South Carolina General Assembly
119th Session, 2011-2012
Journal of the House of Representatives

Tuesday, May 1, 2012
(Statewide Session)

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The House assembled at 12:00 noon.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by Rev. Charles E. Seastrunk, Jr., as follows:

Our thought for today is from Psalm 37:23-24: "Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand."
Let us pray. Almighty God, we gather this day to do the work of the people of this State. Motivate these Representatives to choose the best way to accomplish the tasks before them. Grant them courage, strength, wisdom, and integrity, in all that they do. Bless our Nation, State, our leaders, and all who support them. Protect our defenders of freedom, as they protect us. Heal the wounds, those seen and those hidden, of our brave warriors. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

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

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

MOTION ADOPTED

Rep. ANDERSON moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Inez Maude Keith-Carolina of Georgetown, which was agreed to.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., April 26, 2012
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has appointed Senators Matthews, Hayes and Fair of the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate on H. 3241:

H. 3241 (Word version) -- Reps. Owens, Stringer, G. R. Smith, Harrison, Daning, Hamilton, Bingham, Long, Henderson, Atwater, Lucas, Clemmons, Cooper, Horne, Simrill, D. C. Moss, Sandifer, Harrell, Erickson, Norman, Barfield and Loftis: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-40-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE CHARTER SCHOOL POWERS AND DUTIES AND TO ALLOW A SPONSOR TO RETAIN CERTAIN FUNDS FOR OVERSEEING THE CHARTER SCHOOL; BY ADDING SECTION 59-40-175   SO AS TO CREATE THE CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITY REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, PURCHASE, RENOVATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURPOSE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL ACT, SO AS TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL PURPOSE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO AMEND EXISTING DEFINITIONS AND ADD NEW DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL POWERS AND DUTIES, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR THE APPLICATION TO CREATE A SINGLE GENDER CHARTER SCHOOL, REVISE PRIORITY ENROLLMENT LIMITS, PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF A CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PROVIDE FOR BOARD MEETING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, ALLOW A CHARTER SCHOOL TO CONTRACT WITH PROVIDERS FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, AND ALLOW CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-60, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO APPLICATION TO CREATE A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO CLARIFY WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A CONTRACT TEMPLATE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SO AS TO REVISE ITS MEMBERSHIP AND TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE SHALL DETERMINE APPLICATION COMPLIANCE AND THE TIME IN WHICH A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL RULE ON THE APPLICATION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-100, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL CONVERSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS PROVIDING FOR PAPER BALLOTS, TO REVISE PRIORITY ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES FOR A CONVERTED CHARTER SCHOOL, AND TO ALLOW A CONVERTED CHARTER SCHOOL TO RETAIN FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE BEFORE CONVERSION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF A CHARTER, SO AS TO ALLOW A SPONSOR TO IMMEDIATELY REVOKE A CHARTER AND CLOSE THE SCHOOL UPON CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, TO REVISE WHAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL RECEIVE, TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FINE SPONSORS THAT FAIL TO DISTRIBUTE CERTAIN FUNDS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND TO REVISE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-190, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LIABILITY OF A GOVERNING BODY OF A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LIABILITY REGARDING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO A SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOL; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-230, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO REVISE ITS MEMBERSHIP; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-130, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LEAVE TO BE EMPLOYED AT A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL IS A COVERED EMPLOYER WITH RESPECT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5189 (Word version) -- Rep. King: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE GLADYS HURLEY BOULWARE, FORMERLY OF ROCK HILL, ON THE OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY, AND TO WISH HER A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND CONTINUED HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

The Resolution was adopted.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The Senate sent to the House the following:

S. 1484 (Word version) -- Senator Elliott: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 701 FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF CONWAY TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 22 "W. D. 'BILLY' WITHERSPOON HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "W. D. 'BILLY' WITHERSPOON HIGHWAY".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

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

H. 5188 (Word version) -- Rep. H. B. Brown: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 2-17-90, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ACTS PROHIBITED OF LOBBYISTS' PRINCIPALS AND EXCEPTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXCEPTION THAT ALLOWS LOBBYISTS' PRINCIPALS TO EXTEND, AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ACCEPT, INVITATIONS TO ATTEND CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS' REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCES.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

S. 10 (Word version) -- Senators McConnell, McGill, Rose, Campsen, Knotts and Hayes: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE COMMISSION ON STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT AND REDUCTION OF WASTE AND PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP, POWERS, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR THE SUBMISSION, CONSIDERATION, APPROVAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE FOR STAFF SUPPORT AND FINANCES FOR THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE FOR COOPERATION WITH AND SUPPORT FOR THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS TERMINATION.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

S. 149 (Word version) -- Senators Campsen, Rose, McConnell, Ryberg, Fair, Massey, Leventis, Bryant, Davis, Shoopman, Grooms and Hayes: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "EQUAL ACCESS TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-100 SO AS TO PERMIT HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS, GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE STUDENT RESIDES PURSUANT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

S. 427 (Word version) -- Senators Hayes, Hutto, Grooms, Land, O'Dell, Ford and Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-45-17 SO AS TO PROVIDE MINIMUM CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTY TAX COLLECTORS AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 12-59-85 SO AS TO ALLOW A COUNTY FORFEITED LAND COMMISSION TO REFUSE TO ACCEPT TITLE TO PROPERTY WHEN REFUSAL IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST; AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-51-50, AS AMENDED, AND 12-51-70, RELATING TO DELINQUENT TAX SALES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SALES DATE AND TO INCREASE FROM THREE HUNDRED TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS THE DAMAGES FOR WHICH A DEFAULTING BIDDER IS LIABLE.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 428 (Word version) -- Senators Hayes, Hutto, Grooms, Land, O'Dell, Alexander and Knotts: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 6-1-195 SO AS TO REQUIRE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY TO DISPLAY NOTICE OF THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOME OFFERED FOR SALE BY A RESIDENTIAL BUILDER OR DEVELOPER IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE AT ITS OFFICE WHERE A PERSON APPLIES FOR A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, AND TO REQUIRE THE NOTICE TO ACCOMPANY A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 429 (Word version) -- Senators Hayes and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 62-7-918, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE UNIFORM PRINCIPAL AND INCOME ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE ALLOCATION OF PAYMENT MADE FROM A SEPARATE FUND TO CERTAIN TRUSTS AND TO PROVIDE COMMENT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 62-7-929, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS THAT MUST PAY FOR A TAX ON A TRUST'S SHARE OF THE TAXABLE INCOME OF THE ENTITY AND TO PROVIDE COMMENT.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 566 (Word version) -- Senators Leventis, Ford, Elliott, Reese, Ryberg, Setzler and Land: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS OF THE SAFE SCHOOL CLIMATE ACT, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF HARASSMENT TO INCLUDE MOTIVATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-140, RELATING TO LOCAL DISTRICT POLICIES PROHIBITING HARASSMENT, SO AS TO INCLUDE PROCEDURES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ACTS OF HARASSMENT, AND TO REQUIRE LOCAL DISTRICTS TO POST A LINK TO THE POLICY ON THEIR WEBSITES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-150, RELATING TO AVAILABILITY OF CIVIL OR CRIMINAL REDRESS, SO AS TO INCLUDE PROVISIONS REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARTICLE; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE FILING OF REPORTS, NOTIFICATION TO THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT AND TO THE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TO PROVIDE A PROCESS FOR GRADING SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS WITH REGARD TO HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND BULLYING, AND TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLICATION OF THE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT GRADE ON ITS WEBSITE.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

S. 746 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie, Hutto, Fair, L. Martin, Rose, O'Dell, Ford, Cromer and Hayes: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-286, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE TO A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE FOR HAVING AN UNLAWFUL ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, SO AS TO REVISE THE PENALTIES TO INCLUDE REQUIRING AN OFFENDER WHO OPERATES A VEHICLE TO HAVE AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-400, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF A LICENSE, A LICENSE RENEWAL OR ITS RETURN, AND ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE THAT RESTRICTS THE DRIVER TO ONLY OPERATING A VEHICLE WITH AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED, SO AS TO REVISE THE DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION PERIOD FOR A PERSON WHO CHOOSES TO OR NOT TO HAVE AN INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED ON HIS VEHICLE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE AN INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED ON THEIR VEHICLES AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF CERTAIN DRIVING OFFENSES, AND TO REVISE THE PROCEDURE FOR A PERSON TO OBTAIN A LICENSE WHO DOES NOT OWN A VEHICLE; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-1320, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONAL LICENSE MAY BE ISSUED AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE AUTHORIZED TO BE OPERATED HAS HAD AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2941, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED FOR DRIVING A VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE LENGTH OF TIME AN INTERLOCK DEVICE MUST BE AFFIXED TO A VEHICLE FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR AN OFFENDER WHO HAS ACCUMULATED FOUR POINTS UNDER THE INTERLOCK DEVICE POINT SYSTEM, TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF FUNDS REMITTED TO THE INTERLOCK DEVICE FUND, TO REVISE THE FEES THAT MUST BE COLLECTED AND REMITTED TO THE INTERLOCK DEVICE FUND, TO REVISE THE FREQUENCY OF TIME IN WHICH AN OFFENDER MUST HAVE AN INTERLOCK DEVICE INSPECTED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT AN INTERLOCK DEVICE MUST CAPTURE A PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE OF A DRIVER AS HE OPERATES THE DEVICE; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2942, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE IMMOBILIZATION OF A PERSON'S VEHICLE UPON HIS CONVICTION OF AN ALCOHOL-RELATED DRIVING OFFENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AS LONG AS A PERSON HOLDS A VALID IGNITION INTERLOCK LICENSE, HE IS NOT REQUIRED TO SURRENDER HIS LICENSE PLATES AND VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2947, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF CHILD ENDANGERMENT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DATE WHEN A PERSON MAY ENROLL IN AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG SAFETY ACTION PROGRAM AND BE ISSUED A PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2950, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO A PERSON WHO OPERATES A MOTOR VEHICLE GIVING IMPLIED CONSENT TO CHEMICAL TESTS TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PENALTY IMPOSED UPON A PERSON WHO REFUSES TO BE SUBJECTED TO A CHEMICAL TEST; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2951, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF A PERSON'S DRIVER'S LICENSE WHO REFUSES TO SUBMIT TO BE TESTED TO DETERMINE HIS ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, SO AS TO LOWER THE ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION LEVEL THAT RESULTS IN A PERSON HAVING HIS LICENSE SUSPENDED, TO REVISE THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT A TEMPORARY ALCOHOL LICENSE REMAINS IN EFFECT, TO REVISE THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT A SUSPENSION OF A PERSON'S PRIVILEGE TO OPERATE A VEHICLE MUST REMAIN IN EFFECT WHEN AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE UPHOLDS A SUSPENSION, TO PROVIDE THAT A HOLDER OF A RESTRICTED DRIVER'S LICENSE MAY OPERATE ONLY A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE, AND TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF VARIOUS DRIVING OFFENSES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2990, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF A PERSON'S DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR A VIOLATION OF CERTAIN ALCOHOL AND DRUG RELATED DRIVING OFFENSES, SO AS TO REVISE THE PENALTIES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO CERTAIN PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ISSUED AN IGNITION INTERLOCK RESTRICTED LICENSE.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

S. 1015 (Word version) -- Senators Hayes, Courson, Knotts, Lourie, Davis and Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-66-75 SO AS TO REQUIRE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO GIVE A PATIENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO AUTHORIZE DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION TO DESIGNATED FAMILY MEMBERS OR OTHER PEOPLE AND TO AUTHORIZE THE INVOLVEMENT OF DESIGNATED FAMILY MEMBERS OR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE TREATMENT OF THE PATIENT, AND TO SPECIFY INFORMATION THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE AUTHORIZATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 44-66-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE ADULT CARE CONSENT ACT, SO AS TO ADD DEFINITIONS.
Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

S. 1033 (Word version) -- Senators Verdin and Elliott: A BILL TO REPEAL CHAPTER 43, TITLE 46 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE MIGRANT FARM WORKERS COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 1-31-40, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE COMMISSION FOR MINORITY AFFAIRS, TO VEST THE STATE COMMISSION FOR MINORITY AFFAIRS WITH THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE FORMER MIGRANT FARM WORKERS COMMISSION.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

S. 1100 (Word version) -- Senators McGill, Cleary and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 4-10-330 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT SALES TAX ACT, TO PROVIDE THAT THE AUTHORIZED PROJECTS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE FUNDED BY A COUNTY CAPITAL PROJECT SALES TAX TO INCLUDE DREDGING, DEWATERING, CONSTRUCTION OF SPOIL SITES, AND DISPOSAL OF SPOIL MATERIALS.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 1331 (Word version) -- Senators Leatherman and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 13-17-89 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO PROVISION IN CHAPTER 17, TITLE 13 MAY BE CONSTRUED TO AUTHORIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA RESEARCH AUTHORITY TO COMMIT THE CREDIT AND TAXING POWER OF THE STATE, TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIREMENT WHEN THE AUTHORITY HAS CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NONPROFIT ENTITY THAT ESTABLISHES A FOR-PROFIT ENTITY, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A FAILURE TO PROVIDE THIS NOTICE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO INDICATE THE AUTHORITY MAY PLEDGE THE CREDIT AND TAXING POWER OF THE STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 13-17-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF TWO ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES, TO PERMIT A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT WHO IS AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO DESIGNATE THE CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER OF HIS UNIVERSITY TO PARTICIPATE AND VOTE IN NO MORE THAN TWO MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EACH YEAR, TO PROVIDE FOR MEMBERS' TERMS, FILLING OF VACANCIES, AND REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND TO ALLOW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, OR THEIR DESIGNEE, TO SERVE ON THE BOARD, AND TO DELETE ARCHAIC REFERENCES; TO AMEND SECTION 13-17-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD MAY PROVIDE GUARANTEES AS SECURITY FOR CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 13-17-87, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INNOVATION CENTERS ESTABLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO MAKE CERTAIN FINANCING OPTIONAL RATHER THAN MANDATORY, TO EXPAND THE SOURCES OF FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR FINANCING THESE COSTS, AND TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF A PLEDGE OF CREDIT AND TAXING POWER OF THE STATE OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE TO FINANCE THESE COSTS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-770, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SERVING ON BOARDS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 1349 (Word version) -- Senators Alexander, McGill, Cromer and Sheheen: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, THROUGH ITS OFFICE OF INSURANCE SERVICES, IN STATE FISCAL YEAR 2012-2013, MAY OFFER TORT LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE TO AN AGING ENTITY AND ITS EMPLOYEES SERVING CLIENTS COUNTYWIDE WHICH PREVIOUSLY HAS OBTAINED ITS TORT LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE THROUGH THE BOARD.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 1409 (Word version) -- Senator Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 6-34-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO TAX CREDITS FOR REHABILITATION EXPENSES, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THE CREDIT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST FRANCHISE TAXES ON BANKS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-4-320, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, SO AS TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO GRANT RELIEF PERIODS GRANTED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTIONS SPECIFICALLY NOT ADOPTED, SO AS TO NOT ADOPT SECTION 7508; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-590, RELATING TO THE TREATMENT OF "S" CORPORATIONS FOR TAX PURPOSES, SO AS TO IMPOSE A TAX ON CERTAIN INCOME IF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE IMPOSES A SIMILAR TAX; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3360, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE JOBS TAX CREDIT, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "NEW JOB"; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3535, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR REHABILITATION EXPENSES, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THE CREDIT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST FRANCHISE TAXES ON BANKS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3630, RELATING TO INCOME TAX CREDITS FOR HYDROGEN RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THE CREDIT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST FRANCHISE TAXES ON BANKS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-4910, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT TO FILE AN INCOME TAX RETURN, SO AS TO INCREASE THE STANDARD DEDUCTION FOR INDIVIDUALS OVER SIXTY-FIVE AS PROVIDED IN THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO CORRECT A CROSS-REFERENCE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-43-260, RELATING TO COUNTIES WILFUL FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT; TO AMEND SECTION 12-44-110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO FEE IN LIEU OF TAX, SO AS TO UPDATE A TERM; TO AMEND SECTION 12-54-240, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN ORDER FOR A CONVICTION FOR UNLAWFULLY DIVULGING RECORDS, A PERSON MUST WILFULLY DIVULGE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT PRIOR TO DISMISSING AN EMPLOYEE FOR A VIOLATION, THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE CONVICTED; TO AMEND SECTION 12-60-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OCCURRENCE OF A FILING PERIOD ENDING ON A HOLIDAY, SO AS TO RECOGNIZE A HOLIDAY RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-60-90, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE TAX PROCESS, SO AS TO CORRECT CROSS-REFERENCES AND FURTHER DEFINE TERMS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-65-30, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CREDIT FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE REHABILITATION OF A TEXTILE MILL, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THE CREDIT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST FRANCHISE TAXES ON BANKS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 44-43-1360, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR DONATE LIFE SOUTH CAROLINA, SO AS TO CORRECT A CROSS-REFERENCE.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 1431 (Word version) -- Senators Leatherman, Campbell, Grooms, Alexander, L. Martin, Coleman, Ford, Cleary, Hutto, McGill, Nicholson, Anderson, Williams, Pinckney, Hayes, O'Dell, Land, Malloy, Jackson, Matthews, Elliott, Setzler, Fair, Reese, Lourie and Sheheen: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 1377 OF 1968, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF STATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND CONFORM THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL INDEBTEDNESS AMOUNT TO THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS AUTHORIZED BY THIS ACT.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 1467 (Word version) -- Senators Hutto, Campbell, Campsen, L. Martin and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-1-43, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE, ALONE, BY THE DIVISION OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION DOES NOT CREATE A COMMON LAW DUTY OF DUE CARE FOR THE LICENSE HOLDER, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE LICENSE HOLDER CANNOT BE HELD PERSONALLY LIABLE IN TORT SOLELY BY REASON OF BEING A LICENSE HOLDER.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry

S. 1471 (Word version) -- Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION - DIVISION OF LABOR, RELATING TO LICENSING AND PERMITTING FEES; LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4238, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry

S. 1478 (Word version) -- Senators Campsen and Sheheen: A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 56-3-8000 AND 56-3-8100 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES CREATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ISSUED ON BEHALF OF A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS PLACED UPON THE INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEK PRODUCTION OF A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE, TO REVISE THE COST OF THE LICENSE PLATES, REVISE THE DISTRIBUTION OF FEES COLLECTED, TO REVISE THE DESIGN OF A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY ISSUE SPECIAL PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATES FOR ANY SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL LICENSE PLATE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1230, RELATING TO LICENSE PLATE SPECIFICATIONS AND THE ISSUANCE OF NEW LICENSE PLATES AND REVALIDATION STICKERS, TO PROVIDE A REFERENCE TO THE FEE CHARGED FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A REPLACEMENT LICENSE PLATE, AND TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS A PORTION OF THE BIENNIAL REGISTRATION FEE BE USED TO DEFRAY THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION AND ISSUANCE OF NEW LICENSE PLATES.
Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

ROLL CALL

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

Alexander              Allen                  Allison
Anderson               Atwater                Bales
Bannister              Barfield               Battle
Bedingfield            Bingham                Bowen
Brady                  Branham                Brannon
Brantley               G. A. Brown            Butler Garrick
Chumley                Clemmons               Clyburn
Cobb-Hunter            Cole                   Corbin
Crosby                 Daning                 Delleney
Dillard                Erickson               Forrester
Frye                   Funderburk             Gambrell
Gilliard               Hamilton               Hardwick
Harrell                Harrison               Hayes
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hiott                  Hixon                  Hodges
Horne                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Johnson                King
Knight                 Limehouse              Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   McCoy
McEachern              McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn
Murphy                 Nanney                 J. H. Neal
J. M. Neal             Neilson                Norman
Ott                    Owens                  Parker
Parks                  Patrick                Pinson
Pitts                  Pope                   Putnam
Quinn                  Ryan                   Sabb
Sandifer               Sellers                Simrill
Skelton                G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith
J. E. Smith            J. R. Smith            Sottile
Southard               Spires                 Stavrinakis
Stringer               Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Toole                  Tribble
Weeks                  White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Young

STATEMENT OF ATTENDANCE

I came in after the roll call and was present for the Session on Tuesday, May 1.

Paul Agnew                        Mike Anthony
William Bowers                    Boyd Brown
Kris Crawford                     Jerry Govan
Joe Jefferson                     David Mack
Todd Rutherford                   Jackson "Seth"  Whipper
Chris Hart                        Tracy Edge

Total Present--117

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. R. L. BROWN a leave of absence for the day due to business reasons.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. BALLENTINE a leave of absence for the day due to out-of-state business reasons.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. LUCAS a leave of absence for the day due to medical reasons.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. VICK a temporary leave of absence.

DOCTOR OF THE DAY

Announcement was made that Dr. Keith D. Shealy of Lancaster was the Doctor of the Day for the General Assembly.

CO-SPONSORS ADDED

In accordance with House Rule 5.2 below:
"5.2   Every bill before presentation shall have its title endorsed; every report, its title at length; every petition, memorial, or other paper, its prayer or substance; and, in every instance, the name of the member presenting any paper shall be endorsed and the papers shall be presented by the member to the Speaker at the desk. A member may add his name to a bill or resolution or a co-sponsor of a bill or resolution may remove his name at any time prior to the bill or resolution receiving passage on second reading. The member or co-sponsor shall notify the Clerk of the House in writing of his desire to have his name added or removed from the bill or resolution. The Clerk of the House shall print the member's or co-sponsor's written notification in the House Journal. The removal or addition of a name does not apply to a bill or resolution sponsored by a committee."

CO-SPONSORS ADDED

Bill Number:   H. 4487 (Word version)
Date:   ADD:
05/01/12   GILLIARD and ANDERSON

STATEMENT FOR THE JOURNAL

Due to being out of town on business last Thursday, April 26, 2012, I was unable to vote on H. 3235, a Bill regarding the Freedom of Information Act. I would like the record to reflect that had I been present, I would have voted in favor of the Bill.

Rep. Todd Atwater

ACTING SPEAKER HARRISON IN CHAIR

S. 1479--DEBATE ADJOURNED

Rep. JOHNSON moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Sunday, July 1, which was adopted:

S. 1479 (Word version) -- Senator Land: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 375 OF 1947, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CLARENDON HOSPITAL DISTRICT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON RECOMMENDATION OF A MAJORITY OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF CLARENDON COUNTY.

SENT TO THE SENATE

The following Bills were taken up, read the third time, and ordered sent to the Senate:

H. 4995 (Word version) -- Reps. Stringer, Bingham, Harrell, Parker, Ballentine, Ryan, Bedingfield, G. R. Smith, Brady, Thayer, Patrick, Erickson, Nanney, Taylor, J. R. Smith, Allison, Bannister, Bowen, Hamilton, Henderson, Hixon, Horne, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Owens, Tallon, Forrester, Pope, Simrill and Sottile: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE VARIOUS EXEMPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2620, RELATING TO THE COMPONENTS OF THE SALES TAX, SO AS TO DELETE THE ONE PERCENT EXEMPTION TO INDIVIDUALS OVER EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 12-36-2130 AND 12-36-2610 RELATING TO THE STATE SALES TAX; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE GENERATED BY THIS ACT MUST BE USED TO REDUCE THE OVERALL SALES TAX RATE; AND TO RE-ENACT THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION AND REQUIRE THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 12-36-2120.

H. 3079 (Word version) -- Rep. Herbkersman: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-21-4310 SO AS TO CREATE THE CHARITABLE BINGO ADVISORY COMMITTEE, PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP AND PURPOSES, AND REQUIRE A DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE DESIGNEE AS LIAISON; BY ADDING SECTION 12-21-4320 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INFORMATIONAL CHARITABLE BINGO WEBSITE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES AS PERMANENTLY ACCESSIBLE ADVISORY OPINIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 12-21-4330 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ALLOWABLE PROMOTIONAL EXPENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-21-3920, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE BINGO TAX ACT, SO AS TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC NAMED GAMES IN THE DEFINITION "BINGO", AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEFINITION OF A "CARD" INCLUDES AN INSTANT BINGO TICKET; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-21-3940 AND 12-21-3950, BOTH AS AMENDED, RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSING BY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND PROMOTERS, RESPECTIVELY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INFORMAL APPEAL OF A REJECTION AS A FIRST STEP IN AN APPEAL; TO AMEND SECTION 12-21-3990, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE MANNER OF PLAYING BINGO, SO AS TO SPECIFY THE MANNER OF PLAYING BINGO WITH INSTANT BINGO TICKETS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-21-4000, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PROCEDURES FOR OPERATING A BINGO GAME, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICABILITY OF BINGO PROCEDURES FOR BINGO PLAYED WITH INSTANT BINGO TICKETS, TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE EXPENSE FOR PROMOTIONS FROM ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH SESSION, AND TO SPECIFY THE INTENT OF THIS SECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 12-21-4020, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CLASSES OF BINGO LICENSEES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR OPERATIONAL HOURS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-21-4120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO A CLARIFICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT AS TO PLAY OR OPERATION OF A GAME, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR A BINGO ADVISORY OPINION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-21-4240, RELATING TO LICENSES TO MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTE, OR USE BINGO CARDS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ITEMS OTHER THAN BINGO CARDS TO WHICH THIS SECTION APPLIES.

H. 4243--DEBATE ADJOURNED

Rep. QUINN moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Wednesday, May 2, which was adopted:

H. 4243 (Word version) -- Reps. Quinn, Bingham, Toole, Huggins, Atwater and McLeod: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-27-365, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION FOR LEXINGTON COUNTY, SO AS TO INCREASE THE COMMISSION'S MEMBERSHIP FROM NINE TO ELEVEN MEMBERS.

S. 1213--AMENDED AND ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

S. 1213 (Word version) -- Senators Alexander, L. Martin, Scott, Knotts, Peeler, Cromer, Setzler, Leventis, Hayes, Nicholson, Ryberg and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 67 TO TITLE 2 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR TO RECOGNIZE SOUTH CAROLINIANS, OR INDIVIDUALS WITH CERTAIN TIES TO SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR ROLL; AND TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD CRITERIA.

The Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 1213 (COUNCIL\12284ZW12KRL), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 2-67-20(F), as contained in SECTION 1, page 3, line 2, by adding a new sentence to read:
/However, nothing in this section requires the Adjutant General to provide or pay for the medal or its design."   /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. WILLIAMS explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
The question then recurred to the passage of the Bill.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 99; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Allen                  Allison                Anderson
Atwater                Bales                  Bannister
Barfield               Battle                 Bedingfield
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brannon
Brantley               G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown
Butler Garrick         Chumley                Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Forrester
Frye                   Funderburk             Gambrell
Gilliard               Hamilton               Hardwick
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hixon                  Hodges                 Horne
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Johnson                King                   Knight
Limehouse              Loftis                 Long
Lowe                   Mack                   McCoy
McEachern              McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn
Murphy                 Nanney                 J. M. Neal
Neilson                Norman                 Ott
Owens                  Parker                 Parks
Patrick                Pinson                 Pitts
Pope                   Putnam                 Quinn
Ryan                   Sabb                   Sandifer
Sellers                Skelton                G. M. Smith
G. R. Smith            J. R. Smith            Sottile
Southard               Spires                 Stavrinakis
Stringer               Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Toole                  Tribble
Weeks                  White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Young

Total--99

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

RECORD FOR VOTING

I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on S. 1213. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Bill.

Rep. Gary Simrill

S. 6--ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

S. 6 (Word version) -- Senators Leatherman, McGill, Rose, McConnell, Campsen, Fair, Setzler, Alexander and Rankin: A BILL TO RATIFY AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 36(A), ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE GENERAL RESERVE FUND, TO INCREASE FROM THREE TO FIVE PERCENT THE AMOUNT OF STATE GENERAL FUND REVENUE IN THE LATEST COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR REQUIRED TO BE HELD IN THE GENERAL RESERVE FUND; AND TO RATIFY AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 36(B) OF ARTICLE III, RELATING TO THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND, TO PROVIDE THAT MONIES IN THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND, IN ANY YEAR THE GENERAL RESERVE FUND DOES NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE, FIRST MUST BE USED TO FULLY REPLENISH THE APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE AMOUNT IN THE GENERAL RESERVE FUND BEFORE BEING USED FOR OTHER AUTHORIZED PURPOSES WHICH DO NOT INCLUDE OFFSETTING MIDYEAR BUDGET REDUCTIONS.

Rep. BATTLE explained the Bill.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 99; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Allen                  Allison                Anderson
Atwater                Bales                  Bannister
Barfield               Battle                 Bedingfield
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brannon
Brantley               G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown
Butler Garrick         Chumley                Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Forrester              Funderburk             Gambrell
Gilliard               Hamilton               Hardwick
Harrison               Hearn                  Henderson
Herbkersman            Hixon                  Hodges
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jefferson              Johnson                Knight
Limehouse              Loftis                 Long
Lowe                   Mack                   McCoy
McEachern              McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn
Nanney                 J. M. Neal             Neilson
Norman                 Ott                    Owens
Parker                 Parks                  Patrick
Pinson                 Pitts                  Pope
Putnam                 Quinn                  Ryan
Sabb                   Sandifer               Sellers
Simrill                Skelton                G. M. Smith
G. R. Smith            J. R. Smith            Sottile
Southard               Spires                 Stavrinakis
Stringer               Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Toole                  Tribble
Weeks                  White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Young

Total--99

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

S. 1031--DEBATE ADJOURNED

Rep. THAYER moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:

S. 1031 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie, L. Martin, Elliott, Setzler and Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5660(E)(1) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE APPLICATION FOR AND ISSUANCE OF DISPOSAL AUTHORITY CERTIFICATES, TO INCREASE THE AGE OF A VEHICLE THAT MAY BE DISPOSED OF BY A DEMOLISHER WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE OR OTHER NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FROM EIGHT TO FIFTEEN YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5670(A), RELATING TO DUTIES OF DEMOLISHERS PRIOR TO DEMOLISHING A VEHICLE ABANDONED ON A HIGHWAY, TO ESTABLISH A FIFTEEN DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE A DEMOLISHER MAY WRECK, DISMANTLE, OR DEMOLISH A VEHICLE UNLESS THE DEMOLISHER IS PROVIDED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, AN AUCTION SALES RECEIPT, A DISPOSAL AUTHORITY CERTIFICATE, OR AN AFFIDAVIT OF PROOF OF LAWFUL POSSESSION; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5670(D), RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR DEMOLISHERS THAT BREACH DUTIES ESTABLISHED IN THIS SECTION, TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 56-5-5670; TO AMEND ARTICLE 39, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES ON HIGHWAYS, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-5680 TO PROVIDE FOR AN AFFIDAVIT OF LAWFUL POSSESSION THAT A DEMOLISHER MAY ACCEPT IN LIEU OF A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, AN AUCTION SALES RECEIPT, OR A DISPOSAL AUTHORITY CERTIFICATE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THE AFFIDAVIT, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS A FELONY TO KNOWINGLY PROVIDE FALSE INFORMATION IN THE AFFIDAVIT, TO REQUIRE A DEMOLISHER ACCEPTING AN AFFIDAVIT TO TRANSMIT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE AFFIDAVIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO REPORT THE INFORMATION TRANSMITTED BY THE DEMOLISHER TO THE NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE INFORMATION SYSTEM, AND TO PRESCRIBE THE APPROPRIATE USES OF THE INFORMATION; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5945, RELATING TO DUTIES OF DEMOLISHERS PRIOR TO DEMOLISHING AN ABANDONED OR DERELICT MOTOR VEHICLE FOUND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, TO ESTABLISH A FIFTEEN DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE A DEMOLISHER MAY WRECK, DISMANTLE, OR DEMOLISH AN ABANDONED VEHICLE UNLESS THE DEMOLISHER IS PROVIDED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, A SALES RECEIPT ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 56-5-5850, OR AN AFFIDAVIT OF PROOF OF LAWFUL POSSESSION, AND TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 56-5-5945; AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED UNDER THIS ACT AT NO CHARGE TO THE DEMOLISHER SUBMITTING THE INFORMATION.

S. 271--ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

S. 271 (Word version) -- Senators Cleary, Ford and Knotts: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 15-41-30 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO AN INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT BEING EXEMPT FROM ATTACHMENT, LEVY, AND SALE, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT THE EXEMPTION ONLY APPLIES TO THE EXTENT REASONABLY NECESSARY FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE DEBTOR AND ANY DEPENDENT OF THE DEBTOR AND TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE AMOUNTS TO CONFORM TO THOSE ALLOWABLE UNDER FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY LAW.

Rep. COLE explained the Bill.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 103; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Allen                  Allison                Anderson
Atwater                Bales                  Bannister
Barfield               Battle                 Bedingfield
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brantley
G. A. Brown            Butler Garrick         Chumley
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter
Cole                   Corbin                 Crawford
Crosby                 Daning                 Delleney
Dillard                Forrester              Funderburk
Gambrell               Gilliard               Govan
Hamilton               Hardwick               Harrell
Harrison               Hearn                  Henderson
Hixon                  Hodges                 Horne
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jefferson              Johnson                King
Knight                 Limehouse              Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   Mack
McCoy                  McEachern              McLeod
Merrill                D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
Munnerlyn              Murphy                 Nanney
J. M. Neal             Neilson                Norman
Ott                    Owens                  Parker
Parks                  Patrick                Pinson
Pitts                  Pope                   Putnam
Quinn                  Rutherford             Ryan
Sabb                   Sandifer               Sellers
Simrill                Skelton                G. M. Smith
G. R. Smith            J. E. Smith            J. R. Smith
Sottile                Southard               Spires
Stavrinakis            Stringer               Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  White
Whitmire               Williams               Willis
Young

Total--103

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

SPEAKER IN CHAIR

H. 4944--DEBATE ADJOURNED

Rep. CRAWFORD moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Tuesday, May 8, which was adopted:

H. 4944 (Word version) -- Reps. Crawford, Patrick, Herbkersman, Brady, Bedingfield, Anderson, Sandifer, Erickson, McCoy, Brannon, Bowers, Gambrell, Hayes, Limehouse, Lowe, Mack, Pinson, Spires, Edge, Stavrinakis and Whipper: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA TELEMEDICINE INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-295 SO AS TO PROVIDE RELATED DEFINITIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER THAT PERFORMS TELEMEDICINE SERVICES IN A CERTAIN MANNER MUST BE REIMBURSED FOR THOSE SERVICES IN THE SAME MANNER AS HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH AN IN-PERSON CONSULTATION, TO PROVIDE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE BY MEANS OF TELEMEDICINE MUST SATISFY CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR DELIVERING THE SAME CARE IN PERSON; AND TO PROVIDE THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS MAY AUTHORIZE THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES BY CERTAIN MEANS THROUGH THE USE OF STANDARD TELEPHONE, FACSIMILE TRANSMISSIONS, UNSECURED ELECTRONIC MAIL, OR A COMBINATION OF THEM, SUBJECT TO AN EXCEPTION.

S. 1351--ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

S. 1351 (Word version) -- Senator Fair: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-1-157 SO AS TO SPECIFY THE NUMBER OF LIFEGUARDS, BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND NUMBER OF PATRONS, A TYPE "A" PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL OPERATED BY THE STATE, OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, MUST HAVE AS A CONDITION OF OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING AN OPERATING PERMIT AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR A VARIANCE; AND TO REQUIRE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL APPROVAL OF LIFEGUARD COVERAGE PLANS FOR TYPE "E" PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS.

Rep. HENDERSON explained the Bill.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 105; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allen                  Allison
Anderson               Atwater                Bales
Bannister              Barfield               Battle
Bedingfield            Bingham                Bowen
Bowers                 Brady                  Branham
Brannon                Brantley               G. A. Brown
H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick         Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Erickson               Forrester              Funderburk
Gambrell               Gilliard               Govan
Hamilton               Hardwick               Harrell
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hixon                  Hodges                 Horne
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jefferson              Johnson                King
Knight                 Limehouse              Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   Mack
McCoy                  McEachern              McLeod
Merrill                D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
Munnerlyn              Murphy                 Nanney
J. M. Neal             Neilson                Norman
Ott                    Owens                  Parker
Parks                  Patrick                Pinson
Pitts                  Pope                   Putnam
Quinn                  Rutherford             Ryan
Sabb                   Sandifer               Simrill
Skelton                G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith
J. E. Smith            J. R. Smith            Sottile
Southard               Spires                 Stavrinakis
Stringer               Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Toole                  Tribble
Weeks                  White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Young

Total--105

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

Rep. TOOLE moved that the House recede until 2:30 p.m., which was agreed to.

THE HOUSE RESUMES

At 2:30 p.m. the House resumed, ACTING SPEAKER NEILSON in the Chair.

POINT OF QUORUM

The question of a quorum was raised.
A quorum was later present.

Further proceedings were interrupted by expiration of time on the uncontested Calendar.

RECURRENCE TO THE MORNING HOUR

Rep. STAVRINAKIS moved that the House recur to the morning hour, which was agreed to.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

Rep. BARFIELD, from the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions, submitted a favorable report on:

H. 5178 (Word version) -- Reps. Simrill, Pope, Norman, Delleney, King, Long and D. C. Moss: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF WEST SPRINGDALE ROAD IN YORK COUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH FIRETOWER ROAD TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH LESSLIE HIGHWAY IN MEMORY OF ERIC LESSMEISTER AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "IN MEMORY OF ERIC LESSMEISTER, 'ONCE A BEARCAT, ALWAYS A BEARCAT'".
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

Rep. BARFIELD, from the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions, submitted a favorable report on:

H. 5182 (Word version) -- Reps. Atwater, Crawford, Ott, Huggins, Cobb-Hunter, Bingham, Spires, Quinn, Daning, Crosby, Frye, Butler Garrick, Erickson, McEachern, Southard, Barfield, Bowen, Dillard, Harrell, Hart, Henderson, Howard, Limehouse, Lowe, Pitts, Sellers, Simrill, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, Toole and Willis: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO HALT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 10th REVISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES AND RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS (ICD-10) AND PREVENT ALL FURTHER PROGRESS UNTIL AN APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND APPROPRIATE STAKEHOLDERS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM IN PLACE (ICD-9).
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

The following was received:

Columbia, S.C., May 1, 2012
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that is has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference on H. 3241:

H. 3241 (Word version) -- Reps. Owens, Stringer, G.R. Smith, Harrison, Daning, Hamilton, Bingham, Long, Henderson, Atwater, Lucas, Clemmons, Cooper, Horne, Simrill, D.C. Moss, Sandifer, Harrell, Erickson, Norman, Barfield and Loftis: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-40-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE CHARTER SCHOOL POWERS AND DUTIES AND TO ALLOW A SPONSOR TO RETAIN CERTAIN FUNDS FOR OVERSEEING THE CHARTER SCHOOL; BY ADDING SECTION 59-40-175 SO AS TO CREATE THE CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITY REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, PURCHASE, RENOVATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURPOSE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL ACT, SO AS TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL PURPOSE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO AMEND EXISTING DEFINITIONS AND ADD NEW DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL POWERS AND DUTIES, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR THE APPLICATION TO CREATE A SINGLE GENDER CHARTER SCHOOL, REVISE PRIORITY ENROLLMENT LIMITS, PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF A CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PROVIDE FOR BOARD MEETING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, ALLOW A CHARTER SCHOOL TO CONTRACT WITH PROVIDERS FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, AND ALLOW CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-60, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO APPLICATION TO CREATE A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO CLARIFY WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A CONTRACT TEMPLATE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SO AS TO REVISE ITS MEMBERSHIP AND TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE SHALL DETERMINE APPLICATION COMPLIANCE AND THE TIME IN WHICH A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL RULE ON THE APPLICATION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-100, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL CONVERSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS PROVIDING FOR PAPER BALLOTS, TO REVISE PRIORITY ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES FOR A CONVERTED CHARTER SCHOOL, AND TO ALLOW A CONVERTED CHARTER SCHOOL TO RETAIN FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE BEFORE CONVERSION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF A CHARTER, SO AS TO ALLOW A SPONSOR TO IMMEDIATELY REVOKE A CHARTER AND CLOSE THE SCHOOL UPON CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, TO REVISE WHAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL RECEIVE, TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FINE SPONSORS THAT FAIL TO DISTRIBUTE CERTAIN FUNDS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND TO REVISE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-190, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LIABILITY OF A GOVERNING BODY OF A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LIABILITY REGARDING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO A SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOL; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-230, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO REVISE ITS MEMBERSHIP; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-130, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LEAVE TO BE EMPLOYED AT A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL IS A COVERED EMPLOYER WITH RESPECT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.

Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5190 (Word version) -- Reps. Gilliard, Anderson, Limehouse and Stavrinakis: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND ELIZABETH RAINEY OF CHARLESTON COUNTY FOR HER MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED COMMUNITY SERVICE.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5191 (Word version) -- Reps. Gilliard, Stavrinakis, McCoy, Limehouse, Sottile and Mack: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SHIRLEY CURNELL-SCOTT, ASSISTANT MANAGER AT ST. JULIAN DEVINE COMMUNITY CENTER, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER THIRTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE CITY OF CHARLESTON, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5192 (Word version) -- Rep. Cobb-Hunter: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER INFANT NUTRITION AND THE CREATION OF OUTREACH NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH-SCREENING PROGRAMS, AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING FOR BOTH INFANTS AND MOTHERS.

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

INTRODUCTION OF BILL

The following Bill was introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committee:

S. 1246 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie and McConnell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 47-1-40, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, SO AS TO REVISE CERTAIN CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

S. 1031--REQUESTS FOR DEBATE

The following Bill was taken up:

S. 1031 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie, L. Martin, Elliott, Setzler and Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5660(E)(1) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE APPLICATION FOR AND ISSUANCE OF DISPOSAL AUTHORITY CERTIFICATES, TO INCREASE THE AGE OF A VEHICLE THAT MAY BE DISPOSED OF BY A DEMOLISHER WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE OR OTHER NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FROM EIGHT TO FIFTEEN YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5670(A), RELATING TO DUTIES OF DEMOLISHERS PRIOR TO DEMOLISHING A VEHICLE ABANDONED ON A HIGHWAY, TO ESTABLISH A FIFTEEN DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE A DEMOLISHER MAY WRECK, DISMANTLE, OR DEMOLISH A VEHICLE UNLESS THE DEMOLISHER IS PROVIDED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, AN AUCTION SALES RECEIPT, A DISPOSAL AUTHORITY CERTIFICATE, OR AN AFFIDAVIT OF PROOF OF LAWFUL POSSESSION; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5670(D), RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR DEMOLISHERS THAT BREACH DUTIES ESTABLISHED IN THIS SECTION, TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 56-5-5670; TO AMEND ARTICLE 39, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES ON HIGHWAYS, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-5680 TO PROVIDE FOR AN AFFIDAVIT OF LAWFUL POSSESSION THAT A DEMOLISHER MAY ACCEPT IN LIEU OF A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, AN AUCTION SALES RECEIPT, OR A DISPOSAL AUTHORITY CERTIFICATE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THE AFFIDAVIT, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS A FELONY TO KNOWINGLY PROVIDE FALSE INFORMATION IN THE AFFIDAVIT, TO REQUIRE A DEMOLISHER ACCEPTING AN AFFIDAVIT TO TRANSMIT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE AFFIDAVIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO REPORT THE INFORMATION TRANSMITTED BY THE DEMOLISHER TO THE NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE INFORMATION SYSTEM, AND TO PRESCRIBE THE APPROPRIATE USES OF THE INFORMATION; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5945, RELATING TO DUTIES OF DEMOLISHERS PRIOR TO DEMOLISHING AN ABANDONED OR DERELICT MOTOR VEHICLE FOUND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, TO ESTABLISH A FIFTEEN DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE A DEMOLISHER MAY WRECK, DISMANTLE, OR DEMOLISH AN ABANDONED VEHICLE UNLESS THE DEMOLISHER IS PROVIDED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, A SALES RECEIPT ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 56-5-5850, OR AN AFFIDAVIT OF PROOF OF LAWFUL POSSESSION, AND TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 56-5-5945; AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED UNDER THIS ACT AT NO CHARGE TO THE DEMOLISHER SUBMITTING THE INFORMATION.

Reps. THAYER, HIXON, J. R. SMITH, G. R. SMITH, BEDINGFIELD, CORBIN, WHITE, BALES, TALLON, BRANNON and BRADY requested debate on the Bill.

S. 1085--DEBATE ADJOURNED

Rep. STAVRINAKIS moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:

S. 1085 (Word version) -- Senator Hayes: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-11-210, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF SPECIFIC WATERSHED CONSERVATION DISTRICTS UNDER THE GENERAL LAW PERTAINING TO SUCH DISTRICTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF CHAPTER 11, TITLE 48, INCLUDING THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS, THE DIGITAL HYDROLOGIC MAP PREPARED BY THE SERVICE CENTER AGENCIES OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE FISHING CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT IN YORK COUNTY REPRESENTS AND IS DECLARED TO BE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT.

S. 220--DEBATE ADJOURNED

Rep. BEDINGFIELD moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:

S. 220 (Word version) -- Senators Jackson and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 44 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 44-1-149 TO PROHIBIT THE RESALE OF FOOD THAT HAS BEEN SERVED OR SOLD TO AND POSSESSED BY A CONSUMER.

H. 5173--ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Joint Resolution was taken up:

H. 5173 (Word version) -- Rep. Merrill: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CLARIFY AND AFFIRM THAT THE SAVANNAH RIVER MARITIME COMMISSION IS THE SOLE AUTHORITY THAT MAY TAKE ANY ACTION PERTAINING TO THE NAVIGABILITY, DEPTH, DREDGING, WASTEWATER AND SLUDGE DISPOSAL, AND RELATED COLLATERAL ISSUES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PORTION OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER AND CONCERNING THE SAVANNAH HARBOR EXPANSION PROJECT; TO ESTABLISH VOTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA DELEGATION TO THE JOINT PROJECT OFFICE; TO PROVIDE THAT SOUTH CAROLINA APPOINTEES TO THE JOINT PROJECT OFFICE ARE SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT ANY EXPENDITURE OF STATE FUNDS THROUGH THE JOINT PROJECT OFFICE MUST BE UPON THE APPROVAL OF A MAJORITY OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA REPRESENTATIVES ON THE JOINT PROJECT OFFICE.

Rep. MERRILL explained the Joint Resolution.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 96; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Bannister              Barfield
Battle                 Bedingfield            Bingham
Bowen                  Bowers                 Brady
Branham                Brannon                Brantley
H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick         Chumley
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Erickson               Forrester              Frye
Funderburk             Gilliard               Hamilton
Hardwick               Harrell                Harrison
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hixon                  Hodges                 Horne
Hosey                  Huggins                Jefferson
Johnson                King                   Knight
Limehouse              Long                   Lowe
McCoy                  McEachern              McLeod
Merrill                D. C. Moss             Munnerlyn
Murphy                 Nanney                 J. M. Neal
Neilson                Ott                    Owens
Parker                 Parks                  Patrick
Pinson                 Pope                   Putnam
Quinn                  Rutherford             Ryan
Sabb                   Simrill                Skelton
G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith            J. R. Smith
Sottile                Southard               Spires
Stavrinakis            Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Toole                  Tribble
Weeks                  White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Young

Total--96

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Joint Resolution was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

S. 1085--RECONSIDERED

Rep. STAVRINAKIS moved to reconsider the vote whereby debate was adjourned on the following Bill, which was agreed to:

S. 1085 (Word version) -- Senator Hayes: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-11-210, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF SPECIFIC WATERSHED CONSERVATION DISTRICTS UNDER THE GENERAL LAW PERTAINING TO SUCH DISTRICTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF CHAPTER 11, TITLE 48, INCLUDING THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS, THE DIGITAL HYDROLOGIC MAP PREPARED BY THE SERVICE CENTER AGENCIES OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE FISHING CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT IN YORK COUNTY REPRESENTS AND IS DECLARED TO BE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT.

S. 1085--ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

S. 1085 (Word version) -- Senator Hayes: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-11-210, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF SPECIFIC WATERSHED CONSERVATION DISTRICTS UNDER THE GENERAL LAW PERTAINING TO SUCH DISTRICTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF CHAPTER 11, TITLE 48, INCLUDING THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS, THE DIGITAL HYDROLOGIC MAP PREPARED BY THE SERVICE CENTER AGENCIES OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE FISHING CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT IN YORK COUNTY REPRESENTS AND IS DECLARED TO BE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 91; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Bannister              Barfield
Battle                 Bingham                Bowen
Bowers                 Brady                  Brannon
Brantley               H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Erickson               Forrester              Frye
Funderburk             Gambrell               Gilliard
Hamilton               Hardwick               Harrell
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hixon                  Horne                  Hosey
Huggins                Jefferson              Johnson
King                   Knight                 Limehouse
Loftis                 Long                   McCoy
McEachern              McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             Munnerlyn              Murphy
Nanney                 J. M. Neal             Neilson
Norman                 Ott                    Owens
Parker                 Patrick                Pinson
Pope                   Putnam                 Quinn
Ryan                   Sabb                   Sandifer
Simrill                Skelton                G. M. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  White
Whitmire               Williams               Willis
Young

Total--91

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

H. 5181--ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 5181 (Word version) -- Reps. White, Anderson and Gambrell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-80, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF PRECINCTS IN ANDERSON COUNTY, SO AS TO ADD THE "TOWN CREEK" PRECINCT, TO REDESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE NAMES OF THESE PRECINCTS MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICS OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, AND TO CORRECT ARCHAIC LANGUAGE.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 97; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Allen                  Allison
Anderson               Atwater                Bales
Bannister              Barfield               Battle
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brannon
Brantley               G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown
Butler Garrick         Chumley                Clemmons
Clyburn                Cole                   Corbin
Crawford               Crosby                 Daning
Delleney               Dillard                Erickson
Forrester              Frye                   Funderburk
Gilliard               Govan                  Hardwick
Harrell                Harrison               Hearn
Henderson              Herbkersman            Hixon
Horne                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Johnson                King
Knight                 Limehouse              Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   McCoy
McEachern              McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn
Murphy                 Nanney                 J. H. Neal
J. M. Neal             Neilson                Ott
Owens                  Parker                 Parks
Patrick                Pinson                 Pope
Putnam                 Quinn                  Rutherford
Ryan                   Sabb                   Sandifer
Simrill                Skelton                G. M. Smith
Sottile                Southard               Spires
Stavrinakis            Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Toole                  Tribble
Weeks                  Whipper                White
Whitmire               Williams               Willis
Young

Total--97

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

H. 4798--ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 4798 (Word version) -- Reps. McLeod and Bowers: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 5-7-90, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE TRIAL OF A PERSON IN A MUNICIPAL COURT, SO AS TO REVISE THE PERIOD OF TIME A PERSON MUST BE TRIED AFTER THE DATE OF HIS ARREST.

Rep. MCLEOD explained the Bill.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 101; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Bannister              Barfield
Battle                 Bingham                Bowen
Bowers                 Brady                  Branham
Brannon                Brantley               G. A. Brown
H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick         Chumley
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Erickson               Forrester              Frye
Funderburk             Gilliard               Govan
Hamilton               Hardwick               Harrell
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hixon                  Hodges                 Horne
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jefferson              Johnson                King
Knight                 Limehouse              Loftis
Long                   McCoy                  McEachern
McLeod                 Merrill                D. C. Moss
V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn              Murphy
Nanney                 J. H. Neal             J. M. Neal
Neilson                Norman                 Ott
Owens                  Parker                 Patrick
Pinson                 Pitts                  Pope
Putnam                 Quinn                  Rutherford
Ryan                   Sabb                   Sandifer
Simrill                Skelton                G. M. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  Whipper
White                  Whitmire               Williams
Willis                 Young

Total--101

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

H. 5048--DEBATE ADJOURNED

Rep. TAYLOR moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Wednesday, May 9, which was adopted:

H. 5048 (Word version) -- Reps. Taylor, J. R. Smith, Spires, Clyburn, Hixon and Young: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 57-5-200 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL INCLUDE "AIKEN" ON ALL EXISTING AND FUTURE SIGNAGE THAT DIRECTS MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC TO THE CITY OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA ALONG THE EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND LANES OF TRAFFIC AT EXIT 107 ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 26, AND ALONG THE NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND LANES OF TRAFFIC AT EXIT 16 ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 77.

REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE

Rep. CLEMMONS, from the Committee on Rules, submitted a favorable report on:

H. 3445 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrison, Allison, J. R. Smith, Lowe, Pitts, Brady, Funderburk, Clemmons and Toole: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO AMEND RULE 4.16 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RELATING TO THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE'S DUTIES AND PROCEDURES, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DUTIES, COMPLAINT PROCEDURES, AND PROCEDURES FOR FINDINGS OF PROBABLE CAUSE, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, TO ADD PROVISIONS REGARDING THE RECEIPT OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PROCEEDINGS IN ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST A MEMBER, AND TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS FOR EXPULSION OF A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

H. 3445--ADOPTED

The following House Resolution was taken up:

H. 3445 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrison, Allison, J. R. Smith, Lowe, Pitts, Brady, Funderburk, Clemmons and Toole: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO AMEND RULE 4.16 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RELATING TO THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE'S DUTIES AND PROCEDURES, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DUTIES, COMPLAINT PROCEDURES, AND PROCEDURES FOR FINDINGS OF PROBABLE CAUSE, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, TO ADD PROVISIONS REGARDING THE RECEIPT OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PROCEEDINGS IN ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST A MEMBER, AND TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS FOR EXPULSION OF A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Rep. CLEMMONS explained the Resolution.

The Resolution was adopted.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The SPEAKER granted Rep. BEDINGFIELD a leave of absence for the remainder of the day.

H. 3257--AMENDED AND ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 3257 (Word version) -- Reps. Herbkersman and H. B. Brown: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 108 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY ISSUE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.

The Education and Public Works Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 3257 (COUNCIL\SWB\5294CM12):
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 56-3-10810(B), as contained in SECTION 1 by deleting line 40 on page 1, and inserting:
/ Moss Creek Marines, a 501(C)(3) organization. /
When amended Section 56-3-10810(B) shall read:
/ (B)   Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Motor Vehicles to defray the expenses of the Department of Motor Vehicles in producing and administering the special license plates. The remaining funds collected from the special motor vehicle license fee must be distributed to the Moss Creek Marines, a 501(C)(3) organization." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. THAYER moved to adjourn debate on the amendment, which was agreed to.

Rep. OWENS proposed the following Amendment No. 2 to H. 3257 (COUNCIL\AGM\19581AB12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting subsection (B) in its entirety and inserting:
/   (B)     The fees collected pursuant to this section above the cost of production must be distributed to the Moss Creek Marines, a 501(C)(3) organization.

(C)   The guidelines for the productions, collection, and distribution of fees for a special license plate under this section must meet the requirements of Section 56-3-8100." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. THAYER explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.

The Education and Public Works Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 3257 (COUNCIL\SWB\5294CM12), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 56-3-10810(B), as contained in SECTION 1 by deleting line 40 on page 1, and inserting:
/ Moss Creek Marines, a 501(C)(3) organization. /
When amended Section 56-3-10810(B) shall read:
/ (B)   Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Motor Vehicles to defray the expenses of the Department of Motor Vehicles in producing and administering the special license plates. The remaining funds collected from the special motor vehicle license fee must be distributed to the Moss Creek Marines, a 501(C)(3) organization." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. THAYER moved to table the amendment, which was agreed to.

The question then recurred to the passage of the Bill.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 95; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Allen                  Allison
Anderson               Atwater                Bales
Bannister              Barfield               Battle
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Brannon                Brantley
Chumley                Clemmons               Clyburn
Cole                   Corbin                 Crawford
Crosby                 Daning                 Delleney
Dillard                Erickson               Forrester
Frye                   Funderburk             Gambrell
Gilliard               Govan                  Hamilton
Hardwick               Harrell                Harrison
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hiott                  Hixon                  Hodges
Horne                  Hosey                  Howard
Jefferson              Johnson                King
Knight                 Limehouse              Loftis
Long                   McCoy                  McEachern
McLeod                 D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
Munnerlyn              Murphy                 Nanney
J. H. Neal             J. M. Neal             Neilson
Norman                 Ott                    Owens
Parker                 Patrick                Pinson
Pitts                  Pope                   Putnam
Quinn                  Sabb                   Sandifer
Simrill                Skelton                G. R. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  Whipper
White                  Whitmire               Williams
Willis                 Young

Total--95

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

H. 3445--RECONSIDERED

Rep. CLEMMONS moved to reconsider the vote whereby the following Resolution was adopted:

H. 3445 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrison, Allison, J. R. Smith, Lowe, Pitts, Brady, Funderburk, Clemmons and Toole: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO AMEND RULE 4.16 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RELATING TO THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE'S DUTIES AND PROCEDURES, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DUTIES, COMPLAINT PROCEDURES, AND PROCEDURES FOR FINDINGS OF PROBABLE CAUSE, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, TO ADD PROVISIONS REGARDING THE RECEIPT OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PROCEEDINGS IN ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST A MEMBER, AND TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS FOR EXPULSION OF A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

H. 3445--ADOPTED

The following House Resolution was taken up:

H. 3445 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrison, Allison, J. R. Smith, Lowe, Pitts, Brady, Funderburk, Clemmons and Toole: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO AMEND RULE 4.16 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RELATING TO THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE'S DUTIES AND PROCEDURES, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DUTIES, COMPLAINT PROCEDURES, AND PROCEDURES FOR FINDINGS OF PROBABLE CAUSE, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, TO ADD PROVISIONS REGARDING THE RECEIPT OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PROCEEDINGS IN ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST A MEMBER, AND TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS FOR EXPULSION OF A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

Rep. CLEMMONS demanded the yeas and nays which were taken, resulting as follows:

Yeas 98; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Allen                  Allison
Anderson               Atwater                Bales
Bannister              Barfield               Battle
Bowen                  Bowers                 Brady
Branham                Brannon                Brantley
G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick
Chumley                Clemmons               Clyburn
Cole                   Corbin                 Crawford
Crosby                 Daning                 Delleney
Dillard                Erickson               Forrester
Frye                   Funderburk             Gilliard
Govan                  Hamilton               Hardwick
Harrell                Hearn                  Henderson
Herbkersman            Hixon                  Hodges
Horne                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jefferson              Johnson
King                   Knight                 Limehouse
Loftis                 Long                   McCoy
McEachern              McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn
Murphy                 Nanney                 J. H. Neal
J. M. Neal             Neilson                Norman
Ott                    Owens                  Parker
Parks                  Patrick                Pinson
Pope                   Putnam                 Quinn
Ryan                   Sabb                   Sandifer
Simrill                Skelton                G. R. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  Whipper
White                  Whitmire               Williams
Willis                 Young

Total--98

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Resolution was adopted.

RECORD FOR VOTING

I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on H. 3445. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the House Resolution.

Rep. David Hiott

RECORD FOR VOTING

I voted in favor of House Resolution 3445, on the voice vote. I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the electronic roll call vote, when H. 3445 was reconsidered. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Resolution.

Rep. Eric Bedingfield

STATEMENT FOR THE JOURNAL

I abstained from voting on H. 3445, because I currently serve on the S.C. House Ethics Committee, which may or may not have current complaints before the committee which may be affected by this Resolution.

Rep. Michael Gambrell

STATEMENT FOR THE JOURNAL

I abstained from voting on H. 3445, because I currently serve on the S.C. House Ethics Committee, which may or may not have current complaints before the committee which may be affected by this Resolution.

Rep. Michael Pitts

RECORD FOR VOTING

I was on leave during the vote on H. 3445. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Resolution.

Rep. Nathan Ballentine

S. 105--DEBATE ADJOURNED

Rep. WHITE moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 10, which was adopted:

S. 105 (Word version) -- Senators Verdin, Leventis and L. Martin: A BILL TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING ARTICLE 8 TO CHAPTER 25, TITLE 57, TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CREATE AND SUPERVISE A STATEWIDE PROGRAM RELATED TO PROVIDING DIRECTIONAL SIGNS ALONG THE STATE'S MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND INTERCHANGES LEADING TO AGRITOURISM ORIENTED FACILITIES ENGAGED IN EDUCATIONAL OR AGRITOURISM ACTIVITIES.

Further proceedings were interrupted by expiration of time on the uncontested Calendar.

H. 3066--DEBATE ADJOURNED

The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:

H. 3066 (Word version) -- Reps. G. R. Smith, Daning, Ballentine, Harrison, Allison, Hamilton, G. M. Smith, Bingham, Long, Henderson, Erickson, Horne, Willis, Weeks, McLeod, Pope, Simrill, Lucas, Norman, D. C. Moss, Clemmons, Harrell, Atwater, Bedingfield, Funderburk and Edge: A BILL TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA RESTRUCTURING ACT OF 2011" INCLUDING PROVISIONS TO AMEND SECTION 1-30-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE AGENCIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT BY ADDING THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION; BY ADDING SECTION 1-30-125 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AS AN AGENCY OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO BE HEADED BY A DIRECTOR APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO TRANSFER TO THIS NEWLY CREATED DEPARTMENT CERTAIN OFFICES AND DIVISIONS OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, AND OTHER AGENCIES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR TRANSITIONAL AND OTHER PROVISIONS NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE ABOVE; BY ADDING CHAPTER 2 TO TITLE 2 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OVERSIGHT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 1-11-20, AS AMENDED, 1-11-22, 1-11-55, 1-11-56, 1-11-58, 1-11-65, 1-11-67, 1-11-70, 1-11-80, 1-11-90, 1-11-100, 1-11-110, 1-11-180, 1-11-220, 1-11-225, 1-11-250, 1-11-260, 1-11-270, 1-11-280, 1-11-290, 1-11-300, 1-11-310, AS AMENDED, 1-11-315, 1-11-320, 1-11-335, 1-11-340, 1-11-435; 2-13-240, CHAPTER 9, TITLE 3; 10-1-10, 10-1-30, AS AMENDED, 10-1-40, 10-1-130, 10-1-190, CHAPTER 9, TITLE 10, 10-11-50, AS AMENDED, 10-11-90, 10-11-110, 10-11-140, 10-11-330; 11-9-610, 11-9-620, 11-9-630, 11-35-3810, AS AMENDED, 11-35-3820, AS AMENDED, 11-35-3830, AS AMENDED, 11-35-3840, AS AMENDED, 13-7-30, AS AMENDED, 13-7-830, AS AMENDED; 44-53-530, AS AMENDED, AND 44-96-140; 48-46-30, 48-46-40, 48-46-50, 48-46-60, 48-46-90, 48-52-410, 48-52-440, AND 48-52-460; AND BY ADDING SECTION 1-11-185 RELATING TO VARIOUS AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT PROVISIONS SO AS TO CONFORM THEM TO THE ABOVE PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION OR TO SUPPLEMENT SUCH PROVISIONS.

Rep. G. R. SMITH moved to adjourn debate upon the Senate Amendments until Wednesday, May 2, which was agreed to.

H. 4205--SENATE AMENDMENTS CONCURRED IN AND BILL ENROLLED

The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:

H. 4205 (Word version) -- Reps. Funderburk, G.A. Brown and Lucas: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 8, CHAPTER 36, TITLE 33, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CORPORATIONS NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDING WATER SERVICE FINANCED BY FEDERAL OR STATE LOANS BEING PERMITTED TO CONVERT TO A PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, BY ADDING SECTION 33-36-1315, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL CONVERSION PROVISIONS, TERMS, AND LIMITATIONS FOR NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS OF A CERTAIN SIZE THAT PROVIDE WATER SERVICE IN TWO OR MORE COUNTIES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 33-36-1330, RELATING TO THE GOVERNING BOARD AND STRUCTURE OF A CORPORATION WHICH HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE OF A PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT OF A CERTAIN SIZE THAT PROVIDES SERVICE IN TWO OR MORE COUNTIES.

Rep. SANDIFER explained the Senate Amendments.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 101; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Allen                  Allison
Anderson               Atwater                Bales
Barfield               Battle                 Bingham
Bowen                  Bowers                 Brady
Branham                Brannon                Brantley
G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick
Chumley                Clemmons               Clyburn
Cole                   Corbin                 Crawford
Crosby                 Daning                 Delleney
Dillard                Erickson               Forrester
Frye                   Funderburk             Gambrell
Gilliard               Govan                  Hamilton
Hardwick               Harrell                Harrison
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hiott                  Hixon                  Hodges
Horne                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jefferson              Johnson
King                   Knight                 Limehouse
Loftis                 Long                   McCoy
McEachern              McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn
Murphy                 Nanney                 J. H. Neal
J. M. Neal             Neilson                Norman
Ott                    Owens                  Parker
Parks                  Patrick                Pinson
Pope                   Putnam                 Quinn
Ryan                   Sabb                   Sandifer
Simrill                Skelton                G. R. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  Whipper
White                  Whitmire               Williams
Willis                 Young

Total--101

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

The Senate Amendments were agreed to, and the Bill having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act, and that it be enrolled for ratification.

H. 3059--SENATE AMENDMENTS CONCURRED IN AND BILL ENROLLED

The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:

H. 3059 (Word version) -- Reps. Merrill, Stavrinakis, J. E. Smith and Whipper: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3376, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLES, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE", TO RAISE THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT AVAILABLE EACH FISCAL YEAR AND DELETE ITS EXPIRATION DATE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE CREDIT MUST BE ALLOCATED TO ELIGIBLE CLAIMANTS DURING A FISCAL YEAR ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE BASIS.

Rep. MERRILL explained the Senate Amendments.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 53; Nays 48

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Allen                  Anderson
Bales                  Bannister              Battle
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brantley
G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick
Clyburn                Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Erickson               Gilliard
Govan                  Harrell                Harrison
Hearn                  Herbkersman            Hodges
Hosey                  Howard                 Jefferson
Johnson                King                   Knight
Loftis                 McLeod                 Merrill
Munnerlyn              J. H. Neal             Neilson
Ott                    Parker                 Parks
Pitts                  Pope                   Quinn
Sabb                   J. E. Smith            Spires
Stavrinakis            Toole                  Whipper
White                  Williams

Total--53

Those who voted in the negative are:

Allison                Atwater                Barfield
Brannon                Chumley                Clemmons
Cole                   Corbin                 Delleney
Dillard                Forrester              Frye
Gambrell               Hamilton               Hardwick
Henderson              Hiott                  Hixon
Horne                  Huggins                Limehouse
Long                   McCoy                  McEachern
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Nanney
J. M. Neal             Norman                 Owens
Patrick                Pinson                 Putnam
Ryan                   Simrill                Skelton
G. R. Smith            J. R. Smith            Sottile
Southard               Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Tribble                Weeks
Whitmire               Willis                 Young

Total--48

The Senate Amendments were agreed to, and the Bill having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act, and that it be enrolled for ratification.

RECORD FOR VOTING

During the vote on H. 3059, the Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Bill, I was seated at Rep. J. E. Smith's desk. I inadvertently voted on his vote system, intending to vote my own card in favor of the Bill, but the system malfunctioned and recorded a 'yea' vote for Rep. J. E. Smith and a 'nay' vote for myself. I intended to vote in favor of H. 3059.

Rep. Joe McEachern

RECORD FOR VOTING

The automotive industry cluster plays an major role to the economy of the State. I voted to concur with Senate amendments to H. 3059, because of the value it will add to this economic cluster in South Carolina.

Net impact to the General Fund is estimated to be approximately $41,000 but will further enhance the recognition and research being done in South Carolina's automotive cluster, especially in the Greenville area on various types of electric vehicles.

Rep. Dwight Loftis

H. 3720--SENATE AMENDMENTS AMENDED AND RETURNED TO THE SENATE

The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:

H. 3720 (Word version) -- Reps. Cooper, Henderson and Patrick: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3360, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS OF THE JOBS TAX CREDIT, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS OF A QUALIFYING SERVICE-RELATED FACILITY AND A TECHNOLOGY INTENSIVE FACILITY; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3411 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CORPORATION ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS OR EXPANDING OR ADDING TO AN EXISTING NATIONAL CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN THIS STATE, WHICH IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ADDS AT LEAST FIFTY NEW FULL-TIME JOBS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING STATE CORPORATE INCOME TAXES FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-20-105, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO TAX CREDITS FOR PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM AGGREGATE CREDIT TO FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 4-12-30, 4-29-67, AND 12-44-90, ALL AS AMENDED, RELATING TO FEE IN LIEU OF TAXES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY AUDITOR OR COUNTY ASSESSOR MAY REQUEST AND OBTAIN ANY FINANCIAL BOOKS AND RECORDS FROM A SPONSOR THAT SUPPORT THE SPONSOR'S TAX FORM OR RETURN TO VERIFY THE CALCULATIONS OF THE FEE IN LIEU OF TAXES TAX FORM OR RETURN; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT COMPUTERS, COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PURCHASES FOR A DATACENTER AND ELECTRICITY USED BY A DATACENTER.

Rep. WHITE proposed the following Amendment No. 1A to H. 3720 (COUNCIL\NBD\12393DG12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding appropriately numbered SECTIONS to read:
/   SECTION   __.   Section 12-6-3360(M)(13) and (14) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 290 of 2010, is further amended to read:

"(13)   'Qualifying service-related facility' means:

(a)   an establishment engaged in an activity or activities listed under the North American Industry Classification System Manual (NAICS) Section 62, subsectors 621, 622, and 623; or

(b)   a business, other than a business engaged in legal, accounting, banking, or investment services (including a business identified under NAICS Section 55) or retail sales, which has a net increase of at least:

(i)     two one hundred fifty seventy-five jobs at a single location;

(ii)   one hundred fifty jobs at a single location comprised of a building or portion of building that has been vacant for at least twelve consecutive months prior to the taxpayer's investment;

(iii)   one hundred twenty-five jobs at a single location and the jobs have an average cash compensation level of more than one and one-half times the lower of state per capita income or per capita income in the county where the jobs are located;

(iii)(iv)   seventy-five fifty jobs at a single location and the jobs have an average cash compensation level of more than twice the lower of state per capita income or per capita income in the county where the jobs are located; or

(iv)(v)   thirty twenty-five jobs at a single location and the jobs have an average cash compensation level of more than two and one-half times the lower of state per capita income or per capita income in the county where the jobs are located.

A taxpayer shall use the most recent per capita income data available as of the end of the taxable year in which the jobs are filled. Determination of the required number of jobs is in accordance with the monthly average described in subsection (F).

(14)   'Technology intensive facility' means:

(a)   a facility at which a firm engages in the design, development, and introduction of new products or innovative manufacturing processes, or both, through the systematic application of scientific and technical knowledge. Included in this definition are the following North American Industrial Classification Systems, NAICS, Codes published by the Office of the Management and Budget of the federal government:

(i)     5114 database and directory publishers;

(ii)   5112 software publishers;

(iii)   54151 computer systems design and related services;

(iv)   541511 custom computer programming services;

(v)   541512 computer systems design services;

(vi)   541710 scientific research and development services 541711 research and development in biotechnology; 2007 NAICS;

(vii)   541712 research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences; 2007 NAICS;

(viii)   518210 data processing, hosting, and related services;

(ix)   9271 space research and technology; or

(b)   a facility primarily used for one or more activities listed under the 2002 version of the NAICS Codes 51811 (Internet Service Providers and Web Search Portals)."
SECTION   __.   Section 12-20-105 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 290 of 2010, is further amended to read:

"Section 12-20-105.   (A)   Any company subject to a license tax under Section 12-20-100 may claim a credit against its license tax liability for amounts paid in cash to provide infrastructure for an eligible project.

(B)(1)   To be considered an eligible project for purposes of this section, the project must qualify for income tax credits under Chapter 6, Title 12, withholding tax credit under Chapter 10, Title 12, income tax credits under Chapter 14, Title 12, or fees in lieu of property taxes under either Chapter 12, Title 4, Chapter 29, Title 4, or Chapter 44, Title 12.

(2)   If a project is located in an office, business, commercial, or industrial park, or combination of these, is used exclusively for economic development and is owned or constructed by a county, political subdivision, or agency of this State when the qualifying improvements are paid for, the project does not have to meet the qualifications of item (1) to be considered an eligible project. As provided in subsection (C)(4), the county or political subdivision may sell all or a portion of the business or industrial park.

(C)   For the purpose of this section, 'infrastructure' means improvements for water, wastewater, hydrogen fuel, sewer, gas, steam, electric energy, and communication services made to a building or land that are considered necessary, suitable, or useful to an eligible project. These improvements include, but are not limited to:

(1)   improvements to both public or private water and sewer systems;

(2)   improvements to both public or private electric, natural gas, and telecommunications systems including, but not limited to, ones owned or leased by an electric cooperative, electric utility, or electric supplier, as defined in Chapter 27, Title 58;

(3)   fixed transportation facilities including highway, road, rail, water, and air;

(4)   for a qualifying project under subsection (B)(2), infrastructure improvements include shell buildings, incubator buildings whose ownership is retained by the county, political subdivision, or agency of the State and the purchase of land for an office, business, commercial, or industrial park, or combination of these, used exclusively for economic development which is owned or constructed by a county, political subdivision, or agency of this State. The county, political subdivision, or agency may sell the shell building or all or a portion of the park at any time after the company has paid in cash to provide the infrastructure for an eligible project; and

(5)   for a qualifying project pursuant to subsection (B)(2), infrastructure improvements also include due diligence expenditures relating to environmental conditions made by a county or political subdivision after it has acquired contractual rights to an industrial park. Due diligence expenditures include such items as Phase I and II studies and environmental or archeological studies required by state or federal statutes or guidelines or similar lender requirements. Contractual rights include options to purchase real property or other similar contractual rights acquired before the county or political subdivision files a deed to the property with the Register of Mesne Conveyances; and

(6)   for a qualifying project pursuant to subsection (B)(2), site preparation costs include, but are not limited to:

(a)   clearing, grubbing, grading, and stormwater retention; and

(b)   refurbishment of buildings that are owned or controlled by a county or municipality and are used exclusively for economic development purposes.

(D)   A company is not allowed the credit provided by this section for actual expenses it incurs in the construction and operation of any building or infrastructure it owns, leases, manages, or operates.

(E)   The maximum aggregate credit that may be claimed in any tax year by a single company is three four hundred thousand dollars.

(F)   The credits allowed by this section may not reduce the license tax liability of the company below zero. If the applicable credit originally earned during a taxable year exceeds the liability and is otherwise allowable under subsection (D), the amount of the excess may be carried forward to the next taxable year.

(G)   For South Carolina income tax and license purposes, a company that claims the credit allowed by this section is ineligible to claim the credit allowed by Section 12-6-3420.

(H)   By March first of each year, the Department of Revenue shall issue a report to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Secretary of the Department of Commerce outlining the history of the credit allowed pursuant to this section. The report shall include the amount of credit allowed pursuant to this section and the types of infrastructure provided to eligible projects."
SECTION   __.   Section 12-44-30(21) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 290 of 2010, is further amended to read:

"(21)   'Termination date' means the date that is the last day of a property tax year that is no later than the twenty-ninth year following the first property tax year in which an applicable piece of economic development property is placed in service. A sponsor may apply to the county prior to the termination date for an extension of the termination date beyond the twenty-ninth year up to ten years. The county council of the county shall approve an extension by resolution upon a finding of substantial public benefit. A copy of the resolution must be delivered to the department within thirty days of the date the resolution was adopted. With respect to a fee agreement involving an enhanced investment, the termination date is the last day of a property tax year that is no later than the thirty-ninth year following the first property tax year in which an applicable piece of economic development property is placed in service. A sponsor may apply to the county before the termination date for an extension of the termination date beyond the thirty-ninth year up to ten years. If the fee agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 12-44-140, the termination date is the date the agreement is terminated."
SECTION   __.   Section 4-12-30(O) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is amended by adding an appropriately numbered subitem at the end to read:

"( )   Upon the direction of the governing body of the county, a county official may request and obtain such financial books and records from a sponsor that support the sponsor's fee in lieu of taxes return as may be reasonably necessary to verify the calculations of the sponsor's fee in lieu of taxes payment or the calculations of the sponsor's special source revenue credit."
SECTION   __.   Section 4-29-67(S) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 290 of 2010, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered subitem at the end to read:

"( )   Upon the direction of the governing body of the county, a county official may request and obtain such financial books and records from a sponsor that support the sponsor's fee in lieu of taxes return as may be reasonably necessary to verify the calculations of the sponsor's fee in lieu of taxes payment or the calculations of the sponsor's special source revenue credit."
SECTION   __.   Section 12-44-90 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered subsection at the end to read:

"( )   Upon the direction of the governing body of the county, a county official may request and obtain such financial books and records from a sponsor that support the sponsor's fee in lieu of taxes return as may be reasonably necessary to verify the calculations of the sponsor's fee in lieu of taxes payment or the calculations of the sponsor's special source revenue credit."
SECTION   ___.   Section 12-36-2120 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 32 of 2011, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered subsection at the end to read:

"( )(A)(1)   original or replacement computers, computer equipment, and computer hardware and software purchases used within a datacenter; and

(2)   electricity used by a datacenter and eligible business property to be located and used at the datacenter. This subitem does not apply to sales of electricity for any other purpose, and such sales are subject to the tax, including, but not limited to, electricity used in administrative offices, supervisory offices, parking lots, storage warehouses, maintenance shops, safety control, comfort air conditioning, elevators used in carrying personnel, cafeterias, canteens, first aid rooms, supply rooms, water coolers, drink boxes, unit heaters and waste house lights.

(B)   As used in this section:

(1)   'Computer' means an electronic device that accepts information in digital or similar form and manipulates it for a result based on a sequence of instructions.

(2)   'Computer equipment' means original or replacement servers, routers, switches, power units, network devices, hard drives, processors, memory modules, motherboards, racks, other computer hardware and components, cabling, cooling apparatus, and related or ancillary equipment, machinery, and components, the primary purpose of which is to store, retrieve, aggregate, search, organize, process, analyze, or transfer data or any combination of these, or to support related computer engineering or computer science research. This also includes equipment cooling systems for managing the performance of the datacenter property, including mechanical and electrical equipment, hardware for distributed and mainframe computers and servers, data storage devices, network connectivity equipment, and peripheral components and systems.

(3)   'Computer software' means a set of coded instructions designed to cause a computer or automatic data processing equipment to perform a task.

(4)   'Concurrently maintainable' means capable of having any capacity component or distribution element serviced or repaired on a planned basis without interrupting or impeding the performance of the computer equipment.

(5)   'Datacenter' means a new or existing facility at a single location in South Carolina:

(i)     that provides infrastructure for hosting or data processing services and that has power and cooling systems that are created and maintained to be concurrently maintainable and to include redundant capacity components and multiple distribution paths serving the computer equipment at the facility. Although the facility must have multiple distribution paths serving the computer equipment, a single distribution path may serve the computer equipment at any one time;

(ii)(a)   where a taxpayer invests at least fifty million dollars in real or personal property or both over a five year period; or

(b)   where one or more taxpayers invests a minimum aggregate capital investment of at least seventy-five million dollars in real or personal property or both over a five year period;

(iii)   where a taxpayer creates and maintains at least twenty five full-time jobs at the facility with an average cash compensation level of one hundred fifty percent of the per capita income of the State or of the county in which the facility is located, whichever is lower, according to the most recently published data available at the time the facility is certified by the Department of Commerce;

(iv)   where the jobs created pursuant to subitem (iii) are maintained for three consecutive years after a facility with the minimum capital investment and number of jobs has been certified by the Department of Commerce; and

(v)   which is certified by the Department of Commerce pursuant to subsection (D)(1)under such policies and procedures as promulgated by the Department of Commerce.

(6)   'Eligible business property' means property used for the generation, transformation, transmission, distribution, or management of electricity, including exterior substations and other business personal property used for these purposes.

(7)   'Multiple distribution paths' means a series of distribution paths configured to ensure that failure on one distribution path does not interrupt or impede other distribution paths.

(8)   'Redundant capacity components' means components beyond those required to support the computer equipment.

(C)(1)   To qualify for the exemption allowed by this item, a taxpayer, and the facility in the case of a seventy-five million dollar investment made by more than one taxpayer, shall notify the Department of Revenue and Department of Commerce, in writing, of its intention to claim the exemption. For purposes of meeting the requirements of subsection (B)(5)(ii) and (B)(5)(iii), capital investment and job creation begin accruing once the taxpayer notifies each department. Also, the five-year period begins upon notification.

(2)   Once the taxpayer meets the requirements of subsection (B)(5), or at the end of the five-year period, the taxpayer shall notify the Department of Revenue, in writing, whether it has or has not met the requirements of subsection (B)(5). The taxpayer shall provide the proof the department determines necessary to determine that the requirements have been met.

(D)(1)   Upon notifying each department of its intention to claim the exemption pursuant to subsection (C)(1), and upon certification by the Department of Commerce, the taxpayer may claim the exemption on eligible purchases at any time during the period provided in Section 125485(F), including the time period prior to subsection (B)(5)(iv) being satisfied.

(2)   For purposes of this section, the running of the periods of limitations for assessment of taxes provided in Section 125485 is suspended for:

(i)     the time period beginning with notice to each department pursuant to subsection (C)(1) and ending with notice to the Department of Revenue pursuant to subsection (C)(2); and

(ii)   during the three year job maintenance requirement pursuant to subsection (B)(5)(iv).

(E)   Any subsequent purchase of or investment in computer equipment, computer hardware and software, and computers, including to replace originally deployed computer equipment or to implement future expansions, likewise shall qualify for the exemption provided in this item, regardless of when the taxpayer makes the investments.

(F)(1)   If a taxpayer receives the exemption for purchases but fails to meet the requirements of subsection (B)(5) at the end of the five-year period, the department may assess any state or local sales or use tax due on items purchased.

(2)   If a taxpayer meets the requirements of subsection (B)(5), but subsequently fails to maintain the number of full-time jobs with the required compensation level at the facility, as previously required pursuant to subsection (B)(5)(iii), the taxpayer is:

(i)     not allowed the exemption for items described in subsection (A)(1) until the taxpayer meets the previous qualifying jobs requirements pursuant to subsection (B)(5)(iii); and

(ii)   allowed the exemption for electricity pursuant to subsection (A)(2), but the exemption only applies to a percentage of the sale price, calculated by dividing the number of qualifying jobs by twenty-five.

(G)   This item only applies to datacenter that is certified by the Department of Commerce pursuant to subsection (D)(1) prior to January 1, 2032. However, this item shall continue to apply to a taxpayer that is certified by December 31, 2031, for an additional ten year period. Upon the end of the ten year period, this item is repealed."
SECTION   __.   If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.   /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 96; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Bannister              Barfield
Battle                 Bingham                Bowen
Bowers                 Brady                  Branham
Brannon                Brantley               H. B. Brown
Butler Garrick         Chumley                Clyburn
Cole                   Corbin                 Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Erickson               Forrester              Frye
Funderburk             Gambrell               Govan
Hamilton               Hardwick               Harrell
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hiott                  Hixon                  Hodges
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jefferson              King                   Knight
Limehouse              Loftis                 Long
McCoy                  McEachern              McLeod
Merrill                D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
Munnerlyn              Murphy                 Nanney
J. H. Neal             J. M. Neal             Neilson
Norman                 Owens                  Parker
Parks                  Patrick                Pinson
Pitts                  Pope                   Putnam
Quinn                  Ryan                   Sabb
Sandifer               Simrill                Skelton
G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith            J. R. Smith
Sottile                Southard               Spires
Stavrinakis            Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Toole                  Tribble
Weeks                  White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Young

Total--96

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

The amendment was then adopted.

The Senate Amendments were amended, and the Bill was ordered returned to the Senate.

H. 3730--DEBATE ADJOURNED

The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:

H. 3730 (Word version) -- Reps. Munnerlyn, Sabb, Vick, Hayes, Tribble and McLeod: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-9-450 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COMMERCIAL FUR LICENSE, IN ADDITION TO A STATE HUNTING LICENSE IS REQUIRED OF ALL PERSONS WHO SELL OR TAKE FURBEARING ANIMALS BY ANY MEANS, EXCEPT A PROCESSOR, MANUFACTURER, OR RETAILER, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF SIXTEEN MAY PURCHASE A COMMERCIAL FUR LICENSE WITHOUT HAVING TO PURCHASE A STATE HUNTING LICENSE AFTER COMPLETING THE TRAPPERS EDUCATION COURSE; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-40, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL USE OF RECORDED SOUNDS OR AMPLIFIED IMITATIONS OF CALLS OR SOUNDS BY A PERSON TO HUNT, CATCH, TAKE, OR KILL A GAME BIRD OR GAME ANIMAL OR ATTEMPT TO HUNT, CATCH, TAKE, OR KILL A GAME BIRD OR GAME ANIMAL BY USE OF THESE MEANS, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT MAKES IT UNLAWFUL TO CATCH OR KILL A GAME BIRD OR GAME ANIMAL OR ATTEMPT TO CATCH OR KILL A GAME BIRD OR GAME ANIMAL BY USE OF THESE MEANS AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE HUNTING AND TAKING OF COYOTES; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-1080, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DECLARING OPEN SEASON ON COYOTES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THERE IS NO CLOSED SEASON FOR HUNTING OR TAKING COYOTES WITH WEAPONS; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-2400, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS THAT PERTAIN TO THE TRAPPING OF FURBEARING ANIMALS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF THE TERMS "FURBEARING ANIMAL" AND "COMMERCIAL PURPOSES", AND TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR THE TERMS "OWNER" AND "AGENT"; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-2430, RELATING TO REQUIRING A FUR TRAPPER TO CARRY PROOF THAT HE IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY ON WHICH HE SETS HIS TRAPS, OR HAS PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY UPON WHICH HIS TRAPS ARE SET, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-2440, RELATING TO REQUIRING A TRAPPER TO VISIT HIS TRAPS DAILY, SO AS TO MODIFY THE FREQUENCY THAT A TRAPPER MUST VISIT HIS TRAPS; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-2445, RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OF TRAPPED WILDLIFE BY THE OWNERS OF TRAPS, SO AS TO ALLOW A TRAP OWNER'S DESIGNEE TO REMOVE WILDLIFE FROM HIS TRAPS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A DESIGNEE MUST POSSESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE TRAP'S OWNER TO ACT ON HIS BEHALF AND MUST MEET ALL COMMERCIAL FUR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OR BE LISTED ON A VALID DEPREDATION PERMIT; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-2460, RELATING TO CERTAIN TRAPS THAT ARE ALLOWED FOR TRAPPING, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT RESTRICTS THE TYPES OF TRAPS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO THOSE THAT ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPROVED COMMERCIAL FUR LICENSES, TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF LIVE TRAPS TO CAPTURE CERTAIN FERAL ANIMALS, TO REVISE THE SIZE OF FOOT-HOLD TRAPS THAT ARE ALLOWABLE, TO PROVIDE THAT SMALL SNAP, BOX, AND OTHER TRAPS ARE ALLOWED FOR TRAPPING; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-2475, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A FUR PROCESSOR'S LICENSE, SO AS TO REVISE THE COST OF THE LICENSE, TO REQUIRE A TAXIDERMIST TO KEEP A DAILY REGISTER OF THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH PERSON FROM WHOM A FURBEARING ANIMAL IS RECEIVED ALONG WITH OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANIMAL, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES; AND TO REPEAL SECTIONS 50-11-1060, 50-11-1070, AND 50-11-2420 RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A COMMERCIAL FUR LICENSE, THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT TO POISON PREDATORY ANIMALS, AND THE KILLING OF BOBCATS.

Rep. HARDWICK moved to adjourn debate upon the Senate Amendments until Wednesday, May 2, which was agreed to.

H. 5028--SENATE AMENDMENTS CONCURRED IN AND BILL ENROLLED

The Senate Amendments to the following Joint Resolution were taken up for consideration:

H. 5028 (Word version) -- Reps. G. M. Smith and White: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012-2013 TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE MEDICAID NURSING HOME PERMIT LAW AND TO SET CERTAIN NURSING HOME STAFFING STANDARDS IN ORDER TO MEET APPROPRIATIONS.

Rep. G. M. SMITH explained the Senate Amendments.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 101; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Bannister              Barfield
Battle                 Bingham                Bowen
Bowers                 Brady                  Branham
Brannon                Brantley               G. A. Brown
H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick         Chumley
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter
Cole                   Corbin                 Crawford
Crosby                 Daning                 Delleney
Dillard                Erickson               Forrester
Frye                   Funderburk             Gambrell
Gilliard               Govan                  Hamilton
Hearn                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hiott                  Hixon                  Hodges
Horne                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jefferson              Johnson
King                   Knight                 Limehouse
Loftis                 Long                   Lowe
McCoy                  McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             Munnerlyn              Murphy
Nanney                 J. H. Neal             J. M. Neal
Neilson                Norman                 Owens
Parker                 Parks                  Patrick
Pinson                 Pitts                  Pope
Putnam                 Quinn                  Ryan
Sabb                   Sandifer               Simrill
Skelton                G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  Whipper
White                  Whitmire               Williams
Willis                 Young

Total--101

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

The Senate Amendments were agreed to, and the Joint Resolution having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act, and that it be enrolled for ratification.

H. 4726--DEBATE ADJOURNED

The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:

H. 4726 (Word version) -- Reps. Pitts, Parks and Pinson: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 6-11-1230, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO POWERS OF PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE POWER TO ASSESS THE COST OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SEWER LATERAL COLLECTION LINE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION RECEIVED CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR SEPTIC TANK USE AND SUBSEQUENTLY FIVE OR MORE LOTS IN THE SUBDIVISION WERE DENIED PERMITS BY THE DEPARTMENT, AN ASSESSMENT MAY BE LEVIED ON THE ABUTTING PARCELS IN THE SUBDIVISION FOR THE ACTUAL COSTS OF THE SEWER LATERAL COLLECTION LINES, TRANSMISSION LINES, AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO PROVIDE THAT A LETTER OR CERTIFICATE OF THE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHES THESE CONDITIONS AUTHORIZING THE ASSESSMENT.

Rep. PITTS moved to adjourn debate upon the Senate Amendments until Wednesday, May 2, which was agreed to.

H. 4787--SENATE AMENDMENTS CONCURRED IN AND BILL ENROLLED

The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:

H. 4787 (Word version) -- Reps. Brady and Sandifer: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 97 TO TITLE 38 SO AS TO ENACT THE "PORTABLE ELECTRONICS INSURANCE ACT", TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS RELATED TO PORTABLE ELECTRONICS INSURANCE, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE SALE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONICS INSURANCE, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF A VENDOR OF PORTABLE ELECTRONICS INSURANCE TO THE PROSPECTIVE CONSUMER OF THIS INSURANCE, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION, AND TO PROVIDE LICENSURE FEES AND SURCHARGES.

Rep. SANDIFER explained the Senate Amendments.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 100; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Bannister              Barfield
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brannon
Brantley               G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown
Butler Garrick         Chumley                Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Erickson               Forrester              Frye
Funderburk             Gambrell               Gilliard
Govan                  Hamilton               Hardwick
Harrell                Hearn                  Henderson
Herbkersman            Hiott                  Hixon
Hodges                 Horne                  Hosey
Howard                 Huggins                Jefferson
Johnson                King                   Knight
Limehouse              Loftis                 Long
Lowe                   McCoy                  McEachern
McLeod                 Merrill                D. C. Moss
V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn              Murphy
Nanney                 J. H. Neal             J. M. Neal
Neilson                Norman                 Owens
Parker                 Parks                  Patrick
Pinson                 Pitts                  Pope
Putnam                 Quinn                  Ryan
Sabb                   Sandifer               Simrill
Skelton                G. R. Smith            J. R. Smith
Sottile                Spires                 Stavrinakis
Tallon                 Taylor                 Thayer
Toole                  Tribble                Weeks
Whitmire               Williams               Willis
Young

Total--100

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

The Senate Amendments were agreed to, and the Bill having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act, and that it be enrolled for ratification.

SENT TO THE SENATE

The following Bills were taken up, read the third time, and ordered sent to the Senate:

H. 3235 (Word version) -- Reps. Taylor, Young, J. R. Smith, Bikas, Chumley, Quinn, Clemmons and Barfield: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 30-4-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FEES AND THE TIME WITHIN WHICH CERTAIN RECORDS MUST BE FURNISHED UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE RECORDS MUST BE FURNISHED AT CURRENT MARKET VALUE TO THE PERSON REQUESTING THE RECORDS, AND TO PROVIDE WHERE A PUBLIC BODY GRANTS A REQUEST FOR RECORDS, IT MUST FURNISH THOSE RECORDS FOR INSPECTION OR COPYING IMMEDIATELY, BUT NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FORMAL REQUEST.

H. 4610 (Word version) -- Reps. Merrill, Bingham, Quinn, Sellers, Clemmons, Herbkersman, G. R. Smith, Atwater, Erickson, Skelton, Daning, Crosby, Bedingfield, Southard, J. R. Smith, Crawford, Patrick, Ryan, Huggins, Limehouse, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Edge, Harrison, Henderson, Hixon, Lowe, Nanney, Simrill, G. M. Smith, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Taylor, Willis and Young: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 68 TO TITLE 59 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BUS PRIVATIZATION ACT OF 2012", INCLUDING PROVISIONS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA SHALL NOT OWN, PURCHASE, OR ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL SCHOOL BUSES ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2015, AND ITS PRESENT FLEET OF SCHOOL BUSES SOLD OR DISPOSED OF ON A PHASED-IN BASIS BEGINNING IN 2012, TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON A PHASED-IN BASIS INDIVIDUALLY OR TOGETHER WITH OTHER DISTRICTS SHALL PROVIDE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OR BY CONTRACT MAY ENGAGE A PRIVATE ENTITY TO PROVIDE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WITH THE PRIVATE ENTITY PROVIDING ALL SCHOOL BUSES, PERSONNEL TO OPERATE, AND AUXILIARY SERVICES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR TERMS, CONDITIONS, PROCEDURES, AND REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE PROVISION OF THESE SERVICES, TO PROVIDE THAT STATE SCHOOL BUS MAINTENANCE FACILITIES, ON A PHASED-IN BASIS BEGINNING IN 2012, SHALL BE LEASED OR SOLD TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR PRIVATE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS OR IN THE ABSENCE OF A SALE OR LEASE CLOSED, TO ESTABLISH A "SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT FUND" CONSISTING OF SPECIFIED FUNDS WHICH MUST BE USED TO REIMBURSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE COST OF SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ON A FORMULA BASIS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO PRIVATE ENTITIES PROVIDING SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND FOR SCHOOL BUS, DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS IN REGARD TO THESE SERVICES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-67-460, RELATING TO CONTRACTS BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WITH PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR A GROUP OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS AUTHORIZED BY CONTRACT TO HAVE THEIR SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY A PRIVATE ENTITY WHICH FURNISHES ITS OWN BUSES, PERSONNEL, AND AUXILIARY SERVICES PRIOR TO THE REQUIRED IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF THE DISTRICT'S ASSUMPTION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT AS REQUIRED BY CHAPTER 68, TITLE 59; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-67-460 EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1, 2015, WHEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IS TRANSFERRED FULLY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THIS STATE.

H. 5132--ADOPTED AND SENT TO SENATE

The following Concurrent Resolution was taken up:

H. 5132 (Word version) -- Reps. Limehouse, Sottile, Gilliard, R. L. Brown, Mack and Whipper: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT THE JUNCTURE OF UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 17 AND SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 41 IN CHARLESTON COUNTY "SENATOR LARRY E. RICHTER INTERCHANGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS INTERSECTION THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "SENATOR LARRY E. RICHTER INTERCHANGE".

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted and sent to the Senate.

S. 1466--ADOPTED AND SENT TO SENATE

The following Concurrent Resolution was taken up:

S. 1466 (Word version) -- Senator Ryberg: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE THE THIRD WEEK IN APRIL 2012 AS "SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK" TO RAISE AWARENESS REGARDING SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AND TO COMMEND THE HOSPITALS, CHILD CARE COUNCILS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT EDUCATE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ON HOW TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABUSE.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted and sent to the Senate.

S. 1414--ADOPTED AND SENT TO SENATE

The following Concurrent Resolution was taken up:

S. 1414 (Word version) -- Senator Thomas: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF APRIL 2012 AS "ZERO TOLERANCE FOR LITTER MONTH" IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO ASK ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO WORK TOGETHER THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR A CLEANER COMMUNITY, THUS PRESERVING THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted and sent to the Senate.

S. 1418--ADOPTED AND SENT TO SENATE

The following Concurrent Resolution was taken up:

S. 1418 (Word version) -- Senator Ford: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT THE JUNCTURE OF UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 17 AND MAGNOLIA ROAD IN CHARLESTON COUNTY "JAMES J. FRENCH INTERSECTION" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS INTERSECTION THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "JAMES J. FRENCH INTERSECTION".

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted and sent to the Senate.

H. 5165--AMENDED, ADOPTED AND SENT TO SENATE

The following Concurrent Resolution was taken up:

H. 5165 (Word version) -- Rep. Bales: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT THE JUNCTURE OF ATLAS ROAD AND VETERANS ROAD IN RICHLAND COUNTY "HOWARD R. CAMPBELL INTERSECTION" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS INTERSECTION THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "HOWARD R. CAMPBELL INTERSECTION".

Rep. BALES proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 5165 (COUNCIL\SWB\5296CM12), which was adopted:
Amend the concurrent resolution, as and if amended, by deleting lines 2 through 7, on page 2, and inserting:
/ That the members of the General Assembly request that the Department of Transportation name the intersection located at the juncture of Atlas Road and Veterans Road in Richland County "Howard R. Campbell Intersection" and erect appropriate markers or signs at this intersection that contain the words "Howard R. Campbell Intersection". /
Amend the concurrent resolution further, by deleting the title contained on page 1, lines 11 through 18, and inserting:
/ TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT THE JUNCTURE OF ATLAS ROAD AND VETERANS ROAD IN RICHLAND COUNTY "HOWARD R. CAMPBELL INTERSECTION" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS INTERSECTION THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "HOWARD R. CAMPBELL INTERSECTION". /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. BALES explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.

The Concurrent Resolution, as amended, was adopted and ordered sent to the Senate.

RECURRENCE TO THE MORNING HOUR

Rep. BANNISTER moved that the House recur to the morning hour, which was agreed to.

H. 3241--CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED

CONFERENCE REPORT
H. 3241
The General Assembly, Columbia, S.C., March 28, 2012

The COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE, to whom was referred:
H. 3241 (Word version) -- Reps. Owens, Stringer, G.R. Smith, Harrison, Daning, Hamilton, Bingham, Long, Henderson, Atwater, Lucas, Clemmons, Cooper, Horne, Simrill, D.C. Moss, Sandifer, Harrell, Erickson, Norman, Barfield and Loftis: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-40-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE CHARTER SCHOOL POWERS AND DUTIES AND TO ALLOW A SPONSOR TO RETAIN CERTAIN FUNDS FOR OVERSEEING THE CHARTER SCHOOL; BY ADDING SECTION 59-40-175 SO AS TO CREATE THE CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITY REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, PURCHASE, RENOVATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURPOSE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL ACT, SO AS TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL PURPOSE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO AMEND EXISTING DEFINITIONS AND ADD NEW DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL POWERS AND DUTIES, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR THE APPLICATION TO CREATE A SINGLE GENDER CHARTER SCHOOL, REVISE PRIORITY ENROLLMENT LIMITS, PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF A CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PROVIDE FOR BOARD MEETING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, ALLOW A CHARTER SCHOOL TO CONTRACT WITH PROVIDERS FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, AND ALLOW CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-60, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO APPLICATION TO CREATE A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO CLARIFY WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A CONTRACT TEMPLATE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SO AS TO REVISE ITS MEMBERSHIP AND TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE SHALL DETERMINE APPLICATION COMPLIANCE AND THE TIME IN WHICH A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL RULE ON THE APPLICATION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-100, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL CONVERSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS PROVIDING FOR PAPER BALLOTS, TO REVISE PRIORITY ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES FOR A CONVERTED CHARTER SCHOOL, AND TO ALLOW A CONVERTED CHARTER SCHOOL TO RETAIN FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE BEFORE CONVERSION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF A CHARTER, SO AS TO ALLOW A SPONSOR TO IMMEDIATELY REVOKE A CHARTER AND CLOSE THE SCHOOL UPON CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, TO REVISE WHAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL RECEIVE, TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FINE SPONSORS THAT FAIL TO DISTRIBUTE CERTAIN FUNDS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND TO REVISE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-190, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LIABILITY OF A GOVERNING BODY OF A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LIABILITY REGARDING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO A SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOL; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-230, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO REVISE ITS MEMBERSHIP; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-130, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LEAVE TO BE EMPLOYED AT A CHARTER SCHOOL, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL IS A COVERED EMPLOYER WITH RESPECT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.

Beg leave to report that they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend:

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

/   SECTION   1.Chapter 40, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-40-55.   (A)   A charter school sponsor shall:

(1)   approve charter applications that meet the requirements specified in Sections 59-40-50 and 59-40-60;

(2)   decline to approve charter applications according to Section 59-40-70(C);

(3)   negotiate and execute sound charter contracts with each approved charter school;

(4)   monitor, in accordance with charter contract terms, the performance and legal/fiscal compliance of charter schools to include collecting and analyzing data to support ongoing evaluation according to the charter contract;

(5)   conduct or require oversight activities that enable the sponsor to fulfill its responsibilities outlined in this chapter, including conducting appropriate inquiries and investigations, only if those activities are consistent with the intent of this chapter, adhere to the terms of the charter contact, and do not unduly inhibit the autonomy granted to public charter schools;

(6)   collect, in accordance with Section 59-40-140(H), an annual report from each of its sponsored charter schools and submit the reports to the Department of Education;

(7)   notify the charter school of perceived problems if its performance or legal compliance appears to be unsatisfactory and provide reasonable opportunity for the school to remedy the problem, unless the problem warrants revocation and revocation timeframes apply;

(8)   take appropriate corrective actions or exercise sanctions short of revocation in response to apparent deficiencies in charter school performance or legal compliance. These actions or sanctions may include requiring a school to develop and execute a corrective action plan within a specified timeframe;

(9)   determine whether each charter contract merits renewal, nonrenewal, or revocation; and

(10)   provide to parents and the general public information about charter schools authorized by the sponsor as an enrollment option within the district in which the charter school is located to the same extent and through the same means as the district in which the charter school is located provides and publicizes information about all public schools in the district. A charter school shall notify its sponsor of its enrollment procedures and dates of its enrollment period no less than sixty days prior to the first day of its enrollment period.

(B)   The South Carolina Public Charter School District may retain no more than two percent of the total state appropriations for each charter school it authorizes to cover the costs for overseeing its charter schools. The sponsor's administrative fee does not include costs incurred in delivering services that a charter school may purchase at its discretion from the sponsor. The sponsor's fee is not applicable to federal money or grants received by the charter school. The sponsor shall use its funding provided pursuant to this section exclusively for the purpose of fulfilling sponsor obligations in accordance with this chapter."

SECTION   2.   Chapter 40, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-40-175.   There is created in the state treasury the Charter School Facility Revolving Loan Program. This loan program is comprised of federal funds obtained by the state for charter school facilities, other funds appropriated or transferred to the fund by the state, and privately donated funds. Funds deposited to the Charter School Facility Revolving Loan Program must remain available for the purposes of the program until appropriated or reverted by the General Assembly. The State Treasurer may approve loans from monies in the Charter School Revolving Loan Program to a charter school, upon application by the charter school. Money loaned to a charter school pursuant to this section must be used for construction, purchase, renovation, and maintenance of public charter school facilities. The State Treasurer shall establish guidelines and procedures for application, approval, allocation, and repayment regarding loans from these monies. The Office of State Treasurer may be reimbursed from the program for costs associated with the administration of these loans."

SECTION   3.   Chapter 40, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-40-235.   The geographical boundaries from which a charter school sponsored by a public or independent institution of higher learning may accept students are the same as the boundaries of the State of South Carolina."

SECTION   4.   Section 59-40-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 274 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-40-20.   This chapter is enacted to:

(1)   improve student learning;

(2)   increase learning opportunities for students;

(3)   encourage the use of a variety of productive teaching methods;

(4)   establish new forms of accountability for schools;

(5)   create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site; and

(6)   assist South Carolina in reaching academic excellence.; and

(7)   create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating children within the public school system, with the goal of closing achievement gaps between low performing student groups and high performing student groups."

SECTION   5.   Section 59-40-40 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 274 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-40-40.   As used in this chapter:

(1)   A 'charter school' means a public, nonreligious, nonhome-based, nonprofit corporation forming a school that operates within by sponsorship of a public school district or, the South Carolina Public Charter School District, or a public or independent institution of higher learning, but is accountable to the school board of trustees of that district, or in the case of technical colleges, the area commission, of the sponsor which grants its charter. Nothing in this chapter prohibits charter schools from offering virtual services pursuant to state law and subsequent regulations defining virtual schools.

(2)   A charter school:

(a)   is, for purposes of state law and the state constitution, considered a public school and part of the South Carolina Public Charter School District or, the local school district in which it is located for the purposes of state law and the state constitution, or is sponsored by a public or independent institution of higher learning;

(b)   is subject to all federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services; however, an applicant may seek to form a single gender charter school without regard to the gender makeup of that proposed charter school;

(c)   must be administered and governed by a governing body in a manner agreed to by the charter school applicant and the sponsor, the governing body to be selected, as provided in Section 59-40-50(B)(9);

(d)   may not charge tuition or other charges pursuant to Section 59-19-90(8) except as may be allowed by the sponsor and is comparable to the charges of the local school district in which the charter school is located.;

(e)   is subject to the same fixed asset inventory requirements as are traditional public schools.

(3)   'Applicant' means the person who or nonprofit corporate entity that desires to form a charter school and files the necessary application with the South Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees or, the local school board of trustees in which the charter school is to be located, or the board of trustees or area commission of a public or independent institution of higher learning. The applicant also must be the person who or the nonprofit corporate entity that applies to the Secretary of State to organize the charter school as a nonprofit corporation.

(4)   'Sponsor' means the South Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees or, the local school board of trustees in which the charter school is to be located, as provided by law, a public institution of higher learning as defined in Section 59-103-5, or an independent institution of higher learning as defined in Section 59-113-50, from which the charter school applicant requested its charter and which granted approval for the charter school's existence. Only those public or independent institutions of higher learning, as defined in this subsection, who register with the South Carolina Department of Education may serve as charter school sponsors, and the department shall maintain a directory of those institutions. The sponsor of a charter school is the charter school's Local Education Agency (LEA) and a charter school is a school within that LEA. The sponsor retains responsibility for special education and shall ensure that students enrolled in its charter schools are served in a manner consistent with LEA obligations under applicable federal, state, and local law.

(5)   'Certified teacher' means a person currently certified by the State of South Carolina to teach in a public elementary or secondary school or who currently meets the qualifications outlined in Sections 59-27-10 and 59-25-115.

(6)   'Noncertified teacher' means an individual considered appropriately qualified for the subject matter taught and who has completed at least one year of study at an accredited college or university and meets the qualifications outlined in Section 59-25-115.

(7)   'Charter committee' means the governing body of a charter school formed by the applicant to govern through the application process and until the election of a board of directors is held. After the election, the board of directors of the corporation must be organized as the governing body and the charter committee is dissolved.

(8)   'Local school district' means any school district in the State except the South Carolina Public Charter School District and does not include special school districts.

(9)   'Charter school contract' means a fixed term, renewable contract between a charter school and a sponsor that outlines the roles, powers, responsibilities, and performance expectations for each party to the contract.

(10)   'Resident public school' means the school, other than a charter school, within whose attendance boundaries the charter school student's custodial parent or legal guardian resides."

SECTION   6.   Section 59-40-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 239 of 2008, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-40-50.   (A)   Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a charter school is exempt from all provisions of law and regulations applicable to a public school, a school board, or a district, although a charter school may elect to comply with one or more of these provisions of law or regulations.

(B)   A charter school must:

(1)   adhere to the same health, safety, civil rights, and disability rights requirements as are applied to public schools operating in the same school district or, in the case of the South Carolina Public Charter School District or a public or independent institution of higher learning sponsor, the local school district in which the charter school is located;

(2)   meet, but may exceed, the same minimum student attendance requirements as are applied to public schools;

(3)   adhere to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and audit requirements as are applied to public schools;

(4)   be considered a school district for purposes of tort liability under South Carolina law, except that the tort immunity does not include acts of intentional or wilful racial discrimination by the governing body or employees of the charter school. Employees of charter schools must be relieved of personal liability for any tort or contract related to their school to the same extent that employees of traditional public schools in their school district or, in the case of the South Carolina Public Charter School District or a public or independent institution of higher learning sponsor, the local school district in which the charter school is located are relieved;

(5)   in its discretion hire noncertified teachers in a ratio of up to twenty-five percent of its entire teacher staff; however, if it is a converted charter school, it shall hire in its discretion noncertified teachers in a ratio of up to ten percent of its entire teacher staff. However, in either a new or converted charter school, a teacher teaching in the core academic areas as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind law must be certified in those areas or possess a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the subject he or she is hired to teach. Part-time noncertified teachers are considered pro rata in calculating this percentage based on the hours which they are expected to teach;

(6)   hire or contract for, in its discretion, administrative staff to oversee the daily operation of the school. At least one of the administrative staff must be certified or experienced in the field of school administration;

(7)   admit all children eligible to attend public school to a charter school, subject to space limitations, except in the case of an application to create a single gender charter school. However, it is required that the racial composition of the charter school enrollment reflect that of the local school district in which the charter school is located or that of the targeted student population of the local school district that the charter school proposed to serve, to be defined for the purposes of this chapter as differing by no more than twenty percent from that population. This requirement is also subject to the provisions of Section 59-40-70(D). If the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or building, students must be accepted by lot, and there is no appeal to the sponsor;

(8)   not limit or deny admission or show preference in admission decisions to any individual or group of individuals, except in the case of an application to create a single gender charter school, in which case gender may be the only reason to show preference or deny admission to the school; however, a charter school may give enrollment priority to a sibling of a pupil already currently enrolled or previously enrolled, and attending, or who, within the last six years, attended the school for at least one complete academic year. A charter school also may give priority to children of a charter school employee, and children of the charter committee, if such priority enrollment for children of employees and of the charter committee does not constitute more than twenty percent of the enrollment of the charter school;

(9)   elect its consist of a board of directors annually of seven or more individuals with the exact number specified in or fixed in accordance with the bylaws. Members of a board of directors may serve a term of two years, and may serve additional terms. A choice of the membership of the board must take place every two years. Fifty percent of the members of the board as specified by the bylaws must be individuals who have a background in K-12 education or in business, and the bylaws of the charter school also must provide for the manner of selection of these members. In addition, at least fifty percent of the members of the board as specified by the bylaws must be elected by the employees and the parents or guardians of students enrolled in the charter school. Parents or guardians shall have one vote for each student enrolled in the charter school. All members must be residents of the State of South Carolina. All employees of the charter school and all parents or guardians of students enrolled in the charter school are eligible to participate in the election. Parents or guardians of a student shall have one vote for each student enrolled in the charter school. A person who has been convicted of a felony must not be elected to a board of directors. If the board of directors consists of an odd number of members, the extra member must be an individual who has a background in K-12 education or in business;

(10)   be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, including the charter school and its governing body. A board of directors of a charter school shall notify its sponsor of any regular meeting of the board at least forty-eight hours prior to the date on which it is to occur.

(C)(1)   If a charter school denies admission to a student, the student may appeal the denial to the sponsor. The decision is binding on the student and the charter school.

(2)   If a charter school suspends or expels a student, other charter schools or the local school district in which the charter school is located has the authority but not the obligation to refuse admission to the student.

(3)   The sponsor has no obligation to provide extracurricular activities or access to facilities of the school district for students enrolled in the charter school; however, the charter contract may include participation in agreed upon interscholastic activities at a designated school within the sponsor district. Notwithstanding another provision of law, the local school district has no obligation to provide charter schools, sponsored by the South Carolina Public Charter School District, extracurricular activities or access to facilities of the school district for students enrolled in charter schools unless the school district, by contract, has agreed to provide activities or access. Students participating under this agreement must be considered eligible to participate in league events if other eligibility requirements are met.

(a)   A charter school is eligible for federally sponsored, state-sponsored or district-sponsored interscholastic leagues, competitions, awards, scholarships, grants, and recognition programs for students, educators, administrators, staff, and schools to the same extent as all other public schools.

(b)   A charter school student is eligible to compete for, and if selected, participate in any extracurricular activities not offered by the student's charter school which are offered at the resident public school he would otherwise attend. A charter school student is eligible to compete for, and if selected, participate in an activity governed by the South Carolina High School League offered at the resident public school he would otherwise attend if the league governed activity is not offered at the student's charter school.

(c)   A charter school student is eligible for extracurricular activities at the student's resident public school consistent with eligibility standards as applied to full-time students of the resident public school.

(d)   A school district or resident public school may not impose additional requirements on a charter school student to participate in extracurricular activities that are not imposed on full-time students of the resident public school.

(e)   Charter school students shall pay the same fees as other students to participate in extracurricular activities.

(f)   Charter school students shall be eligible for the same fee waivers for which other students are eligible.

(D)   The State is not responsible for student transportation to a charter school unless the charter school is designated by the local school district as the only school selected within the local school district's attendance area. However, a charter school may enter into a contract with a school district or a private provider to provide transportation to the charter school students.

(E)   The South Carolina Public Charter School District Board of Trustees may not use program funding for transportation."

SECTION   7.   Section 59-40-60 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 274 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-40-60.   (A)   An approved charter application constitutes an agreement, and the terms must be the terms of a contract between the charter school and the sponsor.

(B)   The A contract between the charter school and the sponsor shall must be executed and must reflect all provisions outlined in the application as well as the roles, powers, responsibilities, and performance expectations for each party to the contract. A contract must include the proposed enrollment procedures and dates of the enrollment period of the charter school. All agreements regarding the release of the charter school from school district policies must be contained in the contract. The Department of Education shall develop a contract template to be used by charter schools and the sponsor. The template must serve as a foundation for the development of a contract between the charter school and the sponsor.

(C)   A material revision of the terms of the contract between the charter school and the sponsor may be made only with the approval of both parties.

(D)   Except as provided in subsection (F), an applicant who wishes to form a charter school shall:

(1)   organize the charter school as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to the laws of this State;

(2)   form a charter committee for the charter school which includes one or more teachers;

(3)   submit a written charter school application to the charter school advisory committee and to the school board of trustees or area commission from which the committee is seeking sponsorship.

(E)   A charter committee is responsible for and has the power to:

(1)   submit an application to operate as a charter school, sign a charter school contract, and ensure compliance with all of the requirements for charter schools provided by law;

(2)   employ and contract with teachers and nonteaching employees, contract for services, and develop pay scales, performance criteria, and discharge policies for its employees. All teachers whether certified or noncertified must undergo the background checks and other investigations required for certified teachers, as provided by law, before they may teach in the charter school; and

(3)   decide all other matters related to the operation of the charter school, including budgeting, curriculum, and operating procedures.

(F)   The charter school application shall be a proposed contract and must include:

(1)   the mission statement of the charter school, which must be consistent with the principles of the General Assembly's purposes pursuant to Section 59-40-20;

(2)   the goals, objectives, and pupil achievement standards to be achieved by the charter school, and a description of the charter school's admission policies and procedures;

(3)   evidence that an adequate number of parents, teachers, pupils, or any combination of them support the formation of a charter school;

(4)   a description of the charter school's educational program, pupil achievement standards, and curriculum which must meet or exceed any content standards adopted by the State Board of Education and the chartering district sponsor must be designed to enable each pupil to achieve these standards;

(5)   a description of the charter school's plan for evaluating pupil achievement and progress toward accomplishment of the school's achievement standards in addition to state assessments, the timeline for meeting these standards, and the procedures for taking corrective action if that pupil achievement falls below the standards;

(6)   evidence that the plan for the charter school is economically sound, a proposed budget for the term of the charter, a description of the manner in which an annual audit of the financial and administrative operations of the charter school, including any services provided by the school district sponsor, is to be conducted;

(7)   a description of the governance and operation of the charter school, including the nature and extent of parental, professional educator, and community involvement in the governance and operation of the charter school;

(8)   a description of how the charter school plans to ensure that the enrollment of the school is similar to the racial composition of the local school district in which the charter school is to be located or the targeted student population of the local school district that the charter school proposes to serve and provide assurance that the school does not conflict with any school district desegregation plan or order in effect for the school district in which the charter school is to be located;

(9)   a description of how the charter school plans to meet the transportation needs of its pupils;

(10)   a description of the building, facilities, and equipment and how they shall be obtained;

(11)   an explanation of the relationship that shall exist between the proposed charter school and its employees, including descriptions of evaluation procedures and evidence that the terms and conditions of employment have been addressed with affected employees;

(12)   a description of a reasonable grievance and termination procedure, as required by this chapter, including notice and a hearing before the governing body of the charter school. The application must state whether or not the provisions of Article 5, Chapter 25 of, Title 59 apply to the employment and dismissal of teachers at the charter school;

(13)   a description of student rights and responsibilities, including behavior and discipline standards, and a reasonable hearing procedure, including notice and a hearing before the board of directors of the charter school before expulsion;

(14)   an assumption of liability by the charter school for the activities of the charter school and an agreement that the charter school must indemnify and hold harmless the school district sponsor, its servants, agents, and employees, from any and all liability, damage, expense, causes of action, suits, claims, or judgments arising from injury to persons or property or otherwise which arises out of the act, failure to act, or negligence of the charter school, its agents and employees, in connection with or arising out of the activity of the charter school; and

(15)   a description of the types and amounts of insurance coverage to be obtained by the charter school.

(G)   Nothing in this section shall require a charter school applicant to provide a list of prospective or tentatively enrolled students or prospective employees with the application."

SECTION   8.   Section 59-40-70 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 239 of 2008, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-40-70.   (A)   The Charter School Advisory Committee must be established by the State Board of Education to review charter school applications for compliance with established standards that reflect the requirements and intent of this chapter. Members must be appointed by the State Board of Education unless otherwise indicated.

(1)   The advisory committee shall consist of eleven members as follows:

(a)   South Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools, the president or his designee and one additional representative from the association;

(b)   South Carolina Association of School Administrators, the executive director or his designee;

(c)(b)   South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the executive director or his designee and one additional representative from the chamber;

(d)(c)   South Carolina Education Oversight Committee, the chair or a business designee;

(e)(d)   South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, the chair or his designee;

(f)(e)   South Carolina School Boards Association, the executive director or his designee;

(g)(f)   South Carolina Alliance of Black Educators, the president or his designee; and

(h)(g)   one teacher and one parent to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.; and

(h)     one charter school principal and one charter school board member to be appointed by the Governor.

(2)   As an application is reviewed, a representative from the board of trustees or area commission from which the committee is seeking sponsorship and a representative of the charter committee shall serve on the advisory committee as ex officio nonvoting members. If the applicant indicates a proposed contractual agreement with the local school district in which the charter school is located, a representative from the local school board of trustees of that district shall serve on the advisory committee as an ex officio, nonvoting member.

(3)   Appointing authorities shall give consideration to the appointment of minorities and women as representatives on the committee.

(4)   The committee shall establish bylaws for its operation that must include terms of office for its membership.

(5)   An applicant shall submit the application to the advisory committee and one copy to the school board of trustees of the district or area commission from which it is seeking sponsorship. In the case of the South Carolina Public Charter School District or a public or independent institution of higher learning sponsor, the applicant shall provide notice of the application to the local school board of trustees in which the charter school will be located for informational purposes only. The advisory committee shall receive input from the school district in or the public or independent institution of higher learning from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship and shall request clarifying information from the applicant. An applicant may submit an application to the advisory committee at any time during the fiscal year pursuant to State Board of Education regulations and the advisory committee, within sixty ninety days, shall determine whether the application is in compliance. An application that is in compliance must be forwarded to the board or area commission of the school district or the public or independent institution of higher learning from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship with a letter stating the application is in compliance. The letter also shall include a recommendation from the Charter School Advisory Committee to approve or deny the charter. The letter must specify the reasons for its recommendation. This recommendation is nonbinding on the school board of trustees or area commission. If the application is in noncompliance, it must be returned to the applicant with deficiencies noted. The applicant may appeal the decision to the Administrative Law Court.

(6)   The advisory committee shall notify the local delegation of a county in which a proposed charter school is to be located upon receipt of a charter school application and also shall provide a copy of the charter school application upon request by a member of the local delegation.

(B)   The school board of trustees or area commission from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship shall rule on the application for a charter school in a public hearing, upon reasonable public notice, within thirty forty-five days after receiving the application. If there is no ruling within thirty forty-five days, the application is considered approved. Once the application has been approved by the school board of trustees or area commission, the charter school may open at the beginning of the following year. However, before a charter school may open, the State Department of Education shall verify the accuracy of the financial data for the school within forty-five days after approval.

(C)   A school district board of trustees only or area commission shall deny an application only if the application does not meet the requirements specified in Section 59-40-50 or 59-40-60, fails to meet the spirit and intent of this chapter, or adversely affects, as defined in regulation, the other students in the district in which the charter school is to be located. It shall provide, within ten days, a written explanation of the reasons for denial, citing specific standards related to provisions of Section 59-40-50 or 59-40-60 that the application violates. This written explanation immediately must be sent to the charter committee and filed with the State Board of Education and the Charter School Advisory Committee.

(D)   In the event that the racial composition of an applicant's or charter school's enrollment differs from the enrollment of the local school district in which the charter school is to be located or the targeted student population of the local school district by more than twenty percent, despite its best efforts, the school district board of trustees or area commission from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship shall consider the applicant's or the charter school's recruitment efforts and racial composition of the applicant pool in determining whether the applicant or charter school is operating in a nondiscriminatory manner. A finding by the school district board of trustees or area commission that the applicant or charter school is operating in a racially discriminatory manner justifies the denial of a charter school application or the revocation of a charter as provided in this section or in Section 59-40-110, as may be applicable. A finding by the school district board of trustees or area commission that the applicant is not operating in a racially discriminatory manner justifies approval of the charter without regard to the racial percentage requirement if the application is acceptable in all other aspects.

(E)   If the school district board of trustees or area commission from which the applicant is seeking sponsorship denies a charter school application, the charter applicant may appeal the denial to the Administrative Law Court pursuant to Section 59-40-90.

(F)   If the school district board of trustees or area commission approves the application, it becomes the charter school's sponsor and shall sign the approved application, which constitutes a contract with the charter committee of the charter school. The sponsor shall submit a copy of the charter must be filed with contract to the State Board of Education.

(G)   If a local school board of trustees has information that an approved application by the South Carolina Public Charter School District or a public or independent institution of higher learning sponsor adversely affects the other students in its district, as defined in regulation, or that the approval of the application fails to meet the spirit and intent of this chapter, the local school board of trustees may appeal the granting of the charter to the Administrative Law Court. The Administrative Law Court, within forty-five days, may affirm or reverse the application for action by the South Carolina Public Charter School District or the public or independent institution of higher learning in accordance with an order of the state board."

SECTION   9.   Section 59-40-100 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 239 of 2008, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-40-100.   (A)(1)   Subject to item (2), an An existing public school may be converted into a charter school if two-thirds of the faculty and instructional staff employed at the school and two-thirds of all voting parents or legal guardians of students enrolled in the school agree to the filing of an application with the local school board of trustees for the conversion and formation of that school into a charter school. Parents or legal guardians of students enrolled in the school must be given the opportunity to vote on the conversion. Parents or guardians of a student shall have one vote for each student enrolled in the school seeking conversion. The application must be submitted pursuant to Section 59-40-70(A)(5) by the principal of that school or his designee who must be considered the applicant. The application must include all information required of other applications pursuant to this chapter. The local school board of trustees shall approve or disapprove this application in the same manner it approves or disapproves other applications. The existence of another charter granting authority must not be grounds for disapproving a school desiring to convert to a charter school.

(2)(a)   In addition to the vote requirements required in item (1), if a proposed conversion school has outstanding general obligation bond debt owed on it and that debt is resulting from an ordinance originally authorizing the bonds, and the original authorization was no more than ten years prior to the proposed conversion, and the bonds were specifically issued for the construction or improvement of the proposed conversion school, the school may be converted into a charter school only upon a majority vote of the local school board of trustees.

(b)   In addition to the vote requirements required in item (1), if a proposed conversion school has outstanding general obligation bond debt owed on it and that debt is resulting from a referendum originally authorizing the bonds, and the original authorization was no more than ten years prior to the proposed conversion, and the bonds were specifically issued for the construction or improvement of the proposed conversion school, the school may be converted into a charter school only upon a two-thirds vote of the local school board of trustees.

(B)   A converted charter school shall offer at least the same grades, or nongraded education appropriate for the same ages and education levels of pupils, as offered by the school immediately before conversion, and also may provide additional grades and further educational offerings.

(C)   All students enrolled in the school at the time of conversion must be given priority enrollment. Thereafter, students who reside within the former attendance area of that public school must be given enrollment priority.

(D)   All employees of a converted school shall remain employees of the local school district or, the South Carolina Public Charter School District, or the public or independent institution of higher learning sponsor with the same compensation and benefits including any future increases. The converted charter school quarterly shall reimburse the local school district or, the South Carolina Public Charter School District, or the public or independent institution of higher learning sponsor for the compensation and employer contribution benefits paid to or on behalf of these employees and also provide to the school district sponsor any reports, forms, or data necessary for maintaining retirement coverage and providing South Carolina Retirement Systems benefits to converted school employees. The provisions of Article 5, Chapter 25 of, Title 59 apply to the employment and dismissal of teachers at a converted school.

(E)   For the duration of a converted charter school's contract with a sponsor, a converted charter school shall have the right to retain occupancy and use of the school's facility or facilities and all equipment, furniture, and supplies that were available to the school before it converted, in the same manner as before the school converted, with no additional fees or charges.

(E)(F)   The South Carolina Public Charter School District or a public or independent institution of higher learning may not sponsor a public school to convert to a charter school. However, the South Carolina Public Charter School District or a public or independent institution of higher learning may sponsor a converted charter school renewal if the charter school has not committed a material violation of the provisions specified in subsection (C) of Section 59-40-110 and the local school district board of trustees refuses to renew the charter. In such cases, the charter school shall continue to receive local funding pursuant to Section 59-40-110(A). However, the charter school is not eligible to receive one hundred percent of the base student cost from the State. The charter school only is eligible to receive the percentage of the base student cost previously received as a school in its former district.

(G)   A governing board or a school district employee who has control over personnel actions shall not take unlawful reprisal against another employee of the school district because the employee is directly or indirectly involved in an application to establish a charter school. A governing board or a school district employee shall not take unlawful reprisal against an educational program of the school or the school district because an application to establish a charter school proposes the conversion of all or a portion of the educational program to a charter school.

As used in this subsection, 'unlawful reprisal' means an action that is taken by a governing board or a school district employee as a direct result of a lawful application to establish a charter school and that is adverse to another employee or education program and:

(1)   with respect to a school district employee, results in:

(a)   disciplinary or corrective action;

(b)   detail, transfer, or reassignment;

(c)   suspension, demotion, or dismissal;

(d)   an unfavorable performance evaluation;

(e)   a reduction in pay, benefits, or awards;

(f)   elimination of the employee's position without a reduction in force by reason of lack of monies or work; or

(g)   other significant changes in duties or responsibilities that are inconsistent with the employee's salary or employment classification.

(2)   with respect to an educational program, results in:

(a)   suspension or termination of the program;

(b)   transfer or reassignment of the program to a less favorable department;

(c)   relocation of the program to a less favorable site within the school district; or

(d)   significant reduction or termination of funding for the program."

SECTION   10.   Section 59-40-110 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 239 of 2008, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-40-110.   (A)   A charter must be approved or renewed for a period of ten school years; however, the charter only may be revoked or not renewed under the provisions of subsection (C) of this section. The sponsor annually shall evaluate the conditions outlined in subsection (C). The annual evaluation results must be used in making a determination for nonrenewal or revocation.

(B)   A charter renewal application must be submitted to the school's sponsor, and it must contain:

(1)   a report on the progress of the charter school in achieving the goals, objectives, pupil achievement standards, and other terms of the initially approved charter application; and

(2)   a financial statement that discloses the costs of administration, instruction, and other spending categories for the charter school that is understandable to the general public and that allows comparison of these costs to other schools or other comparable organizations, in a format required by the State Board of Education.

(C)   A charter must be revoked or not renewed by the   sponsor if it determines that the charter school:

(1)   committed a material violation of the conditions, standards, or procedures provided for in the charter application;

(2)   failed to meet or make reasonable progress, as defined in the charter application, toward pupil achievement standards identified in the charter application;

(3)   failed to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management; or

(4)   violated any provision of law from which the charter school was not specifically exempted.

(D)   At least sixty days before not renewing or terminating a charter school, the sponsor shall notify in writing the charter school's governing body of the proposed action. The notification shall state the grounds for the proposed action in reasonable detail. Termination must follow the procedure provided for in this section.

(E)   The existence of another charter granting authority must not be grounds for the nonrenewal or revocation of a charter. Grounds for nonrenewal or revocation must be only those specified in subsection (C) of this section.

(F)   The charter school's governing body may request in writing a hearing before the sponsor within fourteen days of receiving notice of nonrenewal or termination of the charter. Failure by the school's governing body to make a written request for a hearing within fourteen days must be treated as acquiescence to the proposed action. Upon receiving a timely written request for a hearing, the sponsor shall give reasonable notice to the school's governing body of the hearing date. The sponsor shall conduct a hearing before taking final action. The sponsor shall take final action to renew or not renew a charter by the last day of classes in the last school year for which the charter school is authorized.

(G)   A charter school seeking renewal may submit a renewal application to another charter granting authority if the charter school has not committed a material violation of the provisions specified in subsection (C) of this section and the local school district board of trustees sponsor refuses to renew the charter. In such cases, the charter school shall continue to receive local funding pursuant to Section 59-40-140(A). However, the charter school is not eligible to receive one hundred percent of the base student cost from the State. The charter school only is eligible to receive the percentage of the base student cost previously received as a school in its former district.

(H)   A decision to revoke or not to renew a charter school may be appealed to the Administrative Law Court pursuant to the provisions of Section 59-40-90."

SECTION   11.   Section 59-40-140 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 274 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-40-140.   (A)   A local school board of trustees sponsor shall distribute state, county, and school district funds to a charter school as determined by the following formula: the previous year's audited total general fund revenues, divided by the previous year's weighted students, then increased by the Education Finance Act inflation factor, pursuant to Section 59-20-40, for the years following the audited expenditures, then multiplied by the weighted students enrolled in the charter school, which will be subject to adjustment for student attendance and state budget allocations based on the same criteria as the local school district. These amounts must be verified by the State Department of Education before the first disbursement of funds. All state and local funding must be distributed by the local school district to the charter school monthly beginning July first following approval of the charter school application and must continue to be disbursed to the charter school for the duration of its charter and for the duration of any subsequent renewals. After verification of student attendance on the fifth day of school at the beginning of each school year, the State Department of Education shall distribute funds to school districts with charter schools (i) having approved incremental growth and expansion as provided in their charter application, or (ii) for opening of new charter schools in the current fiscal year. These funds must be released to districts on behalf of their charter schools no later than fifteen days after receipt of verified enrollment. Districts shall provide this funding to eligible charters no later than thirty days after receipt from the Department of Education. Necessary adjustments due to enrollment changes must be made pursuant to the Education Finance Act.

(B)   The South Carolina Public Charter School District shall receive and distribute state funds to the charter school as determined by the following formula: the current year's base student cost, as funded by the General Assembly, multiplied by the weighted students enrolled in the charter school, which must be subject to adjustment for student attendance and state budget allocations. These state funds are in addition to other funds to be received and distributed by the South Carolina Public Charter School District pursuant to subsections (C) and (D) of this section and Section 59-40-220(A). However, the South Carolina Public Charter School District may not retain more than two percent of its gross revenue for its internal administrative and operating expenses The South Carolina Public Charter School District or public or independent institution of higher learning sponsor shall receive and distribute state funds to the charter school as provided by the General Assembly.

(C)   During the year of the charter school's operation, as received, and to the extent allowed by federal law, a sponsor shall distribute to the charter school federal funds which are allocated to the school district sponsor on the basis of the number of special characteristics of the students attending the charter school. These amounts must be verified by the State Department of Education before the first disbursement of funds.

(D)   Notwithstanding subsection (C), the proportionate share of state and federal resources generated by students with disabilities or staff serving them must be directed to the school district board of trustees sponsor. The proportionate share of funds generated under other federal or state categorical aid programs must be directed to the school district board of trustees serving students eligible for the aid pursuant to state and federal law. After receipt of federal or state categorical aid funds, sponsors shall, within ten business days, supply to the charter school the proportional share of each categorical fund for which the charter school qualifies. If the sponsor fails to do so, the Department of Education may fine the sponsor an amount equivalent to the withheld amounts. Fines imposed must be remitted to the charter school from which the amounts were withheld.

(E)   All services centrally or otherwise provided by the sponsor or local school district, if any, including, but not limited to, food services, custodial services, maintenance, curriculum, media services, libraries, and warehousing are subject to negotiation between a charter school and the sponsor or local school district and must be outlined in the contract required pursuant to Section 59-40-70(F), except as otherwise provided or required by law.

(F)   All awards, grants, or gifts collected by a charter school must be retained by the charter school.

(G)   The governing body of a charter school is authorized to accept gifts, donations, or grants of any kind made to the charter school and to expend or use the gifts, donations, or grants in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the donor. A gift or donation must not be required for admission. However, a gift, donation, or grant must not be accepted by the governing board if subject to a condition contrary to law or contrary to the terms of the contract between the charter school and the governing body. All gifts, donations, or grants must be reported to the sponsor in their annual audit report as required in Section 59-40-50(B)(3).

(H)   A charter school shall report to its sponsor and the Department of Education any change to information provided under its application. In addition, a charter school shall report at least annually to its sponsor and the sponsor shall compile those reports into a single document which must be submitted to the department. The Department of Education shall develop a template to be used by charter schools for this annual report. The report shall provide all information required by the sponsor or the department and shall include including, at a minimum,:

(1)   the number of students enrolled in the charter school from year to year;

(2)   the success of students in achieving the specific educational goals for which the charter school was established;

(3)   an analysis of achievement gaps among major groupings of students in both proficiency and growth; and

(4)   the identity and certification status of the teaching staff;

(5)   the financial performance and sustainability of the sponsor's charter schools; and

(6)   board performance and stewardship including compliance with applicable laws.

(I)   The sponsor shall provide technical assistance to persons and groups preparing or revising charter applications at no expense.

(J)   Charter schools may acquire by gift, devise, purchase, lease, sublease, installment purchase agreement, land contract, option, or by any other means provided by law or otherwise, and hold and own in its own name   buildings or other property for school purposes and interests in it which are necessary or convenient to fulfill its purposes.

(K)   Charter schools are exempt from all state and local taxation, except the sales tax, on their earnings and property. Instruments of conveyance to or from a charter school are exempt from all types of taxation of local or state taxes and transfer fees."

(L)   Notwithstanding the above provisions of this section, this subsection applies to converted charter schools that converted into a charter school after the effective date of this act. For purposes of computing the funding for any year to be provided a converted charter school under the provisions of this section, the computations required shall be made as provided in this section based on the previous year's revenues, expenditures, and other applicable factors pertaining to that particular converted charter school, and also then shall be made as provided in this section for the year immediately preceding the previous year based on the revenues, expenditures, and other applicable factors for that year pertaining to that particular converted charter school. The funding of the converted charter school for the initial year shall be the average of the weighted per pupil unit funding computed for these two prior years, and funding for the converted charter school after the initial year shall be provided by the school district in the same manner as regular public schools in the district."

SECTION   12.   Section 59-40-190(C) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(C)   A local school district, sponsor, members of the board or area commission of a sponsor, and employees of a sponsor acting in their official capacity are immune from civil or criminal liability with respect to all activities related to a charter school they sponsor. The governing body of a charter school shall obtain at least the amount of and types of insurance required for this purpose."

SECTION   13.   Section 59-40-230(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 274 of 2006, is amended to read:

"(A)   The South Carolina Public Charter School District must be governed by a board of trustees consisting of not more than eleven nine members:

(1)   two appointed by the Governor;

(2)   one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3)   one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and

(4)   seven five to be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the:

(a)   South Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools and one additional representative from the association;

(b)   South Carolina Association of School Administrators;

(c)(b)   South Carolina Chamber of Commerce;

(d)(c)   South Carolina Education Oversight Committee;

(e)(d)   South Carolina School Boards Association; and

(f)(e)   South Carolina Alliance of Black Educators.

The nine seven members appointed by the Governor pursuant to this subsection are subject to advice and consent of the Senate. Membership of the committee must reflect representatives from each of the entities in item (A)(4) or their designee as reflected in their recommendation.

Each member of the board of trustees shall serve terms of three years, except that, for the initial members, two appointed by the Governor, one by the Speaker of the House, and one by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, shall serve terms of one year and three appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of two years. A member of the board may be removed after appointment pursuant to Section 1-3-240. In making appointments, every effort must be made to ensure that all geographic areas of the State are represented and that the membership reflects urban and rural areas of the State as well as the ethnic diversity of the State."

SECTION   14.   Section 59-40-130(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 274 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"(A)(1)   If an employee of a local school district makes a written request for leave to be employed at a charter school before July 1, 2006, the school district shall grant the leave for up to five years as requested by the employee. The school district may require that the request for leave or extension of leave be made by the date provided for by state law for the return of teachers' contracts. Employees may return to employment with the local school district at its option with the same teaching or administrative contract status as when they left but without assurance as to the school or supplemental position to which they may be assigned.

(2)   Notwithstanding the provisions of item (1) of this subsection and subject to the provisions of subsection (B) of this section, a charter school employing after June 30, 2006, an individual on leave from a local school district shall participate in the South Carolina Retirement Systems as a covered employer with respect to that employee on leave through the earlier of the date the employee on leave returns to employment by the district or June 30, 2011, and only if the charter school and the employee have made required employer and employee contributions to the South Carolina Retirement Systems from the employee's date of employment with the charter school."

SECTION 15.   Section 59-40-220(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 274 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"(A)   The South Carolina Public Charter School District may not have a local tax base and may not receive local property taxes. This prohibition does not extend to local funds received by the district on behalf of sponsored charter schools pursuant to Section 59-40-140(B)."

SECTION 16.   Section 59-18-920 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-18-920.   A charter school established pursuant to Chapter 40, Title 59 shall report the data requested by the Department of Education necessary to generate a report card. The Department of Education shall utilize this data to issue a report card with performance ratings to parents and the public containing the ratings and explaining its significance and providing other information similar to that required of other schools in this section. The performance of students attending charter schools sponsored by the South Carolina Public Charter School District must be included in the overall performance ratings of the South Carolina Public Charter School District. The performance of students attending a charter school authorized by a local school district must be reflected on a separate line on the school district's report card and must not be included in the overall performance ratings of the local school district, unless there is a mutual agreement to include the scores in the local school district ratings. An alternative school is included in the requirements of this chapter; however, the purpose of an alternative school must be taken into consideration in determining its performance rating. The Education Oversight Committee, working with the State Board of Education and the School to Work Advisory Council, shall develop a report card for career and technology schools."

SECTION   17.   Article 1, Chapter 19, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-19-350.   (A)   A local school district board of trustees of this State desirous of creating an avenue for new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating children within their district may create a school of choice within the district that is exempt from state statutes which govern other schools in the district and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. To achieve the status of exemption from specific statutes and regulations, the local board of trustees, at a public meeting, shall identify specific statutes and regulations which will be considered for exemption. The exemption may be granted by the governing board of the district only if there is a two-thirds affirmative vote of the board for each exemption and the proposed exemption is approved by the State Board of Education.

(B)   In seeking exemptions, the local board of trustees may not exempt:

(1)   federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services;

(2)   health, safety, civil rights, and disability rights requirements as are applied to other public schools operating in the district;

(3)   minimum student attendance requirements;

(4)   state assessment requirements; and

(5)   certification requirements for teachers in the core academic areas as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Public Law 107-110; however, up to twenty-five percent of the teaching staff of the school may be employed if the individual possesses a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the subject he is hired to teach.

(C)   Any school created pursuant to this section shall admit all children eligible to attend the school subject to space limitations and may not limit or deny admission or show preference in admission decisions to any individual or group of individuals.

(D)   A local school district that provides exemptions pursuant to subsection (A) shall provide the State Department of Education with documentation of the approved exemptions and shall submit evaluation documentation to be reviewed by the State Board of Education after three years of the exemption to ensure that the district continues to meet the needs of its students. Upon review, if the State Board of Education determines the continuation of the exemption does not meet the needs of the students attending the district school of choice, the board may suspend exemptions granted by the local board of trustees with a two-thirds vote. Before suspending the exemptions, the State Board of Education shall notify the district and provide the district with any opportunity to defend the continuation of approved exemptions."

SECTION   18.   If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.

SECTION   19.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Amend title to conform.

Sen. Robert W. Hayes, Jr.         Rep. Phillip D. Owens
Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.        Rep. James M. Neal
Sen. Michael L. Fair              Rep. Andrew S. Patrick
On Part of the Senate.            On Part of the House.

Rep. OWENS explained the Conference Report.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 87; Nays 15

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Alexander              Allen                  Allison
Anderson               Atwater                Bales
Bannister              Barfield               Bingham
Bowen                  Branham                Brantley
H. B. Brown            Butler Garrick         Chumley
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter
Cole                   Corbin                 Crawford
Crosby                 Daning                 Delleney
Erickson               Forrester              Frye
Hamilton               Hardwick               Harrell
Harrison               Hearn                  Henderson
Herbkersman            Hixon                  Horne
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jefferson              Johnson                Knight
Limehouse              Loftis                 Long
Lowe                   McCoy                  McEachern
Merrill                D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
Munnerlyn              Murphy                 Nanney
J. H. Neal             J. M. Neal             Neilson
Norman                 Owens                  Parker
Parks                  Patrick                Pitts
Pope                   Putnam                 Quinn
Ryan                   Sabb                   Sandifer
Simrill                G. R. Smith            J. R. Smith
Sottile                Southard               Spires
Stavrinakis            Tallon                 Taylor
Thayer                 Toole                  Tribble
Whipper                White                  Whitmire
Williams               Willis                 Young

Total--87

Those who voted in the negative are:

Agnew                  Bowers                 Brannon
Dillard                Funderburk             Gambrell
Gilliard               Hiott                  Hodges
King                   McLeod                 Pinson
Sellers                Skelton                Weeks

Total--15

The Conference Report was adopted and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.

RECORD FOR VOTING

I was on leave during the vote on H. 3241. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of adopting the Conference Committee Report.

Rep. Nathan Ballentine

H. 3241--ORDERED ENROLLED FOR RATIFICATION

The Report of the Committee of Conference having been adopted by both Houses, and this Bill having been read three times in each House, it was ordered that the title thereof be changed to that of an Act and that it be enrolled for ratification.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5193 (Word version) -- Reps. Parker, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G. A. Brown, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Rutherford, Ryan, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE KRISILA FOSTER OF SPARTANBURG COUNTY UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HER FOR HER MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS AN EDUCATOR, AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5194 (Word version) -- Reps. Sandifer, Whitmire, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G. A. Brown, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Rutherford, Ryan, Sabb, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Weeks, Whipper, White, Williams, Willis and Young: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO DECLARE MAY 22, 2012, AS FREE CLINIC AWARENESS DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, it is estimated that forty-nine million Americans lack health insurance; and

Whereas, the National Association of Free Clinics and the South Carolina Association of Free Clinics are dedicated to educating the public, press, Congress, federal and state agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and other entities about free clinics and the important service they provide to America's uninsured and underinsured; and

Whereas, it is in the interest of public health that all individuals should have access to affordable quality health care; and

Whereas, affordability, accessibility, and portability of health care are issues that remain critical to the uninsured in this country; and

Whereas, free clinics are volunteer-based, safety-net health care organizations that provide a range of medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals, who are predominantly uninsured; and

Whereas, in addition, free clinics offer essential service delivery regardless of the patient's ability to pay; and

Whereas, economically disadvantaged citizens are valued members of society, and free clinics help these citizens maintain wellness, which in turn enables them to thrive; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Free Clinic Association and its forty-nine members will join a network of self-advocates, agencies, and volunteers across the State to honor May 22, 2012, as South Carolina Free Clinic Awareness Day. The day will commemorate progress toward improving the lives of people with no access to health care coverage and also highlight the challenges that remain in achieving full access to health care for all our citizens. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, declare May 22, 2012, as Free Clinic Awareness Day in South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to the South Carolina Free Clinic Association.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5195 (Word version) -- Reps. Putnam and Bannister: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR MAKING 2011 THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY FOR TAX RELIEF PURPOSES TO THE VICTIMS OF THE ALLEGED "PONZI" SCHEMES OPERATED BY RONNIE G. WILSON THROUGH ATLANTIC BULLION AND COIN AND TO URGE THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AND THE COURT APPOINTED RECEIVER/CONSERVATOR TO USE 2011 AS THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY OF THIS PONZI SCHEME.
The Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5199 (Word version) -- Reps. Weeks, G. M. Smith, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G. A. Brown, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Rutherford, Ryan, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ROSE FERRARA METZ FOR HER SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SUMTER COMMUNITY, AND TO CONGRATULATE HER UPON BEING NAMED TO THE WOMEN'S HONOR ROLL OF SUMTER COUNTY.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5200 (Word version) -- Reps. Weeks, G. M. Smith, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G. A. Brown, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Rutherford, Ryan, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR HELEN LOUISE DUCOM MAHON FOR HER SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SUMTER COMMUNITY, AND TO CONGRATULATE HER UPON BEING NAMED TO THE WOMEN'S HONOR ROLL OF SUMTER COUNTY.

The Resolution was adopted.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5201 (Word version) -- Reps. Weeks, G. M. Smith, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G. A. Brown, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Rutherford, Ryan, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LORRAINE WASHINGTON DENNIS FOR HER SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SUMTER COMMUNITY, AND TO CONGRATULATE HER UPON BEING NAMED TO THE WOMEN'S HONOR ROLL OF SUMTER COUNTY.

The Resolution was adopted.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5196 (Word version) -- Reps. Battle and Alexander: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 501 IN MARION COUNTY ALONG SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 41 "EBBIE JAMES 'E.J.' ATKINSON BRIDGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS BRIDGE THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "EBBIE JAMES 'E.J.' ATKINSON BRIDGE".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5198 (Word version) -- Reps. Sandifer, V. S. Moss, Brady, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G. A. Brown, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D. C. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Rutherford, Ryan, Sabb, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LLOYD I. HENDRICKS OF COLUMBIA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BANKERS ASSOCIATION, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

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

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

The following was introduced:

H. 5202 (Word version) -- Reps. Lowe, G. A. Brown, Weeks and G. M. Smith: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT THE JUNCTURE OF FOXWORTH MILL ROAD AND UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 15 IN SUMTER COUNTY "MOZINGO CROSSROADS" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS INTERSECTION THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "MOZINGO CROSSROADS".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

INTRODUCTION OF BILL

The following Bill was introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committee:

H. 5197 (Word version) -- Reps. Putnam and Bannister: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SECTIONS OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE NOT ADOPTED BY THIS STATE, SO AS TO DELETE SECTION 172(b)(1) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE PERTAINING TO NET OPERATING LOSS CARRYBACKS THEREBY MAKING ITS PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA FOR STATE INCOME TAX PURPOSES; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DELETION OF THIS INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION IS APPLICABLE FOR THE YEAR 2011 AND THEREAFTER.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

S. 220--AMENDED AND ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

S. 220 (Word version) -- Senators Jackson and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 44 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 44-1-149 TO PROHIBIT THE RESALE OF FOOD THAT HAS BEEN SERVED OR SOLD TO AND POSSESSED BY A CONSUMER.

Rep. STAVRINAKIS proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 220 (COUNCIL\NBD\12387AC12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/   SECTION   1.   Chapter 1, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-1-148.   Fresh meat or fresh meat products sold to a consumer may not be offered to the public for resale for human consumption if the fresh meat or fresh meat products have been returned by the consumer."
SECTION   2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. STAVRINAKIS explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.

The question then recurred to the passage of the Bill.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 98; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Bannister              Barfield
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brannon
Brantley               G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown
Butler Garrick         Chumley                Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Delleney               Erickson               Forrester
Frye                   Funderburk             Gambrell
Gilliard               Govan                  Hamilton
Hardwick               Harrell                Hearn
Henderson              Herbkersman            Hiott
Hixon                  Hodges                 Horne
Hosey                  Howard                 Huggins
Jefferson              Johnson                King
Knight                 Limehouse              Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   McCoy
McEachern              McLeod                 Merrill
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn
Murphy                 Nanney                 J. M. Neal
Neilson                Norman                 Owens
Parker                 Parks                  Patrick
Pitts                  Pope                   Putnam
Quinn                  Sabb                   Sandifer
Sellers                Simrill                G. R. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  Whipper
White                  Whitmire               Williams
Willis                 Young

Total--98

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

H. 4487--AMENDED AND ORDERED TO THIRD READING

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 4487 (Word version) -- Reps. Pitts, Cobb-Hunter, Munnerlyn, Vick, Sabb, J. M. Neal, Clyburn, Hayes, Long, Willis, Jefferson, Allison, Johnson, Gilliard and Anderson: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 57-5-880 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL BEAR ALL COSTS RELATED TO RELOCATING WATER AND SEWER LINES THAT ARE MAINTAINED AND OPERATED BY A PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM OR A PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR A STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND THAT MUST BE RELOCATED TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT OR THAT ARE OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO RELOCATE, TO PROVIDE THAT NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION GRANTS THE DEPARTMENT THE AUTHORITY TO PREVENT OR MATERIALLY LIMIT A PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM'S UTILIZATION OF PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN A STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT'S RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR WATER AND SEWER CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION, OR THE MAINTENANCE OR RECONSTRUCTION OF EXISTING ROADWAYS IN THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY SYSTEM, THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS-OF-WAY TO FACILITATE THE LOCATION OF UTILITIES OUTSIDE OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY CURRENTLY CONTAINED IN THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER OF FUNDING FOR ACQUISITIONS.

The Education and Public Works Comm. proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 4487 (COUNCIL\SWB\5285CM12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ "SECTION   1.   (A)   There is established the Utilities Relocation Study Committee to review, study, and make recommendations concerning the need for improved coordination and funding of the relocation of water and sewer facilities located within the public rights-of-way when such relocation is required due to the construction or improvement of roads and bridges in the state.

(B)   The Utilities Relocation Study Committee is to:

(1)   identify and categorize a statewide estimate of the historical, current and anticipated costs associated with the relocation of utilities inside and outside the rights-of-way owned by state agencies, counties, municipalities, or local water or sewer districts resulting from highway projects;

(2)   determine as accurately as possible the percentage of the statewide cost estimate attributable to South Carolina Department of Transportation projects, State Transportation Infrastructure Bank projects, local-option sales tax projects involving state roads, local road projects, and County Transportation Committee projects;

(3)   identify potential sources of sustainable funds that may be used by state agencies, counties, municipalities, or local water or sewer districts for utility relocation costs including, but not limited to, existing state and federal loan and grant programs, appropriations from the state general fund, contributions from public utilities, and other sustainable sources;

(4)   identify any legal obstacles that impact the ability of state agencies, counties, municipalities, or local water or sewer districts to fund the relocation of utilities;

(5)   investigate the creation of a utilities relocation trust fund to assist in relocation costs either through loans, grants, matching funds, or other means, and recommend the appropriate entity to house and administer the trust fund, the terms and conditions under which funding might be provided, and the general criteria used for evaluating funding applications;

(6)   identify ways to improve coordination and reduce impacts through the use of communication, technology and improved management techniques; and

(7)   recommend changes to public policy, regulations, or statutes that would improve funding or reduce costs associated with utility relocations resulting from road and bridge projects.

(C)   The Utilities Relocation Study Committee must be composed of thirteen members. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8-13-770, the committee is composed of:

(1)   one member appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

(2)   one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3)   one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(4)   one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5)   one member appointed by the Governor;

(6)   the Secretary of Transportation, or his designee;

(7)   the Chairman of the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission, or his designee;

(8)   one member representing the South Carolina Rural Water Association;

(9)   one member representing the Water Utility Council of South Carolina;

(10)   one member representing the South Carolina Water Quality Association;

(11)   one member representing the Municipal Association of South Carolina;

(12)   one member representing the South Carolina Association of Counties; and

(13)   one member representing the South Carolina Association of Special Purpose Districts.

(D)   The members of the study committee shall serve without compensation and may not receive mileage or per diem.

(E)   The Utilities Relocation Study Committee shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than January 15, 2013, at which time the study committee terminates."
SECTION   2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. DANING explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.

The question then recurred to the passage of the Bill.

The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:

Yeas 104; Nays 0

Those who voted in the affirmative are:

Agnew                  Alexander              Allen
Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Bannister              Barfield
Bingham                Bowen                  Bowers
Brady                  Branham                Brannon
Brantley               G. A. Brown            H. B. Brown
Butler Garrick         Chumley                Clemmons
Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter            Cole
Corbin                 Crawford               Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Erickson               Forrester              Frye
Funderburk             Gambrell               Gilliard
Govan                  Hamilton               Hardwick
Harrell                Hearn                  Henderson
Herbkersman            Hiott                  Hixon
Hodges                 Horne                  Hosey
Howard                 Huggins                Jefferson
Johnson                King                   Knight
Limehouse              Loftis                 Long
Lowe                   McCoy                  McEachern
McLeod                 Merrill                D. C. Moss
V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn              Murphy
Nanney                 J. H. Neal             J. M. Neal
Neilson                Norman                 Owens
Parker                 Parks                  Patrick
Pinson                 Pitts                  Pope
Putnam                 Quinn                  Ryan
Sabb                   Sandifer               Sellers
Simrill                Skelton                G. R. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Tallon
Taylor                 Thayer                 Toole
Tribble                Weeks                  Whipper
White                  Whitmire               Williams
Willis                 Young

Total--104

Those who voted in the negative are:

Total--0

So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.

H. 5187--RECOMMITTED

The following Joint Resolution was taken up:

H. 5187 (Word version) -- Education and Public Works Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DISAPPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, RELATING TO ACCREDITATION CRITERIA, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4198, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

Rep. OWENS moved to recommit the Joint Resolution to the Committee on Education and Public Works, which was agreed to.

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

RETURNED WITH CONCURRENCE

The Senate returned to the House with concurrence the following:

H. 5154 (Word version) -- Reps. Norman and J. M. Neal: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 215 IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE FAIRFIELD/CHESTER COUNTY LINE TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH COOL BRANCH ROAD (S-20-50) "SCHP PATROLMAN RALPH W. MCCRACKEN MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "SCHP PATROLMAN RALPH W. MCCRACKEN MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".

H. 5179 (Word version) -- Reps. Weeks, G. M. Smith, Sabb, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G. A. Brown, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Rutherford, Ryan, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR HUBERT DUVALL OSTEEN, JR., OF SUMTER FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE IN JOURNALISM, AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON RECEIVING THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.

H. 5184 (Word version) -- Reps. Delleney, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G. A. Brown, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J. H. Neal, J. M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Rutherford, Ryan, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith, J. E. Smith, J. R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE GREAT FALLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEASON AND TO COMMEND ITS OUTSTANDING PLAYERS AND COACH FOR CAPTURING THE 2012 CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

ADJOURNMENT

At 4:32 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. ANDERSON, adjourned in memory of Inez Maude Keith-Carolina of Georgetown, to meet at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

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