson, Knight, Leach, Littlejohn, Mitchell, J.R. Smith, Stavrinakis, Toole, Whipper and Weeks: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1315, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO WAGE WITHHOLDING FOR THE COLLECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FAMILY COURT SHALL ORDER WAGE WITHHOLDING UPON FINDING THAT A PERSON, WHO IS NOT REQUIRED TO PAY THROUGH WAGE WITHHOLDING OR THE FAMILY COURT, IS, OR HAS BEEN, IN ARREARS IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THREE OR MORE MONTH'S SUPPORT OBLIGATION.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD3478.004), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

"Section 20-7-851.   (A)   The Department of Social Services shall establish a State Disbursement Unit for the collection and disbursement of all child, spousal, or child and spousal support payments.

(B)   The State Disbursement Unit shall be operated and administered by either (1) the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Department of Social Services, or (2) a contractor directly responsible to the Department of Social Services.

(C)   Amounts collected through the State Disbursement Unit are subject to court costs pursuant to Section 20-7-1440(C)."

SECTION   2.   Section 20-7-1140(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A)   When a support order or income-withholding order issued in another state is registered, the registering tribunal shall notify the nonregistering party. Notice must be given by first-class, certified, or registered mail or by any means of personal service authorized by the law of this State. The notice must be accompanied by a copy of the registered order and the documents and relevant information accompanying the order."

SECTION   3.   Chapter 7, Title 20 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 20-7-1300.   (A)   The federal government mandates that every state must have a centralized statewide disbursement unit which collects and disburses child support payments. The federal requirement will result in substantial changes in how spousal and child support payments are collected and disbursed in this State. The required technical solution cannot practically be deployed in every county at the same time and, as a result, the amendments to Sections 20-7-1315, 20-7-1326, and 20-7-1328 will take effect on a county-by-county basis. The General Assembly finds that the amendments are necessary to comply with the federal requirements.

(B)   To implement procedures that will accompany deployment of the statewide disbursement unit, the Department of Social Services and the clerks of court shall provide notice to payors as required in subsection (C) below. The Department of Social Services and the clerks of court shall provide general notice to the public showing the date each county will implement the State Disbursement Unit by posting the notice required in subsection (C) on their websites. This posting constitutes notice of the effective date of the amendments to Sections 20-7-1315, 20-7-1326, and 20-7-1328.

(C)   Upon full deployment of the federally mandated single statewide system for child support, the Department of Social Services is authorized to transition to a State Disbursement Unit that will include all child and spousal support, as provided in this act. The department and the clerks of court shall cooperate fully in developing and implementing a transition plan that meets federal requirements and avoids federal financial penalties. The department shall provide notice to each affected support payor directing the payor to make all future payments, beginning thirty days after the department's notices to the payor, to the State Disbursement Unit.

Section 20-7-1310.   The amendments to Sections 20-7-1315, 20-7-1326, and 20-7-1328 concerning direct payments to the State Disbursement Unit are effective as to all payors receiving the notice specified in Section 20-7-1300 thirty days after the date of the notice, and effective as to all new cases filed in the county after that date."

SECTION   4.   Section 20-7-1315 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 20-7-1315.   (A)   As used in this section:

(1)   'Order for support' means any order of a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction which provides for periodic payments of funds for the support of a child or maintenance of a spouse or former spouse and support of a child, whether temporary or final, whether incidental to a proceeding for divorce, separation, separate maintenance, paternity, guardianship, or otherwise and includes any order providing for a modification of support payment of an arrearage or reimbursement of support.

(2)   'Delinquency' means when a support payment owed by an obligor pursuant to an order of support is overdue in an amount equal to at least one month's support obligation.

(3)   'Arrearage' means the total amount of unpaid support obligations.

(4)   'Court' as used in this section means family court.

(5)   'Income' means any periodic form of payment to an individual regardless of source including, but not limited to, wages, salary, commission, bonuses, compensation as an independent contractor, workers' compensation, disability, annuity and retirement benefits, payments made pursuant to a retirement program, interest, and any other payments made by a person or an agency or department of the federal, state, or local government provided the income excludes:

(a)   amounts required to by law to be withheld, other than creditor claims, including, but not limited to, federal, state, and local

(b)   amounts exempted by federal law;

(c)   public assistance payments. Any other state or local laws which limit or exempt income or the amount or percentage of income that can be withheld do not apply.

(6)   'Obligor' means an individual who is required to make payments pursuant to order for support.

(7)   'Obligee' means an individual or the individual's assignee who is entitled to receive payments pursuant to an order of support.

(8)   'Payor' means any payor of income to an obligor. For purposes of this section, the South Carolina Employment Security Commission is not considered to be a payor.

(B)(1)   For all Title IV-D cases in which support orders are issued or modified after October 31, 1990, and for all nontitle IV-D cases in which support orders are issued or modified after January 3, 1994, the income of an obligor is subject to immediate withholding as of the effective date of the order without the requirement that an arrearage accumulate. However, income is not subject to withholding if:

(a)   one of the parties demonstrates and the court finds that there is good cause not to require immediate income withholding; or

(b)   a written agreement is reached between both parties which provides for an alternative arrangement.

(2)   All orders for support entered or modified in the State before October 1, 1996, if not otherwise subject to wage withholding, are subject to withholding if a delinquency occurs without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. These orders must be construed to contain this withholding provision even if the provision has been omitted from the written order; however, the court may order withholding to begin immediately for good cause shown. The court is required to make specified written findings to support immediate withholding.

(3)   Income withholding must be initiated in all Title IV-D cases upon the request of the obligee without the necessity of a delinquency, if the State approves the request in accordance with the procedures and standards as it may establish. If the obligee requests income withholding pursuant to this subsection, notice of the request must be provided to the obligor by the clerk of court, and if the obligor objects to the income withholding within ten days after the postmarked date of the notice, a hearing must be held, and the family court shall subject the obligor's income to withholding unless the court finds that there is

(4)   If an obligor, whose wages are not withheld and who is not required to pay through the family court, is found to be, or is found to have been, delinquent pursuant to an order for support in an amount equal to three or more month's support obligation, the clerk of court must order the obligor's wages enrolled for wage withholding to begin immediately for the payment of the obligor's support obligation, even if the arrearage has been fully or partially paid at the time of the hearing.   (C)(1)   An obligor may petition the court at any time prior to the occurrence of a delinquency seeking an order for income withholding procedures to begin immediately.

(2)   Where the obligor makes payments directly to the obligee pursuant to an order for support and where income withholding procedures take effect, the provisions to pay directly are superseded by the withholding process and the obligor and the payor on behalf of the obligor during the period of withholding must pay this support through the court State Disbursement Unit.

(D)(1)   If a delinquency occurs, the clerk of court shall prepare, file, and serve on the obligor a verified notice of delinquency within fifteen calendar days of the delinquency if the obligor's address is known or if the address is not known, within fifteen calendar days of locating the obligor. If the obligor makes payments pursuant to an order for support directly to the obligee and the obligee seeks income withholding, the notice of delinquency must be verified by the obligee and then served on the obligor by the clerk of court as with any other notice of delinquency.

(2)   The verified notice of delinquency must be served on the obligor by regular mail addressed to the obligor's last known address or place of employment. Upon mailing the notice, the clerk of court shall file a certificate of mailing stating the name and address to which the notice was mailed and the date on which it was mailed. If service cannot be effected as set forth in this subsection, the obligor may be served as prescribed for service in civil actions.

(3)   The notice of delinquency shall inform the obligor that a delinquency has occurred and shall recite the monthly support obligations of the obligor pursuant to the order of support, the total amount of the arrearage as of the date of the notice, and the amount of income to be withheld. The notice must clearly state that a notice to withhold will be sent to the obligor's current or subsequent payor,

(E)(1)   The obligor may prevent a notice to withhold from being served on the obligor's payor and prevent the recording of the arrearage pursuant to Section 20-7-1316 by filing a petition to stay service with the clerk of court with jurisdiction of the matter within ten days of the date that the notice of delinquency is postmarked; however, the grounds for granting the petition to stay service are limited to a dispute concerning the identity of the obligor or the existence or amount of the arrearage.

(2)   Filing of a petition to stay service within the ten days required under this subsection prohibits the clerk of court from serving the notice to withhold on any payor of the obligor and prohibits the recordation of the arrearage.

(3)   If a petition to stay service is filed, a hearing on the petition must be held within thirty days of its filing. The obligor, obligee, and Department of Social Services, where appropriate, must be notified by the clerk of court of the date, time, and place of the hearing and the court must decide the matter, notify the obligor, and enter an order granting or denying relief or amending the notice of delinquency within forty-five days of the date the notice of delinquency was mailed to the obligor. If the court finds that a delinquency existed when the notice of delinquency was mailed, the court shall order immediate service of the notice to withhold and the arrearage may be recorded immediately pursuant to Section 20-7-1316. The court shall inform the obligor of the time frame within which withholding is to begin and shall provide the obligor in writing with the information contained in the notice to withhold to be served on the payor with respect to the withholding.

(4)   Upon filing an affidavit with the court stating that a petition to stay service was not timely filed because the notice of delinquency was not received and that grounds exist for a petition to stay service as stated in subsection (E)(1), the obligor is permitted to file a petition to withdraw the notice to withhold, terminate the withholding procedures, and remove the judgment created by the recording of the arrearage. Income withholding, however, may not be interrupted unless the court enters an order granting the relief sought by the obligor based on the limited grounds for a petition to stay service.

(F)(1)   Fifteen days following the mailing of the notice of the delinquency to the obligor and if no petition to stay service has been

(2)   The notice to withhold shall:

(a)   direct any payor to withhold at the obligor's regularly scheduled pay periods an amount which over the period of one month would constitute one month's support obligation plus applicable fees pursuant to this section and costs as provided by Section 20-7-1440;

(b)   direct any payor to withhold an additional amount toward any arrearage until the arrearage is paid in full; however, amounts to be withheld under this item and item (2)(a) may not exceed the limits set forth by the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1673(b));

(c)   direct any payor to notify the clerk if health insurance is available to the obligor for the benefit of children for whom child support is being withheld;

(d)   state the rights, responsibilities, and liabilities of the payor under this section.

(3)   The payor shall then deduct the designated amount pursuant to the notice to withhold beginning no later than the next regularly scheduled pay period following the pay period during which the payor was served. Payors need not change their regular payroll pattern and may combine all withheld amounts into one check for a particular clerk of court payment to the State Disbursement Unit with an itemized statement showing accounts attributable to each obligor for each obligee. For each instance of withholding of income, the payor is entitled to receive a fee of up to three dollars to be deducted from the income of the obligor in addition to the amounts withheld pursuant to the notice to withhold unless the fee is waived by the payor.

(4)   If there is more than one notice to withhold on a single obligor, the payor must comply with the notices by withholding the amounts designated in the notices to the extent possible pursuant to the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1673(b)). If the payor cannot fully comply with the notices because the amounts to be withheld would exceed the limits under the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the payor shall notify the court in writing as to its reasons for failing to fully comply. Priority must be given to current support obligations. In no case may the allocation result in a withholding for one of the support obligations not being implemented.

(5)   The employer shall promptly pay the amount withheld to the centralized wage withholding system State Disbursement Unit within

(6)   Upon the records of the clerk of court reflecting the satisfaction of an After the obligor's arrearage has been satisfied, the clerk of court shall serve upon the payor by regular mail a notice of reduction of withholding. This The notice shall inform the payor that of the arrearage has been satisfied amount and direct the payor to discontinue withholding the additional amount as prescribed in item 2(b) of this subsection the notice.

(7)   Within twenty days after the obligor is no longer employed by the payor, the payor shall return a copy of the notice to withhold to the clerk of court and shall notify the clerk of court in writing of the date the obligor's employment terminated, the date of the obligor's final paycheck, the obligor's home address, and obligor's new employer and address, if known.

(8)   Withholding of income from an obligor under this section has priority over any other legal process under state law against the same wages. Payment pursuant to a notice to withhold is a complete defense by the payor against any claims of the obligor or the obligor's creditors as to the sum paid.

(9)   No payor may discharge, refuse to hire, or otherwise penalize any obligor because of the duty to withhold income.     (10)   The responsibility of a payor who employs an obligor to withhold support from the pay of the obligor ends when the obligor leaves the employ of the payor. If this termination of employment occurs during the middle of a pay period, the final amount required to be withheld must be proportionately reduced in the same percentage that the time worked has to the time of the full pay period.

(11)   If the Division of Child Support of the Department of Social Services is notified by the South Carolina Employment Security Commission in accordance with Section 41-35-140 that an obligor is receiving unemployment insurance benefits, the division must notify the court for the intercept of unemployment insurance benefits if a delinquency occurs and the obligor's case is a Title IV-D case. The intercept of unemployment insurance benefits must be in accordance with Section 41-35-140.

(G)(1)   The clerk of court may suspend income withholding because of inability to deliver the income withheld to the obligee due to the obligee's failure to provide a mailing address or other means of

(2)   An obligor may petition the court at any time to terminate income withholding pursuant to a notice to withhold:

(a)   if there is no longer a current order for support and all arrearages are paid; or

(b)   if the obligor requests termination and withholding has not been terminated previously and subsequently reinstated and the obligor meets the conditions for an alternative arrangement. However, if termination is granted and subsequently a delinquency occurs, the clerk of court shall reinstate withholding procedures by complying with all requirements for notice and service pursuant to this section.

(3)   The clerk of court shall serve on the payor by regular mail a copy of any order entered pursuant to this subsection or subsection (E)(4) that affects the duties of the payor. If service cannot be effected as set forth in this subsection, the payor may be served as prescribed for service in civil actions.

(4)   The notice to withhold continues to be binding upon the payor until service of any order of the court entered under this subsection or subsection (E)(4) or until notice is served on the payor by the clerk of court that the underlying order is, for other reasons such as expiration of the support obligation, no longer in effect.

(H)(1)   An obligee who is receiving income withholding payments under this section shall notify the clerk of court of any change of address within seven days of the change.

(2)   An obligee who is a recipient of public aid must send a copy of any notice of delinquency filed pursuant to subsection (D) to the Division of Child Support of the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

(3)   An obligor whose income is being withheld or who has been served with a notice of delinquency pursuant to this section shall notify the clerk of court of any new payor and of the availability of health insurance for any children for whom support is ordered within seven days after employment commences.

(4)   Upon receiving any other support payment including, but not limited to, a tax offset under federal or state law or any payment toward an arrearage, the Department of Social Services, within the time permitted by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, shall provide notice of the payment to the clerk of court.

(5)   Any clerk of court who collects, receives, or disburses payment pursuant to an order for support or a notice to withhold shall maintain complete, accurate, and clear records of all payments and their disbursements. Certified copies of payment records maintained by the clerk of court must Copies of support payment records certified by the Department of Social Services or the clerk of court shall, without further proof, be admitted into admissible as evidence in any legal proceedings in which child a dispute concerning support is an issue payments.

(6)   The Department of Social Services and the Office of Court Administration shall design suggested legal forms for proceeding under this section and Section 20-7-1316 and shall make available to the courts for distribution to parties in support actions these forms and informational materials which describe the procedures and remedies set forth in this section and Section 20-7-1316.

(I)(1)   If a payor wilfully fails to withhold or pay over income pursuant to a notice to withhold, the court upon notice and hearing may enter judgment and direct the issuance of an execution against the payor for the total amount that the payor wilfully failed to withhold. A payor who wilfully refuses to hire or who discharges or otherwise penalizes an obligor as prohibited by subsection (F)(9) or who fails to notify the clerk of the availability of health insurance is subject to a civil fine not to exceed five hundred dollars which may be imposed by the court in its discretion.

(2)   If an obligor, obligee, or the Department of Social Services wilfully initiates a false proceeding under this section or wilfully fails to comply with the requirements of this section, punishment for contempt may be imposed.

(J)   The rights, remedies, duties, and penalties created by this section are in addition to any other rights, remedies, duties, and penalties otherwise provided by law.

(K)   The Office of Court Administration after consultation with the Department of Social Services is authorized to promulgate those regulations necessary to implement this section.

(L)   By January 1, 1996, the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Department of Social Services shall create and develop an Employer New Hire Reporting program. The Employer New Hire Reporting program shall provide a means for employers to voluntarily assist in the state's efforts to locate absent parents who owe child support and collect child support from those parents by reporting information concerning newly hired and rehired employees directly to

(1)   An employer doing business in this State may participate in the Employer New Hire Reporting program by reporting to the Child Support Enforcement Division:

(a)   the hiring of a person who resides or works in this State to whom the employer anticipates paying earnings; or

(b)   the rehiring or return to work of an employee who was laid off, furloughed, separated, granted leave without pay, or terminated from employment.

(2)   The Employer New Hire Reporting program applies to a person who is expected to:

(a)   be employed for more than one month's duration;

(b)   be paid for more than three hundred fifty hours during a continuous six-month period; or

(c)   have gross earnings of more than three hundred dollars in each month of employment.

(3)   An employer who voluntarily reports under item (1) shall submit monthly reports regarding each hiring, rehiring, or return to work of an employee during the preceding month. The report must contain:

(a)   the employee's name, address, social security number, date of birth, and salary information; and

(b)   the employer's name, address, and employer identification number.

(4)   Employers reporting to the Employer New Hire Reporting program shall provide information to the Child Support Enforcement Division by:

(a)   sending a copy of the new employee's W-4 form;

(b)   completing a form supplied by the Child Support Enforcement Division; or

(c)   any other means authorized by the Child Support Enforcement Division for conveying the required information, including electronic transmission or magnetic tapes in compatible formats.

(5)   An employer is authorized by this section to disclose the information described in item (3) and is not liable to the employee for the disclosure or subsequent use by the Child Support Enforcement Division of the information.

(6)   Information received by the South Carolina Employment Security Commission from employers which includes information

Information received by the South Carolina Employment Security Commission received from employers which includes information contained in the reports provided for in this section shall transmit this information to the Department of Social Services within fifteen working days after the end of each quarter.

(M)   The department shall establish and operate a centralized system for the collection and disbursement of funds received from wage withholding under the Child Support Enforcement program. Wage withholding subject to this provision shall include:

(1)   all wage withholding cases being enforced by the Child Support Enforcement Division;

(2)   all cases not being enforced by the Child Support Enforcement Division in which the support order was initially issued in the State on or after January 1, 1994, and in which the income of the noncustodial parent is subject to withholding. Amounts collected through the centralized wage withholding system State Disbursement Unit are subject to the five percent court cost pursuant to Section 20-7-1440(C), with disposition of all these fees made in accordance with Section 14-1-203. Employers shall make payment of the amount withheld to the centralized system State Disbursement Unit within seven working days of the date income is withheld. The department shall, in compliance with federal requirements, disburse child support funds received from employers to the appropriate county clerk of court for disbursement to the custodial parent."

SECTION   5.   Section 20-7-1326 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 20-7-1326.   (a)   The notice to withhold shall direct payment to be made to the clerk of court. The clerk of court State Disbursement Unit. The State Disbursement Unit shall promptly transmit payments received pursuant to an order to withhold based on a support order of another jurisdiction entered under this subarticle to the agency or person designated in subitem (c) of item (5) of subsection (b) of Section 20-7-1321.

(b)   A support order entered pursuant to Section 20-7-1321 does not nullify and is not nullified by a support order made by a court of this State pursuant to any other law or by a support order made by a court of any other state. Amounts collected by any withholding of income must

SECTION   6.   Section 20-7-1328 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 20-7-1328.   Any person who is the obligor on a support order of another jurisdiction may obtain voluntary income withholding by filing with the clerk of court a request for withholding and a certified copy of the support order of a sister state. The clerk of court shall issue a notice to withhold under subsection (2) of subsection (E) of Section 20-7-1315. Payment must be made to the clerk of court State Disbursement Unit.

SECTION   7.   Section 20-7-420(17) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(17)   To make all orders for support run until further order of the court, except that orders for child support run until the child is eighteen years of age or until the child is married or becomes self-supporting, as determined by the court, whichever occurs first or to provide for child support; or without further order, past the age of eighteen years if the child is in enrolled and still attending high school and is making satisfactory progress toward completion of high school, not to exceed the nineteenth birthday unless exceptional circumstances are found to exist or unless there is high school graduation or the end of the school year after the child reaches nineteen years of age, whichever is later; or in accordance with a preexisting agreement or order to provide for child support past the age of eighteen years; and or in the discretion of the court, to provide for child support past age eighteen where there are physical or mental disabilities of the child or other exceptional circumstances that warrant the continuation of child support beyond age eighteen for as long as the physical or mental disabilities or exceptional circumstances continue."

SECTION   8.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. The State Disbursement Unit is to be implemented in accordance with Section 20-7-1300 and Section 20-7-1310 as contained in SECTION 3 of this act.     /

Amend title to conform.

Senator RITCHIE explained the committee amendment.

The committee amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

H. 3715 (Word version) -- Reps. Talley, Duncan, Mahaffey, Clemmons, Shoopman, Toole and G.R. Smith: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-750 SO AS TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS FOR PURPOSES OF THE SECTION AND TO PROVIDE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR PERSONS AFFILIATED WITH A SCHOOL IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY WHO COMMIT CERTAIN DELINEATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT, EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR, OR KIDNAPPING OFFENSES AGAINST A STUDENT.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

Senator HAWKINS proposed the following amendment (JUD3715.005), which was adopted:

Amend the committee report, as and if amended, page [3715-2], by striking lines 35-40.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator HAWKINS explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD3715.002), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, pages 1-2, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/   SECTION   1.   Article 7, Chapter 3, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-3-750.   (A)   For purposes of this section:

(1)   'Aggravated coercion' means that the person affiliated with a public or private secondary school in an official capacity threatens to use force or violence of a high and aggravated nature to overcome the student, if the student reasonably believes that the person has the present ability to carry out the threat, or threatens to retaliate in the

(2)   'Aggravated force' means that the person affiliated with a public or private secondary school in an official capacity uses physical force or physical violence of a high and aggravated nature to overcome the student or includes the threat of the use of a deadly weapon.

(3)   'Person affiliated with a public or private secondary school in an official capacity' means an administrator, teacher, substitute teacher, teacher's assistant, student teacher, law enforcement officer, school bus driver, guidance counselor, or coach who is affiliated with a public or private secondary school but is not a student enrolled in the school.

(4)   'Secondary school' means either a junior high school or a high school.

(5)   'Sexual battery' means sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or any intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or of any object into the genital or anal openings of another person's body, except when such intrusion is accomplished for medically recognized treatment or diagnostic purposes.

(6)   'Student' means a person who is enrolled in a school.

(B)   If a person affiliated with a public or private secondary school in an official capacity engages in sexual battery with a student enrolled in the school who is sixteen or seventeen years of age and aggravated coercion or aggravated force is not used to accomplish the sexual battery, the person affiliated with the public or private secondary school in an official capacity is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than five years.

(C)   If a person affiliated with a public or private secondary school in an official capacity engages in sexual battery with a student enrolled in the school who is eighteen years of age or older and aggravated coercion or aggravated force is not used to accomplish the sexual battery, the person affiliated with the public or private secondary school in an official capacity is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days, or both.

(D)   This section does not apply if the person affiliated with a public or private secondary school in an official capacity is lawfully married to the student at the time of the act."

SECTION   2.   Chapter 17, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-17-160.   School districts shall provide annual training regarding sexual harassment to appropriate school officials that is consistent with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972."

SECTION   3.   The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION   4.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./   Amend title to conform.

The committee amendment was adopted.

Senator HUTTO proposed the following amendment (MS\7646AHB08), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

/ SECTION   ___.   Article 7, Chapter 3, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section   16-3-655.5.   A person is guilty of sexual conduct between minors if the person is seventeen or eighteen years of age and engages in consensual sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, or anal intercourse with a younger person who is at least fourteen years of age but less than sixteen years of age. A person convicted of a violation of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. A person convicted of a violation of this section is not subject to the provisions of Title 23, Chapter 3, Article 7." /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator HUTTO explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

H. 4745 (Word version) -- Reps. Young, Mulvaney, Umphlett, Ballentine, Huggins, E.H. Pitts, Bedingfield, Haley, Lowe, Clemmons, Viers, Scarborough, Edge, Harrell, Cotty, Mitchell, Chalk, Hagood, Talley, Gullick, Miller, Harvin, Bingham, Witherspoon, Haskins, Thompson, Merrill, Sandifer, Brady, Weeks, Scott, Duncan, Cato, Cooper, Dantzler, G.M. Smith, Whipper, R. Brown, Mahaffey, Toole, Herbkersman, Simrill, Littlejohn, Loftis and Hayes: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 35 TO TITLE 6 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ACT", TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY MAY CREATE AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT COMPRISED OF NONCONTIGUOUS PARCELS OF LAND, TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY MAY USE ASSESSMENTS TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND TO ALLOW AN ASSESSMENT TO BE USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO FUND CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO NEW DEVELOPMENT.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD4745.001), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/   SECTION   1.   Title 6 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 6-35-10.   This chapter may be cited as the 'South Carolina Residential Improvement District Act'.

Section 6-35-20.   As used in this chapter:

(1)   'Assessment' means a charge against the real property belonging to an owner within an improvement district created pursuant to this chapter. The assessment must be made upon real property located within the district, other than property constituting improvements within the meaning of this section, and may be based upon assessed value, front footage, area per parcel basis, the value of improvements to be constructed within the district, or a combination of them or another basis agreed to between the owner and the governing body, as the basis is determined by the governing body of the county. An assessment imposed under this chapter remains valid and enforceable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter even if there is a later subdivision and transfer of the relevant property or a part of it. An improvement plan may provide for a change in the basis of assessment upon the subdivision or transfer of real property, or upon such other event as may be deemed appropriate by the governing body. The rates of assessments within a district need not be uniform. The owner and the governing body shall agree upon the rates of assessment across different sections of, or uses within, the district.

(2)   'Improvements' include, but are not limited to, public infrastructure improvements, such as a parkway, park and playground; a recreation facility, athletic facility, and pedestrian facility; sidewalk; parking facility ancillary to another public facility; facade redevelopment; storm drain; the relocation, construction, widening, and paving of a street, road, and bridge, including demolition of them; underground utility dedicated or to be dedicated to public use; all improvements permitted under Chapter 35, Title 4 and Chapter 37, Title 5; a building or other facility for public use; public works eligible for financing under the provisions of Section 6-21-50; and things incidental to an improvement including, but not limited to, planning, engineering, promotion, marketing, administrative fees, and acquisition of necessary easements and land, and may include a facility for lease or use by a private person, firm, or corporation. Improvements also include the construction of a new public school and the renovation and expansion of an existing public school. However, except as otherwise provided in this item, maintenance and an operational expense are not considered to be improvements. The construction of the improvements must comply with applicable state and federal law and regulations governing the construction of similar public improvements installed or constructed by a private entity. Improvements may be designated by the governing body as public works eligible for revenue bond financing pursuant to Section 6-21-50, and these improvements, taken in the

(a)   the district; or

(b)   a designated service area that benefits the district.

(3)   'Improvement plan' means an overall plan by which the governing body proposes to effect improvements within a district and service area to preserve property values, prevent deterioration of urban areas, and preserve the tax base, and includes an overall plan by which the governing body proposes to effect improvements within an improvement district in order to encourage and promote private or public development within the improvement district.

(4)   'District' means an area within the county or municipality designated by the governing body pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and within which an improvement plan is to be accomplished. A district may be comprised of noncontiguous parcels of land. A district may be made up of varying proposed land uses including, but not limited to, residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, or a combination of some or all of those. A district may not include the grounds of the State House in the City of Columbia. Multiple districts may not be formed over the same property at the same time.

(5)   'Governing body' means, as appropriate, the county council or the municipal council or councils that has or have authority over the geographic area in which the district lies and which acts under this chapter. School boards are not included within the definition of governing body under this chapter.

(6) 'Government entity' means the county or municipality in which the district is located and the governing body of which acts under this chapter to create such district and impose assessments therein.

(7)   'Owner' means any person eighteen years of age, or older, or the proper legal representative for any person younger than eighteen years of age or otherwise incapacitated person as defined in Section 62-5-101(1), and any firm or corporation, who or which owns legal title to a present possessory interest in real estate equal to a life estate or greater (expressly excluding leaseholds, easements, equitable interests,

(8)   'Service area' means, based on sound planning or engineering principles, or both, a defined geographic area served by a particular improvement. A provision in this chapter may not be interpreted to alter, enlarge, or reduce the service area or boundaries of a political subdivision that is authorized or set by law. A service area may consist of tracts in more than one state, county, or municipality, provided that each relevant governing body approves the creation of the service area and the district. Each improvement may have its own specific service area.

Section 6-35-30.   A county or municipality, with the approval of the owners of all real property situated within a proposed district, as further provided in Section 6-35-118, may exercise the powers and provisions of this chapter.

Section 6-35-40.   Nothing contained in this chapter may be construed to limit or restrict the existing powers of an owner, county, municipality, or local school board. The authorization contained in this chapter is in addition to their powers and is provided as an additional means for the provision of infrastructure and improvements related to new development and redevelopment.

Section 6-35-50.   (A)(1)   An assessment may be imposed and collected by the governing body upon compliance with the procedures set forth in this chapter.

(2)   The amount of the assessment must be based on actual costs of the improvements or reasonable estimates of those costs, to include, but not be limited to, interest expense, bond issuance costs, architectural and engineering costs, furniture, fixture and equipment costs and costs associated with the administration of the district.

(B)   A governing body that has not adopted a comprehensive plan pursuant to Chapter 29 of this title may not impose an assessment, unless the governing body adopts an owner-proposed improvement plan, which substantially complies with the requirements of Section 6-1-960.

(C)   A governing body shall prepare and publish an annual report describing, for each district, the amount of all assessments collected, appropriated, or spent during the preceding year. An annual summary

(D)   Payment of an assessment may result in an incidental benefit to property owners or residents within the service area other than the payor. Under no circumstances shall assessments or the burden of funding an improvement be charged to any property located outside of the district. The provisions of this section do not apply to projects or undertakings designated by a governing body as a 'system' under Section 6-21-40.

Section 6-35-60.   The government entity is authorized to acquire, own, construct, establish, install, enlarge, improve, and expand any improvement and to finance the acquisition, construction, establishment, installation, enlargement, improvement, expansion, in whole or in part, by the imposition of assessments in accordance with this chapter, the issuance of special district bonds, or any other method of financing, provided that the full faith and credit of the applicable county or municipality is not pledged as security for it. In addition to any other authorization provided herein or by other law, the governing body of a government entity may issue its special district bonds or revenue bonds of the government entity under such terms and conditions as the governing body may determine by ordinance subject to the following: such bonds may be sold at public or private sale for such price as is determined by the governing body; such bonds may be secured by a pledge of and be payable from the assessments authorized herein or any other source of funds not constituting a general tax as may be available and authorized by the governing body; such bonds may be issued pursuant to and secured under the terms of a trust agreement or indenture with a corporate trustee and the ordinance authorizing such bonds or trust agreement or indenture pertaining thereto may contain provisions for the establishment of a reserve fund, and such other funds or accounts as are determined by the governing body to be appropriate to be held by the governing body or the trustee. The proceeds of any bonds may be applied to the payment of the costs of any improvements, including capitalized interest, expenses associated with the issuance and sale of the bonds and any costs for planning and designing the improvements or planning or arranging for the financing and any engineering, architectural, surveying, testing, or similar costs or expenses necessary or appropriate for the planning, designing, and construction or implementation of any plan in connection with the improvements

Section 6-35-70.   Bonds issued by the county or municipality pursuant to this chapter do not count for the purposes of calculating the bond-borrowing limit pursuant to Article X of the Constitution of this State.

Section 6-35-90.   The owner may include, within a proposed district, improvements that have been constructed or are under construction at the time of the establishment of the district.

Section 6-35-95.   The owner/developer of the real property in a residential improvement district must disclose to prospective purchasers of residential real property in the improvement district that the property will be subject to an assessment under the provisions of this chapter and the maximum annual amount and duration of the assessments.

Section 6-35-100.   The governing body shall collect from the owner, upon the issuance of any obligations secured by assessments, an improvement fee in an amount equal to four percent of the aggregate par value of such obligations. The improvement fee must be used to construct improvements or collective improvements, as described in Section 6-35-110, in a service area that is related to and serves the district. The governing body may contract with the owner, or with a third party, for the construction of the improvements. The improvements must be part of the improvement plan. A governing body imposing an improvement fee must not impose any additional fee upon properties located within a district to recover any capital costs paid for from assessments which are imposed upon properties located within a district as provided in this chapter.

Section 6-35-110.   (A)   The owner may include improvements that are proposed to be funded by multiple districts, known as a 'collective improvement'. The owner and the governing body may agree to designate all or part of the improvement fee for the construction of the collective improvement. If this occurs and if the collective improvement has not been identified previously in an improvement plan for another district, then the improvement plan must include:

(1)   a description of the collective improvement;

(2)   the estimated cost of it;

(3)   a deadline by which the collective improvement must be initiated; and

(4)   provisions for alternative uses of the improvement fee to defray the cost of other improvements within the same service area if the collective improvement is not initiated within the approved timeline.

(B)   The improvement fee or portion allocated to a specific collective improvement must be deposited into a trust account maintained by a bank serving as trustee in connection with bonds or other obligations secured by assessments. This trust account is to be maintained only for the purpose of funding a specific collective improvement. Funds from multiple districts, including districts that are created after the creation of the trust fund and the identification of the collective improvement, may be commingled in these trust accounts for the purpose of funding the collective improvement.

Section 6-35-115.   If an improvement or a collective improvement is or directly pertains to a school, including, but not limited to, new construction or additions to existing construction, then the proposed improvement or the collective improvement must be approved by the governing body of the school district prior to the adoption of the resolution required by Section 6-35-120.

Section 6-35-118. The owner of real property may by petition request the governing body to create a district consisting of such real property and to impose assessments therein to defray the cost of improvements. The petition must:

(1)   be signed by owners of all real property within the proposed district as of the date of submission of the petition;

(2)   contain a legal description of such real property; and

(3)   contain:

(a)   an improvement plan;

(b)   the projected time schedule for the accomplishment of the improvement plan;

(c)   the estimated cost; and

(d)   the amount of the cost to be derived from assessments, bonds or other obligations secured by assessments, together with the proposed basis and rates of assessments to be imposed within the district

Section 6-35-120.   (A)   The governing body, by resolution, shall describe the proposed district and the improvement plan; the projected time schedule for the accomplishment of the improvement plan; the estimated cost; and the amount of the cost to be derived from assessments, bonds or other obligations secured by assessments, together with the proposed basis and rates of assessments to be imposed within the district.

(B) The governing body may provide by the resolution for the payment of the cost of the improvements and facilities to be constructed within the service area by assessments, or by the issuance of special district bonds or other obligations secured by assessments, or

(C)   The resolution also must establish the time and place of a public hearing to be held. The public hearing must take place:

(1)   in a county, no earlier than thirty days nor more than forty-five days following the adoption of the resolution; or

(2)   in a municipality, no earlier than twenty days nor more than forty days following the adoption of the resolution.

Section 6-35-130.   (A)   Notice of a public hearing must be published:

(1)   once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the relevant incorporated municipality; or

(2)   once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the relevant county.

(B)   The notice of public hearing must describe in general terms the location of the proposed district, contain a general description of the proposed improvements, identify each owner of twenty-five percent or more by acreage of the real property situated in the area of the proposed district, and state the date, time, and place of the public hearing.

(C)   The final publication must be at least ten days before the date of the scheduled public hearing. At the public hearing and at any adjournment of the meeting, all interested persons may be heard either in person or by attorney.

Section 6-35-160.   The improvements are to be or become the property of the municipality, county, State, special purpose districts, school district or other public or quasi-public entity and may at any time be removed, altered, changed, or added to, as the governing body may in its discretion determine. The public or quasi-public entity may lease these improvements to other public, quasi-public, or nonpublic entities.

Section 6-35-170.   (A)   Not less than seven days after the public hearing, the governing body may proceed to create the district by enactment of an ordinance. The ordinance may provide for the creation of the district as originally proposed or with such changes and modifications as the governing body may determine. The ordinance may further provide for the financing of the improvements by assessments, bonds, or other obligations.

(B) An ordinance enacted under this section must contain the following findings:

(1)   the proposed improvements may benefit the proposed district and the proposed service area;

(2)   the improvements may preserve or increase property values within the district;

(3)   in the absence of the improvements, property values within the district are likely to depreciate, or that the proposed improvements are likely to encourage development in the improvement district;

(4)   the general welfare and tax base of the government entity would be maintained or likely improved by creation of an improvement district in the government entity;

(5)   it would be fair and equitable to finance all or part of the cost of the improvements by an assessment upon the real property within the district, the governing body may establish the area as an improvement district and implement and finance, in whole or in part, an improvement plan in the district in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(6)   the improvements are located within the district or within the relevant service area; and

(7)   in circumstances where the district is proposed to consist of noncontiguous parcels, all parcels that comprise the district are situated within the relevant service area for each improvement.

(C) An ordinance authorizing the creation of a district must:

(1)   include a description of potential levels of service resulting from improvements;

(2)   provide a methodology for the imposition, apportionment, adjustment, and termination of the assessment; and

(3)   include the expected impact upon school enrollments of development within the proposed district.

(D)   Notice of adoption of the ordinance shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district once a week for two consecutive weeks. Any person affected by the action of the governing body may, by action de novo instituted in the court of common pleas for the county in which the district is located, within twenty days following the last publication of notice prescribed by this section, but not afterwards, challenge the action of the governing body.

Section 6-35-180.   (A)   In the event all or any part of improvements and facilities within the district are to be financed by assessments on property therein, the governing body shall prepare an assessment roll in which there shall be entered the names of the owners whose properties are to be assessed and the amount assessed against their respective properties with a brief description of the lots or parcels of land

(B)   As soon as practicable after the completion of the assessment roll and prior to the publication of the notice provided in the preceding paragraph, the governing body shall mail by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner or owners of each lot or parcel of land against which an assessment is to be levied, at the address appearing on the records of the city or county treasurer, a notice stating the nature of the improvements, the maximum total proposed cost thereof, and the maximum amount to be assessed against the particular property. The notice shall contain a brief description of the particular property involved, together with a statement that the amount assessed shall constitute a lien against the property superior to all other liens except property taxes. The notice shall also state the time and place fixed for the hearing of objections in respect to the assessment. Any property owner who fails to file with the governing body a written objection to the assessment against his property within the time provided for hearing such objections shall be deemed to have consented to such assessment, and the published and written notices prescribed in this chapter shall so state.

(C)   The governing body, a panel of the governing body, or a hearing officer or officers as designated by the governing body shall hear the objections as provided herein of all persons who have filed written notice of objection within the time prescribed and who may appear and make proof in relation thereto either in person or by their attorney. The governing body, at the sessions held to make final decisions on objections, may thereupon make such corrections in the assessment roll as it may deem proper and confirm the same or set it aside and provide for a new assessment. Whenever the governing body shall confirm an assessment, either as originally prepared or as thereafter corrected, a copy thereof certified by the clerk of the government entity shall be filed in the office of the clerk of court,

(D)   Upon the confirmation of an assessment, if any, the governing body shall mail a written notice to all persons who have filed written objections as hereinabove provided of the amount of the assessment finally confirmed. Such property owner may appeal such assessment only if he shall, within twenty days after the mailing of the notice to him confirming the assessment, give written notice to the governing body of his intent to appeal his assessment to the court of common pleas of the county in which the property is situate; but no such appeal shall delay or stay the construction of improvements or affect the validity of the assessments confirmed and not appealed. Appeals shall be heard and determined on the record in the manner of appeals from administrative bodies in this State.

(E)   Following the completion of the assessment roll, the requirements of this section as to notice and hearing may be waived upon the filing with the governing body of a waiver signed by all owners of property within the district as of the date of filing of such waiver. Such waiver shall for each parcel in the district state the maximum assessment to be imposed thereupon and all owners of such parcel. Such waiver shall contain a statement that the persons signing the waiver intend thereby to waive all rights to notice, hearing, and appeal otherwise available under Section 6-35-180.

Section 6-35-190.   The governing body may abolish the district if there are no outstanding bonds or other obligations secured by assessments. The governing body must first conduct a public hearing. Notice of the hearing must appear in a newspaper of general circulation in the district two weeks before the hearing is held."

SECTION   2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./

Amend title to conform.

Senator RITCHIE explained the committee amendment.

The committee amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

H. 4538 (Word version)--Reps. Funderburk, McLeod, Stavrinakis and Whipper: A BILL TO ENACT THE "GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2008", TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF REPORT RELATING TO THE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT AND BY ADDING CHAPTER 2 TO TITLE 2, RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
(ABBREVIATED TITLE)

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD4538.002), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting therein the following:

/   SECTION   1.   Subsections (B) through (H) of Section 1-30-10 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(B)(1)   The governing authority of each department shall be either:

(i)     a director, and in the case of the Department of Commerce, the or a secretary, who must be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, subject to removal from office by the Governor pursuant to provisions of Section 1-3-240(B); or,

(ii)   a seven member board to be appointed and constituted in a manner provided for by law; or,

(iii)   in the case of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education, the State Commissioner of Agriculture and the State Superintendent of Education, respectively, elected to office under the Constitution of this State; or

(iv)   in the case of the Department of Transportation, a seven member commission constituted in a manner provided by law, and a Secretary of Transportation appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor.

(2)   In making appointments to boards and an appointment for a governing authority of a department directors, race, gender, and other demographic factors should be considered to assure nondiscrimination, inclusion, and representation to the greatest extent possible of all segments of the population of this State; however, consideration of these factors in no way creates a cause of action or basis for an

(C)   Each department shall be organized into appropriate divisions subdivisions by the governing authority of the department through further consolidation or further subdivision. The power to organize and reorganize the department supersedes any provision of law to the contrary pertaining to individual divisions; provided, however, the into divisions lies with the General Assembly in furtherance of its mandate pursuant to Article XII of the South Carolina Constitution. The dissolution of any division must receive legislative approval by authorization included in the annual general appropriations act likewise be statutorily approved by the General Assembly.

Any other approval procedures for department reorganization in effect on the effective date of this act no longer apply.

(D)   The governing authority of a department is vested with the duty of overseeing, managing, and controlling the operation, administration, and organization of the department. The governing authority has the power to create and appoint standing or ad hoc advisory committees in its discretion or at the direction of the Governor to assist the department in particular areas of public concern or professional expertise as is deemed appropriate. Such committees shall serve at the pleasure of the governing authority and committee members shall not receive salary or per diem, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred pursuant to the discharge of official duties not to exceed the per diem, mileage, and subsistence amounts allowed by law for members of boards, commissions, and committees.

(E)   The governing authority of a department director may appoint deputy directors deputies to head the divisions of their department, with each deputy director managing one or more of the divisions; in the case of the Department of Commerce, the Secretary of Commerce may appoint a departmental executive director and also may appoint directors to manage the various divisions of the Department of Commerce. In making appointments race, gender, and other demographic factors should be considered to assure nondiscrimination, inclusion, and representation to the greatest extent possible of all segments of the population of this State; however, consideration of these factors in making an appointment in no way creates a cause of action or basis for an employee grievance for a person appointed or for

(F)(1)   In the event a vacancy should occur occurs in the office of department director the department's governing authority at a time when the General Assembly is not in session, the Governor may temporarily fill the vacancy pursuant to Section 1-3-210.

(2)   Notwithstanding the provisions of subitem (F)(1), as of July 1, 1993, for each department created pursuant to the provisions of this act which must be governed by a single director, an initial interim director shall serve as the governing authority, serving until January 31, 1994. During that period the following departments must be governed by the director or interim director of the following agencies as of June 30, 1993:

(i)     Department of Corrections, created pursuant to Section 1-30-30, by the director of the former Department of Corrections;

(ii)   Department of Juvenile Justice created pursuant to Section 1-30-60, by the interim director of the former Department of Youth Services;

(iii)   Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services created pursuant to Section 1-30-85 by the director of the former Department of Probation, Pardon and Parole;

(iv)   Department of Social Services created pursuant to Section 1-30-100, by the director of the former Department of Social Services;

(v)   Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism created pursuant to Section 1-30-80, by the director of the former Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism;

(vi)   Department of Commerce created pursuant to Section 1-30-25, by the Executive Director of the former State Development Board;

(vii)   Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services created pursuant to Section 1-30-20, by the director of the former South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

(3)   As of December 1, 1993, the Governor must submit to the Senate the names of appointees to the permanent department directorships for those departments created on July 1, 1993 and February 1, 1994. If no person has been appointed and qualified for a

(4)   Notwithstanding provisions of (2) and (3) to the contrary, the initial interim director of the Department of Public Safety shall be appointed by the Budget and Control Board. The initial interim director may be appointed as the permanent director of the department by the Governor.

(G)(1)   Department and agency governing authorities must, no later than the first day of the 1994 2009 legislative session and every twelve months thereafter for the following three years, submit to the Governor and General Assembly reports giving detailed and comprehensive recommendations for the purposes of merging or eliminating duplicative or unnecessary divisions, programs, or personnel within each department to provide a more efficient administration of government services. If an agency or department has no recommendations for restructuring of divisions, programs, or personnel, its report must contain a statement to that effect. Upon their receipt by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, these reports must be referred as information to the standing committees of the respective bodies most jurisdictionally related in subject matter to each agency. Alternatively, the House and Senate may provide by rule for the referral of these reports. Thereafter, The Governor shall must periodically consult with the governing authorities of the various departments and upon such consultation, the Governor shall must submit a report of any restructuring recommendations to the General Assembly for its review and consideration.

(2)   The Governor shall report to the General Assembly no later than the second Tuesday in January of 1994, his recommendation for restructuring the following offices and divisions presently under his direct supervision, and as to how each might be restructured within other appropriate departments or divisions amended by this act:

(i)       Office of Executive Policy and Programs;

(ii)     Office of Energy Programs;

(iii)     Office of Personnel and Program Services;

(iv)     Office of Research;

(v)     Division of Health;

(vi)     Division of Economic Opportunity;

(vii)     Division of Economic of Development;

(viii)   Division of Ombudsman and Citizens' Services;

(ix)     Division of Education;

(x)     Division of Natural Resources;

(xi)     Division of Human Services.

Department and agency governing authorities must, no later than the first day of the 2009 legislative session, and as part of the agency's five-year oversight study and investigation conducted pursuant to Chapter 2 of Title 2, submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a five-year plan that provides initiatives and/or planned actions that implement cost savings and increased efficiencies of services and responsibilities within the projected five-year period.

(H)   Department governing authorities must submit to the General Assembly by the first day of the 1994 legislative session and every five years thereafter a mission statement that must be approved by the General Assembly by Joint Resolution. RESERVED"

SECTION   2.   Section 8-27-10(4) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(4)   'Report' means:

(a)   a written document alleging a written or oral allegation of waste or wrongdoing that contains the following information:

(ai)     the date of disclosure;

(bii)     the name of the employee making the report; and

(ciii)     the nature of the wrongdoing and the date or range of dates on which the wrongdoing allegedly occurred. A report must be made within sixty days one hundred eighty days of the date the reporting employee first learns of the alleged wrongdoing.; or

(b)   sworn testimony regarding wrongdoing, regardless of when the wrongdoing allegedly occurred, given to any standing committee, subcommittee of a standing committee, or study committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives."

SECTION   3.   Chapter 27 of Title 8 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 8-27-60.   Each public body must make a summary of this chapter available on the public body's Internet website. The summary must include an explanation of the process required to report wrongdoing, an explanation of what constitutes wrongdoing, and a description of the protections available to an employee who reports wrongdoing. If the public body does not maintain an Internet website, the public body must annually provide a written summary of this chapter to its employees and maintain copies of the summary at all times."

SECTION   4.   Title 2 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 2-2-5.   The General Assembly finds and declares the following to be the public policy of the State of South Carolina:

(1)   Section 1 of Article XII of the State Constitution requires the General Assembly to provide for appropriate agencies to function in the areas of health, welfare, and safety and to determine the activities, powers, and duties of these agencies and departments.

(2)   This constitutional duty is a continuing and ongoing obligation of the General Assembly that is best addressed by periodic review of the programs of the agencies and departments and their responsiveness to the needs of the state's citizens by the standing committees of the State Senate or House of Representatives.

Section 2-2-10.   As used in this chapter:

(1)   'Agency' means an authority, board, branch, commission, committee, department, division, or other instrumentality of the executive or judicial departments of state government, including administrative bodies. 'Agency' includes a body corporate and politic established as an instrumentality of the State. 'Agency' does not include:

(a)   the legislative department of state government; or

(b)   a political subdivision.

(2)   'Investigating committee' means any standing committee or subcommittee of a standing committee exercising its authority to conduct an oversight study and investigation of an agency within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction.

(3)   'Program evaluation report' means a report compiled by an agency at the request of an investigating committee that may include, but is not limited to, a review of agency management and organization, program delivery, agency goals and objectives, compliance with its statutory mandate, and fiscal accountability.

(4)   'Request for information' means a list of questions that an investigating committee serves on a department or agency under investigation. The questions may relate to any matters concerning the department or agency's actions that are the subject of the investigation.

(5)   'Standing committee' means a permanent committee with a regular meeting schedule and designated subject matter jurisdiction that is authorized by the Rules of the Senate or the Rules of the House of Representatives.

Section 2-2-20.   (A)   Beginning January 1, 2009, each standing committee must conduct oversight studies and investigations on all agencies within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction at least once every five years in accordance with a schedule adopted as provided in this chapter.

(B)   The purpose of these oversight studies and investigations is to determine if agency laws and programs within the subject matter jurisdiction of a standing committee:

(1)   are being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of the General Assembly; and

(2)   should be continued, curtailed, or eliminated.

(C)   The oversight studies and investigations must consider:

(1)   the application, administration, execution, and effectiveness of laws and programs addressing subjects within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction;

(2)   the organization and operation of state agencies and entities having responsibilities for the administration and execution of laws and programs addressing subjects within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction; and

(3)   any conditions or circumstances that may indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting new or additional legislation addressing subjects within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction.

Section 2-2-30.   (A)   The procedure for conducting the oversight studies and investigations is provided in this section.

(B)(1)   The President Pro Tempore of the Senate, upon consulting with the chairmen of the standing committees in the Senate and the Clerk of the Senate, shall determine the agencies for which each standing committee must conduct oversight studies and investigations. A proposed five-year review schedule must be published in the Senate Journal on the first day of session each year.

(2)   In order to accomplish the requirements of this chapter, the chairman of each standing committees must schedule oversight studies and investigations for the agencies for which his standing committee is the investigating committee and may:

(a)   coordinate schedules for conducting oversight studies and investigations with the chairmen of other standing committees; and

(b)   appoint joint investigating committees to conduct the oversight studies and investigations, including, but not limited, to joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives or joint

(3)   Chairmen of standing committees having concurrent subject matter jurisdiction over an agency or the programs and law governing an agency by virtue of the Rules of the Senate or Rules of the House of Representatives may request that a joint investigating committee be appointed to conduct the oversight study and investigation for an agency.

(C)(1)   The Speaker of the House of Representatives, upon consulting with the chairmen of the standing committees in the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, shall determine the agencies for which each standing committee must conduct oversight studies and investigations. A proposed five-year review schedule must be published in the House Journal on the first day of session each year.

(2)   In order to accomplish the requirements of this chapter, the chairman of each standing committee must schedule oversight studies and investigations for the agencies for which his standing committee is the investigating committee and may:

(a)   coordinate schedules for conducting oversight studies and investigations with the chairmen of other standing committees; and

(b)   appoint joint investigating committees to conduct the oversight studies and investigations, including, but not limited to, joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives or joint standing committees of concurrent subject matter jurisdiction within the Senate or within the House of Representatives.

(3)   Chairmen of standing committees having concurrent subject matter jurisdiction over an agency or the programs and law governing an agency by virtue of the Rules of the Senate or Rules of the House of Representatives may request that a joint investigating committee be appointed to conduct the oversight study and investigation for the agency.

(D)   The chairman of an investigating committee may vest the standing committee's full investigative power and authority in a subcommittee. A subcommittee conducting an oversight study and investigation of an agency: (1) must make a full report of its findings and recommendations to the standing committee at the conclusion of its oversight study and investigation, and (2) must not consist of fewer than three members.

Section 2-2-40.   (A)   In addition to the scheduled five-year oversight studies and investigations, a standing committee of the Senate or the

(B)   Nothing in the provisions of this chapter prohibits or restricts the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or chairmen of standing committees from fulfilling their constitutional obligations by authorizing and conducting legislative investigations into agencies' functions, duties, and activities.

Section 2-2-50.   When an investigating committee conducts an oversight study and investigation or a legislative investigation is conducted pursuant to Section 2-2-40(B), evidence or information related to the investigation may be acquired by any lawful means, including, but not limited to:

(A)   serving a request for information on the agency being studied or investigated. The request for information must be answered separately and fully in writing under oath and returned to the investigating committee within forty-five days after being served upon the department or agency. The time for answering a request for information may be extended for a period to be agreed upon by the investigating committee and the agency for good cause shown. The head of the department or agency must sign the answers verifying them as true and correct. If any question contains a request for records, policies, audio or video recordings, or other documents, the question is not considered to have been answered unless a complete set of records, policies, audio or video recordings, or other documents is included with the answer;

(B)   deposing witnesses upon oral examination. A deposition upon oral examination may be taken from any person that the investigating committee has reason to believe has knowledge of the activities under investigation. The investigating committee must provide the person being deposed and the agency under investigation with no less than ten days' notice of the deposition. The notice to the agency shall state the time and place for taking the deposition and name and address of each person to be examined. If a subpoena duces tecum is to be served on the person to be examined, the designation of the materials to be produced as set forth in the subpoena must be attached to or included in

(C)   issuing subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum pursuant to Title 2, Chapter 69; and

(D)   requiring the agency to prepare and submit to the investigating committee a program evaluation report by a date specified by the investigating committee. The investigating committee must specify the agency program or programs or agency operations that it is studying or investigating and the information to be contained in the program evaluation report.

Section 2-2-60.   (A)   An investigating committee's request for a program evaluation report must contain:

(1)   the agency program or operations that it intends to investigate;

(2)   the information that must be included in the report; and

(3)   the date that the report must be submitted to the committee.

(B)   An investigating committee may request that the program evaluation report contain any of the following information:

(1)   enabling or authorizing law or other relevant mandate, including any federal mandates;

(2)   a description of each program administered by the agency identified by the investigating committee in the request for a program evaluation report, including the following information:

(a)   established priorities, including goals and objectives in meeting each priority;

(b)   performance criteria, timetables, or other benchmarks used by the agency to measure its progress in achieving its goals and objectives;

(c)   an assessment by the agency indicating the extent to which it has met the goals and objectives, using the performance criteria. When an agency has not met its goals and objectives, the agency shall identify the reasons for not meeting them and the corrective measures the agency has taken to meet them in the future;

(3)   organizational structure, including a position count, job classification, and organization flow chart indicating lines of responsibility;

(4)   financial summary, including sources of funding by program and the amounts allocated or appropriated and expended over the last ten years;

(5)   identification of areas where the agency has coordinated efforts with other state and federal agencies in achieving program objectives and other areas in which an agency could establish cooperative arrangements, including, but not limited to, cooperative arrangements to coordinate services and eliminate redundant requirements;

(6)   identification of the constituencies served by the agency or program, noting any changes or projected changes in the constituencies;

(7)   a summary of efforts by the agency or program regarding the use of alternative delivery systems, including privatization, in meeting its goals and objectives;

(8)   identification of emerging issues for the agency;

(9)   a comparison of any related federal laws and regulations to the state laws governing the agency or program and the rules implemented by the agency or program;

(10)   agency policies for collecting, managing, and using personal information over the Internet and non-electronically, information on the agency's implementation of information technologies;

(11)   a list of reports, applications, and other similar paperwork required to be filed with the agency by the public. The list must include:

(a)   the statutory authority for each filing requirement;

(b)   the date each filing requirement was adopted or last amended by the agency;

(c)   the frequency that filing is required;

(d)   the number of filings received annually for the last five years and the number of anticipated filings for the next five years;

(e)   a description of the actions taken or contemplated by the agency to reduce filing requirements and paperwork duplication;

(12)   any other relevant information specifically requested by the investigating committee.

(C)   All information contained in a program evaluation report must be presented in a concise and complete manner.

(D)   The chairman of the investigating committee may direct the Legislative Audit Council to perform a study of the program evaluation report and report its findings to the investigating committee. The chairman also may direct the Legislative Audit Council to perform its

(E)   A state agency that is vested with revenue bonding authority may submit annual reports and annual external audit reports conducted by a third party in lieu of a program evaluation report.

Section 2-2-70.   All testimony given to the investigating committee must be under oath.

Section 2-20-80.   Any witness testifying before or deposed by the investigating committee may have counsel present to advise him. The witness or his counsel may, during the time of testimony or deposition, object to any question detrimental to the witness' interests and is entitled to have a ruling by the chairman on any objection. In making his ruling, the chairman of the investigating committee shall follow as closely as possible the procedures and rules of evidence observed by the circuit courts of this State.

Section 2-20-90.   A witness shall be given the benefit of any privilege which he may have claimed in court as a party to a civil action."

SECTION   5.   This act takes effect July 1, 2008.     /

Amend title to conform.

Senator RITCHIE explained the committee amendment.

The committee amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.

S. 1421 (Word version) -- Senators Matthews and Hutto: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF BOULEVARD STREET IN THE CITY OF ORANGEBURG FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 21 TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 33 "WEBBER BOULEVARD" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "WEBBER BOULEVARD".

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered sent to the House.

H. 5012 (Word version) -- Rep. Chalk: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-33-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION MAY REQUIRE STATE AND NATIONAL CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECKS OF AN APPLICANT FOR LICENSURE TO PRACTICE NURSING AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE SUCH CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECKS IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTIGATION OR DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDING OF A LICENSEE; AND BY ADDING SECTION 40-33-39 SO AS TO REQUIRE A LICENSED NURSE TO WEAR AN IDENTIFICATION BADGE BEARING THE NURSE'S FIRST OR LAST NAME, OR BOTH, AND TITLE.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the third reading of the Bill.

Senator THOMAS made a motion to take up further amendments pursuant to the provisions of Rule 26B.

The motion was adopted.

Senator THOMAS proposed the following amendment (NBD\12384AC08), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 40-33-25, page 2, immediately after line 21 by inserting:

/   "(C)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other provision of law, the dismissal of a prosecution of a fraudulent intent in drawing a dishonored check case by reason of want of prosecution or proof of payment of restitution and administrative costs must not be used as evidence of an act of moral turpitude for disciplinary purposes or for the purposes of disqualifying a person seeking licensure or renewal of licensure pursuant to this chapter."

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator THOMAS explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

H. 3912 (Word version) -- Reps. White and Bales: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-47-30, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT TO BE LICENSED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE AND TO SPECIFY WHAT IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS PRACTICING MEDICINE, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT A PHYSICIAN MAY DELEGATE CERTAIN TASKS TO AN UNLICENSED PERSON IF THE PHYSICIAN IS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PHYSICIAN IS NOT PROHIBITED FROM PRACTICING IN CONSULTATION WITH A SOUTH CAROLINA PHYSICIAN CONCERNING AN OPINION FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PHYSICIAN IN MANAGING THE CASE AND TREATMENT OF A PATIENT IN THIS STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 40-47-32, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PHYSICIAN WHO GRADUATED FROM A SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA AND WHO HAS BEEN LICENSED FOR FIVE YEARS, RATHER THAN TEN YEARS, IN ANOTHER STATE, THE PHYSICIAN IS ONLY REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT ONE YEAR OF POST GRADUATE RESIDENCY TRAINING AND TO REVISE THE TIME WITHIN WHICH CERTAIN SPECIALTY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE UNDERTAKEN IN ORDER TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-47-35, RELATING TO LICENSURE AS AN EXPERT MEDICAL WITNESS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT RATHER THAN THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS LICENSING A PHYSICIAN AS AN EXPERT WITNESS, A PHYSICIAN WHO TESTIFIES IN A PROCEEDING IN THIS STATE IS DEEMED TO HAVE SUBMITTED TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD AND TO PROVIDE NOTICE AND INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES FOR COMPLAINTS RECEIVED.

Senator MARTIN moved that the Bill be made a Special Order.

The Bill was made a Special Order.

On motion of Senator MARTIN, the Senate agreed to dispense with the Motion Period.

HAVING DISPENSED WITH THE MOTION PERIOD, THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO A CONSIDERATION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS RETURNED FROM THE HOUSE.

S. 472 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie, Courson, Vaughn, Alexander, Sheheen, Ryberg, Williams, Leventis, Cleary, Drummond, Mescher, Cromer, Hayes, Verdin, Grooms and Knotts: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2941 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE INSTALLATION OF IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICES, TO PROVIDE THAT IN ADDITION TO OTHER PENALTIES IMPOSED ON A PERSON VIOLATING IMPAIRED DRIVING LAWS, THE COURT MUST REQUIRE THE PERSON TO HAVE AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED ON ANY VEHICLE REGISTERED AND LICENSED IN HIS NAME OR IN THE NAME OF A MEMBER OF HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COURT MAY WAIVE THE INSTALLATION REQUIREMENT FOR AN OFFENDER WHO HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT MAKES HIM INCAPABLE OF PROPERLY OPERATING THE DEVICE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE MUST BE INSTALLED, TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFENDER MUST HAVE HIS IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSPECTED EVERY SIXTY DAYS TO VERIFY THAT IT IS AFFIXED TO THE VEHICLE AND OPERATING PROPERLY, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COURT MUST GIVE THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES NOTICE OF AN ORDER IMPOSING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT, TO PROVIDE A PROCESS BY WHICH A FOURTH OFFENDER MAY HAVE THE DEVICE REMOVED, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON REQUIRED TO HAVE AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE ENDORSEMENT ON HIS LICENSE TO OPERATE A VEHICLE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE, TO PROVIDE THAT AN OFFENDER WHOSE JOB REQUIRES HIM TO DRIVE A VEHICLE OWNED BY HIS EMPLOYER MAY OPERATE THE EMPLOYER'S VEHICLE WITHOUT AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED, TO

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the concurrence in the House amendments.

Senator LOURIE proposed the following amendment (JUD0472.004), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, page 12, by striking lines 6-7 and inserting:

/   SECTION   5.   Sections 1 and 2 of this act take effect January 1, 2009. Sections 3 and 4 of this act take effect upon signature of the Governor.       /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator LOURIE explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was ordered returned to the House with amendments.

S. 1252 (Word version) -- Senators Leatherman and Peeler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 2-75-30 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE MATCHING ENDOWMENT, TO PROVIDE THAT THE INTEREST EARNINGS IN THE FUND MAY BE USED AT THE RESEARCH CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE REVIEW BOARD'S DISCRETION FOR ADDITIONAL STATE AWARDS.

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the concurrence in the House amendments.

Senator LEATHERMAN proposed the following amendment (1252R001.HKL), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

/     SECTION   ___.   Chapter 133, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

Section 59-133-10.   The board of trustees for Francis Marion College is composed of the Governor of the State or his designee, who is an ex officio of the board, and sixteen members, with fifteen of these members to be elected by the General Assembly and one member to be appointed from the State at large by the Governor. The General Assembly shall elect and the Governor shall appoint these members based on merit regardless of race, color, creed, or gender and shall strive to assure that the membership of the board is representative of all citizens of this State.

Of the fifteen members to be elected, two members must be elected from each congressional district and the remaining three members must be elected by the General Assembly from the State at large.

The term of office of the at-large trustee appointed by the Governor is effective upon certification to the Secretary of State and is coterminous with the term of the Governor appointing him. He shall serve after his term has expired until his successor is appointed and qualifies.

Each position on the board constitutes a separate office and the seats on the board are numbered consecutively as follows: for the First Congressional District, Seats One and Two; for the Second Congressional District, Seats Three and Four; for the Third Congressional District, Seats Five and Six; for the Fourth Congressional District, Seats Seven and Eight; for the Fifth Congressional District, Seats Nine and Ten; for the Sixth Congressional District, Seats Eleven and Twelve; for the at-large positions elected by the General Assembly, Seats Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen. The member appointed by the Governor shall occupy Seat Sixteen.

Any person who, as of July 1, 1988, is serving as president of the state college board of trustees or is serving on the planning committee for Francis Marion College within the state college board of trustees has the option of serving as a trustee on the board of trustees for Francis Marion College for an appropriate two-year term expiring June 30, 1990. Such option must be exercised on the first day of the filing period. If two such members file for the same seat, the General Assembly shall elect the board member from those so filing.

Effective July 1, 1988, the even-numbered seats of those members elected by the General Assembly must be filled for four-year terms

If an elective office becomes vacant, the Governor may fill it by appointment until the next session of the General Assembly. The General Assembly shall hold an election at any time during the session to fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term. A vacancy occurring in the appointed office on the board must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by appointment in the same manner of the original appointment.

Section 59-133-15.   Francis Marion College is changed to Francis Marion University, effective July 1, 1992, and wherever in the 1976 Code or in any other provision of law the name Francis Marion College appears, it must be construed to mean Francis Marion University.

Section 59-133-20.   Members of the board are entitled to subsistence, per diem, and mileage authorized for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.

Section 59-133-30.   The board of trustees is constituted a body corporate and politic under the name of the board of trustees for Francis Marion University. The corporation has the power to:

(1)   have perpetual succession;

(2)   sue and be sued by the corporate name;

(3)   have a seal and to alter it at pleasure;

(4)   make contracts and to have, to hold, to purchase, and to lease real estate and personal property for corporate purposes, and to sell and dispose of personal property and any building considered by it as surplus property or not further needed, and any buildings that it may need to do away with for the purpose of making room for other construction. The board does not have power to sell or dispose of any of its real estate, other than buildings, except with the consent of the State Budget and Control Board;

(5)   appoint a chairman and to appoint or otherwise provide for the appointment of subordinate and assistant officers and agents, faculty

(6)   make bylaws and regulations for the management of its affairs and its own operations not inconsistent with law;

(7)   condemn land for corporate purposes as provided by law;

(8)   fix tuition fees and other charges for students attending the college, not inconsistent with law;

(9)   confer degrees upon students and other persons as the board considers qualified;

(10)   accept, receive, and hold all monies or other properties, real, personal, and mixed, that may be given, conveyed, bequeathed, or devised to the college and to use them for the benefit of the college, but in those cases where the money or property is received, charged with any trust, the money or property must be held and used strictly in accordance with the terms of the trust. If the terms of the trust require something to be done other than to administer the trust, no obligation in receiving the trust over and above its administration is binding upon the college or the State, except any obligation accepted by the General Assembly;

(11)   assign any member of the faculty without additional salary to additional duties in any other college department than that in which the faculty member may at the time be working;

(12)   compel by subpoena, rule, and attachment witnesses to appear and testify and papers to be produced and read before the board in all investigations relating to the affairs of the college;

(13)   adopt measures and make regulations as the board considers necessary for the proper operation of the college;

(14)   appoint for the college a board of visitors of a number as it may determine, to regulate the terms during which the members of the board of visitors serve, and to prescribe their functions;

(15)   remove any officer, faculty member, agent, or employee for incompetence, neglect of duty, violation of college regulations, or conduct unbecoming a person occupying such a position;

(16)   appoint an executive committee which has the powers of the board during the interim between meetings of the board but not the power to do anything inconsistent with the policy or action taken by the board, and the executive committee at each meeting of the board shall report fully all action taken by it during the interim;

(17)   appoint committees of the board or officers or members of the faculty of the college with authority and for purposes in connection with the operation of the college as the board considers necessary;

(18)   appoint a president. The president shall report to and seek approval of his actions and those of his subordinates from the board;

(19)   issue revenue bonds as provided by law.

Section 59-133-40.   The board shall meet not less than four times each year, the time and place to be fixed by the chairman or as the board provides. The chairman shall preside and, in his absence, a member shall preside as the board may select. The chairman or a majority of the members has the power to call a special meeting and fix the time and place of the meeting. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of all business of the board. A majority vote of the whole board is required for the election or removal of the president. The president, other officers, and faculty members shall attend meetings of the board when requested to do so.

Notice of the time and place of all meetings of the board must be mailed by the secretary or his assistant to each trustee not less than five days before each meeting.

Section 59-133-50.   Upon approval of the State Budget and Control Board, the board is authorized to lease or sell any real property which may have been or may be donated to the university during any fund campaign. The proceeds of any lease or sale must be applied to the original purpose of the donation of the property leased or sold.

Section 59-133-60.   The board of trustees of Francis Marion University with the approval of the Budget and Control Board may enter into one or more ground lease agreements with a private entity whereby the private entity will provide all services necessary for the creation and operation of an on-campus student housing facility including, but not limited to, financing, designing, constructing, managing, operating, maintaining, and related services. Upon expiration of the ground lease agreement term, the private entity shall surrender unto Francis Marion University, such premises with the existing buildings, other structures and improvements constructed and located thereon and therein, in the same condition as when the construction of the buildings, other structures and improvements were completed, only natural and normal wear and tear excepted. The Budget and Control Board must first approve all ground lease agreement terms and conditions including the consideration involved, and the full faith and credit of the State toward the lease obligations must not be pledged, and any statement to the contrary is deemed null and void as a matter of public policy. The private entity may be a nonprofit organization. The Budget and Control Board approval required shall be in lieu of or a substitute for any other approval

Section 59-133-210.   (A)   The General Assembly finds that it is desirable to provide continuing and general statutory authority for Francis Marion University to incur debt for the purpose of, among other things, acquiring, constructing, renovating, and equipping certain athletic facilities, which debt is secured by a pledge of the revenues derived from the operation of the athletic department of Francis Marion University and by the proceeds of certain related admissions fees and special fees charged to students enrolled at the university. Francis Marion University has demonstrated need for additional funds to provide for acquisition, construction, renovation, and equipping of the facilities. The facilities are needed to replace or renovate aging facilities and to provide additional facilities all to the end that the educational environment at Francis Marion University will be enhanced for the benefit of present and future students at Francis Marion University.

(B)   Consideration has been given to this need and to the methods of funding it. It has been determined to be in the best interests of the people of this State to authorize Francis Marion University to acquire, construct, renovate, and equip additional facilities and to incur indebtedness for these purposes which is payable from the revenues derived from the operation of these facilities and from related fees to the extent and under the conditions provided for in this article.

Section 59-133-220.   As used in this article:

(1)   'Admissions fee' means the specially designated admissions fee or charge which may, in addition to other charges, be imposed by the trustees upon any person admitted to any event held at an athletic facility.

(2)   'Athletic department' means the athletic department of Francis Marion University.

(3)   'Athletic facilities' means all facilities designated by the trustees as intercollegiate athletic facilities now owned or which may be acquired by Francis Marion University.

(4)   'Bond' or 'bonds' means any note, bond, installment contract, or other evidence of indebtedness issued pursuant to this article.

(5)   'Bond reserve fund' means the special fund which may be established by the trustees pursuant to this article, which must be in the custody of the State Treasurer or its corporate trust designee, and which is primarily established for the purpose of providing a reserve with which to meet the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds in the event that payments otherwise required from the debt service fund are insufficient to meet the payment of the principal and interest as and when they become due and payable.

(6)   'Debt service fund' means the fund established by this article for the payment of principal of and interest on bonds, which must be in the custody of the State Treasurer or its corporate trust designee.

(7)   'Net revenues' means all revenues remaining after payment of the operating and maintenance expenses of the athletic department but before provision is made for depreciation, amortization, nonmandatory transfers, and interest expenses of the athletic department for a given fiscal year.

(8)   'Revenues' means all revenues or other income, including investment income, received by the athletic department from the operation of the athletic department and the athletic facilities, and all gifts, bequests, contributions, and donations received by the trustees or Francis Marion from any persons, including from any athletic booster organization, for use in connection with the operations of the athletic department, plus any other unrestricted revenues of the athletic department not otherwise pledged that may be made applicable by the trustees to the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds, including such revenues which may fall into the category of nonmandatory transfers as such term is used in generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding:

(i)     gifts, bequests, contributions, and donations restricted to a particular purpose inconsistent with their use for the payment of the principal, premium, or interest on any obligations of the trustees or Francis Marion;

(ii)   the proceeds of any borrowings;

(iii)   state appropriations of any sort; and

(iv)   revenues, income, receipts, and money received by the trustees or Francis Marion University for purposes other than those related to the athletic department.

(9)   'Special student fee' means the fee authorized by this article to be established by the trustees and which may be imposed upon persons in attendance at any academic session of Francis Marion University in order to provide funds to assist in the repayment of bonds.

(10)   'State board' means the State Budget and Control Board.

(11)   'Trustees' means the Board of Trustees of Francis Marion University or any successor body.

(12)   'Francis Marion' means Francis Marion University.

Section 59-133-230.   The trustees are authorized to acquire, construct, and equip additional athletic facilities and to improve, renovate, and equip existing athletic facilities to the extent they shall determine to be necessary, and the proceeds of bonds authorized by this article are made available for that purpose. The trustees also are authorized to refund bonds that may from time to time be outstanding pursuant to this article by exchange or otherwise. A portion of the proceeds of bonds issued for any of the above purposes also may be used to fund, establish, or replenish any bond reserve fund, to pay interest on the bonds as provided in Section 59-133-340(1), or to pay costs of issuance of the bonds or of any credit enhancement for the bonds as may be deemed necessary by the trustees.

Section 59-133-240.   Upon receiving the approval of the state board and upon review by the Joint Bond Review Committee, the trustees may from time to time borrow such sums as necessary to accomplish the purpose of this article and to evidence such borrowings by bonds issued pursuant to this article in such aggregate principal amount as they determine, except that other provisions of this article to the contrary notwithstanding, there must not be outstanding at any time bonds issued pursuant to this article in excess of fifteen million dollars.

Section 59-133-250.   Bonds issued pursuant to this article are payable from the revenues or the net revenues as designated by the trustees, as well as from proceeds of the admissions fee and the special student fee. Bonds issued pursuant to this article may be further secured by such additional pledges of other revenues or fees of Francis Marion as Francis Marion may be authorized to grant pursuant to other laws of this State. The trustees may abandon the use of any portion of the athletic facilities or sell or dispose of any portion of the athletic facilities upon the receipt of a written recommendation by the chief financial officer of Francis Marion to the effect that such action does not adversely affect the ability of Francis Marion to discharge its obligations to the holders of bonds issued pursuant to this article and upon such further conditions as prescribed in the resolution of the trustees providing for the issuance of bonds.

Section 59-133-260.   The faith and credit of the State must not be pledged for the payment of the principal and interest of such bonds, and there must be on the face of each bond a statement plainly worded to

Section 59-133-270.   In order to avail themselves of the authorizations set forth in this article, the trustees shall from time to time adopt resolutions providing for the issuance of bonds of Francis Marion, within the limitations herein mentioned, which resolutions shall prescribe the tenor, terms, and conditions of such bonds. Such bonds must be issued as serial or term bonds, maturing in equal or unequal amounts, at such times and on such occasions as the trustees determine. The last maturing bonds of any issue must be expressed to mature not later than thirty years from their date, and the first maturing bonds of any issue, issued pursuant to this article, shall fall due within three years from their date. The bonds shall bear such rates of interest, payable on such occasion, as the trustees shall prescribe, and the bonds must be in such denominations, must be payable in such medium of payment, and at such place as such resolutions prescribe. All bonds may be issued with a provision permitting their redemption on any interest payment date prior to their respective maturities. Bonds made subject to redemption prior to their stated maturities may contain a provision requiring the payment of a premium for the privilege of exercising the right of redemption, in such amount or amounts as the trustees shall prescribe in the resolutions authorizing their issuance. All bonds that are subject to redemption shall contain a statement to that effect on the face of each bond. The resolutions authorizing their issuance shall contain provisions specifying the manner of call for redemption and the notice of such call that must be given.

Section 59-133-280.   The bonds authorized by this article and all interest to become due thereon have the tax exempt status prescribed by Section 12-2-50.

Section 59-133-290.   It is lawful for all executors, administrators, guardians, and fiduciaries, all sinking fund commissions, the state board, as trustee of the South Carolina Retirement System, and all other governmental entities within the State to invest any monies in their hands in such bonds.

Section 59-133-300.   The bonds and the coupons, if any, attached to such bonds, must be executed manually or by facsimile in the name of Francis Marion in such manner and by such persons as the trustees shall from time to time determine, and the seal of Francis Marion University must be affixed to, or impressed, or reproduced on each bond. Any coupons attached to such bonds must be authenticated by the facsimile signature of one or more of the persons signing the bonds.

Section 59-133-310.   The bonds may be disposed of in such manner as the trustees shall determine, except that no privately negotiated sale without public advertisement may be made without the prior approval of the state board. The bonds may be sold at such discount or for such premium as may be determined by the trustees or their designee as being in the best interest of Francis Marion.

Section 59-133-320.   The proceeds of all bonds must be delivered to the State Treasurer or its corporate trust designee and retained in a special fund or funds and applied solely to the purposes for which such bonds have been issued. Withdrawals from the fund must be made on the order or requisition of the university and must be in such form as the State Treasurer shall prescribe. The State Treasurer may make temporary investments of funds derived from the proceeds of bonds in the manner prescribed by law.

Section 59-133-330.   To the end that provisions be made for the adequate payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds:

(1)(a)   The trustees shall maintain in full force and effect any necessary admissions fees or special student fee on a basis and in such amounts as will be sufficient, after taking into account net revenues and any other funds pledged to the payment of the bonds as provided under Section 59-133-340(4), to provide for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds as the same mature and to provide the required reserve therefor in any bond reserve fund. It is the duty of Francis Marion to calculate the debt service requirements of the bonds not less frequently than annually and, if required at such time, appropriate revisions of any admissions fees or special student fee must be made by the trustees if such revisions are required, after taking into account net revenues for the year, to make adequate provisions for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds and the maintenance of any required reserve in a bond reserve fund.

(b)   The admissions fees and the special student fee, if any, must bear such nomenclature as the trustees shall prescribe. The special student fee may, in the discretion of the trustees, be included as a part of any other fee. The trustees shall account for the receipt from any

(2)   The trustees shall cause to be established with the State Treasurer or its corporate trust designee on or before the occasion of the delivery of any bonds pursuant to this article, a debt service fund into which must be deposited annually sufficient funds as provided in this article to meet the payment of principal of and interest on the bonds for such year.

Section 59-133-340.   To the end that the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds authorized hereby are adequately secured, the trustees are empowered in their discretion:

(1)   to issue bonds in such amount, within the limitations herein provided for, as the trustees consider necessary, it is lawful for the trustees to use a portion of the principal proceeds derived from any sale of bonds, except bonds issued to effect refunding of outstanding bonds, to meet the payment of interest on such bonds for a period equal to the period of construction or renovation of the athletic facilities to be financed with the proceeds of such bonds, plus a period not exceeding six months, it being recognized by the General Assembly, that until the athletic facilities to be constructed or renovated with the proceeds of the bonds are completed, an undue burden may be imposed upon then existing revenues or other sources of payment of the bonds;

(2)   to impose admissions fees and a special student fee upon such basis and in such amounts as the trustees shall determine;

(3)   to pledge the revenues or the net revenues as designated by the trustees, and the proceeds of any admissions fees and special student fee, as security for the payment of such bonds, whether then or thereafter to be existing. However, any surplus of such revenues or net revenues available after the payment of costs of operation and maintenance of the athletic department and of athletic facilities and of debt service on such bonds, and the establishment of any debt service reserve obligation in a bond reserve fund under the proceedings providing for the issuance of such bonds, may be placed in a contingency and improvement fund for athletic facilities in order to restore depreciated or obsolete athletic facilities, to make improvements to such athletic facilities, to defray the cost of unforeseen contingencies with regard to such athletic facilities, to prevent defaults under such bonds or to redeem any of such bonds, or may be reflected in the opening balance of the operating fund of the department for the next succeeding fiscal year and used for any purpose approved by the trustees;

(4)   to further secure the bonds with a pledge of any additional revenues or fees of Francis Marion as may be authorized under other laws of the State;

(5)   to specify and limit the athletic facilities which may be made use of free of charge;

(6)   to covenant to establish and maintain such system of rules as will ensure the continuous and effective use of the athletic facilities;

(7)   to covenant that an adequate schedule of rates and charges for attendance at events held at any athletic facilities will be maintained, and that net athletic revenues plus any proceeds of the admissions fees and the special student fee will be sufficient to:

(a)   pay the cost of operating and maintaining the athletic department and the athletic facilities, including the cost of fire, extended coverage and use, and occupancy insurance;

(b)   pay the principal and interest of the bonds as they respectively become due;

(c)   provide any necessary debt service coverage ratios;

(d)   create and maintain any bond reserve fund established to meet the payment of principal and interest of any of the bonds; and

(e)   create and at all times maintain an adequate reserve for contingencies and for major repairs and replacement of athletic facilities;

(8)   to covenant against the mortgaging or disposing of the athletic facilities and against permitting or suffering any lien to be created thereon, equal or superior to any lien created thereon for the benefit of the holders of such bonds. However, the trustees reserve the right, under such terms as they shall prescribe, to issue additional bonds on a parity with, or subordinate to, the bonds authorized by this article;

(9)   to covenant as to the use of the proceeds derived from the sale of any bonds issued pursuant to this article;

(10)   to provide for the terms, form, registration, exchange, execution, and authentication of bonds, and for the replacement of lost, destroyed, or mutilated bonds;

(11)   to make covenants with respect to the operation of the athletic department and the athletic facilities;

(12)   to covenant that all revenues or net revenues pledged for the payment of the bonds must be duly segregated into special funds and that such funds will be used solely for the purposes for which they are intended and for no other purpose;

(13)   to covenant for the mandatory redemption of bonds on such terms and conditions as the resolutions authorizing such bonds shall prescribe;

(14)   to provide for early defeasance of bonds through the establishment of special escrow accounts maintained by a corporate trustee, which may be the State Treasurer, of cash, or United States government obligations, or obligations of agencies thereof, which escrows may be funded with proceeds of bonds issued hereunder or revenues or net revenues or other funds available to Francis Marion;

(15)   to prescribe the procedure, if any, by which the terms of the contract with the bondholders may be amended, the number of bonds whose holders must consent thereto, and the manner in which consent shall be given;

(16)   to covenant as to the maintenance of the athletic facilities, the insurance to be carried thereon, and the use and disposition of proceeds from any insurance policy;

(17)   to prescribe the events of default and the terms and conditions upon which all or any bonds become or may be declared due before maturity, and the terms and conditions upon which such declaration and its consequences may be waived;

(18)   to impose a statutory lien upon any athletic facilities as security for the payment of the bonds. The lien shall extend to such athletic facilities, to their appurtenances and extensions, to their additions, improvements, and enlargements to the extent specified in the resolutions and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the bonds secured thereby. These athletic facilities shall remain subject to such statutory lien until the payment in full of the principal and interest of the bonds. Any holder of any of the bonds, or any of the coupons representing interest thereon, may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings, protect and enforce the statutory lien, and may, by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings enforce and compel performance of all duties of the trustees, including the fixing of sufficient rates, the proper segregation of the revenues, and the proper application thereof. However, the statutory lien must not be construed to give any such bond or coupon holder authority to compel the sale of any of the athletic facilities or any part thereof;

(19)   to covenant that, if there be any default in the payment of the principal of or interest upon any of the bonds, any court having jurisdiction in any proper action may appoint a receiver to administer and operate the athletic department, with power to fix rates and charges

(20)   to establish on or before the occasion of the delivery of any bonds issued pursuant to this article a bond reserve fund and to cause the same to be maintained by the State Treasurer or its corporate trustee designee, and to that end, the trustees are empowered to utilize any monies available for the funding of any such bond reserve fund, including revenues or net revenues previously accumulated prior to the issuance of bonds or available proceeds of the admissions fee or the special student fee. In the discretion of the trustees, in lieu of cash, such a bond reserve fund may be funded with a surety bond, insurance policy, letter of credit, line of credit, or similar guarantee. At the discretion of the trustees, Francis Marion may purchase an insurance policy ensuring payment of both principal and interest on any issuance of bonds hereunder;

(21)   with the consent of the State Treasurer, to appoint a corporate trustee and a paying agent for the bondholders, either of whom may be the State Treasurer, and to prescribe the manner in which revenues or net revenues, as well as proceeds of admissions fees and special student fees shall be utilized and disposed of. Any such corporate trustee shall serve in a fiduciary capacity as trustee for the bondholders under the resolutions of the trustees authorizing the issuance of bonds.

Section 59-133-350.   The authorizations granted by this article must remain of full force and effect until they are rescinded by subsequent enactment, and no time limit is set for the issuance of bonds pursuant to this article."     /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

The amendment was adopted.

Senator SHORT proposed the following amendment (1252R001.LHS), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 3, page 3, by striking lines 17-38 and inserting:

/       SECTION   3.   Section 2-75-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 2-75-30.   (A)   There is created the Centers of Excellence Matching Endowment. The endowment must be funded annually by appropriations from the South Carolina Education Lottery Account in

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

The amendment was adopted.

Senator RYBERG proposed the following amendment (1252R007.WGR), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting SECTION 8.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was ordered returned to the House with amendments.

S. 1143 (Word version) -- Senators McConnell, Martin, Alexander, Hayes, Hutto, Ceips, Peeler, Leventis, Rankin, Setzler, Knotts and Malloy: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE STATE SALES TAX, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE GROSS PROCEEDS OF SALES OR THE SALES PRICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES.

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the concurrence in the House amendments.

Senators O'DELL, PEELER, SETZLER, McGILL, RITCHIE, RYBERG, THOMAS and ALEXANDER proposed the following amendment (1143R003.WHO), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

/     SECTION   ___.   Article 3, Chapter 28, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-28-340.   (A)   Regardless of other products offered, a terminal, as defined in Section 12-28-110(56), located within the State must offer a petroleum product that has not been blended with ethanol and that is suitable for subsequent blending with ethanol.

(B)   A person or entity must not take any action to deny a distributor, as defined in Section 12-28-110(17), or retailer, as defined in Section 12-28-110(52), who is doing business in this State and who has registered with the Internal Revenue Service on Form 637(M) from being the blender of record afforded them by the acceptance by the Internal Revenue Service of Form 637(M)."         /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator O'DELL explained the amendment.

Senators RYBERG and O'DELL spoke on the Bill.

Senator HUTTO raised a Point of Order under Rule 24 that the amendment was out of order inasmuch as it was not germane to the Bill.

Senator SETZLER spoke on the Point of Order.

Senator O'DELL spoke on the Point of Order.

The PRESIDENT overruled the Point of Order.

The amendment was adopted.

Senators McCONNELL and CAMPBELL desired to be recorded as voting against the adoption of the amendment.

Senator CLEARY proposed the following amendment (1143R005.REC), which failed:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting SECTION 2.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator CLEARY explained the amendment.

Adoption of the amendment failed.

Senator SHORT proposed the following amendment (1143R006.LS), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding subsection (C) to Section 12-28-340 to read:

/   (C)   A distributor or retailer and a refiner must utilize the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) trading system. Nothing in this section should be construed to imply a market value for RINs./

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator SHORT explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was ordered returned to the House with amendments.

S. 96 (Word version) -- Senators Sheheen and Fair: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 6, TITLE 61 OF THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 61-6-4155, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO USE, OFFER FOR USE, PURCHASE, OFFER TO PURCHASE, SELL, OFFER TO SELL, OR POSSESS AN ALCOHOL WITHOUT LIQUID DEVICE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES AND EXCEPTIONS.

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the concurrence in the House amendments.

Senators CLEARY, SHEHEEN and RANKIN proposed the following amendment (JUD0096.004), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting the following:

/   SECTION   1.   Chapter 6, Title 61 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 61-6-4155.   (A)   As used in this section, 'alcohol without liquid device' means a device, machine, apparatus, or appliance that is designed or marketed for the purpose of mixing alcohol with pure or diluted oxygen, or another gas, to produce an alcoholic vapor that an individual can inhale or snort. An alcohol without liquid device does not include an inhaler, nebulizer, atomizer, or other device that is designed and intended by the manufacturer to dispense a prescribed or over-the-counter medication.

(B)   It is unlawful for a person to use, offer for use, purchase, offer to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or possess an alcohol without liquid device.

A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows:

(1)   for a first offense, by a fine of three hundred dollars;

(2)   for a second offense, by a fine of seven hundred fifty dollars or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both;

(3)   for a third or subsequent offense, by a fine of three thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.

(C)   Except as provided in subsection (D) of this section, an alcohol without liquid device must be seized by a law enforcement officer and be taken before any magistrate of the county in which the alcohol without liquid device is seized, the magistrate shall immediately examine it, and if satisfied that it is an alcohol without liquid device, direct that it be destroyed immediately after conviction of the violator.

(D)   This section shall not apply to a health care provider that operates primarily for the purpose of conducting scientific research, a state institution conducting bona fide research, a private college or university conducting bona fide research, or to a pharmaceutical company or biotechnology company conducting bona fide research."

SECTION   2.   Section 61-6-20(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 386 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"(2)   'Bona fide engaged primarily and substantially in the preparation and serving of meals' means a business which has been issued a Grade A retail establishment food permit prior to issuance of a license under Article 5 of this chapter, and in addition that provides

(a)   is equipped with a kitchen that is utilized for the cooking, preparation, and serving of meals upon customer request at normal meal times;

(b)   has readily available to its guests and patrons either menus with the listing of various meals offered for service or a listing of available meals and foods posted in a conspicuous place readily discernible by the guests or patrons; and

(c)   prepares for service to customers, upon the demand of the customers, hot meals at least once each day the business establishment chooses to be open."

SECTION   3.   Section 61-6-1610 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 386 of 2006, is further amended by adding an appropriately lettered subsection to read:

"( )   For the purpose of this section:

(1)   'Kitchen' means a separate and distinct area of the business establishment that is used only for the preparation, serving, and disposal of solid foods that make up meals. The area must be adequately equipped for cooking, serving, and storage of solid foods and must include at least twenty-one cubic feet of refrigerated space for food and a stove.

(2)   'Meal' means an assortment of various prepared foods available to guests on the licensed premises during the normal mealtimes that occur when the licensed business establishment is open to the public. Sandwiches, boiled eggs, sausages, and other snacks prepared off the licensed premises but sold there are not a meal within the meaning of this statute.

(3)   'Primarily' means that the serving of the meals by a business establishment is a regular source of business to the licensed establishment, that meals are served upon the demand of the guests and patrons during the normal mealtimes that occur when the licensed business establishment is open to the public, and that an adequate supply of food is present on the licensed premises to meet the demand."

SECTION   4.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was ordered returned to the House with amendments.

S. 1141 (Word version) -- Senators McConnell, Rankin, Martin, Leventis, Peeler, Alexander, Hayes, Setzler, Hutto, Ceips, Knotts and Malloy: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2110, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CALCULATION OF TAX ON MANUFACTURED HOMES, SO AS TO REFINE THE DEFINITION OF A MANUFACTURED HOME THAT IS SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM SALES TAX BECAUSE IT MEETS CERTAIN ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS; AND TO AMEND CHAPTER 52, TITLE 48 BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 SO AS TO ESTABLISH AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT MANUFACTURED HOMES IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the concurrence in the House amendments.

Senator O'DELL proposed the following amendment (1141R003.WHO), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

/     SECTION   ___.   1.   Section 12-14-80 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 116 of 2007, is further amended to read:

"Section 12-14-80.   (A)   There is allowed an economic impact zone an investment tax credit pursuant to Section 12-14-60 for qualifying investments made by a manufacturer which for any taxable year in which the taxpayer places in service qualified manufacturing and productive equipment and which taxpayer:

(1)   is engaged in this State in at least one economic impact zone, as defined in Section 12-14-30(1), in an activity or activities listed under the North American Industry Classification System Manual (NAICS) Section 326;

(2)   is employing five thousand or more full-time workers in this State and having a total capital investment in this State of not less than two billion dollars; and

(3)   has invested commits to invest five hundred million dollars in capital investment in this State between January 1, 2006, and July 1, 2011.

(B)   For purposes of this section, 'qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property' means property that satisfies the requirements of Section 21-14-60(B)(1)(a), (b), and (c).

(C)   The amount of the credit allowed by this section is equal to the aggregate amount computed based on Section 12-14-60(A)(2).

(B)(D)   A taxpayer that qualifies for the tax credit allowed by this section may claim the credit earned pursuant to this section and credits earned pursuant to Section 12-6-3360 in the manner provided pursuant to Sections 12-6-3360 and 12-14-60, or as a credit in an amount equal to not more than fifty percent of the employee's withholding on the taxpayer's quarterly withholding tax returns. The taxpayer must elect to take the credit either as an income tax or a withholding tax credit but not both. A taxpayer must first take the credits as an income tax credit in a year in which the taxpayer has a corporate income tax liability. The withholding tax credit may be taken only when the taxpayer has used the maximum investment tax credit allowed against the corporate income tax for that year. The withholding credit may only be taken for qualifying investments made or placed in service after July 1, 2007. To claim the credit against the employee's withholding, the taxpayer must be in compliance with its withholding tax and other taxes due to the State. allowed by this section in addition to the credit allowed by Section 12-6-3360 as a credit against withholding taxes imposed by Chapter 8 of this title. The taxpayer must first apply the credit allowed by this section and Section 12-6-3360 against income tax liability. To the extent that the taxpayer has unused credit pursuant to this section for the taxable year after the application of the credits allowed by this section and Section 12-6-3360 against income tax liability, the taxpayer may claim the excess credit as a credit against withholding taxes on its four quarterly withholding tax returns for the taxpayer's taxable year; except that the credit claimed against withholding tax may not exceed fifty percent of the withholding tax shown as due on the return before the application of other credits including other credits pursuant to Sections 12-10-80 or 12-10-81. For the period July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, a taxpayer using this section may not reduce its state withholding tax to less than the withholding tax remitted for the period June 30, 2006, to July 1, 2007.

(E)   Unused credits allowed pursuant to this section may be carried forward for use in a subsequent tax year. During the first ten years of

(F)   The amount of credit used against withholding taxes must reduce the amount of credit that may be used against income tax liability. The amount of credit used against withholding taxes must reduce the amount of credit that may be used against income taxes.

(G)   If the taxpayer disposes of or removes qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property from the State during any taxable year and before the end of applicable recovery period for such property as determined under Section 168(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, then the income tax due pursuant to this chapter for the current taxable year must be increased by an amount of any credit claimed in prior years with respect to that property, determined by assuming the credit is earned ratably over the useful life of the property and recapturing pro rata the unearned portion of the credit. This recapture applies to credit previously claimed as a credit against income taxes pursuant to this chapter or withholding tax pursuant to Chapter 8.

(H)   For South Carolina income tax purposes, the basis of the qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property must be reduced by the amount of any credit claimed with respect to the property, whether claimed as a credit against income taxes or withholding. If a taxpayer is required to recapture the credit in accordance with subsection (G), the taxpayer may increase the basis of the property by the amount of basis reduction attributable to claiming the credit in prior years. The basis must be increased in the year in which the credit is recaptured.

(I)   A credit must not be taken pursuant to this section for capital investments placed in service outside of an Economic Impact Zone until the taxpayer has invested two hundred million dollars of the five hundred million-dollar investment requirement described in subsection (A)(3), and the taxpayer files a statement with the department stating

(J)   The taxpayer shall notify the department before taking any credits pursuant to this section. Taxpayer shall state it has met the requirements of subsection (A). Additionally, in a taxable year after the year of qualification for credit pursuant to this section, the taxpayer shall include with its tax return for that year (i) a statement that the taxpayer has continued to meet the requirements of subsections (A)(1) and (A)(2); (ii) the reconciliation required in subsection (D); and (iii) any statement and support for subsection (I)."

2.   This subsection takes effect July 1, 2007, and applies for capital investments placed in service outside of an economic impact zone after June 30, 2007, and for quarterly state withholding returns due on and after that date, provided that for the period July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, a taxpayer using this section may not reduce its state withholding tax to less than the withholding tax remitted for the period June 30, 2006, to July 1, 2007.     /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was ordered returned to the House with amendments.

H. 4930 (Word version) -- Reps. G.M. Smith, Cato and Bannister: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-680, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

On motion of Senator HAWKINS, the Senate concurred in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly. Ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for Ratification.

S. 873 (Word version) -- Senators Knotts and O'Dell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-9-510, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO HUNTING LICENSES FOR SMALL GAME GENERALLY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 50-9-540, RELATING TO STATEWIDE FISHING LICENSES, SO AS TO REDUCE THE FEE FOR A STATEWIDE HUNTING LICENSE, A STATEWIDE FISHING LICENSE, AND A STATEWIDE COMBINATION LICENSE FOR MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED SERVICES WHO ARE CONSIDERED RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE.

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

On motion of Senator GREGORY, the Senate concurred in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly. Ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for Ratification.

S. 1221 (Word version) -- Senators Hutto and Massey: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 3, TITLE 22 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

On motion of Senator HUTTO, the Senate concurred in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly. Ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for Ratification.

S. 463 (Word version) -- Senators Leatherman, Alexander, Verdin, Short, Setzler, Vaughn and Elliott: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 16, ARTICLE X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO BENEFITS AND FUNDING OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSION PLANS IN THIS STATE AND THE INVESTMENTS ALLOWED FOR FUNDS OF THE VARIOUS STATE-OPERATED RETIREMENT SYSTEMS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUNDS OF ANY TRUST FUND ESTABLISHED BY LAW FOR THE FUNDING OF POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS MAY BE INVESTED AND REINVESTED IN EQUITY SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THE SAME LIMITATIONS ON SUCH INVESTMENTS APPLICABLE FOR THE FUNDS OF THE VARIOUS STATE-OPERATED RETIREMENT SYSTEMS.

The House returned the Joint Resolution with amendments.

On motion of Senator MARTIN, the Senate concurred in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly. Ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for Ratification.

H. 4662 (Word version) -- Reps. Walker, Harrell, Whitmire, Toole, Gullick, Spires, Hiott, Bannister, J.R. Smith, Loftis, Ballentine, Pinson, Cotty, Brady, Bedingfield, Hardwick, Edge, Herbkersman, Lowe, Crawford, Limehouse, Hamilton, G.R. Smith, Harrison, Duncan, Bowen, Huggins, Mahaffey, Erickson, Leach, Owens, Frye, Rice, Hutson, Bingham, Haskins, Littlejohn, Cato, Chalk, Clyburn, Cooper, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Gambrell, Kelly, Lucas, Merrill, Moss, Neilson,

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

On motion of Senator COURSON, the Senate nonconcurred in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly.

Columbia, S.C., May 28, 2008

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it insists on the amendments proposed by the House to:

H. 4662 (Word version) -- Reps. Walker, Harrell, Whitmire, Toole, Gullick, Spires, Hiott, Bannister, J.R. Smith, Loftis, Ballentine, Pinson, Cotty, Brady, Bedingfield, Hardwick, Edge, Herbkersman, Lowe, Crawford, Limehouse, Hamilton, G.R. Smith, Harrison, Duncan, Bowen, Huggins, Mahaffey, Erickson, Leach, Owens, Frye, Rice, Hutson, Bingham, Haskins, Littlejohn, Cato, Chalk, Clyburn, Cooper, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Gambrell, Kelly, Lucas, Merrill, Moss, Neilson, E.H. Pitts, Sandifer, Scarborough, Shoopman, Skelton, D.C. Smith, G.M. Smith, W.D. Smith, Talley, Taylor, Umphlett, Viers, White, Witherspoon, Young, Barfield, Knight, Miller, Battle, Perry, Bales, Phillips, J.M. Neal, R. Brown and Whipper: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 18, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH SCHOOLS ARE ASSESSED AND ACCREDITED, TO PROVIDE FOR DESIGNATION TO SIGNIFY VARYING LEVELS OF SCHOOL ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND TO REVISE

Received as information.

H. 4662 (Word version) -- Reps. Walker, Harrell, Whitmire, Toole, Gullick, Spires, Hiott, Bannister, J.R. Smith, Loftis, Ballentine, Pinson, Cotty, Brady, Bedingfield, Hardwick, Edge, Herbkersman, Lowe, Crawford, Limehouse, Hamilton, G.R. Smith, Harrison, Duncan, Bowen, Huggins, Mahaffey, Erickson, Leach, Owens, Frye, Rice, Hutson, Bingham, Haskins, Littlejohn, Cato, Chalk, Clyburn, Cooper, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Gambrell, Kelly, Lucas, Merrill, Moss, Neilson, E.H. Pitts, Sandifer, Scarborough, Shoopman, Skelton, D.C. Smith, G.M. Smith, W.D. Smith, Talley, Taylor, Umphlett, Viers, White, Witherspoon, Young, Barfield, Knight, Miller, Battle, Perry, Bales, Phillips, J.M. Neal, R. Brown and Whipper: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 18, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH SCHOOLS ARE ASSESSED AND ACCREDITED, TO PROVIDE FOR DESIGNATION TO SIGNIFY VARYING LEVELS OF SCHOOL ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND TO REVISE AND FURTHER PROVIDE FOR OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS REGARDING EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY.

Whereupon, Senators HAYES, SHORT and RYBERG were appointed to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate and a message was sent to the House accordingly.

H. 4662 (Word version) -- Reps. Walker, Harrell, Whitmire, Toole, Gullick, Spires, Hiott, Bannister, J.R. Smith, Loftis, Ballentine, Pinson, Cotty, Brady, Bedingfield, Hardwick, Edge, Herbkersman, Lowe, Crawford, Limehouse, Hamilton, G.R. Smith, Harrison, Duncan, Bowen, Huggins, Mahaffey, Erickson, Leach, Owens, Frye, Rice, Hutson, Bingham, Haskins, Littlejohn, Cato, Chalk, Clyburn, Cooper, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Gambrell, Kelly, Lucas, Merrill, Moss, Neilson, E.H. Pitts, Sandifer, Scarborough, Shoopman, Skelton, D.C. Smith,

Senator SETZLER was substituted in lieu of Senator RYBERG on the Committee of Conference to H. 4662.

A message was sent to the House accordingly.

S. 1150 (Word version) -- Senator Verdin: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-1630 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL IMPORTATION, POSSESSION, OR SELLING OF CERTAIN FISH AND SPECIAL PERMITS FOR RESEARCH, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MUST PERFORM A STERILITY TEST ON WHITE AMUR OR GRASS CARP HYBRIDS PERMITTED TO BE RELEASED INTO THE WATERS OF THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY CHARGE A FEE FOR THE STERILITY TEST TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF THE STERILITY TEST, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY ISSUE A PERMIT FOR THE IMPORTATION, BREEDING, AND POSSESSION OF NON-STERILE WHITE AMUR OR GRASS CARP HYBRIDS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT NON-STERILE WHITE AMUR AND GRASS CARP HYBRIDS IMPORTED, BRED, OR POSSESSED MAY NOT BE RELEASED INTO THE WATERS OF THIS STATE.

The House returned the Bill with amendments.

On motion of Senator GREGORY, the Senate nonconcurred in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly.

H. 4400 (Word version)--Reps. Harrell, Harrison, Cato, Cooper, Walker, Witherspoon, Merrill, Sandifer, Haley, Young, Erickson, Littlejohn, Simrill, Bowen, Crawford, Barfield, Cotty, Taylor, Spires, Davenport, E.H. Pitts, Frye, Lowe, Shoopman, Hardwick, Bingham, Skelton, Clemmons, Thompson, Bedingfield, Bannister, Mahaffey, Herbkersman, J.R. Smith, Haskins, Huggins, Hutson, Leach, Toole, Viers, Brady, Dantzler, Delleney, Gambrell, Hamilton, Kelly, Rice, Scarborough, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, Talley, Umphlett, Duncan, Owens, Mulvaney, White, Loftis and Edge: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO PROVIDE FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM. (ABBREVIATED TITLE)

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill, the question being the third reading of the Bill.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered returned to the House of Representatives with amendments.

Senator THOMAS desired to be recorded as voting in favor of third reading of the Bill.

Senator MARTIN moved that the Senate revert to the Motion Period.

The Senate agreed to revert to the Motion Period.

Senator MARTIN moved under the provisions of Rule 32B to take up H. 3202 for consideration immediately after the Special Orders.

The motion was adopted.

Senator McCONNELL moved to invite the House of Representatives to ratify acts at 12:00 Noon on Thursday, May 29, 2008.

The motion was adopted.

On motion of Senator MARTIN, the Senate agreed to again dispense with the Motion Period.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of H. 3202.

H. 3202 (Word version) -- Reps. White, Umphlett, Agnew, Gambrell, E.H. Pitts, Cotty, M.A. Pitts, Bedingfield, Frye, Toole, Loftis, Lowe, Harrell, Shoopman and G.R. Smith: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, BY ADDING SECTION 25, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BECAUSE HUNTING AND FISHING ARE IMPORTANT FOR CONSERVATION AND ARE VALUABLE PARTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S HERITAGE, THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH, AND HARVEST WILDLIFE SUBJECT TO SUCH RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATIONS AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESCRIBES BY LAW AND TO SPECIFY THAT THIS PROVISION MUST NOT BE CONSTRUED TO ABROGATE ANY PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, EXISTING STATE LAWS OR REGULATIONS, OR THE STATE'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER ITS NATURAL RESOURCES.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Resolution, the question being the second reading of the Resolution.

Senators CAMPSEN and SHEHEEN proposed the following amendment (3202R002.), which was adopted:

Amend the committee report, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/     SECTION   1.   It is proposed that Article I of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 25.   The traditions of hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the state's heritage, important for conservation, and a protected means of managing non-threatened wildlife. The citizens of this State have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife traditionally pursued,

SECTION   2.   The proposed amendment in Section 1 must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the declaration of rights under the state's Constitution, be amended by adding Section 25 so as to provide that hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the state's heritage, important for conservation, and a protected means of managing non-threatened wildlife, the citizens of South Carolina shall have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife traditionally pursued, subject to laws and regulations prescribed by the General Assembly and to specify that this section must not be construed to abrogate any private property rights, existing state laws or regulations, or the state's sovereignty over its natural resources?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."   //

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator CAMPSEN explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD3202.003), which was adopted:

Amend the joint resolution, as and if amended, by striking the joint resolution in its entirety and inserting therein the following:

TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, BY ADDING SECTION 25, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BECAUSE HUNTING AND FISHING ARE IMPORTANT FOR CONSERVATION AND ARE VALUABLE

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION   1.   It is proposed that Article I of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 25.   Because hunting and fishing are important for conservation and are valuable parts of South Carolina's heritage, the citizens of South Carolina shall have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to such restrictions and regulations as the General Assembly prescribes by law. This section must not be construed to abrogate any private property rights, existing state laws or regulations, or the state's sovereignty over its natural resources."

SECTION   2.   The proposed amendment in Section 1 must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the declaration of rights under the state's Constitution, be amended by adding Section 25 so as to provide that because hunting and fishing are important for conservation and are valuable parts of South Carolina's heritage, the citizens of South Carolina shall have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to such restrictions and regulations as the General Assembly prescribes by law and to specify that this section must not be construed to abrogate any private property rights, existing state laws or regulations, or the state's sovereignty over its natural resources?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."   /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator CAMPSEN explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

On motion of Senator MARTIN, the Resolution was carried over.

On motion of Senator MARTIN, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of Mrs. Edith Cox Rodgers, 86, of the Dacusville Community in Pickens County, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who died Thursday, May 22, 2008.

On motion of Senator ALEXANDER, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of Mr. Louis Kahn Harper of Walhalla, S.C.

At 5:20 P.M., on motion of Senator McCONNELL, the Senate adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.

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