Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
The House assembled at 10:00 a.m.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by Rev. Charles E. Seastrunk, Jr., as follows:
Our thought for today is from Proverbs 12:25: "Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up."
Let us pray. Almighty God, Your many blessings have provided for us a good life. Inspire these Representatives and staff to use the gifts You have given them for the good of the people in this State. Help them to live as examples of wisdom and intellect, as they represent the people. Provide our leaders in State and Nation with courage and integrity in their leadership. Protect our defenders of freedom, at home and abroad, 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 yesterday, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.
Rep. TALLON moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Virginia Taylor Brandt of Rock Hill, which was agreed to.
The following was received and referred to the appropriate committee for consideration:
Document No. 4286
Agency: Workers' Compensation Commission
Statutory Authority: 1976 Code Sections 42-3-30, 42-9-10 and 42-9-30(21)
Mediation
Received by Speaker of the House of Representatives
May 29, 2012
Referred to Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
Legislative Review Expiration April 28, 2013
The following was received:
Columbia, S.C., May 29, 2012
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the House to S. 1014:
S. 1014 (Word version) -- Senator Knotts: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 17-5-130, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR CANDIDATES FOR CORONER, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT PERSONS WHO QUALIFY FOR THE BALLOT BY MEANS OF EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS TO HAVE ATTAINED THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE TEN YEARS BEFORE FILING AN AFFIDAVIT OF CANDIDACY, TO ELIMINATE TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A LICENSED PRIVATE DETECTIVE AS A QUALIFICATION FOR THE BALLOT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE CORONERS TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL DETERMINE THOSE FORENSIC SCIENCE DEGREE AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS THAT QUALIFY AS "RECOGNIZED" FOR PURPOSES OF THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED FOR CANDIDATES FOR CORONER.
and has ordered the Bill enrolled for ratification.
Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.
The following was received:
Columbia, S.C., May 29. 2012
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the House to S. 1492:
S. 1492 (Word version) -- Senator Bryant: A BILL TO PROVIDE THAT THE DESIGNATED PARCELS OF PROPERTY IN ANDERSON COUNTY ARE MADE A PART OF ANDERSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FIVE.
and has ordered the Bill enrolled for ratification.
Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.
The following was received:
Columbia, S.C., May 29, 2012
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the House to H. 3720:
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.
and has ordered the Bill enrolled for ratification.
Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.
The following was received from the Senate:
Columbia, S.C., May 29, 2012
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it insists upon its amendments to H. 3710:
H. 3710 (Word version) -- Reps. J. E. Smith, Hayes, D. C. Moss and Sandifer: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-1-77 SO AS TO PROVIDE A BOARD OR COMMISSION THAT REGULATES THE LICENSURE OF A PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION UNDER TITLE 40 MAY ISSUE A TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR A PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION IT REGULATES TO THE SPOUSE OF AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING THIS LICENSE, AND TO PROVIDE TIME LIMITS ON THE VALIDITY OF THIS LICENSE.
and asks for a Committee of Conference and has appointed Senators Lourie, Bryant and Massey to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate.
Very respectfully,
President
Whereupon, the Chair appointed Reps. SANDIFER, TOOLE and J. E. SMITH to the Committee of Conference on the part of the House and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.
The following was introduced:
H. 5333 (Word version) -- Reps. Erickson, 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, 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 HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CELEBRATE THE FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL BEAUFORT WATER FESTIVAL, TO BE HELD FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012, THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2012, TO ENCOURAGE ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS TO ATTEND AND ENJOY THIS FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT, AND TO WISH ITS ORGANIZERS EVERY SUCCESS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5334 (Word version) -- Reps. Weeks, G. M. Smith, G. A. Brown, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, 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 CELEBRATE THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOUNT ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND TO CONGRATULATE AND COMMEND PASTOR DORIS R. BRIGHT AND THE CONGREGATION FOR THEIR YEARS OF FAITHFUL MINISTRY IN THE SUMTER COMMUNITY.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5335 (Word version) -- Reps. Ballentine, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, 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. 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 TISH ANDERSON OF CHAPIN UPON BEING CHOSEN THE 2012 ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5336 (Word version) -- Reps. Huggins, 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, 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 HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE DEATH OF NORRIS RANDOLPH "RANDY" SCOTT OF COLUMBIA AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5337 (Word version) -- Reps. Ott, 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, 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 HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE DEATHS OF TED LESLEY ELKINS AND IRENE K. ELKINS OF COLUMBIA AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THEIR FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5340 (Word version) -- Reps. Erickson, Long, Dillard, Henderson, Nanney, Horne, Thayer, Brady, Butler Garrick, Allison, Munnerlyn, Knight, Cobb-Hunter and Parks: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE LAURIE SLADE FUNDERBURK FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE AS CHAIR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOMEN'S CAUCUS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5338 (Word version) -- Reps. Funderburk, Bales, G. A. Brown, Lucas, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, 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, 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 KERSHAW COUNTY VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM ON THE OCCASION OF ITS TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY AND TO THANK THE PROGRAM FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE ON BEHALF OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.
The following Bills and Joint Resolution were introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committees:
H. 5339 (Word version) -- Rep. White: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOL DAYS MISSED DURING THE PERIOD OF MAY 29, 2012, THROUGH JUNE 1, 2012, BY THE STUDENTS OF CALHOUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ANDERSON COUNTY WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED DUE TO A BROKEN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ARE EXEMPT FROM THE MAKE-UP REQUIREMENT THAT FULL SCHOOL DAYS MISSED DUE TO SNOW, EXTREME WEATHER, OR OTHER DISRUPTIONS BE MADE UP.
On motion of Rep. WHITE, with unanimous consent, the Joint Resolution was ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.
S. 1001 (Word version) -- Senators L. Martin, Campsen, Rose and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 17, TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE EQUAL ACCESS TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES FOR MILITARY CHILDREN ACT, BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-160, TO PROVIDE THAT A CHILD OF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES ATTENDING SCHOOL IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO LIVES WITH A RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT OTHER THAN THE CHILD'S PARENT IS ENTITLED TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY THE CHILD'S SCHOOL.
Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
S. 1504 (Word version) -- Senator Pinckney: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 476 OF 1998, RELATING TO JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF JASPER COUNTY, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THE SPECIFIC ELECTION DISTRICTS FROM WHICH MEMBERS OF THE JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL BE ELECTED BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS IN 2012, AND TO PROVIDE FOR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION IN REGARD TO THESE NEWLY DRAWN ELECTION DISTRICTS.
On motion of Rep. BRANTLEY, with unanimous consent, the Bill was ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.
The roll call of the House of Representatives was taken resulting as follows:
Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley R. L. Brown Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Howard Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss J. M. Neal Norman Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Sabb Sandifer Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
I came in after the roll call and was present for the Session on Wednesday, May 30.
Paul Agnew Laurie Funderburk James E. Smith Grady Brown Lewis E. Pinson Chip Huggins Joseph Neal Denny Neilson Peter McCoy, Jr. Mia Butler Garrick Wendy Nanney Kevin Ryan Todd Rutherford Chris Murphy Boyd Brown Elizabeth Munnerlyn Kris Crawford Chris Hart William Bowers Phillip Lowe
The SPEAKER granted Rep. MUNNERLYN a temporary leave of absence to attend a hearing.
Announcement was made that Dr. Patricia Witherspoon of Columbia and Dr. Nardin Khalil, 1st year resident at USC Family Medicine, were the Doctors of the Day for the General Assembly.
Reps. THAYER and PUTNAM presented to the House the Palmetto High School Lady Mustangs Softball Team, the 2012 Class AA Champions, their coaches and other school officials.
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."
Bill Number: H. 5285 (Word version)
Date: ADD:
05/30/12 KNIGHT
Rep. HERBKERSMAN moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Saturday, June 30, which was adopted:
H. 5329 (Word version) -- Rep. Herbkersman: A BILL TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL ALLOW THE CITY OF BLUFFTON TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE THE PORTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 46 WITHIN ITS CITY LIMITS AND REROUTE MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC ON DAYS IN WHICH THE CITY EXPERIENCES HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1092 (Word version) -- Senators Jackson, Courson, Lourie and Scott: A BILL TO ABOLISH THE RICHLAND COUNTY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT CONTROL AND DEVOLVE ALL OF ITS DUTIES, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS UPON THE RICHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL AND TO REPEAL SECTION 1 OF ACT 952 OF 1958.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon G. A. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Horne Howard Huggins King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Sabb Sandifer Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Tribble Vick White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
Rep. SANDIFER moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was adopted:
S. 1229 (Word version) -- Senators O'Dell and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 38-47-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LICENSES REQUIRED FOR ADJUSTERS, SO AS TO ADD EXEMPTIONS FROM LICENSURE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-47-20, RELATING TO RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS FOR LICENSING NONRESIDENT ADJUSTERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE WHERE A NONRECIPROCAL AGREEMENT EXISTS BETWEEN THIS STATE AND ANOTHER STATE, AN APPLICANT FOR A NONRESIDENT ADJUSTER'S LICENSE WHO HOLDS A LICENSE IN ANOTHER STATE MAY RESIDE IN THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA WITHOUT LOSING THE BENEFITS OF THE RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT IF HE COMPLIES WITH OTHER APPLICABLE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS.
Rep. SANDIFER moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was adopted:
S. 1269 (Word version) -- Senators Peeler and Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 18 TO CHAPTER 71, TITLE 38 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE RIGHTS OF A PHARMACY WHEN UNDERGOING AN AUDIT CONDUCTED BY A MANAGED CARE COMPANY, INSURANCE COMPANY, THIRD-PARTY PAYER, OR AN ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF CLAIMS FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES; TO REQUIRE THE AUDITING ENTITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPEALS PROCESS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE RECOUPMENT OF FUNDS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
The following Bills were read the third time, passed, and having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title of each be changed to that of an Act, and that they be enrolled for ratification:
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.
S. 1364 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 50-5-1705 AND 50-5-1710, BOTH AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LAWFUL SIZE AND CATCH LIMITS FOR CERTAIN FISH, SO AS TO PROVIDE LAWFUL SIZE AND CATCH LIMITS FOR SHEEPSHEAD (ARCHOSARGUS PROBATOCEPHALUS).
The following Bills were taken up, read the third time, and ordered returned to the Senate with amendments:
S. 1299 (Word version) -- Senators Cleary, McGill and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 54-15-20 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTAGE FOR THE UPPER COASTAL AREA, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE COMMISSION FROM SIX TO EIGHT.
S. 788 (Word version) -- Senator Verdin: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 21, TITLE 47 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE FARM ANIMAL AND RESEARCH FACILITIES PROTECTION ACT, BY AMENDING SECTION 47-21-70 TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LIABILITY EXEMPTIONS TO VETERINARIANS AND PEOPLE WHO HOLD A SUPERIOR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY; BY ADDING SECTION 47-21-90 TO PROVIDE FOR A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION FOR A PERSON THAT SUFFERS DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 21 RELATING TO ANIMAL FACILITY OPERATIONS; AND BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TAMPER WITH CROP OPERATIONS, TO INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATIONS OF A CROP OPERATION, TO FRAUDULENTLY GAIN ACCESS TO A CROP OPERATION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT RELATED TO CROP OPERATIONS, TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
Debate was resumed on the following Bill, the pending question being the consideration of the Bill:
S. 1231 (Word version) -- Senator Gregory: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-1-30, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE VARIOUS CLASSIFICATIONS OF BIRDS, GAME ANIMALS, AND FISH, SO AS TO CLASSIFY COBIA RACHYCENTRON CANADUM AS A SALTWATER GAME FISH.
Rep. VICK spoke in favor of the Bill.
The question then recurred to the passage of the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brantley G. A. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Erickson Frye Funderburk Gambrell Govan Hardwick Harrell Hayes Hearn Herbkersman Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Lucas McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill V. S. Moss Murphy J. H. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pope Quinn Rutherford Ryan Sabb Sellers Skelton G. M. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Tallon Taylor Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper White Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allison Brannon Clemmons Corbin Forrester Hamilton Henderson Loftis D. C. Moss Pinson Pitts Putnam Simrill G. R. Smith Stringer Thayer Whitmire
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1127 (Word version) -- Senator Peeler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 1-30-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR GOVERNING AUTHORITY, SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE SPECIFIC NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT MUST BE APPOINTED TO GOVERN A DEPARTMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 40-9-30 AND 40-9-37, BOTH RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS, SO AS TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED FROM THE NEWLY CREATED SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 40-15-20, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY, SO AS TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED FROM THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL LAY MEMBER; TO AMEND SECTION 40-33-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON AND DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING, SO AS TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED FROM THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND TO DELETE THE PROVISION AUTHORIZING THE BOARD TO ESTABLISH A FEE SCHEDULE IN REGULATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-43-40, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY, SO AS TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED FROM THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 40-45-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE STATE BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS, SO AS TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED FROM THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC; TO AMEND SECTION 40-47-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON AND DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS, SO AS TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED FROM THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND TO DELETE THE PROVISION AUTHORIZING THE BOARD TO ESTABLISH AN INITIAL FEE SCHEDULE IN REGULATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-47-11, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE MEDICAL DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION, SO AS TO DECREASE COMMISSION PHYSICIAN MEMBERSHIP FROM THIRTY-SIX TO THIRTY-FIVE BY CONTINUING TO APPOINT FIVE PHYSICIAN COMMISSIONERS FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, BY ELIMINATING THE SIX AT-LARGE PHYSICIAN COMMISSIONERS, AND BY DECREASING LAY COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP FROM TWELVE TO SEVEN BY APPOINTING ONE, RATHER THAN TWO, LAY COMMISSIONERS FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR THE LICENSURE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST, SO AS TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED FROM THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 44-1-20, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, SO AS TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING A MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED FROM THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 44-9-30 AND SECTIONS 44-20-210 AND 44-20-225, BOTH AS AMENDED, RELATING, RESPECTIVELY, TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION, MEMBERSHIP ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, AND MEMBERSHIP ON CONSUMER ADVISORY BOARDS TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE SEVEN MEMBER MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION, THE SEVEN MEMBER COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, AND THE SEVEN MEMBER CONSUMER ADVISORY BOARDS BY PROVIDING THAT ONE MEMBER MUST BE APPOINTED FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND BY ELIMINATING THE ONE STATE AT LARGE MEMBER FROM EACH COMMISSION AND FROM EACH BOARD; BY ADDING SECTION 1-1-1320 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE TERM OF A PERSON WHO REPRESENTS A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ON A BOARD, COMMISSION, OR COMMITTEE WHOSE RESIDENCY IS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BY A CHANGE IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER TO REPRESENT THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOR WHICH THE TRANSFERRED MEMBER WOULD HAVE SERVED IF THAT DISTRICT IS UNSERVED BY A RESIDENT MEMBER; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPIRATION OF TERMS AND VACANCIES OCCURRING IN THE AFFECTED DISTRICTS; AND TO DELETE OBSOLETE LANGUAGE AND MAKE CHANGES NECESSARY TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.
Rep. DELLENEY explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Barfield Battle Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy Nanney J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parks Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Rutherford Ryan Sabb Sandifer Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Joint Resolution was taken up:
H. 5285 (Word version) -- Reps. King, Gilliard, Anderson, Cobb-Hunter, Rutherford, Williams, Jefferson and Knight: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT INDIVIDUALS PROHIBITED FROM APPEARING ON THE JUNE 2012 PRIMARY BALLOT AS THE RESULT OF THEIR FAILURE TO FILE A STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS ARE ENTITLED TO A FULL REFUND OF THEIR FILING FEE FROM THE ENTITY THAT COLLECTED THE FEE.
Rep. KING explained the Joint Resolution.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Hayes Hearn Henderson Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Howard Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss 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 Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Joint Resolution was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 512 (Word version) -- Senator Grooms: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 11, TITLE 50 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF GAME, BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-36 TO PROHIBIT HUNTING MIGRATORY WATERFOWL ON LAKE MOULTRIE WITHIN TWO HUNDRED YARDS OF A DWELLING, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.
Rep. VICK explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Johnson King Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy Nanney J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pope Putnam Quinn Rutherford Ryan Sabb Sandifer Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Vick Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on S. 512. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Bill.
Rep. Patsy Knight
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1029 (Word version) -- Senator L. Martin: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-1-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF CERTAIN BODIES OF WATER, SO AS TO GIVE A NUMERICAL DESIGNATION TO EACH BODY OF WATER ENUMERATED IN THE SECTION AND TO MAKE OTHER TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE SECTION.
Rep. VICK explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss 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. R. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Tribble Vick Weeks White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1059 (Word version) -- Senators Cromer and Elliott: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-4-30 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS TO REFLECT THE ADDITION OF THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AND TO DESIGNATE THE AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER AS CHAIRMAN.
Rep. VICK explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Anderson Anthony Bales Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bowen Brady Branham Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Corbin Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Long Mack McEachern McLeod V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy Nanney J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Pope Rutherford Sabb Sandifer Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Taylor Vick Weeks Whipper Whitmire Williams Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allison Atwater Ballentine Bingham Brannon Cole Crosby Erickson Forrester Frye Limehouse Loftis Lucas McCoy Merrill D. C. Moss Parker Parks Patrick Pinson Pitts Putnam Quinn Sottile Tallon Thayer Toole Tribble White Willis
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
Rep. VICK moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was adopted:
S. 1087 (Word version) -- Senators Jackson, Cromer, Grooms, Ford, Scott, Elliott, Setzler, Land, Pinckney, Anderson, Ryberg, Matthews, Rankin and Verdin: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-9-730, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES' ABILITY TO DESIGNATE "FREE FISHING DAYS" AND SANCTION FISHING EVENTS EXEMPT FROM FISHING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO DESIGNATE "FREE FISHING DAYS", TO DESIGNATE JULY FOURTH AND MEMORIAL DAY AS DAYS WHEN A RESIDENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO POSSESS A LICENSE OR PERMIT FOR FRESHWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING, TO LIMIT DEPARTMENT-SANCTIONED EVENTS THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM FISHING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS TO FRESHWATER EVENTS, AND TO EXEMPT CERTAIN COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN FROM THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION.
Rep. HOWARD moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:
S. 1438 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie, Alexander, Sheheen, Courson, Nicholson, Hutto and Cleary: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 84 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO CREATE THE COMMISSION ON HUNGER WITHIN AND STAFFED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERS, POWERS, AND DUTIES.
Rep. HOWARD moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:
S. 1429 (Word version) -- Senators Alexander and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 44-36-330, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF MEMBERS TO THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS RESOURCE COORDINATION CENTER ADVISORY COUNCIL, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL.
Rep. DANING moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Tuesday, June 5, which was adopted:
S. 1007 (Word version) -- Senator Rose: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 7, CHAPTER 3, TITLE 57 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BY ADDING SECTION 57-3-755 TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MUST MAINTAIN A DETAILED TRANSACTION REGISTER OF ALL FUNDS EXPENDED EACH MONTH AND POST THAT REGISTER ONLINE.
Rep. DANING moved to adjourn debate upon the following Joint Resolution, which was adopted:
S. 1143 (Word version) -- Senators Verdin and Rose: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS AS THE OFFICIAL CIVIL WAR ERA HISTORIC DRIVING TRAILS OF SOUTH CAROLINA; TO PERMIT SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS TO CONSULT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL ADVISORY BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY CONCERNING THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, ESTABLISHMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND MARKETING OF THE TRAILS; TO ENCOURAGE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF SIGNS ADJACENT TO THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM; AND TO ENCOURAGE THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO COOPERATE WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS CONCERNING EDUCATIONAL AND MARKETING MATERIALS.
Rep. DANING moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:
S. 1375 (Word version) -- Senators Campsen, Hutto and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3860 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF ANIMALS AND CERTAIN VEHICLES ON CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAYS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Further proceedings were interrupted by expiration of time on the uncontested Calendar.
Rep. OWENS moved that the House recur to the morning hour, which was agreed to.
Rep. BARFIELD, from the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions, submitted a favorable report on:
S. 1517 (Word version) -- Senator Matthews: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 267 IN ORANGEBURG COUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 15 TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 301 "REVEREND DR. SAMUEL MARSHALL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "REVEREND DR. SAMUEL MARSHALL HIGHWAY".
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:
S. 859 (Word version) -- Senators Rose, Fair and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 44-7-272, 44-7-274, 44-7-276, AND 44-7-278 SO AS TO ESTABLISH PROVISIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS TO PROHIBIT LICENSURE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OF A FACILITY UNLESS IT IS AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND FEET FROM A SCHOOL, CHILDCARE FACILITY, PARK, PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL, AND MASS TRANSPORTATION STOPS; THAT REQUIRES A FACILTY TO NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT OF THE ADMISSION OF A CHILD WHO HAS CHARGES FOR A VIOLENT CRIME PENDING OR WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A VIOLENT CRIME WITHIN THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS, TO PROVIDE SANCTIONS FOR FACILITIES IN VIOLATION OF THIS REQUIREMENT, AND TO REQUIRE A CHILD TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER IF THE PROVISIONS OF REGISTRATION APPLY TO THAT CHILD'S OFFENSE; THAT REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP LEVELS OF FACILITY LICENSURE, AND LEVELS OF LICENSURE FOR PROGRAMS WITHIN A FACILITY, BASED UPON CLIENT DISORDERS AND BEHAVIOR AND SUPERVISION, SAFETY, AND SECURITY FACTORS WITHIN EACH FACILITY OR PROGRAM LEVEL; AND THAT REQUIRE THESE FACILITIES TO NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT UPON A CLIENT LEAVING THE FACILITY WITHOUT PERMISSION AND TO MAINTAIN RECORDS OF THESE MATTERS, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION BY THE DEPARTMENT.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:
S. 1354 (Word version) -- Senators Bryant, Thomas, Ford and L. Martin: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 35-1-604 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO SECURITIES VIOLATIONS, TO REQUIRE ALL CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS ISSUED BY THE SECURITIES COMMISSIONER TO BE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AND TO REQUIRE PUBLICATION ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S WEBSITE.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:
S. 1099 (Word version) -- Senator Fair: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 63-19-650 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF JUVENILE PAROLE SHALL RECEIVE A HEARING FEE.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:
S. 1055 (Word version) -- Senators McConnell and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 14-27-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR TWO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS, AND A PERSON RECOMMENDED BY THE CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF LAW, TO CHANGE THE PERSON SERVING FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR TO ONE PERSON RECOMMENDED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR, AND TO ADD AS A MEMBER, A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE IN LIEU OF ONE OF THE TWO MAGISTRATE COURT JUDGES; TO AMEND SECTION 14-27-30 RELATING TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE APPOINTING A PERSON RECOMMENDED BY THE CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF LAW AND APPOINTING THE SUMMARY COURT JUDGES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 14-27-40 RELATING TO THE TERMS OF SERVICE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHIEF JUDGE SERVES DURING THE TERM OF HIS OFFICE, AND THE PERSON RECOMMENDED BY THE CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF LAW SERVES FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:
S. 263 (Word version) -- Senators Knotts and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 23, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-2905, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO WHILE DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE DOES ANY ACT FORBIDDEN BY LAW IN THE DRIVING OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE, EXCEPT A VIOLATION OF SECTIONS 56-5-2930, 56-5-2935, OR 56-5-2945, WHICH PROXIMATELY CAUSES DEATH TO A PERSON, IS GUILTY OF THE MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE OF VEHICULAR HOMICIDE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2946 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MUST SUBMIT TO EITHER ONE OR A COMBINATION OF CHEMICAL TESTS OF HIS BREATH, BLOOD, OR URINE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS, OR A COMBINATION OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS IF THE PERSON IS THE DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE INCIDENT RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF ANOTHER PERSON.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report on:
S. 168 (Word version) -- Senators Shoopman, Verdin and Leventis: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-11-580, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR CUTTING, REMOVING, OR TRANSPORTING TIMBER PRODUCTS WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE LANDOWNER, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FROM FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS IF THE VALUE OF THE TIMBER IS ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR LESS AND TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR TIMBER PRODUCTS VALUED AT MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS BUT LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND FOR TIMBER PRODUCTS VALUED AT FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:
S. 45 (Word version) -- Senators McConnell, Campsen and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 15, TITLE 17 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 17-15-55, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CIRCUIT COURT SHALL CONSIDER MOTIONS REGARDING RECONSIDERATION OF BOND FOR GENERAL SESSIONS OFFENSES SET BY A SUMMARY COURT JUDGE; TO PROVIDE THAT FURTHER DEFENSE MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER BOND MAY BE HEARD BY THE CIRCUIT COURT ONLY UPON THE DEFENDANT'S PRIMA FACIE SHOWING OF A MATERIAL CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCE; TO PROVIDE THAT MOTIONS BY THE STATE TO REVOKE OR MODIFY A DEFENDANT'S BOND MUST BE MADE IN WRITING, STATE WITH PARTICULARITY THE GROUNDS FOR REVOCATION OR MODIFICATION, AND SET FORTH THE RELIEF OR ORDER SOUGHT; AND TO PROVIDE THAT, IF THE STATE'S MOTION TO REVOKE OR MODIFY BOND INCLUDES A PRIMA FACIE SHOWING OF IMMINENT DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY, OR IMMINENT DANGER TO THE DEFENDANT, OR FLIGHT BY THE DEFENDANT, THE CHIEF JUDGE OR PRESIDING JUDGE SHALL CONDUCT OR ORDER AN EMERGENCY HEARING WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:
S. 300 (Word version) -- Senators Fair, Hutto, Jackson, Knotts, Rankin and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 63-19-1440, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COMMITMENT OF JUVENILES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE TO ALLOW A JUVENILE WHO IS TEMPORARILY COMMITTED TO ITS CUSTODY, AFTER BEING ADJUDICATED FOR A STATUS OFFENSE, MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE, OR A PROBATION VIOLATION OR CONTEMPT, TO UNDERGO A COMMUNITY EVALUATION WITH CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS AND EXCEPTIONS.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report on:
S. 1329 (Word version) -- Senator Fair: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 24-21-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBER OF THE BOARD WHO IS APPOINTED ON AN AT-LARGE BASIS MUST BE SELECTED FROM ONE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND AT LEAST ONE APPOINTEE SHALL POSSESS THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT THE AT-LARGE APPOINTEE FORMERLY MET.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Rep. HARRISON, from the Committee on Judiciary, submitted a favorable report with amendments on:
S. 1321 (Word version) -- Senators Malloy, McConnell, Knotts, Ford and Campsen: A BILL TO AMEND THE "OMNIBUS CRIME REDUCTION AND SENTENCING REFORM ACT OF 2010", CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY AMENDING SECTION 16-11-110, RELATING TO ARSON, SO AS TO RESTRUCTURE THE DEGREES OF ARSON; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-23-500, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION BY A PERSON CONVICTED OF A VIOLENT CRIME CLASSIFIED AS A FELONY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS A VIOLATION OF PROBATION, PAROLE, COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, OR ANY OTHER SUPERVISION PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES FOR AN OFFENDER TO PURCHASE OR POSSESS A FIREARM, AMMUNITION, OR ANY OTHER DANGEROUS WEAPON; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-560, RELATING TO THE ABILITY OF MAGISTRATES TO PUNISH BREACHES OF THE PEACE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MAGISTRATES MAY PUNISH BREACHES OF THE PEACE BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS OR IMPRISONMENT FOR A TERM NOT EXCEEDING THIRTY DAYS, OR BOTH; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-5-920, RELATING TO THE EXPUNGEMENT OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS' RECORDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EXPUNGEMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO OFFENSES IN WHICH REGISTRATION ON THE SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRY IS REQUIRED, EXCEPT IN CASES IN WHICH A DETERMINATION IS MADE BY THE SENTENCING COURT THAT THE SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A VICTIM OF AT LEAST FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE WAS CONSENSUAL; BY AMENDING SECTION 24-19-10, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF A "YOUTHFUL OFFENDER", SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE OFFENDER COMMITTED BURGLARY IN THE SECOND DEGREE PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-11-312(B), THE OFFENDER MUST RECEIVE AND SERVE A MINIMUM SENTENCE OF AT LEAST THREE YEARS, NO PART OF WHICH MAY BE SUSPENDED, AND THE PERSON IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CONDITIONAL RELEASE UNTIL THE PERSON HAS SERVED THE THREE-YEAR MINIMUM SENTENCE; BY AMENDING SECTION 24-21-5 AND SECTION 24-21-100, RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE MONITORING BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURES THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FOLLOW WHEN NOTIFYING PERSONS UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE MONITORING; BY AMENDING SECTION 24-21-280, RELATING TO COMPLIANCE CREDITS OF PERSONS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MAY EARN UP TO TWENTY DAYS OF COMPLIANCE CREDITS FOR EACH THIRTY-DAY PERIOD IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS SUBSTANTIALLY FULFILLED ALL OF THE CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-53-370 AND SECTION 44-53-375, RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OFFENSES, SO AS TO REMOVE CERTAIN PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO PRIOR AND SUBSEQUENT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CONVICTIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-53-470, RELATING TO WHEN A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OFFENSE IS CONSIDERED A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CONVICTION FOR TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES MUST BE CONSIDERED A PRIOR OFFENSE FOR PURPOSES OF ANY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PROSECUTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 56-1-396, RELATING TO THE DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION AMNESTY PERIOD, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT QUALIFYING SUSPENSIONS DO NOT INCLUDE SUSPENSIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 56-5-2990 OR SECTION 56-5-2945, AND DO NOT INCLUDE SUSPENSIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 56-1-460, IF THE PERSON DRIVES A MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN THE PERSON'S LICENSE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED OR REVOKED PURSUANT TO SECTION 56-5-2990 OR SECTION 56-5-2945; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 56-1-460, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR A THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, THE PERSON MUST BE FINED ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND IMPRISONED FOR UP TO NINETY DAYS OR CONFINED TO THE PERSON'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE PURSUANT TO THE HOME DETENTION ACT FOR UP TO NINETY DAYS.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
The following was introduced:
H. 5341 (Word version) -- Reps. Gilliard, R. L. Brown, Mack, Whipper, 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, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, 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, 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, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR EDWARD MATTHEW GIBSON, SR., FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO HIS NATION AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM FOR BEING HONORED FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A MEMBER OF THE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5343 (Word version) -- Rep. Ryan: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR WACCAMAW HIGH SCHOOL TRACK STAR GRACE BARNETT AND TO CONGRATULATE HER FOR WINNING THREE GOLD MEDALS AT THE 2012 CLASS AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TRACK AND FIELD MEET.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following Bill was introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committee:
H. 5342 (Word version) -- Reps. Lucas and Funderburk: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 4-10-320, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COMMISSIONS CREATED IN REGARD TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT SALES TAX ACT TO CONSIDER PROPOSALS FOR FUNDING CAPITAL PROJECTS WITHIN THE COUNTY AREA AND TO FORMULATE THE ENSUING REFERENDUM QUESTIONS TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNING BODY MUST BE RESIDENTS OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY MUST BE RESIDENTS OF THAT MUNICIPALITY.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
Rep. HOWARD moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:
S. 1438 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie, Alexander, Sheheen, Courson, Nicholson, Hutto and Cleary: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 84 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO CREATE THE COMMISSION ON HUNGER WITHIN AND STAFFED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERS, POWERS, AND DUTIES.
Rep. HOWARD moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:
S. 1429 (Word version) -- Senators Alexander and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 44-36-330, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF MEMBERS TO THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS RESOURCE COORDINATION CENTER ADVISORY COUNCIL, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL.
Rep. DANING moved to adjourn debate upon the following Joint Resolution, which was adopted:
S. 1143 (Word version) -- Senators Verdin and Rose: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS AS THE OFFICIAL CIVIL WAR ERA HISTORIC DRIVING TRAILS OF SOUTH CAROLINA; TO PERMIT SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS TO CONSULT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL ADVISORY BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY CONCERNING THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, ESTABLISHMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND MARKETING OF THE TRAILS; TO ENCOURAGE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF SIGNS ADJACENT TO THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM; AND TO ENCOURAGE THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO COOPERATE WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS CONCERNING EDUCATIONAL AND MARKETING MATERIALS.
Rep. DANING moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:
S. 1375 (Word version) -- Senators Campsen, Hutto and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3860 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF ANIMALS AND CERTAIN VEHICLES ON CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAYS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
The SPEAKER granted Rep. ANDERSON a temporary leave of absence.
The following Bill was taken up:
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.
The Education and Public Works Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 149 (COUNCIL\DKA\4144SD12):
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking SECTION 2 in its entirety and inserting:
/ SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-63-100. (A) As used in this section:
(1) 'Charter school student' is a child enrolled in a charter school established pursuant to Chapter 40, Title 59.
(2) 'Governor's school student' is a child enrolled at a Governor's school established pursuant to this title.
(3) 'Home school student' is a child taught in accordance with Section 59-65-40, 59-65-45, or 59-65-47 and has been taught in accordance with one of these sections for a full academic year prior to participating in an interscholastic activity pursuant to this section.
(4) 'Interscholastic activities' includes, but is not limited to, athletics, music, speech, and other extracurricular activities.
(B) Individual Governor's school students and home school students may not be denied by a school district the opportunity to participate in interscholastic activities if the:
(1) student meets all school district eligibility requirements with the exception of the:
(a) school district's school or class attendance requirements; and
(b) class and enrollment requirements of the associations administering the interscholastic activities;
(2) student's teacher, in the case of a Governor's school student, certifies by submitting an affidavit to the school district that the student fully complies with the law and any attendance, class, or enrollment requirements for a Governor's school. In addition, A charter school student's teacher, in the same manner required by this subsection for a Governor's school student, also must certify by affidavit to the student's school district that the student fully complies with the law and any attendance, class, or enrollment requirements for a charter school in order for the student to participate in interscholastic activities in the manner permitted by Chapter 40 of this title;
(3) student participating in interscholastic activities, in the case of a Governor's school student, resides or attends a Governor's school within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student participates; and
(4) student notifies the superintendent of the school district in writing of his intent to participate in the interscholastic activity as a representative of the school before the beginning date of the season for the activity in which he wishes to participate.
(C) A public school student who has been unable to maintain academic eligibility is ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities as a charter school student, Governor's school student, or home school student for the following semester. To establish eligibility for subsequent school years, the student's teacher shall certify by submitting an affidavit to the school district that the student meets the relevant policies of the school at which the student wishes to participate.
(D) A Governor's school student or home school student is required to fulfill the same responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance, including related practice requirements, of other students participating in the interscholastic activities of the team or squad and is required to meet the same standards for acceptance on the team or squad.
(E) A Governor's school may not be denied by a school district the opportunity to have a team representing the school participate in interscholastic activities if the team meets the same eligibility requirements of other teams. An individual Governor's school student may not participate in an interscholastic activity of a public school district if the school that the student is enrolled in has a team or squad participating in that interscholastic activity.
(F) A school district may not contract with a private entity that supervises interscholastic activities if the private entity prohibits the participation of charter school students, Governor's school students, or home school students in interscholastic activities." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. OWENS explained the amendment.
Rep. OWENS spoke in favor of the amendment.
Reps. R. L. BROWN, WEEKS, GILLIARD, AGNEW, HENDERSON, DILLARD, G. R. SMITH, BEDINGFIELD, D. C. MOSS, HIXON, TAYLOR, HOSEY, HIOTT, J. R. SMITH, KING, JOHNSON, SABB, HERBKERSMAN, BRANTLEY, ERICKSON, FORRESTER, CRAWFORD, PINSON, PATRICK, ATWATER and TOOLE requested debate on the Bill.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 255 (Word version) -- Senators Cleary, McConnell, Hutto, Rose, Ford and Knotts: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 33, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 57, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE QUALIFIED RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHER ELEEMOSYNARY ORGANIZATIONS TO OPERATE AND CONDUCT RAFFLES AND CASINO NIGHT CHARITY GAMES THROUGH REGISTRATION WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA SECRETARY OF STATE, TO PROVIDE STANDARDS FOR THESE EVENTS; TO REQUIRE PROCEEDS TO BE USED FOR RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, OR OTHER ELEEMOSYNARY PURPOSES; AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.
Rep. HIOTT moved to recommit the Bill to the Committee on Judiciary, which was agreed to.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1247 (Word version) -- Senators Alexander, Rankin and Hutto: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-250 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO SERVE A FINAL ORDER OR DECISION BY ELECTRONIC SERVICE, REGISTERED MAIL, OR CERTIFIED MAIL.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley H. B. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crawford Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Harrell Harrison Hart Hearn Henderson Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Howard Huggins Jefferson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy Nanney J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Pitts 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 Vick Weeks Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1044 (Word version) -- Senators Knotts, Cromer and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 38-59-250, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INITIATION OF OVERPAYMENT RECOVERY EFFORTS PURSUANT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HEALTH CARE FINANCIAL RECOVERY AND PROTECTION ACT, SO AS TO ADD REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING AN APPEAL.
Rep. BRADY explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon G. A. Brown Chumley Clemmons Cole Corbin Crawford Crosby Daning Delleney Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Hamilton Harrell Hart Hayes Hearn Henderson Hiott Hixon Horne Howard Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas McCoy McEachern McLeod D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Owens Parks Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Rutherford Ryan Sabb Sandifer Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stringer Tallon Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Whitmire Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
Brantley H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Gilliard Hodges Stavrinakis Weeks Whipper Williams
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on S. 1044. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Bill.
Rep. Bill Taylor
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1319 (Word version) -- Senators L. Martin, Matthews, Hayes and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 11, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 38 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 38-75-1010, TO PROVIDE THAT A TITLE INSURER MAY ISSUE CLOSING OR SETTLEMENT INSURANCE, TO PROVIDE FOR LOSS AGAINST WHICH THIS INSURANCE MAY INDEMNIFY AN INSURED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PREMIUM CHARGED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION MUST BE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND MUST NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY AGREEMENT REQUIRING A DIVISION OF FEES OR PREMIUMS COLLECTED ON BEHALF OF THE TITLE INSURER.
Rep. SANDIFER explained the Bill.
Rep. HAMILTON moved to adjourn debate on the Bill until Tuesday, June 5.
Rep. SANDIFER moved to table the motion.
Rep. SANDIFER demanded the yeas and nays which were taken, resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Anthony Bales Barfield Battle Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Crawford Daning Edge Forrester Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Hardwick Harrell Hart Hearn Hodges Hosey Howard Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Mack McEachern McLeod D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal Neilson Ott Owens Parks Sabb Sandifer Sellers Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith Sottile Stavrinakis Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper Williams
Those who voted in the negative are:
Agnew Allison Atwater Ballentine Bannister Bedingfield Brannon Chumley Cole Corbin Crosby Delleney Dillard Erickson Frye Govan Hamilton Henderson Hiott Hixon Horne Huggins Long Lucas McCoy Merrill J. M. Neal Norman Patrick Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Simrill Southard Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Willis Young
So, the motion to adjourn debate was tabled.
The question then recurred to the passage of the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Anthony Bales Barfield Battle Bingham Bowen Branham Brantley G. A. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Crawford Forrester Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Harrell Hayes Hodges Hosey Howard Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Mack McEachern McLeod D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal Neilson Ott Owens Parker Parks Pinson Sabb Sandifer Sellers Skelton G. R. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Spires Taylor Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper Whitmire Williams
Those who voted in the negative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Atwater Ballentine Bannister Bedingfield Brady Brannon Chumley Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Erickson Frye Hamilton Hardwick Hart Henderson Hiott Hixon Horne Huggins Loftis Long Lucas McCoy Merrill J. M. Neal Norman Patrick Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Simrill G. M. Smith Southard Stringer Tallon Thayer Willis Young
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
Rep. SELLERS moved to reconsider the vote whereby the following Bill was given second reading:
S. 1319 (Word version) -- Senators L. Martin, Matthews, Hayes and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 11, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 38 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 38-75-1010, TO PROVIDE THAT A TITLE INSURER MAY ISSUE CLOSING OR SETTLEMENT INSURANCE, TO PROVIDE FOR LOSS AGAINST WHICH THIS INSURANCE MAY INDEMNIFY AN INSURED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PREMIUM CHARGED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION MUST BE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND MUST NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY AGREEMENT REQUIRING A DIVISION OF FEES OR PREMIUMS COLLECTED ON BEHALF OF THE TITLE INSURER.
Rep. SELLERS moved to table the motion to reconsider, which was agreed to.
Further proceedings were interrupted by expiration of time on the uncontested Calendar.
Rep. SANDIFER moved that the House recur to the morning hour, which was agreed to.
The following was received from the Senate:
Columbia, S.C., May 30, 2012
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it insists upon its amendments to H. 4763:
H. 4763 (Word version) -- Reps. Sandifer, King, Butler Garrick and Parks: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 32-7-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PRENEED FUNERAL CONTRACT LICENSES, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE TERM OF THE LICENSE AND FOR THE USE OF LICENSE RENEWAL FEES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 32-7-100, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL VIOLATIONS OF LAW PERTAINING TO PRENEED FUNERAL CONTRACTS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY OBTAINED OR SOUGHT TO BE OBTAINED WITH CERTAIN OFFENSES DECLARED TO BE MISDEMEANORS AND CERTAIN OFFENSES DECLARED TO BE FELONIES.
and asks for a Committee of Conference and has appointed Senators Campbell, Williams and Gregory to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate.
Very respectfully,
President
Whereupon, the Chair appointed Reps. SANDIFER, TOOLE and PARKS to the Committee of Conference on the part of the House and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.
Rep. TALLON moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was adopted:
S. 1438 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie, Alexander, Sheheen, Courson, Nicholson, Hutto and Cleary: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 84 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO CREATE THE COMMISSION ON HUNGER WITHIN AND STAFFED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERS, POWERS, AND DUTIES.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1429 (Word version) -- Senators Alexander and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 44-36-330, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF MEMBERS TO THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS RESOURCE COORDINATION CENTER ADVISORY COUNCIL, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL.
Rep. MUNNERLYN explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crawford Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrison Hart Hearn Henderson Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Howard Huggins Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Parker Patrick Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Rutherford Ryan Sabb Sandifer Skelton G. R. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Weeks White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
Rep. OWENS moved to adjourn debate upon the following Joint Resolution, which was adopted:
S. 1143 (Word version) -- Senators Verdin and Rose: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS AS THE OFFICIAL CIVIL WAR ERA HISTORIC DRIVING TRAILS OF SOUTH CAROLINA; TO PERMIT SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS TO CONSULT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL ADVISORY BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY CONCERNING THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, ESTABLISHMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND MARKETING OF THE TRAILS; TO ENCOURAGE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF SIGNS ADJACENT TO THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM; AND TO ENCOURAGE THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO COOPERATE WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS CONCERNING EDUCATIONAL AND MARKETING MATERIALS.
Rep. OWENS moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill, which was adopted:
S. 1375 (Word version) -- Senators Campsen, Hutto and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3860 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF ANIMALS AND CERTAIN VEHICLES ON CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAYS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 580 (Word version) -- Senator Setzler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-18-140, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM CHAPTER 18 OF TITLE 40 PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSURE AND REGULATION OF PRIVATE SECURITY AND INVESTIGATION AGENCIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHAPTER MUST NOT APPLY TO A PERSON BASED SOLELY ON HIS BEING ENGAGED IN COMPUTER OR DIGITAL FORENSIC SERVICES, THE ACQUISITION, REVIEW, OR ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL OR COMPUTER-BASED INFORMATION, OR SYSTEM VULNERABILITY TESTING.
The Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 580 (COUNCIL\AGM\ 19619AB12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Section 40-18-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 40-18-140. (A) This chapter does not apply to:
(1) an officer or employee of the federal government, or of this State or a political subdivision of either, or of a municipal corporation while the employee or officer is engaged in the performance of official duties;
(2) a person or firm engaged as a consumer reporting agency, as defined by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, when gathering, processing, or reporting information directly related to a credit rating or credit status;
(3) an attorney-at-law while in the performance of his duties; or
(4) a person, as defined by Section 38-1-20(29), licensed or authorized by the Director of Insurance to transact business within the State, when performing duties directly related to that license or authorization.; or
(5) a certified public accountant while in the performance of his duties.
(B) This chapter must not be applied to a person based solely on his being engaged in:
(1) computer or digital forensic services, as defined in Section 40-84-20, or the acquisition, review, or analysis of digital or computer-based information, whether for the purposes of obtaining or furnishing information for evidentiary or other purposes, or for providing expert testimony before a court; or
(2) network or system vulnerability testing, including network scans and risk assessment and analysis of computers connected to a network."
SECTION 2. Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 40-84-20. (1) 'Computer forensics' or 'digital forensics' means the search for or collection of evidence from computer systems, computer networks, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, hereafter 'PDAs', and all other electronic storage media, in a standardized and well-documented manner to maintain its admissibility and probative value in a legal proceeding.
(2) 'Computer forensics examiners' or 'digital forensics examiners' means a person who collects, interprets, evaluates, tests, or analyzes pre-existing data from computers, computer systems, networks, or other electronic media provided to them by another person who owns, controls, or possesses the computer, computer system, network, or electronic media.
(3) 'Computer forensics business' or 'computer forensics examiners business' includes soliciting or engaging in business or accepting employment to obtain or furnish information with reference to the preservation, extraction, and analysis of computer evidence in a forensically sound manner.
Section 40-84-30. The chief of SLED has the following powers and duties as they relate to the practice of computer forensics businesses:
(1) to maintain a registry of all people, voluntary associations, or corporations in this State that engage in the business of computer forensics or as a computer forensics examiner as defined by this chapter;
(2) to investigate alleged violations of this chapter and regulations promulgated by SLED, and;
(3) to promulgate regulations necessary to carry out this chapter.
Section 40-84-40. (A) SLED shall maintain a computer forensics registry of all people, voluntary associations, or corporations engaging in the business of computer forensics or as a computer forensics examiner as defined by this chapter in this State.
(B) The registry must be funded exclusively through the funds collected from the registration fees.
Section 40-84-50. (A) A person, voluntary association, or corporation that desires to operate a digital forensics business in this State must register with SLED and submit their information to SLED on an application form promulgated by SLED for inclusion in SLED's Computer Forensics Registry. Each registration must be accompanied by a registration fee of fifty dollars and is valid for a term of five years, after which a registrant must reapply in the same manner as the initial application and again remit an accompanying fee of fifty dollars.
(B)(1) If the applicant company is an association or corporation, the chief executive officer of the association or corporation must be the applicant or must designate in writing the corporate officer or principal who is the applicant.
(2) If the applicant company is a partnership, each partner must complete an application form.
(C)(1) The application for registration must be made under oath and must state the applicant's full name, age, date and place of birth, current residence address, residence addresses for the past ten years, employment for the past ten years, including names and addresses of employers, the applicant's current occupation, including the name and address of the current employer, the date and place of any arrests, any convictions for violations of federal or state laws.
(2) An applicant must submit with the application:
(a) one complete set of his fingerprints on forms specified and furnished by SLED; and
(b) one color photograph of the applicant's full face, without head covering, taken within six months before the application is filed.
Section 40-84-60. This chapter does not apply to:
(1) a person employed exclusively and regularly by an employer in connection only with the affairs of the employer, if there exists a bona fide employer-employee relationship for which the employee is reimbursed on a salary basis and;
(2) an individual, voluntary association or corporation unless it holds itself out to the public as being entitled to practice computer forensics, render or furnish computer forensics, practice as a computer forensics examiner, or render or furnish services as a computer forensics examiner;
(3) an officer or employee of the federal government, this State, or a political subdivision of either while the employee or officer is engaged in the performance of official duties;
(4) a person or firm engaged as a consumer reporting agency, as defined by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, when gathering, processing, or reporting information directly related to a credit rating or credit status;
(5) an attorney-at-law while in the performance of his duties;
(6) a person, as defined by Section 38-1-20(29), licensed or authorized by the Director of Insurance to transact business within the State when performing duties directly related to that license or authorization; or
(7) a certified public accountant while in the performance of his duties."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2012. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. SANDIFER 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:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. 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 Henderson Hiott Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Sandifer Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allison Hixon Munnerlyn Sabb Tallon
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
Rep. SANDIFER moved to reconsider the vote whereby the following Bill was given second reading:
S. 580 (Word version) -- Senator Setzler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-18-140, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM CHAPTER 18 OF TITLE 40 PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSURE AND REGULATION OF PRIVATE SECURITY AND INVESTIGATION AGENCIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHAPTER MUST NOT APPLY TO A PERSON BASED SOLELY ON HIS BEING ENGAGED IN COMPUTER OR DIGITAL FORENSIC SERVICES, THE ACQUISITION, REVIEW, OR ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL OR COMPUTER-BASED INFORMATION, OR SYSTEM VULNERABILITY TESTING.
Rep. SANDIFER moved to table the motion to reconsider, which was agreed to.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1340 (Word version) -- Senators Malloy and Knotts: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 41-15-520, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REMEDIES OF EMPLOYEES ALLEGING DISCRIMINATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION SHALL FOLLOW UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINT ALLEGING SUCH DISCRIMINATION.
Rep. SANDIFER explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cole Corbin Crawford Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Parker Parks Patrick Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Sabb Sandifer Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1137 (Word version) -- Senator Shoopman: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 40-3-325 AND 40-22-295 SO AS TO ENACT THE "ARCHITECTS' AND ENGINEERS' VOLUNTEER ACT" WHICH PROVIDES IMMUNITY FOR A REGISTERED ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER WHO PROVIDES CERTAIN ARCHITECTURAL OR ENGINEERING SERVICES AT THE SCENE OF A DECLARED EMERGENCY.
The Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 1137 (COUNCIL\MS\7819AB12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Architects' and Engineers' Volunteer Act".
SECTION 2. Chapter 3, Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 40-3-325. A licensed architect under the provisions of this chapter is immune from liability for volunteer architectural services provided during an emergency in the same manner as a licensed engineer is immune for volunteer engineering services as provided in Section 40-22-295. This section does not provide immunity from liability for persons merely registered in this state pursuant to Section 40-3-260."
SECTION 3. Chapter 22, Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 40-22-295. (A) A licensed engineer who voluntarily, without compensation, provides structural, electrical, mechanical, or other engineering services at the scene of a declared national or state emergency, at the request of the Governor, is not liable for any personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, or other loss caused by the licensed engineer's acts, errors, or omissions in performing the engineering services for a structure, building, piping, or other engineered system, either publicly or privately owned. Immunity from liability under this section is only effective as to services rendered during the thirty days following the event that gave rise to the declared state of emergency.
(B)(1) Any licensed engineer appointed pursuant to this section must not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of the providing of requested engineering services unless the damages result from providing, or failing to provide engineering services if the consequences of the services provided are proven by a preponderance of the evidence to be the result of gross negligence or recklessness.
(2) This section applies if the engineer does not receive payment other than as allowed in Section 8-25-40 for the appointed services and prescribed duties. However, if the engineer is an employee of the State, the engineer may continue to receive compensation from his employer.
(C) This section does not provide immunity from liability to persons providing services pursuant to Section 40-22-75."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. SANDIFER 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:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cole Corbin Crawford Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman 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 Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
Rep. TALLON moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was adopted:
S. 473 (Word version) -- Senators Lourie, Setzler and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 102, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ATHLETE AGENTS AND STUDENT AGENTS, SO AS TO REVISE DEFINITIONS, TO INCLUDE DEFINITIONS FOR "ADMINISTRATOR", "DEPARTMENT", AND "FINANCIAL SERVICES CONTRACT", TO REVISE THE POWERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS WITH RESPECT TO ATHLETE AGENTS AND STUDENT ATHLETES, TO PROVIDE FOR INSPECTION OF OUT-OF-STATE RECORDS, TO REQUIRE AN APPLICANT TO UNDERGO A NATIONAL AND STATE CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK AND TO PROVIDE FINGERPRINTS, TO PROVIDE FOR REPORTING AND MAINTENANCE OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK RESULTS, TO REVISE CONSIDERATIONS THE DEPARTMENT MAY MAKE WHEN ISSUING A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION, TO REVISE THE TIME IN WHICH A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION IS VALID AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE CERTIFICATE IS NONTRANSFERABLE AND NONASSIGNABLE, TO PROVIDE THAT IF A PERSON AGGRIEVED BY DEPARTMENT ACTION FAILS TO REQUEST A CONTESTED CASE THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION IS FINAL, TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDS COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT MUST BE USED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, TO REQUIRE THAT THE ADDRESS OF THE ATHLETE AGENT BE INCLUDED IN AN AGENCY CONTRACT, TO REVISE WHAT THE CONTRACT MUST CONTAIN, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED ACTS OF ATHLETE AGENTS, TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER AND IMPOSE A PENALTY UPON FINDING OF MISCONDUCT, TO PROVIDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROMULGATE REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER.
Rep. HIOTT moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was adopted:
S. 1220 (Word version) -- Senators Campbell, Hayes and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-2-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FEES IMPOSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM, WHICH ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THESE PROGRAMS, SO AS TO ENUMERATE THE FEES FOR SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWAL APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN REPEALED JANUARY 1, 2013; BY ADDING SECTION 49-4-175 SO AS TO REIMPOSE THE FEES THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL MAY CHARGE FOR SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWAL AND APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL RETAIN THESE FEES TO IMPLEMENT AND OPERATE THE SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM; AND TO AMEND ACT 247 OF 2010, BY REPEALING PROVISIONS THAT PROSPECTIVELY REPEAL THE IMPOSITION OF SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWAL PERMIT FEES.
Rep. BEDINGFIELD moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was adopted:
S. 1417 (Word version) -- Senator Land: 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 FOR THE ISSUANCE OF "SOUTH CAROLINA TENNIS PATRONS FOUNDATION" SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.
The following Bill was taken up:
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.
The Ways and Means Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 1409 (COUNCIL\NBD\12479DG12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding appropriately numbered SECTIONS to read:
/ SECTION ___. Section 12-14-80 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 354 of 2008, is further amended to read:
"Section 12-14-80. (A) There is allowed an investment tax credit for any taxable year in which the taxpayer places in service qualified manufacturing and productive equipment and which acquired or leased by the taxpayer is placed in service if the taxpayer:
(1)(a) is engaged in this State in at least one economic impact zone, as defined in Section 12-14-30(1), in an activity or activities listed under the North American Industry Classification System Manual (NAICS) Section 326;
(2)(b) is employing five thousand or more full-time workers in this State and having a total capital investment in this State of not less than two billion dollars; and
(3)(c) commits to invest five hundred million dollars in capital investment in this State between January 1, 2006, and July 1, 2011. ; or
(2)(a) is engaged in this State in an activity or activities listed under the North American Industry Classification System Manual (NAICS) Section 326;
(b) commits to employing one thousand two hundred full-time employees in this State by January 1, 2022; and
(c) commits to invest four hundred million dollars in capital investment in this State between September 1, 2011, and January 1, 2022.
(B) For purposes of this section,:
(1) 'Qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property' means property that satisfies the requirements of Section 12-14-60(B)(1)(a), (b), and (c).;
(2) 'Taxpayer' includes the taxpayer and any person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the taxpayer. For purposes of this item, a person controls another person if that person hold fifty percent ownership interest in the other person.
(3) 'Capital investment in this State' includes property that is:
(a) capitalized by the taxpayer;
(b) subject to a capital lease with the taxpayer; or
(c) subject to an operating lease with the taxpayer.
Qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property that is leased to the taxpayer shall be treated as placed in service by the taxpayer on the date the lease begins.
(C)(1) The amount of the credit allowed by this section is equal to the aggregate amount computed based on Section 12-14-60(A)(2).
(2) Notwithstanding item (1), in the event that the taxpayer is the lessee of the property for which the credit is allowable and is not treated as the income tax owner of such property, the basis of the property for purposes of calculating the amount of the credit for the taxpayer and the capital investment made by the taxpayer with respect the property shall be the then determined tax basis, as of the date the lease begins, for purposes of calculating income tax in this State in such property of the income tax owner of such property. In this instance, the taxpayer must include a certification that:
(a) the lessor has provided a written statement to the lessee as to the lessor's then depreciated income tax basis;
(b) the property has not been subject to a prior investment tax credit under this section; and
(c) the taxpayer will include in taxable income the amounts required under subsection (H). Notwithstanding Section 12-54-240, the department may share between and among the taxpayer or the lessor information related to the items certified pursuant to subitems (a) and (b) or to the class life of equipment with respect to which a credit under this section has been claimed.
(D) A taxpayer that qualifies for the tax credit allowed by this section may claim the credit allowed by this section in addition to the credit allowed by Section 12-6-3360 as a credit against withholding taxes imposed by Chapter 8 of this title. The taxpayer must first apply the credit allowed by this section and Section 12-6-3360 against income tax liability. To the extent that the taxpayer has unused credit pursuant to this section, including the credit allowed by Section 12-6-3360, for the taxable year after the application of the credits allowed by this section and Section 12-6-3360 against income tax liability, the taxpayer may claim the excess credit as a credit against withholding taxes on its four quarterly withholding tax returns for the taxpayer's taxable year; except that the credit claimed against withholding tax may not exceed fifty percent of the withholding tax shown as due on the return before the application of other credits including other credits pursuant to Section 12-10-80 or 12-10-81. For the period July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, a taxpayer using this section may not reduce its state withholding tax to less than the withholding tax remitted for the period June 30, 2006, to July 1, 2007.
(E) Unused credits allowed pursuant to this section may be carried forward for use in a subsequent tax year. During the first ten years of each tax credit carryforward, the credit may not reduce a taxpayer's state income tax liability by more than fifty percent, and for a subsequent year the credit carryforward may not reduce a taxpayer's state income tax liability by more than twenty-five percent. Investment tax credit carryforwards pursuant to this section and credit carryforwards pursuant to Section 12-6-3360 must first be used as a credit against income taxes for that year. Any excess may be used pursuant to subsection (D) as a credit against withholding taxes; except that the limitations of subsection (D) apply each year and the economic impact zone tax credit carryforwards that existed on the effective date of Act 83 of 2007 for taxpayers qualifying under subsection (A)(1) and on the effective date of the qualification for taxpayers qualifying under subsection (A)(2), may not be used to reduce withholding tax liabilities pursuant to this section.
(F) The amount of credit used against withholding taxes must reduce the amount of credit that may be used against income tax liability. The amount of credit used against withholding taxes must reduce the amount of credit that may be used against income taxes.
(G) If the taxpayer disposes of or removes qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property from the State during any taxable year and before the end of applicable recovery period for such property as determined under Section 168(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, then the income tax due pursuant to this chapter for the current taxable year must be increased by an amount of any credit claimed in prior years with respect to that property, determined by assuming the credit is earned ratably over the useful life of the property and recapturing pro rata the unearned portion of the credit. This recapture applies to credit previously claimed as a credit against income taxes pursuant to this chapter or withholding tax pursuant to Chapter 8. For purposes of this subsection, the following rules apply for determining whether a taxpayer that is a lessee of qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property has disposed of the property:
(1) a transfer of the property by the lessee to the lessor in a sale-leaseback transaction shall be ignored;
(2) a disposition by the lessor of the property shall not be treated as a disposition provided that the lease is not terminated and the taxpayer remains lessee thereunder;
(3) if the taxpayer lessee actually purchases the property in any taxable year, the purchase shall not be treated as a disposition; and
(4) if the lease is terminated and the property is transferred by the lessee to the lessor or to any other person, other than the taxpayer, the transfer is considered to be a disposition by the taxpayer lessee.
(H)(1) For South Carolina income tax purposes, except as otherwise provided in item (2), the basis of the qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property must be reduced by the amount of any credit claimed with respect to the property, whether claimed as a credit against income taxes or withholding. If a taxpayer is required to recapture the credit in accordance with subsection (G), the taxpayer may increase the basis of the property by the amount of basis reduction attributable to claiming the credit in prior years. The basis must be increased in the year in which the credit is recaptured.
(2) Notwithstanding item (1), if the taxpayer is the lessee of the qualified manufacturing and productive equipment property for which credit has been taken by the taxpayer, in lieu of any adjustment to the basis of such property, the taxpayer shall include in its taxable income for South Carolina income tax purposes, an amount equal to the amount of the credit that is earned during such taxable year in accordance with subsection (G).
(I)(1) For taxpayers qualifying under subsection (A)(1), a credit must not be taken pursuant to this section for capital investments placed in service outside of an economic impact zone until the taxpayer has invested two hundred million dollars of the five hundred million-dollar investment requirement described in subsection (A)(3), (1)(c) and the taxpayer files a statement with the department stating that it: (i) commits to invest a total of five hundred million dollars in this State between January 1, 2006, and July 1, 2011; and (ii) shall refund any credit received with interest at the rate provided for underpayments of tax if it fails to meet the requirement of subsection (A)(3)(1)(c).
(2) For taxpayers qualifying under subsection (A)(2), a credit must not be taken pursuant to this section for capital investments in this State until the taxpayer has invested two hundred million dollars of the four hundred million dollar investment requirement described in subsection (A)(2)(c) and the taxpayer files a statement with the department stating that it:
(i) commits to invest a total of four hundred million dollars in this State between September 1, 2011, and January 1, 2022;
(ii) commits to employ a total of one thousand two hundred full-time employees in this State by January 1, 2022; and
(iii) shall refund any credit received with interest at the rate provided for underpayments of tax if it fails to meet the requirements of subsection (A)(2)(b) or (c).
This The statement and proof of qualification must be filed with the notice required in subsection (J). Credit is not allowed pursuant to this section for property placed in service before June 30, 2007, for taxpayers qualifying under subsection (A)(1) or for property placed in service before September 1, 2011 for taxpayers qualifying under subsection (A)(2). For credit claimed before the investment of the full five hundred million dollars pursuant to subsection (A)(1)(c) or four hundred million dollars pursuant to subsection (A)(2)(c), the company claiming the credit must execute a waiver of the statute of limitations pursuant to Section 12-54-85, allowing the department to assess the tax for a period commencing with the date that the return on which the credit is claimed is filed and ending three years after the company notifies the department that the full five hundred million dollar applicable capital investment commitment has been made. A waiver of the statute of limitations must accompany the return on which the credit is claimed.
(J) The taxpayer shall notify the department as provided in subsection (I) before taking any credits pursuant to this section. The taxpayer shall state it has met the requirements of subsection (A). Additionally, in a taxable year after the year of qualification for credit pursuant to this section, the taxpayer shall include with its tax return for that year: (i) a statement that the taxpayer has continued to meet the requirements of subsections (A)(1)(a) and (b) or subsections (A)(2)(a) and (b); (ii) the reconciliation required in subsection (D); and (iii) any statement and support for subsection (I)."
SECTION ___. Chapter 54, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 12-54-87. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of discounts allowed for timely filing of returns, if the department waives all penalties for late filing due to reasonable cause, the discount must be allowed despite the late filing."
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 __. A. Article 25, Chapter 6, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 12-6-3586. (A) As used in this section:
(1) 'Solar energy equipment' is equipment that is certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation or a comparable entity, as determined by the State Energy Office that uses solar radiation as a substitute for traditional energy for water heating, active space heating and cooling, passive heating, daylighting, generating electricity, distillation, desalination, detoxification, or the production of industrial or commercial process heat. The term also includes related devices necessary for collecting, storing, exchanging, conditioning, or converting solar energy to other useful forms of energy.
(2) 'Tax liability' includes income taxes imposed pursuant to this chapter, license taxes imposed pursuant to Chapter 20, bank and building and loan taxes imposed pursuant to Chapters 11 and 13, and premium taxes imposed pursuant to Title 38.
(B)(1) For tax years beginning after 2011 and before 2017, a taxpayer that has constructed, purchased, or leased solar energy equipment is allowed, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection (E), a credit against his tax liability equal to thirty-five percent of the cost of the property in the taxable year in which the equipment is placed in service.
(2) In the case of solar energy equipment that serves a single-family residence, the credit must be taken for the taxable year in which the equipment is placed in service. Unused credit with respect to a single-family residence may be carried forward to the five succeeding taxable years.
(3) For all other solar energy equipment, the entire credit may not be taken for the taxable year in which the equipment is placed in service but must be taken in three equal annual installments beginning with the taxable year in which the equipment is placed in service and subject to this annual limit, unused credit may be carried forward for taxable years four through ten succeeding the year the equipment was placed in service.
(4) If a taxpayer is not allowed all or part of the credit the taxpayer would be authorized to receive because of the limitations set forth in subsection (E), the carry forward years provided in subsection (B)(1) begin in the year in which all or part of the credit is first allowed. However, if the credit is not allowed prior to tax year 2017, the taxpayer is not eligible to claim the credit.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (B)(1), if the South Carolina Solar Council, utilizing a methodology verified by the Board of Economic Advisors in conjunction with the information contained in the report of the State Energy Office issued pursuant to subsection (H)(5), determines that the number of direct solar jobs does not increase at a rate that exceeds private sector job growth in this State in 2012, 2013, and 2014, the credit allowed by this section must not be allocated or allowed after December 31, 2015, unless the taxpayer was receiving the credit for the same equipment prior to December 31,2015.
(C) If, in one of the years in which the installment of a credit accrues, the solar energy equipment with respect to which the credit was claimed is disposed of, taken out of service, or moved out of State, the credit expires and the taxpayer may not take any remaining installment of the credit. A disposition does not include the sale or assignment of the partnership interests or limited liability company interests of a partnership or limited liability company that owns or leases solar energy equipment. However, the taxpayer may take the portion of an installment that accrued in a previous year and was carried forward to the extent permitted pursuant to subsection (B). A credit is not allowed pursuant to this section to the extent the cost of the solar energy equipment was provided by public funds, and the amount of any credit allowed pursuant to this section must be reduced by any credit claimed pursuant to Section 12-6-3587 or any other credit allowed pursuant to this title for solar energy equipment. Public funds does not include proceeds of the investment credit pursuant to Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the grant in lieu thereof under the Section 1603 program administered by the United States Department of Treasury. In no case may a credit allowed pursuant to this section exceed one-half of the taxpayer's tax liability for a taxable year.
(D) The credit allowed by this section may not exceed the following applicable ceilings.
(1) a ceiling of two million five hundred thousand dollars for each installation applies to solar energy equipment placed in service for any purpose other than residential;
(2) The following ceilings apply to solar energy equipment placed in service for residential purposes:
(a) three thousand five hundred dollars for each dwelling unit for solar energy equipment for domestic water heating;
(b) three thousand five hundred dollars for each dwelling unit for solar energy equipment for active space heating, combined active space and domestic hot water systems, and passive space heating;
(c) ten thousand five hundred dollars for each installation for any other solar energy equipment for residential purposes.
(E)(1) The total amount of credits allocated for all taxpayers in all taxable years may not exceed in the aggregate:
(a) for tax years 2012 and 2013, eight million dollars;
(b) for tax year 2014, seven million dollars; and
(c) for tax years 2015 and 2016, six million dollars.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (B), for purposes of this section, the entire credit is considered taken in the tax year in which the equipment is placed in service.
(3)(a) Of the aggregate amounts set forth in subsection (E)(1):
(i) fifteen percent must be allocated for equipment for single-family residences;
(ii) thirty-five percent must be allocated for equipment with less than one megawatt of installed capacity for purposes other than single-family residences; and
(iii) fifty percent must be allocated for equipment with one megawatt of installed capacity, or greater, for purposes other than single-family residences.
(b) If an allocation set forth in this subsection is not completely exhausted, the remaining amount may be carried forward by the department to the next year and used for the same purpose, and is in addition to the aggregate amount set forth in subsection (E)(1). No amount may be carried forward by the department beyond tax year 2016.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the limitations set forth in subsection (E)(1) do not apply to credits allocated to a taxpayer for equipment constructed, purchased, or leased if the State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Commerce, certifies:
(a) the equipment will create more than one megawatt of installed capacity or more for purposes other than single-family residences;
(F) If the taxpayer leases the solar energy equipment, or part of the solar energy equipment, the taxpayer may transfer any applicable remaining credit associated with the solar energy equipment expenses incurred with respect to that part of the solar energy equipment to the lessee of the solar energy equipment. This subsection applies to a lessee that is an entity taxed as a partnership.
(G) To the extent that the taxpayer is a partnership or a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, the credit may be passed through to the partners or members and may be allocated by the taxpayer among any of its partners or members on an annual basis including, without limitation, an allocation of the entire credit to any partner or member who was a member or partner at any time during the year in which the credit is allocated.
(H)(1) After the equipment is placed in service, a taxpayer seeking to claim the credit provided in this section must submit an application to the State Energy Office for tentative approval of the credit. Within forty-five days of receipt of the application, the State Energy Office shall review the application and tentatively shall approve the application upon determining that the taxpayer qualifies for the credit, and only if the aggregate credit, pursuant to subsection (E), has not yet been reached for the taxable year. The State Energy Office shall notify the applicant whether all or part of the credit may be claimed and the amount that may be claimed in the current year. Also, the State Energy Office shall forward the notice to the department.
(2) The credit is allowed on a first come, first serve basis. In no event may the aggregate amount of tax credits approved by the State Energy Office for all taxpayers in a taxable year exceed the limitations specified in subsection (E). For tax years 2012 through 2015, if the taxpayer timely files an application for the credit but is not allowed all or part of the credit the taxpayer would be authorized to receive because of the limitations set forth in subsection (E), the taxpayer must be added to a priority waiting list of applications, prioritized by the date of the taxpayer's first filed application. With respect to the credit allocation in subsequent years, a taxpayer on the priority waiting list has priority over other taxpayers who apply for the credit for an installation in the subsequent year. For purposes of subsection (E), a taxpayer on the priority waiting list who is allowed the credit in a taxable year after the equipment is placed in service, the entire credit is considered taken in the year in which the credit is first allowed.
(I)(1) The department, in consultation with the State Energy Office, shall develop an application form. Also, the department and the State Energy Office shall adopt rules to provide for the administration of this credit. The State Energy Office, with assistance from the department, shall create a mechanism to track and report the status and availability of credits for the public to review on a regular basis, as determined by the State Energy Office.
(2) There is a nonrefundable application fee equal to one percent of the credit applied for, but no more than two thousand five hundred dollars. The fee must accompany the application. The fee must be credited to the State Energy Office and must be used to meet the requirements of this section.
(J) A taxpayer that applies for the credit allowed by this section, other than an electric supplier or electrical utility as those terms are defined in Sections 58-27-10 and 58-27-610, respectively, an electric cooperative engaged primarily in the business of furnishing electricity to other cooperatives for resale to other electric consumers, the South Carolina Public Service Authority, a city or town in which the city or town or a board of public works or a commission of public works provides electric service, or a joint agency as defined by Section 6-23-20 owning, controlling, or leasing solar energy equipment, must not sell, convey or provide electricity generated by such solar energy equipment to any other person or entity, unless the taxpayer is selling, conveying, or providing electricity to an electric supplier or electrical utility as those terms are defined in Sections 58-27-10 and 58-27-610, respectively, an electric cooperative engaged primarily in the business of furnishing electricity to other cooperatives for resale to other electric consumers, the South Carolina Public Service Authority, a city or town in which the city or town or a board of public works or a commission of public works provides electric service, or a joint agency as defined by Section 6-23-20.
(K) By June first of each year, the State Energy Office shall prepare a report detailing:
(1) the number of taxpayers applying for the credit and amount applied for, by allocation sought pursuant to subsection (E)(3), and equipment type, including the total cost of the equipment installed against which the credit is being claimed, and the county in which the equipment was installed;
(2) the number of taxpayers allocated the credit, and amount allocated, by allocation sought pursuant to subsection (E)(3), and equipment type, including the total cost of the equipment installed against which the credit is being claimed, and the county in which the equipment was installed;
(3) the number of taxpayers denied the credit based on an ineligibility determination by the department;
(4) the number of taxpayers eligible for the credit, but placed on the waiting list due to the limitations set forth in subsection (E); and
(5) the economic impact of this section, as determined by the South Carolina Solar Council, including the number of direct solar jobs created and maintained."
B. This SECTION applies for installations of solar energy equipment placed in service in taxable years beginning after 2011 and before 2017.
SECTION __. A. Section 12-6-3587 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately lettered subsection to read:
"( ) This section only applies as it relates to a solar energy system placed in service before January 1, 2012."
B. Except where otherwise provided, this SECTION takes effect July 1, 2012.
SECTION ___. A. Section 12-43-215 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 138 of 2005, is further amended to read:
"Section 12-43-215. When owner-occupied residential property assessed pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c) is valued for purposes of ad valorem taxation, the value of the land must be determined on the basis that its highest and best use is for residential purposes. When a property owner or an agent for a property owner appeals the value of a property assessment, the assessor shall consider the appeal and make any adjustments, if warranted, based on the market values of real property as they existed in the year that the equalization and reassessment program was conducted and on which the assessment is based of December thirty-first of the tax year under appeal."
B. Section 12-60-2510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 57 of 2007, is further amended to read:
"Section 12-60-2510. (A)(1) In the case of property tax assessments made by the county assessor, whenever the assessor increases the fair market value or special use value in making a property tax assessment by one thousand dollars or more, or whenever the first property tax assessment is made on the property by a county assessor, the assessor, by July first in the year in which the property tax assessment is made, or as soon after as is practical, shall send the taxpayer a property tax assessment notice. In years when real property is appraised and assessed under a countywide equalization program, substantially all property tax assessment notices must be mailed by October first of the implementation year. In these reassessment years, if substantially all of the tax assessment notices are not mailed by October first, the prior year's property tax assessment must be the basis for all property tax assessments for the current tax year. A property tax assessment notice under this subsection must be in writing and must include:
(a) the fair market value; in a year in which an assessable transfer of interest occurs due to a conveyance, if the assessor determines that fair market value is more than the purchase price, the assessor shall state with particularity, the basis for the increase in fair market value;
(b) value as limited by Article 25, Chapter 37, Title 12;
(c) the special use value, if applicable;
(d) the assessment ratio;
(e) the property tax assessment;
(f) the number of acres or lots;
(g) the location of the property;
(h) the tax map number; and
(i) the appeal procedure.
(2) The notice must be served upon the taxpayer personally or by mailing it to the taxpayer at his last known place of residence which may be determined from the most recent listing in the applicable telephone directory, the Department of Motor Vehicles' motor vehicle registration list, county treasurer's records, or official notice from the property taxpayer.
(3) In years when there is a notice of property tax assessment, the property taxpayer, within ninety days after the assessor mails the property tax assessment notice or within thirty days of receipt of a property tax bill, whichever is later, must give the assessor written notice of objection to one or more of the following: the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment.
(4) In years when there is no notice of property tax assessment, the property taxpayer may appeal the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment of a parcel of property at any time. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the assessor. An appeal submitted before the first penalty date applies for the property tax year for which that penalty would apply. An appeal submitted on or after the first penalty date applies for the succeeding property tax year.
(B) The department shall prescribe a standard property tax assessment notice designed to contain the information required in subsection (A) in a manner that may be easily understood as well as a property tax refund assignment contract which may be utilized in a year in which the purchaser of property files an appeal.
(C) In any year in which an assessable transfer of interest has occurred, a purchaser of the real property may appeal the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment of a parcel of property in the same manner as the taxpayer. The assessor may require a written assignment of any property tax refund executed by the buyer and seller."
C. Subarticle 9, Article 9, Chapter 60, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 12-60-2570. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any appeal or protest brought pursuant to this subarticle, the county assessor shall have the burden of proof of showing that the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment are appropriate.
Section 12-60-2580. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a taxpayer may appeal a property tax assessment on an annual basis, except that a taxpayer may only appeal due to a change in value once every five years in conjunction with the county's reassessment cycle pursuant to Section 12-43-217. However, if the property undergoes an assessable transfer of interest during the reassessment cycle, and the value has already been appealed in the reassessment cycle, the taxpayer may appeal the value once more during the reassessment cycle following the assessable transfer of interest."
D. This SECTION takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to property tax years beginning after 2011. /
Amend the bill, further, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:
/ SECTION __. Section 6-1-970 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:
"( ) constructing an elementary, middle, or secondary school facility, or replacing, renovating, or repairing an elementary, middle, or secondary school facility, designed and used primarily for the instruction of students." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. LOFTIS explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Further proceedings were interrupted by expiration of time on the uncontested Calendar, the pending question being consideration of amendments.
Rep. TAYLOR moved that the House recede until 2:15 p.m., which was agreed to.
At 2:15 p.m. the House resumed, ACTING SPEAKER BATTLE in the Chair.
The question of a quorum was raised.
A quorum was later present.
Rep. TAYLOR moved that the House recur to the morning hour, which was agreed to.
The following was introduced:
H. 5345 (Word version) -- Reps. Parks, Pinson, Pitts, 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, Patrick, 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 THE REVEREND DR. WILLIE S. HARRISON OF GREENWOOD COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY, AND TO WISH HIM A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND MANY YEARS OF CONTINUED HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5346 (Word version) -- Reps. Ballentine, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, 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. 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 ROLAND HAKES OF THE DUTCH FORK HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TRACK AND FIELD AND CROSS-COUNTRY TEAMS FOR CAPTURING THE 2012 CLASS AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN 1600 METERS AND CROSS-COUNTRY 5000 METERS.
The Resolution was adopted.
The following was introduced:
H. 5344 (Word version) -- Reps. Norman, Delleney, King, Long, D. C. Moss, Pope, Simrill, Lucas, Munnerlyn, Neilson and Vick: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 52 IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH S-494 (JUNIPER/MACEDONIA CHURCH ROAD) TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 1 "PATROLMAN LIDE LAWSON RHODES MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "PATROLMAN LIDE LAWSON RHODES MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.
The following Joint Resolution was taken up:
S. 1143 (Word version) -- Senators Verdin and Rose: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS AS THE OFFICIAL CIVIL WAR ERA HISTORIC DRIVING TRAILS OF SOUTH CAROLINA; TO PERMIT SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS TO CONSULT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL ADVISORY BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY CONCERNING THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, ESTABLISHMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND MARKETING OF THE TRAILS; TO ENCOURAGE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF SIGNS ADJACENT TO THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM; AND TO ENCOURAGE THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO COOPERATE WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL WAR HERITAGE TRAILS CONCERNING EDUCATIONAL AND MARKETING MATERIALS.
Rep. DANING explained the Joint Resolution.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brannon Brantley H. B. Brown Chumley Cole Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Huggins King Knight Loftis Long Lucas McCoy McLeod D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy Nanney J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Owens Parker Patrick Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Sabb Sandifer Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble White Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Joint Resolution was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on S. 1143. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of second reading of the Joint Resolution.
Rep. Alan Clemmons
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1375 (Word version) -- Senators Campsen, Hutto and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3860 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF ANIMALS AND CERTAIN VEHICLES ON CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAYS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
The Education and Public Works Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 1375 (COUNCIL\SWB\5337CM12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Section 56-5-3860 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-5-3860. (A)(1) No person, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, shall occupy any space within the limits of the roadway and shoulders of the main facility of a freeway with an animal-drawn vehicle, a ridden or led animal, herded animals, a pushcart, a bicycle, a bicycle with motor attached, a motor-driven cycle with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower, an agricultural tractor or other farm machinery, except in the performance of public works or official duties.
(2) The prohibitions imposed by this subsection on the use of freeways do not apply to service roads alongside the highways.
(B)(1) A local governing body may authorize a partial exemption from the provisions contained in subsection (A) that would allow bicyclists and pedestrians to use the roadway and shoulders of the main facility of a non-interstate freeway.
(2) The local governing body may authorize a partial exemption to subsection (A) for bicyclists and pedestrians if the local governing body:
(a) determines that bicyclists and pedestrians have no other reasonably safe or viable alternative route and the use of the freeway route is at least ten percent less than the shortest conventional alternate route;
(b) adopts an ordinance allowing bicycle and pedestrian traffic on the shoulder of a main facility of the non-interstate freeway and allowing bicycle and pedestrian traffic on the roadway when utilizing the shoulder is not practicable because of an obstruction or an unpaved shoulder, or when necessary to cross an access ramp in compliance with accepted bicycle safety standards and practices; and
(c) notifies the department that the ordinance has been adopted.
(3) Upon receiving notice pursuant to item (3)(c), the department shall remove all signs prohibiting pedestrians and bicyclists along the roadway and shoulders of the main facility of the portion of the freeway to which the ordinance applies.
(4) The local governing body may request permission from the department to erect appropriate signs and markers along the roadway and shoulders of the main facility of the portion of the freeway to which the partial exemption applies.
(5) Two or more local governing bodies that have jurisdiction over portions of a section of a roadway to which a partial exemption from the provisions contained in subsection (A) is proposed may authorize an exemption for the entire section if the local governing bodies affected by the proposed exemption formally agree to granting the exemption and each local jurisdiction completes the exemption procedure contained in this section for the portion of the roadway section that passes through its jurisdiction.
(B)(C) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days."
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:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Branham Brannon Brantley H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Hayes Hearn Henderson Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Long Lucas Mack McCoy McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy Nanney J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Owens Parker Parks Patrick 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 Vick Weeks White Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The SPEAKER granted Rep. NANNEY a leave of absence for the remainder of the day.
Debate was resumed on the following Bill, the pending question being the consideration of amendments:
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.
Rep. QUINN proposed the following Amendment No. 7 to S. 1409 (COUNCIL\NBD\12549DG12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking in its entirety the unnumbered SECTION beginning on line 23, on page [1409-19], and ending on line 32, on page [1409-21] and inserting:
/ SECTION __. A. The General Assembly finds that:
(1) A real property owner should be able to appeal the value of property using the most recent information available to the official charged with determining the value of the property;
(2) Act 388 of 2006 allows a county assessor to determine the value of certain property more frequently than the quadrennial reassessment cycle alone; and
(3) With the updated information now available to a county assessor, it is the intent of the General Assembly that an appeal on the value of real property be based on December thirty-first of the tax year under appeal.
B. Section 12-43-215 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 138 of 2005, is further amended to read:
"Section 12-43-215. When owner-occupied residential property assessed pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c) is valued for purposes of ad valorem taxation, the value of the land must be determined on the basis that its highest and best use is for residential purposes. When a property owner or an agent for a property owner appeals the value of a property assessment, the assessor shall consider the appeal and make any adjustments, if warranted, based on the market values of real property as they existed in the year that the equalization and reassessment program was conducted and on which the assessment is based of December thirty-first of the tax year under appeal."
C. Section 12-60-2510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 57 of 2007, is further amended to read:
"Section 12-60-2510. (A)(1) In the case of property tax assessments made by the county assessor, whenever the assessor increases the fair market value or special use value in making a property tax assessment by one thousand dollars or more, or whenever the first property tax assessment is made on the property by a county assessor, the assessor, by July first in the year in which the property tax assessment is made, or as soon after as is practical, shall send the taxpayer a property tax assessment notice. In years when real property is appraised and assessed under a countywide equalization program, substantially all property tax assessment notices must be mailed by October first of the implementation year. In these reassessment years, if substantially all of the tax assessment notices are not mailed by October first, the prior year's property tax assessment must be the basis for all property tax assessments for the current tax year. A property tax assessment notice under this subsection must be in writing and must include:
(a) the fair market value; in a year in which an assessable transfer of interest occurs due to a conveyance, if the assessor determines that fair market value is more than the purchase price, the assessor shall state with particularity the basis for the increase in fair market value;
(b) value as limited by Article 25, Chapter 37, Title 12;
(c) the special use value, if applicable;
(d) the assessment ratio;
(e) the property tax assessment;
(f) the number of acres or lots;
(g) the location of the property;
(h) the tax map number; and
(i) the appeal procedure.
(2) The notice must be served upon the taxpayer personally or by mailing it to the taxpayer at his last known place of residence which may be determined from the most recent listing in the applicable telephone directory, the Department of Motor Vehicles' motor vehicle registration list, county treasurer's records, or official notice from the property taxpayer.
(3) In years when there is a notice of property tax assessment, the property taxpayer, within ninety days after the assessor mails the property tax assessment notice or within thirty days of receipt of a property tax bill, whichever is later, must give the assessor written notice of objection to one or more of the following: the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment.
(4) In years when there is no notice of property tax assessment, the property taxpayer may appeal the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment of a parcel of property at any time. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the assessor. An appeal submitted before the first penalty date applies for the property tax year for which that penalty would apply. An appeal submitted on or after the first penalty date applies for the succeeding property tax year. When a property owner or an agent for a property owner appeals the value of a property assessment under this section, the assessor shall consider the appeal and make any adjustments, if warranted, based on the market values of real property as of December thirty-first of the tax year under appeal.
(B) The department shall prescribe a standard property tax assessment notice designed to contain the information required in subsection (A) in a manner that may be easily understood and also a property tax refund assignment contract which may be utilized in a year in which the purchaser of property files an appeal.
(C) In any year in which an assessable transfer of interest has occurred, a purchaser of the real property may appeal the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment of a parcel of property in the same manner as the seller. The assessor may require a written assignment of any property tax refund executed by the buyer and seller."
D. 12-37-3140(A)(1)(c) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(c) as determined on appeal, pursuant to Section 12-40-217, or Section 12-60-2510; or"
E. Subarticle 9, Article 9, Chapter 60, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 12-60-2570. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any appeal or protest brought pursuant to this subarticle, the county assessor shall have the burden of proof on the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment.
Section 12-60-2580. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a taxpayer may appeal a property tax assessment on an annual basis, except that a taxpayer may only appeal due to a change in value once every five years in conjunction with the county's reassessment cycle pursuant to Section 12-43-217. However, if the property undergoes an assessable transfer of interest during the reassessment cycle, and the value has already been appealed in the reassessment cycle, the taxpayer may appeal the value once more during the quadrennial reassessment cycle following the assessable transfer of interest."
F. This SECTION takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to property tax years beginning after 2011. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. QUINN explained the amendment.
Rep. SKELTON raised the Point of Order that under Rule 9.3 Amendment No. 7 was out of order in that it was not germane to S. 1409.
Rep. QUINN spoke against the Point.
Rep. MERRILL spoke to the point of germaneness. He stated that Amendment No. 1 had been previously adopted and that Amendment No. 7 was germane to the Bill as amended.
SPEAKER HARRELL overruled the Point of Order and ruled Amendment No. 7 to be germane.
The amendment was then adopted.
Rep. WHITE proposed the following Amendment No. 8 to S. 1409 (COUNCIL\NBD\12551DG12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting the unnumbered SECTIONS beginning on line 23, of page [1409-6], through line 8, of page [1409-14].
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. WHITE 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:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Allison Anthony Atwater Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Bowers Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hart Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parker 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 Vick Weeks Whipper White Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1176 (Word version) -- Senators Courson, Land and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-4-520, RELATING TO COUNTY TAX OFFICIALS, TO REDUCE THE OBLIGATION THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SHALL ANNUALLY EXAMINE RECORDS OF ASSESSORS, AUDITORS, TREASURERS, AND TAX COLLECTORS TO A PERMISSIVE AUTHORITY TO ANNUALLY EXAMINE THESE RECORDS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-4-530, RELATING TO INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF VIOLATIONS, TO REDUCE THE OBLIGATION THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INITIATE COMPLAINTS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND PROSECUTIONS OF VIOLATIONS TO A PERMISSIVE AUTHORITY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-30, RELATING TO THE ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPLE TAXES TO BE LEVIED ON THE SAME ASSESSMENT, TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF STATE TAXES TO COUNTY TAXES; TO AMEND SECTION 21-37-266, RELATING TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR DWELLINGS HELD IN TRUST, TO REQUIRE A COPY OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT BE PROVIDED; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-290, RELATING TO THE GENERAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, TO CHANGE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM PROPERTY TAXES FROM THE FIRST TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE FIRST FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THE VALUE OF THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF A HOMEOWNER WHO IS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO CONFORM WITH OTHER SECTIONS OF THE CODE, AND TO TRANSFER FROM THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE THE AUTHORITY TO PROMULGATE RULES AND FORMS, AND THE OBLIGATION TO REIMBURSE THE STATE AGENCY OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR EXPENSES INCURRED IN EVALUATING DISABILITY UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-450, RELATING TO THE BUSINESS INVENTORY TAX EXEMPTION, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO DEBT SERVICE BE REDISTRIBUTED TO OTHER SEPARATE MILLAGES ONCE THE DEBT IS PAID, TO REQUIRE THE REIMBURSEMENT BE REDISTRIBUTED PROPORTIONATELY TO THE SEPARATE MILLAGES LEVIED BY THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, TO STRIKE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE REDISTRIBUTION BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE MILLAGE RATES IN THE YEAR 1987, AND TO REQUIRE THE ATTRIBUTION OF THE CURRENT TAX YEAR MILLAGE RATES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-710, RELATING TO THE RETURN AND ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, TO STRIKE "OF FULL AGE AND OF SOUND MIND" AS A QUALIFIER FOR EVERY PERSON WHO MUST LIST PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR TAXATION; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-715, RELATING TO THE FREQUENCY OF AD VALOREM TAXATION ON PERSONAL PROPERTY, TO ALLOW NEWLY ACQUIRED VEHICLES TO BE TAXED MORE THAN ONCE IN A TAX YEAR; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-760, RELATING TO STATEMENTS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR TAXATION WHERE A PERSON REFUSES OR NEGLECTS TO DELIVER A STATEMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, TO ELIMINATE THE OBLIGATION AND TO ALLOW THE PERMISSIVE AUTHORITY FOR THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO ASCERTAIN AND RETURN A LIST OF THAT PERSON'S PERSONAL PROPERTY AND TO ALLOW THAT HE MAY DENOTE REASONS FOR THE REFUSAL; TO REPEAL SECTION 12-37-850, RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS TO HEAR MATTERS ORIGINATED FROM THE TAXPAYER CONCERNING ALLEGATIONS OF FALSE RETURNS, TAX EVASION, OR FRAUD; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-890, RELATING TO PERSONAL PROPERTY RETURNS FOR TAXATION PURPOSES, TO STRIKE LANGUAGE LISTING ANIMALS AND VEHICLES AND REPLACE WITH DESIGNATION OF PROPERTY USED IN ANY BUSINESS TO BE RETURNED TO THE COUNTY IN WHICH IT IS SITUATED FOR TAXATION PURPOSES, AND TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL BANKERS' CAPITAL OR PERSONAL ASSETS RELATED TO THE BANKING BUSINESS BE RETURNED TO THE COUNTY WHERE THE BANKING HOUSE IS LOCATED FOR TAXATION PURPOSES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-900, RELATING TO PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RETURNS, TO STRIKE THE DESIGNATED DATES OF THE REQUIRED ANNUAL RETURNS OF PERSONAL AND REAL PROPERTY TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND TO STRIKE THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO WAIVE THE PENALTIES OF FAILURE TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-940, RELATING TO VALUATION OF ARTICLES OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, TO STRIKE THE REQUIREMENT THAT MONEY AND BANK BILLS BE VALUED AT PAR VALUE AND THAT CREDITS BE VALUED AT THE FACE VALUE OF THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE PRINCIPAL BE PAYABLE AT A FUTURE TIME WITHOUT INTEREST AND CONTRACTS FOR THE DELIVERY OF SPECIFIC ARTICLES BE VALUED AT THE USUAL SELLING PRICE OF SUCH ITEMS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-970, RELATING TO THE ASSESSMENT AND RETURN OF MERCHANTS' INVENTORIES, TO REMOVE MERCHANTS' INVENTORIES FROM THE REQUIRED ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR TAXATION PURPOSES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-2420, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX RETURNS FOR AIRLINE COMPANIES, TO CHANGE THE DATE OF FILING FROM APRIL FIFTEENTH TO APRIL THIRTIETH, AND TO STRIKE LANGUAGE DESIGNATING THE FILING DEADLINES FOR AIRLINES IN YEAR 1976; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-2610, RELATING TO TAX YEAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES, TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO VEHICLE LICENSE AND REPLACE WITH VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS, TO REMOVE REFERENCES AND PROCEDURES FOR TWO-YEAR VEHICLE LICENSES, TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FOR TRANSFER OF THE LICENSE FROM ONE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER, AND TO PROVIDE THAT NOTICES OF SALES BY DEALERS MUST BE MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES RATHER THAN THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-2630, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES, TO REQUIRE THAT AN OWNER OF A VEHICLE SHALL MAKE A PROPERTY TAX RETURN TO THE AUDITOR WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF THE VEHICLE BECOMING TAXABLE IN A COUNTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-2660, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE REGISTRATIONS, TO REDUCE THE TIME THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MUST PROVIDE A LIST OF LICENSE REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR FROM NINETY TO SIXTY DAYS AND TO UPDATE THE REQUIRED FORM OF THE LISTINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-2725, RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THE TITLE OF A VEHICLE TO ANOTHER STATE, TO CHANGE THE LOCATION OF THE RETURN OF THE LICENSE PLATE AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AND TO DELINEATE THE PROCESS FOR OBTAINING A TAX REFUND FOR THE PORTION OF THE TAX YEAR REMAINING; TO REPEAL SECTION 12-37-2735, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-10, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR, TO ELIMINATE THE FOUR YEAR TERM OF THE AUDITOR AND TO REQUIRE HIM TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING INTO OFFICE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-40, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF A DEPUTY AUDITOR, TO REQUIRE THE APPOINTMENT TO BE FILED WITH THE STATE TREASURER INSTEAD OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-60, RELATING TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR, TO CHANGE THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING TAX RETURNS FROM APRIL FIFTEENTH TO APRIL THIRTIETH AND TO REDUCE THE REQUIREMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE FOR A LOCATION TO RECEIVE RETURNS TO A PERMISSIVE AUTHORITY FOR THE PROVIDING OF THIS NOTICE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-120, RELATING TO THE POWER OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO ENTER INTO BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOT DWELLINGS TO DETERMINE VALUE, TO CHANGE THE DETERMINATION FROM THE VALUE OF ANY BUILDING TO THE VALUE OF ANY TAXABLE PERSONAL PROPERTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-160, RELATING TO SPECIAL LEVIES, TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE COUNTY AUDITOR REPORT THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTIES SUBJECT TO SPECIAL LEVIES TO THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT, BOARDS OF EDUCATION, AND BOARDS OF TRUSTEES, TO A PERMISSIVE AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-190, RELATING TO THE REPORTING OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE REPORTING BE IN A NUMBER OF COLUMNS SPECIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-200, RELATING TO FORMS THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE MAY PRESCRIBE, TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE THE TYPES OF ACCEPTABLE FORMAT REQUIRED; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-220, RELATING TO OMISSION OF NEW PROPERTY FROM THE COUNTY DUPLICATE, TO REQUIRE THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE COUNTY ASSESSOR, TO ELIMINATE THE SPECIFICATION OF A TWENTY PERCENT PENALTY FOR UNPAID TAXES TO REPLACE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PENALTIES, AND TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATE LANGUAGE IN THE CODE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-260, RELATING TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S RECORDS, TO REDUCE THE REQUIREMENT THAT AUDITORS KEEP RECORDS OF ALL SALES OR CONVEYANCES OF REAL PROPERTY TO A PERMISSIVE AUTHORITY TO KEEP THESE RECORDS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-39-270, RELATING TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S ABATEMENT BOOK, TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES THE ABATEMENT ALLOWED IN ANNUAL SETTLEMENTS BETWEEN THE AUDITOR AND THE TREASURER TO BE ACCORDING TO THE RECORD IN THE ABATEMENT BOOK; TO AMEND SECTION 12-43-220, RELATING TO COUNTY EQUALIZATION AND REASSESSMENT, TO REQUIRE THAT IN ORDER TO PROVE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE FOUR PERCENT HOME ASSESSMENT RATIO, THE OWNER-OCCUPANT MUST PROVIDE PROOF THAT ALL MOTOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN HIS NAME WERE REGISTERED AT THAT SAME ADDRESS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-10, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY TREASURERS, TO CHANGE THE OBLIGATION OF THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT COUNTY TREASURERS TO MAKE IT A PERMISSIVE AUTHORITY TO DO SO; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-35, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY COUNTY TREASURERS, TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENT OF THE FILING OF THE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO THE FILING WITH THE STATE TREASURER; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-40, RELATING TO THE PUBLICATION AND NOTICE OF CERTAIN TAX RATES, TO CHANGE THE OBLIGATION TO PUBLISH IN ONE NEWSPAPER TO REQUIRE PUBLICATION IN EITHER THE PRINT MEDIA OR ELECTRONICALLY, OR BOTH, AND TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE PUBLICATION STATE THE RATE PERCENT OF THE STATE LEVY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-70, RELATING TO COLLECTION OF TAXES, TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH COLLECTING TAXES SHALL SEND A LIST OF TAXES PAID TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES INSTEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY ACCEPT THIS CERTIFICATION INSTEAD OF A TAX RECEIPT; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-90, RELATING TO THE FORMS OF PAYMENT FOR TAXES, TO STRIKE FROM THE ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PAYMENT, JURY CERTIFICATES, CIRCUIT COURT WITNESS PER DIEMS, AND COUNTY CLAIMS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-120, RELATING TO DELINQUENT TAXATION, TO REPLACE THE DESIGNATION OF CHATTEL TAX WITH THE TERM PERSONAL TAX; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-180, RELATING TO THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES, TO ADD THE OFFICE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT DELINQUENT TAXES AS AN OFFICE AUTHORIZED TO WAIVE PENALTIES IN CASES OF IMPROPER MAILING OR ERROR; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-185, RELATING TO THE WAIVER OF PENALTIES FOR DELINQUENT TAXES, TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TREASURER TO NOTIFY THE COUNTY AUDITOR OF SUCH WAIVERS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-260, RELATING TO THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT OF COUNTY TREASURER TO THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR, TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE TREASURER MUST REPORT TO THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR ON THE FIFTEENTH OF EACH MONTH AND TO ALLOW THE TREASURER TO REPORT MONTHLY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-300, RELATING TO THE AUDITOR'S LIST OF DELINQUENT TAXES, TO STRIKE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE AUDITOR MUST MAKE MARGINAL NOTATIONS AS TO THE REASONS THE TAXES WERE NOT COLLECTABLE, AND TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE TREASURER MUST SIGN AND SWEAR TO THE LIST BEFORE THE AUDITOR; TO AMEND SECTION 12-45-420, RELATING TO THE WAIVER OF PENALTIES DUE TO ERRORS BY THE COUNTY BY A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF THE COUNTY AUDITOR, TREASURER, AND ASSESSOR, TO REQUIRE THAT THE WAIVER MUST BE BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMITTEE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-10, RELATING TO LIENS AND SUITS FOR THE COLLECTION OF TAXES, TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF DEBTS PAYABLE TO THE STATE TO DEBTS PAYABLE TO THE COUNTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-20, RELATING TO LIENS IN THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES, TO MOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF TO COLLECT DELINQUENT TAXES TO THE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-85, RELATING TO UNCOLLECTABLE PROPERTY TAX FOR DERELICT MOBILE HOMES, TO CHANGE THE AUTHORITY FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO THE COUNTY ASSESSOR TO DETERMINE THE REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF A MOBILE HOME AND TO INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE ASSESSOR REMOVE THE DERELICT HOME FROM HIS RECORDS AND THE AUDITOR TO REMOVE THE DERELICT HOME FROM THE DUPLICATE LIST; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-910, RELATING TO THE SEIZURE OF PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A TAX LIEN BY THE SHERIFF OR COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR, TO REMOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE SHERIFF TO LEVY AND SEIZE PROPERTY OF A DEFAULTING TAXPAYER; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-920, RELATING TO THE SEIZURE OF PROPERTY FOR TAX DEFAULT BY THE COUNTY SHERIFF OR THE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR, TO REMOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE SHERIFF TO POSSESS THE SEIZED PROPERTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-930, RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OR DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A TAX LIEN, TO REMOVE THE REFERENCE TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-940, RELATING TO THE DISPOSAL OF PERSONAL PROPERTY SEIZED DUE TO A TAX LIEN BY THE COUNTY SHERIFF OR TAX COLLECTOR, TO REMOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF TO ADVERTIZE FOR THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-950, RELATING TO BIDDING ON PERSONAL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A TAX LIEN BY THE FORFEITED LAND COMMISSION, TO ALLOW BIDS TO BE MADE ON BEHALF OF THE FORFEITED LAND COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-960, RELATING TO THE SALE OF PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A TAX SALE, TO REMOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-1110, RELATING TO THE RIGHTS OF REAL PROPERTY MORTGAGES, TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF "TAX TITLE" FROM "A DEED FOR REAL PROPERTY AND A BILL OF SALE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY" TO "A DEED FOR REAL PROPERTY OR A BILL OF SALE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY"; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-1150, RELATING TO THE NOTICE TO MORTGAGEE OF A TAX SALE, TO INCLUDE IN THE INFORMATION PROVIDED THE TAX MAP NUMBER OF THE PROPERTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-1220, RELATING TO THE PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING NOTICE OF TAX SALE OF MOBILE OR MANUFACTURED HOMES, TO SPECIFY THE FORMS OF LIENHOLDERS PROVIDED TO TAX COLLECTORS FOR NOTICE TO BE THOSE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF MANUFACTURED HOMES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-49-1270, RELATING TO THE RIGHTS OF THE LIENHOLDER IN A TAX SALE AND THE RIGHTS AND REMEDIES THAT ARE NOT AFFECTED BY COMPLIANCE OF THE INFORMATION PROVISIONS, TO CHANGE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE AUDITOR TO THE ASSESSOR; TO AMEND SECTION 12-51-40, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAXES AND THE TREATMENT OF MOBILE HOMES AS PERSONAL PROPERTY, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT OF WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE HOMES ANNEXATION TO THE LAND BY THE HOMEOWNER TO THE AUDITOR TO REQUIRE COMPLIANCE WITH DE-TITLING PROVISIONS OF THE MANUFACTURED HOUSING LAW AND TO ALLOW A COUNTY TO CONTRACT IN THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-51-55, RELATING TO THE BID ON PROPERTY SOLD FOR AD VALOREM TAXES, TO REMOVE THE PROVISIONS FOR THE APPLICATIONS OF THE FUNDS FOR WHEN THE PROPERTY IS NOT REDEEMED; TO AMEND SECTION 12-51-80, RELATING TO THE SETTLEMENT BY THE TREASURER, TO INCREASE THE TIME OF SETTLEMENT TO THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FROM THIRTY DAYS TO FORTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER THE TAX SALE; TO REPEAL SECTION 12-59-30, RELATING TO THE SUFFICIENCY OF DEEDS OF LANDS FORFEITED TO THE STATE COMMISSIONS IN YEAR 1939; TO AMEND SECTION 12-59-40, RELATING TO FORFEITED LAND COMMISSIONS, TO INCLUDE LANDS FORFEITED TO COUNTY TAX COLLECTORS IN LANDS AUTHORIZED FOR SALE AND TO REMOVE THE STATE AS HOLDER OF PROPERTY HELD AND SOLD BY THE FORFEITED LAND COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 12-59-50, RELATING TO THE FORFEITED LAND COMMISSION, TO REMOVE THE REFERENCE TO DELINQUENT STATE TAXES SUBJECT TO THESE PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-59-70, RELATING TO FORFEITED LAND COMMISSION SALES, TO REMOVE REFERENCE TO THE SHERIFF SUBMITTING TITLE TO THE COMMISSION AND TO REFERENCE THE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR SUBMITTING TITLE TO THE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 12-59-80, RELATING TO THE FORFEITED LAND COMMISSION, TO DESIGNATE THE PROCEDURE FOR ACCEPTING BIDS FOR THE SALE OF FORFEITED PROPERTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-59-90, RELATING TO FORFEITED LANDS TAX SALES, TO REMOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF TO EXECUTE DEEDS AND CONVEYANCES FOR FORFEITED LANDS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR TO EXECUTE THE DEEDS AND CONVEYANCES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-59-100, RELATING TO THE TURNING OVER OF PROCEEDS OF A DELINQUENT TAX SALE BY THE FORFEITED LANDS COMMISSION TO THE COUNTY TREASURER AND THE TREASURER TO DEPOSIT THESE FUNDS INTO THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT THE TREASURER DO SO AT THE CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND TO STRIKE REFERENCES TO THE STATE INTERESTS IN THESE PROCEEDS; TO REPEAL SECTION 12-59-110, RELATING TO FEES AND COSTS OF THE SHERIFF FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE FORFEITED LANDS COMMISSION IN REGARD TO DELINQUENT TAX SEIZURES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-59-120, RELATING TO THE FORFEITED LANDS COMMISSION, TO REPLACE REFERENCE TO THE COUNTY SHERIFFS WITH THE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR REGARDING THE ALLOWING OF AGENTS OF THE COMMISSION ACCESS TO EXECUTIONS ISSUED FOR THE COLLECTION OF TAXES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-60-1760, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX PROTESTS, TO REPLACE THE COUNTY AUDITOR WITH THE COUNTY IN REGARD TO WHO IS OBLIGATED TO RATABLY APPORTION FEES, EXPENSES, DAMAGES, AND COSTS RESULTING IN DEFENDING A COURT ACTION, AND TO REPLACE THE COUNTY AUDITOR OR TREASURER WITH THE COUNTY AS TO WHO MAY CAUSE A MUNICIPALITY TO BE MADE A PARTY TO ANY ACTION INVOLVING A MUNICIPAL LEVY.
Rep. QUINN proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 1176 (COUNCIL\NBD\12548DG12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:
/ SECTION __. A. The General Assembly finds that:
(1) A real property owner should be able to appeal the value of property using the most recent information available to the official charged with determining the value of the property;
(2) Act 388 of 2006 allows a county assessor to determine the value of certain property more frequently than the quadrennial reassessment cycle alone; and
(3) With the updated information now available to a county assessor, it is the intent of the General Assembly that an appeal on the value of real property be based on December thirty-first of the tax year under appeal.
B. Section 12-43-215 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 138 of 2005, is further amended to read:
"Section 12-43-215. When owner-occupied residential property assessed pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c) is valued for purposes of ad valorem taxation, the value of the land must be determined on the basis that its highest and best use is for residential purposes. When a property owner or an agent for a property owner appeals the value of a property assessment, the assessor shall consider the appeal and make any adjustments, if warranted, based on the market values of real property as they existed in the year that the equalization and reassessment program was conducted and on which the assessment is based of December thirty-first of the tax year under appeal."
C. Section 12-60-2510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 57 of 2007, is further amended to read:
"Section 12-60-2510. (A)(1) In the case of property tax assessments made by the county assessor, whenever the assessor increases the fair market value or special use value in making a property tax assessment by one thousand dollars or more, or whenever the first property tax assessment is made on the property by a county assessor, the assessor, by July first in the year in which the property tax assessment is made, or as soon after as is practical, shall send the taxpayer a property tax assessment notice. In years when real property is appraised and assessed under a countywide equalization program, substantially all property tax assessment notices must be mailed by October first of the implementation year. In these reassessment years, if substantially all of the tax assessment notices are not mailed by October first, the prior year's property tax assessment must be the basis for all property tax assessments for the current tax year. A property tax assessment notice under this subsection must be in writing and must include:
(a) the fair market value; in a year in which an assessable transfer of interest occurs due to a conveyance, if the assessor determines that fair market value is more than the purchase price, the assessor shall state with particularity the basis for the increase in fair market value;
(b) value as limited by Article 25, Chapter 37, Title 12;
(c) the special use value, if applicable;
(d) the assessment ratio;
(e) the property tax assessment;
(f) the number of acres or lots;
(g) the location of the property;
(h) the tax map number; and
(i) the appeal procedure.
(2) The notice must be served upon the taxpayer personally or by mailing it to the taxpayer at his last known place of residence which may be determined from the most recent listing in the applicable telephone directory, the Department of Motor Vehicles' motor vehicle registration list, county treasurer's records, or official notice from the property taxpayer.
(3) In years when there is a notice of property tax assessment, the property taxpayer, within ninety days after the assessor mails the property tax assessment notice or within thirty days of receipt of a property tax bill, whichever is later, must give the assessor written notice of objection to one or more of the following: the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment.
(4) In years when there is no notice of property tax assessment, the property taxpayer may appeal the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment of a parcel of property at any time. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the assessor. An appeal submitted before the first penalty date applies for the property tax year for which that penalty would apply. An appeal submitted on or after the first penalty date applies for the succeeding property tax year. When a property owner or an agent for a property owner appeals the value of a property assessment under this section, the assessor shall consider the appeal and make any adjustments, if warranted, based on the market values of real property as of December thirty-first of the tax year under appeal.
(B) The department shall prescribe a standard property tax assessment notice designed to contain the information required in subsection (A) in a manner that may be easily understood and also a property tax refund assignment contract which may be utilized in a year in which the purchaser of property files an appeal.
(C) In any year in which an assessable transfer of interest has occurred, a purchaser of the real property may appeal the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment of a parcel of property in the same manner as the seller. The assessor may require a written assignment of any property tax refund executed by the buyer and seller."
D. 12-37-3140(A)(1)(c) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(c) as determined on appeal, pursuant to Section 12-40-217, or Section 12-60-2510; or"
E. Subarticle 9, Article 9, Chapter 60, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 12-60-2570. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any appeal or protest brought pursuant to this subarticle, the county assessor shall have the burden of proof on the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment.
Section 12-60-2580. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a taxpayer may appeal a property tax assessment on an annual basis, except that a taxpayer may only appeal due to a change in value once every five years in conjunction with the county's reassessment cycle pursuant to Section 12-43-217. However, if the property undergoes an assessable transfer of interest during the reassessment cycle, and the value has already been appealed in the reassessment cycle, the taxpayer may appeal the value once more during the quadrennial reassessment cycle following the assessable transfer of interest."
F. This SECTION takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to property tax years beginning after 2011. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. QUINN 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:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Bowers Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gilliard Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hart Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas McCoy McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Sabb Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Weeks Whipper White Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
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.
Rep. HARRISON explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Allison Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Bowers Brady Branham Brannon Brantley H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hart Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Horne Hosey Howard Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill V. S. Moss Munnerlyn J. H. Neal J. M. Neal 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 Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1134 (Word version) -- Senator McGill: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 1377 OF 1968, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND AUTHORIZATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND AUTHORIZATIONS MAY BE USED AT WILLIAMSBURG TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
Rep. LOFTIS explained the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Anthony Bales Bannister Barfield Bowen Bowers Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hart Hayes Hearn Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Howard Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod D. C. Moss Munnerlyn J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Owens Parks Pinson Pope Sabb Sellers Simrill G. M. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Spires Stavrinakis Tallon Taylor Weeks Whipper White Williams Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allison Atwater Ballentine Bedingfield Bingham Brady Brannon Chumley Cole Corbin Crosby Erickson Forrester Frye Hamilton Henderson Hiott Huggins Long Lucas Merrill V. S. Moss Murphy Norman Parker Patrick Pitts Putnam Quinn Sandifer Skelton G. R. Smith Sottile Southard Stringer Thayer Toole Tribble Whitmire Willis
So, the Bill was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on S. 1134. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Bill.
Rep. Lester Branham
Further proceedings were interrupted by expiration of time on the uncontested Calendar.
Rep. ATWATER asked unanimous consent to recall H. 4284 (Word version) from the Committee on Education and Public Works.
Rep. KING objected.
On motion of Rep. HARDWICK, with unanimous consent, the following Bill was ordered recalled from the Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs:
S. 741 (Word version) -- Senator S. Martin: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-710 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO NIGHT HUNTING PROHIBITIONS AND EXCEPTIONS, TO ALLOW THE USE OF LASER SIGHTING AND OTHER DEVICES WHEN HUNTING COYOTES AT NIGHT DURING MAY AND JUNE PURSUANT TO AUTHORIZATION GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH ITS DEPREDATION PERMIT PROGRAM.
Rep. THAYER moved to reconsider the vote whereby debate was adjourned on the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was agreed to:
S. 1417 (Word version) -- Senator Land: 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 FOR THE ISSUANCE OF "SOUTH CAROLINA TENNIS PATRONS FOUNDATION" SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.
The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:
H. 4967 (Word version) -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (SCRS), SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR "CLASS THREE" MEMBERS OF SCRS WITH "CLASS THREE" MEMBERS MEANING AN EMPLOYEE MEMBER OF SCRS WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF MEMBERSHIP AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1-10 FURTHER AND 9-1-1550, RELATING TO RETIREMENT BENEFITS UNDER THE SCRS, SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR SCRS MEMBERS ARE COMPUTED AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN ALTERNATE CALCULATION OF BENEFITS FOR SCRS MEMBERS AS OF JUNE 30, 2012, WHICH APPLIES IF THE MEMBER'S BENEFIT CALCULATED ON RETIREMENT AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, WOULD RESULT IN A LESSER AMOUNT; BY ADDING SECTION 9-1-1815 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIRED SCRS MEMBERS AND THEIR SURVIVING ANNUITANTS MAY RECEIVE INCREASED ALLOWANCES AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THAT INCREASE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 9-1-1810 RELATING TO INCREASES IN SCRS RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1020, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEDUCTIONS FROM THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF SCRS TO FUND BENEFITS, THE TAX TREATMENT THEREOF, AND OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS, SO AS TO INCREASE ON JULY 1, 2012, THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF CLASS ONE SCRS MEMBERS TO SIX PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM FIVE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF SCRS CLASS TWO AND CLASS THREE MEMBERS TO SEVEN PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM SIX AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND TO INCREASE SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS BY AN ADDITIONAL ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013, AND MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1080, RELATING TO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SCRS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE OF TEN AND SIX-TENTHS PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION WHILE AN ACCRUED LIABILITY CONTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICE CREDIT UNDER SCRS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIRED COST IS THE GREATER OF AN ACTUARIALLY NEUTRAL PAYMENT BASED ON THE SCRS MEMBER'S CURRENT AGE AND CREDITABLE SERVICE OR A SET PERCENTAGE OF SALARY AND TO ELIMINATE THE ADDITION OF UNUSED SICK LEAVE IN THE CALCULATION OF CREDITABLE SERVICE AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1510, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SCRS RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBER MUST HAVE AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS OF CREDITABLE SERVICE TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AT ANY AGE WITHOUT A BENEFIT REDUCTION; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1515, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY RETIREMENT IN SCRS, SO AS TO CONFORM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT SECTION AS IT APPLIES FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1660, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A NOMINEE OF A DECEASED ACTIVE SCRS MEMBER TO RECEIVE A RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE, SO AS TO CONFORM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT SECTION AS IT APPLIES FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-2210, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TEACHER AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION INCENTIVE (TERI) PROGRAM, SO AS TO CLOSE THE PROGRAM FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS AND TO CONFORM THE CALCULATION OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR TERI PARTICIPANTS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-9-60, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO RETIREMENT AND RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA (GARS), SO AS PROSPECTIVELY TO ELIMINATE PROVISIONS ALLOWING MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO MEET CERTAIN AGE OR CREDITED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS OR WITH AGE AND CREDITED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE A GARS RETIREMENT BENEFIT WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-11-10 AND 9-11-60, BOTH AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR RETIREMENT UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM (SCPORS), SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR SCPORS MEMBERS RETIRING AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, ARE COMPUTED AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN ALTERNATE CALCULATION OF BENEFITS FOR SCPORS MEMBERS AS OF JUNE 30, 2012, WHICH APPLIES IF THE SCPORS MEMBER'S BENEFIT CALCULATED ON RETIREMENT AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, WOULD RESULT IN A LESSER AMOUNT; BY ADDING SECTION 9-11-312 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH SCPORS RETIRED MEMBERS AND THEIR SURVIVING ANNUITANTS MAY RECEIVE INCREASED ALLOWANCES AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THAT INCREASE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 9-11-310 RELATING TO COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS UNDER SCPORS BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICE CREDIT UNDER SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIRED COST MUST BE THE GREATER OF AN ACTUARIALLY NEUTRAL PAYMENT BASED ON THE MEMBERS CURRENT AGE AND CREDITABLE SERVICE OR A SET PERCENTAGE OF SALARY AND TO ELIMINATE THE ADDITION OF UNUSED SICK LEAVE IN THE CALCULATION OF CREDITABLE SERVICE AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-210, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEDUCTIONS FROM THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF SCPORS TO FUND BENEFITS, THE TAX TREATMENT THEREOF, AND OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS, SO AS TO INCREASE ON JULY 1, 2012, THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF SCPORS CLASS TWO MEMBERS TO SEVEN PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM SIX AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND TO INCREASE SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS BY AN ADDITIONAL ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE OF TWELVE AND THREE-TENTHS PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION WHILE AN ACCRUED LIABILITY CONTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED; BY ADDING SECTION 9-16-335 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN ON THE INVESTMENTS OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM MUST BE ESTABLISHED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2012, THE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN ON RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENTS IS SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT; AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1-1135, 9-8-185, 9-9-175, AND 9-11-265, RELATING TO INTEREST ON MEMBER'S CONTRIBUTIONS IN SCRS, GARS, THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR JUDGES AND SOLICITORS, AND SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT INTEREST IS NOT PAID ON INACTIVE ACCOUNTS, AND TO DEFINE "INACTIVE ACCOUNT".
Rep. MERRILL moved to adjourn debate on the Senate Amendments, which was agreed to.
The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:
H. 4033 (Word version) -- Reps. Patrick and Loftis: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 4-10-330, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, 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 INCLUDE DREDGING, DEWATERING, CONSTRUCTION OF SPOIL SITES, AND DISPOSAL OF SPOIL MATERIALS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 5-37-40, 5-37-50, AND 5-37-100, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT MAY BE CREATED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THE WIDENING AND DREDGING OF WATERWAYS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF OWNERS OF OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AT THE TIME THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS CREATED.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Bowers Brady Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pinson Pope Quinn Ryan Sabb Sandifer Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
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.
The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:
H. 4813 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2012, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THIS OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Rep. MERRILL moved to adjourn debate upon the Senate Amendments until Thursday, May 31, which was agreed to.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1125 (Word version) -- Senators Bright, Bryant, S. Martin, Thomas, Gregory, Knotts, Campbell, Rose, Cromer, Fair, Campsen, Grooms, Peeler and Shoopman: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 41-35-120 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO DISQUALIFICATION FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON DISCHARGED FROM EMPLOYMENT FOR CAUSE IS INELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS FOR TWENTY WEEKS BEGINNING WITH THE DATE THE PERSON FILED A BENEFITS REQUEST.
The Bill was read the third time and ordered returned to the Senate with amendments, by a division vote of 50-20.
I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on S. 1125. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Bill.
Rep. Bill Chumley
The following Bill was read the third time, passed and, having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act, and it they be enrolled for ratification:
S. 1392 (Word version) -- Senators Campbell and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 34-13-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE TOTAL LIABILITIES OF ANY ONE BORROWER TO A BANK, SO AS TO DEFINE "TOTAL LIABILITIES" WHICH SHALL INCLUDE "DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS" AND TO ALSO DEFINE "DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS" FOR THIS PURPOSE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 34-13-70, RELATING TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF LOANS BY A STATE BANK TO A BORROWER, SO AS TO DEFINE "LOAN" WHICH SHALL INCLUDE "DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS", AND TO ALSO DEFINE "DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS" FOR THIS PURPOSE.
The motion period was dispensed with on motion of Rep. JEFFERSON.
Rep. MERRILL moved to reconsider the vote whereby debate was adjourned on the following Bill, which was agreed to:
H. 4967 (Word version) -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (SCRS), SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR "CLASS THREE" MEMBERS OF SCRS WITH "CLASS THREE" MEMBERS MEANING AN EMPLOYEE MEMBER OF SCRS WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF MEMBERSHIP AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1-10 FURTHER AND 9-1-1550, RELATING TO RETIREMENT BENEFITS UNDER THE SCRS, SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR SCRS MEMBERS ARE COMPUTED AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN ALTERNATE CALCULATION OF BENEFITS FOR SCRS MEMBERS AS OF JUNE 30, 2012, WHICH APPLIES IF THE MEMBER'S BENEFIT CALCULATED ON RETIREMENT AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, WOULD RESULT IN A LESSER AMOUNT; BY ADDING SECTION 9-1-1815 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIRED SCRS MEMBERS AND THEIR SURVIVING ANNUITANTS MAY RECEIVE INCREASED ALLOWANCES AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THAT INCREASE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 9-1-1810 RELATING TO INCREASES IN SCRS RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1020, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEDUCTIONS FROM THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF SCRS TO FUND BENEFITS, THE TAX TREATMENT THEREOF, AND OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS, SO AS TO INCREASE ON JULY 1, 2012, THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF CLASS ONE SCRS MEMBERS TO SIX PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM FIVE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF SCRS CLASS TWO AND CLASS THREE MEMBERS TO SEVEN PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM SIX AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND TO INCREASE SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS BY AN ADDITIONAL ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013, AND MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1080, RELATING TO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SCRS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE OF TEN AND SIX-TENTHS PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION WHILE AN ACCRUED LIABILITY CONTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICE CREDIT UNDER SCRS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIRED COST IS THE GREATER OF AN ACTUARIALLY NEUTRAL PAYMENT BASED ON THE SCRS MEMBER'S CURRENT AGE AND CREDITABLE SERVICE OR A SET PERCENTAGE OF SALARY AND TO ELIMINATE THE ADDITION OF UNUSED SICK LEAVE IN THE CALCULATION OF CREDITABLE SERVICE AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1510, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SCRS RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBER MUST HAVE AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS OF CREDITABLE SERVICE TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AT ANY AGE WITHOUT A BENEFIT REDUCTION; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1515, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY RETIREMENT IN SCRS, SO AS TO CONFORM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT SECTION AS IT APPLIES FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1660, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A NOMINEE OF A DECEASED ACTIVE SCRS MEMBER TO RECEIVE A RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE, SO AS TO CONFORM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT SECTION AS IT APPLIES FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-2210, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TEACHER AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION INCENTIVE (TERI) PROGRAM, SO AS TO CLOSE THE PROGRAM FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS AND TO CONFORM THE CALCULATION OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR TERI PARTICIPANTS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-9-60, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO RETIREMENT AND RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA (GARS), SO AS PROSPECTIVELY TO ELIMINATE PROVISIONS ALLOWING MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO MEET CERTAIN AGE OR CREDITED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS OR WITH AGE AND CREDITED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE A GARS RETIREMENT BENEFIT WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-11-10 AND 9-11-60, BOTH AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR RETIREMENT UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM (SCPORS), SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR SCPORS MEMBERS RETIRING AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, ARE COMPUTED AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN ALTERNATE CALCULATION OF BENEFITS FOR SCPORS MEMBERS AS OF JUNE 30, 2012, WHICH APPLIES IF THE SCPORS MEMBER'S BENEFIT CALCULATED ON RETIREMENT AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, WOULD RESULT IN A LESSER AMOUNT; BY ADDING SECTION 9-11-312 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH SCPORS RETIRED MEMBERS AND THEIR SURVIVING ANNUITANTS MAY RECEIVE INCREASED ALLOWANCES AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THAT INCREASE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 9-11-310 RELATING TO COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS UNDER SCPORS BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICE CREDIT UNDER SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIRED COST MUST BE THE GREATER OF AN ACTUARIALLY NEUTRAL PAYMENT BASED ON THE MEMBERS CURRENT AGE AND CREDITABLE SERVICE OR A SET PERCENTAGE OF SALARY AND TO ELIMINATE THE ADDITION OF UNUSED SICK LEAVE IN THE CALCULATION OF CREDITABLE SERVICE AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-210, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEDUCTIONS FROM THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF SCPORS TO FUND BENEFITS, THE TAX TREATMENT THEREOF, AND OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS, SO AS TO INCREASE ON JULY 1, 2012, THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF SCPORS CLASS TWO MEMBERS TO SEVEN PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM SIX AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND TO INCREASE SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS BY AN ADDITIONAL ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE OF TWELVE AND THREE-TENTHS PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION WHILE AN ACCRUED LIABILITY CONTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED; BY ADDING SECTION 9-16-335 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN ON THE INVESTMENTS OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM MUST BE ESTABLISHED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2012, THE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN ON RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENTS IS SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT; AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1-1135, 9-8-185, 9-9-175, AND 9-11-265, RELATING TO INTEREST ON MEMBER'S CONTRIBUTIONS IN SCRS, GARS, THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR JUDGES AND SOLICITORS, AND SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT INTEREST IS NOT PAID ON INACTIVE ACCOUNTS, AND TO DEFINE "INACTIVE ACCOUNT".
The Senate Amendments to the following Bill were taken up for consideration:
H. 4967 (Word version) -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (SCRS), SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR "CLASS THREE" MEMBERS OF SCRS WITH "CLASS THREE" MEMBERS MEANING AN EMPLOYEE MEMBER OF SCRS WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF MEMBERSHIP AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1-10 FURTHER AND 9-1-1550, RELATING TO RETIREMENT BENEFITS UNDER THE SCRS, SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR SCRS MEMBERS ARE COMPUTED AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN ALTERNATE CALCULATION OF BENEFITS FOR SCRS MEMBERS AS OF JUNE 30, 2012, WHICH APPLIES IF THE MEMBER'S BENEFIT CALCULATED ON RETIREMENT AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, WOULD RESULT IN A LESSER AMOUNT; BY ADDING SECTION 9-1-1815 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIRED SCRS MEMBERS AND THEIR SURVIVING ANNUITANTS MAY RECEIVE INCREASED ALLOWANCES AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THAT INCREASE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 9-1-1810 RELATING TO INCREASES IN SCRS RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1020, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEDUCTIONS FROM THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF SCRS TO FUND BENEFITS, THE TAX TREATMENT THEREOF, AND OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS, SO AS TO INCREASE ON JULY 1, 2012, THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF CLASS ONE SCRS MEMBERS TO SIX PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM FIVE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF SCRS CLASS TWO AND CLASS THREE MEMBERS TO SEVEN PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM SIX AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND TO INCREASE SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS BY AN ADDITIONAL ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013, AND MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1080, RELATING TO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SCRS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE OF TEN AND SIX-TENTHS PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION WHILE AN ACCRUED LIABILITY CONTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICE CREDIT UNDER SCRS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIRED COST IS THE GREATER OF AN ACTUARIALLY NEUTRAL PAYMENT BASED ON THE SCRS MEMBER'S CURRENT AGE AND CREDITABLE SERVICE OR A SET PERCENTAGE OF SALARY AND TO ELIMINATE THE ADDITION OF UNUSED SICK LEAVE IN THE CALCULATION OF CREDITABLE SERVICE AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1510, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SCRS RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBER MUST HAVE AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS OF CREDITABLE SERVICE TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AT ANY AGE WITHOUT A BENEFIT REDUCTION; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1515, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY RETIREMENT IN SCRS, SO AS TO CONFORM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT SECTION AS IT APPLIES FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1660, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A NOMINEE OF A DECEASED ACTIVE SCRS MEMBER TO RECEIVE A RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE, SO AS TO CONFORM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT SECTION AS IT APPLIES FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-2210, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TEACHER AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION INCENTIVE (TERI) PROGRAM, SO AS TO CLOSE THE PROGRAM FOR SCRS CLASS THREE MEMBERS AND TO CONFORM THE CALCULATION OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR TERI PARTICIPANTS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-9-60, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO RETIREMENT AND RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA (GARS), SO AS PROSPECTIVELY TO ELIMINATE PROVISIONS ALLOWING MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO MEET CERTAIN AGE OR CREDITED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS OR WITH AGE AND CREDITED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE A GARS RETIREMENT BENEFIT WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-11-10 AND 9-11-60, BOTH AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR RETIREMENT UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM (SCPORS), SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR SCPORS MEMBERS RETIRING AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, ARE COMPUTED AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN ALTERNATE CALCULATION OF BENEFITS FOR SCPORS MEMBERS AS OF JUNE 30, 2012, WHICH APPLIES IF THE SCPORS MEMBER'S BENEFIT CALCULATED ON RETIREMENT AFTER JUNE 30, 2012, WOULD RESULT IN A LESSER AMOUNT; BY ADDING SECTION 9-11-312 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH SCPORS RETIRED MEMBERS AND THEIR SURVIVING ANNUITANTS MAY RECEIVE INCREASED ALLOWANCES AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THAT INCREASE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 9-11-310 RELATING TO COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS UNDER SCPORS BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICE CREDIT UNDER SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIRED COST MUST BE THE GREATER OF AN ACTUARIALLY NEUTRAL PAYMENT BASED ON THE MEMBERS CURRENT AGE AND CREDITABLE SERVICE OR A SET PERCENTAGE OF SALARY AND TO ELIMINATE THE ADDITION OF UNUSED SICK LEAVE IN THE CALCULATION OF CREDITABLE SERVICE AFTER JUNE 30, 2012; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-210, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEDUCTIONS FROM THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF SCPORS TO FUND BENEFITS, THE TAX TREATMENT THEREOF, AND OTHER RELATED PROVISIONS, SO AS TO INCREASE ON JULY 1, 2012, THE REQUIRED DEDUCTIONS OF SCPORS CLASS TWO MEMBERS TO SEVEN PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION FROM SIX AND ONE-HALF PERCENT AND TO INCREASE SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS BY AN ADDITIONAL ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013; TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE OF TWELVE AND THREE-TENTHS PERCENT OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION WHILE AN ACCRUED LIABILITY CONTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED; BY ADDING SECTION 9-16-335 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN ON THE INVESTMENTS OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM MUST BE ESTABLISHED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2012, THE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN ON RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENTS IS SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT; AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1-1135, 9-8-185, 9-9-175, AND 9-11-265, RELATING TO INTEREST ON MEMBER'S CONTRIBUTIONS IN SCRS, GARS, THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR JUDGES AND SOLICITORS, AND SCPORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT INTEREST IS NOT PAID ON INACTIVE ACCOUNTS, AND TO DEFINE "INACTIVE ACCOUNT".
Reps. MERRILL, WHITE, BINGHAM, SKELTON, PITTS, COBB-HUNTER, ANTHONY and BATTLE proposed the following Amendment No. 1A to H. 4967 (COUNCIL\BBM\10711HTC12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
SECTION 1. Article 13, Chapter 1, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 9-1-1815. (A) Effective July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, the retirement allowance received by retirees and their surviving annuitants pursuant to this chapter, inclusive of supplemental allowances payable pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9-1-1910, 9-1-1920, and 9-1-1930, must be increased by one percent. Only those retirees and their surviving annuitants in receipt of an allowance on July first preceding the effective date of the increase provided by this subsection are eligible to receive the increase. Any increase in allowance granted pursuant to this subsection must be included in the determination of subsequent increases.
(B)(1) Effective July 1, 2014, the retirement allowances received by retirees and their surviving annuitants pursuant to this chapter, inclusive of supplemental allowances payable pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9-1-1910, 9-1-1920, and 9-1-1930, are subject to an annual adjustment calculated as provided in this subsection. Annually, beginning in November, 2013, the board shall subtract the assumed annual rate of return on the investments of the assets of the South Carolina Retirement System from the five-year average investment return of the South Carolina Retirement System. If the difference of that subtraction is a positive percentage, then retirement allowances paid must be increased by the same percentage, but not more than two percent. If the annual calculation difference results in a positive percentage, but the actual rate of return on the system's investments for the preceding plan year was less than zero, an increase may not be granted. In no case may the calculation result in an adjustment that decreases benefits. If the annual calculation results in increased retirement allowances, then the board, by December thirty-first following the calculation, by resolution, shall direct the increase.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, the 'five-year average investment return' means the average of the investment returns of the most recent five plan years ending on June thirtieth before the November calculation date as determined by the board.
(C) An increase in the retirement allowance pursuant to subsection (B) of this section begins the July first immediately following the date of the resolution directing the increase, and all increases in retirement allowances must be granted to those retirees and their surviving annuitants, in receipt of a retirement allowance on July first immediately preceding the effective date of the increase. Any increase in an allowance granted pursuant to subsection (B) must be included in the determination of any subsequent increase."
SECTION 2. A. Section 9-1-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 353 of 2008, is further amended by adding a new item after item (18) to read:
"(18A) 'Class Three member' means an employee member of the system with an effective date of system membership after June 30, 2012."
B. Section 9-1-10(4) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"(4)(a) 'Average final compensation' with respect to those Class One and Class Two members retiring on or after July 1, 1986, means the average annual earnable compensation of a member during the twelve consecutive quarters of his creditable service on which regular contributions as a member were made to the system producing the highest such average; a quarter means a period January through March, April through June, July through September, or October through December. An amount up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave at retirement may be added to the average final compensation. Average final compensation for an elected official may be calculated as the average annual earnable compensation for the thirty-six consecutive months before the expiration of the elected official's term of office.
(b) 'Average final compensation' with respect to Class Three members means the average annual earnable compensation of a member during the twenty consecutive quarters of the member's creditable service on which regular contributions as a member were made to the system producing the highest such average; a quarter means a period January through March, April through June, July through September, or October through December. Termination pay for unused annual leave at retirement may not be added to the average final compensation."
C. Section 9-1-10(8) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"(8)(a) 'Earnable compensation' means the full rate of the compensation that would be payable to a member if the member worked the member's full normal working time; when compensation includes maintenance, fees, and other things of value the board shall fix the value of that part of the compensation not paid in money directly by the employer.
(b) For work performed by a member after December 31, 2012, earnable compensation does not include any overtime pay not mandated by the employer."
SECTION 3. Section 9-1-1020 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 311 of 2008, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1020. The employee annuity savings fund shall be the account in which shall be recorded the contributions deducted from the earnable compensation of members to provide for their employee annuities. Each employer shall cause to be deducted from the compensation of each member on each and every payroll of such employer for each and every payroll period four percent of his earnable compensation. With respect to each member who is eligible for coverage under the Social Security Act in accordance with the agreement entered into during 1955 in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 7 of this Title; however, such deduction shall, commencing with the first day of the period of service with respect to which such agreement is effective, be at the rate of three percent of the part of his earnable compensation not in excess of four thousand eight hundred dollars, plus five percent of the part of his earnable compensation in excess of four thousand eight hundred dollars. In the case of any member so eligible and receiving compensation from two or more employers, such deductions may be adjusted under such rules as the board may establish so as to be as nearly equivalent as practicable to the deductions which would have been made had the member received all of such compensation from one employer. In determining the amount earnable by a member in a payroll period, the board may consider the rate of annual earnable compensation of such member on the first day of the payroll period as continuing throughout such payroll period and it may omit deduction from earnable compensation for any period less than a full payroll period if a teacher or employee was not a member on the first day of the payroll period.
Each employer shall certify to the board on each and every payroll or in such other manner as the board may prescribe the amounts to be deducted and such amounts shall be deducted and, when deducted, shall be credited to said employee annuity savings fund, to the individual accounts of the members from whose compensation the deductions were made.
The rates of the deductions, without regard to a member's coverage under the Social Security Act, must be the percentage of earnable compensation as provided in the following schedule:
Class One Class Classes
Two and Three
Before July 1, 2005 5 6
July 1, 2005 through
June 30, 2006 5.25 6.25
After June 30, 2006
through June 30, 2012 5.50 6.50
After June 30, 2012
through June 30, 2013 6 7
After June 30, 2013 6.50 7.50
Each department and political subdivision shall pick up the employee contributions required by this section for all compensation paid on or after July 1, 1982, and the contributions so picked up shall be treated as employer contributions in determining federal tax treatment under the United States Internal Revenue Code. For this purpose, each department and political subdivision is deemed to have taken formal action on or before January 1, 2009, to provide that the contributions on behalf of its employees, although designated as employer contributions, shall be paid by the employer in lieu of employee contributions. The department and political subdivision shall pay these employee contributions from the same source of funds which is used in paying earnings to the employee. The department and political subdivision may pick up these contributions by a reduction in the cash salary of the employee.
The employee, however, must not be given the option of choosing to receive the contributed amount of the pick ups directly instead of having them paid by the employer to the retirement system. Employee contributions picked up shall be treated for all purposes of this section in the same manner and to the extent as employee contributions made prior to the date picked up.
Payments for unused sick leave, single special payments at retirement, bonus and incentive-type payments, or any other payments not considered a part of the regular salary base are not compensation for which contributions are deductible. Not including Class Three employees, contributions are deductible on up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave. If a member has received termination pay for unused annual leave on more than one occasion, contributions are deductible on up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave for each termination payment for unused annual leave received by the member. However, only an amount up to and including forty-five days' pay for unused annual leave from the member's last termination payment shall must be included in a member's average final compensation calculation, for other than Class Three employees."
SECTION 4. Section 9-1-1080 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1080. The total amount payable in each year by each employer for credit to the employer annuity accumulation fund shall not be less than the sum of the rate per cent percent known as the normal contribution rate and the accrued liability contribution rate of the total earnable compensation of all members during the preceding year. After June 30, 2012, this employer contribution rate shall not be less than ten and six-tenths percent of the total earnable compensation of all members during the preceding year, until the accrued liability contribution is discontinued pursuant to Section 9-1-1090. Subject to the provisions of Section 9-1-1070, the amount of each annual accrued liability contribution shall be at least three per cent greater than the preceding annual accrued liability payment, and The aggregate payment by employers shall be sufficient, when combined with the amount in the fund, to provide the employer annuities and other benefits payable out of the fund during the year then current."
SECTION 5. A. Section 9-1-1140 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 311 of 2008, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1140. (A) An active member may establish service credit for any period of paid public service by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be as determined by the actuary for the board based on the member's current age and service credit, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. A member's career highest fiscal year salary shall include the member's salary while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education if the member has purchased service rendered under any of these programs pursuant to subsection (F) of this section. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of public service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit for public service to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code.
(B) An active member may establish service credit for any period of paid educational service by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system determined by the actuary for the board based on the member's current age and service credit, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. A member's career highest fiscal year salary shall include the member's salary while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education if the member has purchased service rendered under any of these programs pursuant to subsection (F) of this section. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of educational service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit for educational service to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code.
(C) An active member may establish up to six years of service credit for any period of military service, if the member was discharged or separated from military service under conditions other than dishonorable, by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board based on the member's current age and service credit, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. A member's career highest fiscal year salary shall include the member's salary while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education if the member has purchased service rendered under any of these programs pursuant to subsection (F) of this section. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.
(D) An active member on an approved leave of absence from an employer that participates in the system who returns to covered employment within four years may purchase service credit for the period of the approved leave, but may not purchase more than two years of service credit for each separate leave period, by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board based on the member's current age and service credit, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. A member's career highest fiscal year salary shall include the member's salary while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education if the member has purchased service rendered under any of these programs pursuant to subsection (F) of this section. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.
(E) An active member who has five or more years of earned service credit may establish up to five years of nonqualified service by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board based on the member's current age and service credit, but not less than thirty-five percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. A member's career highest fiscal year salary shall include the member's salary while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education if the member has purchased service rendered under any of these programs pursuant to subsection (F) of this section. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.
(F) An active member may establish service credit for any period of service in which the member participated in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education, by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board based on the member's current age and service credit, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. A member's career highest fiscal year salary shall include the member's salary while participating in the system or in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit under this subsection to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code. Service purchased under this subsection is 'earned service' and counts toward the required five or more years of earned service necessary for benefit eligibility. Compensation earned for periods purchased under this subsection while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education shall must be treated as earnable compensation and shall must be used in calculating a member's average final compensation. A member purchasing service under this subsection who has funds invested in a TIAA Traditional account under a TIAA-CREF Retirement Annuity contract shall be is eligible to make a plan to plan transfer in accordance with the terms of that contract.
(G) An active member who previously withdrew contributions from the system may reestablish the service credited to the member at the time of the withdrawal of contributions by repaying the amount of the contributions previously withdrawn, plus regular interest from the date of the withdrawal to the date of repayment to the system.
(H) An active member establishing retirement credit pursuant to this chapter may establish that credit by means of payroll deducted installment payments. Interest must be paid on the unpaid balance of the amount due at the rate of the prime rate plus two percent a year.
(I) An employer, at its discretion, may pay to the system all or a portion of the cost for an employee's purchase of service credit under this chapter. Any amounts paid by the employer under this subsection for all purposes must be treated as employer contributions.
(J) Service credit purchased under this section is not 'earned service' and does not count toward the required five or more years of earned service necessary for benefit eligibility except:
(1) earned service previously withdrawn and reestablished;
(2) service rendered while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education that has been purchased pursuant to subsection (F); or
(3) service earned as a participant in the system, the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System, the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly, or the Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors that is transferred to or purchased in the system.
(K) A member may purchase each type of service under this section once each fiscal year.
(L) The board shall promulgate regulations and prescribe rules and policies, as necessary, to implement the service purchase provisions of this chapter.
(M) At retirement, after March 31, 1991, a Class One or Class Two member shall receive credit for not more than ninety days of his unused sick leave from the member's last employer at no cost to the member. The leave must be credited at a rate where twenty days of unused sick leave equals one month of service. This additional service credit may not be used to qualify for retirement.
(N) An employee drawing workers' compensation who is on a leave of absence for a limited period may voluntarily contribute on his contractual salary, to be matched by the employer."
B. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, this SECTION takes effect January 1, 2013.
SECTION 6. Section 9-1-1510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 1 of 2001, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1510. (A) A Class One or Class Two member may retire upon written application to the system setting forth at what time, no more than ninety days before nor more than six months after the execution and filing of the application, the member desires to be retired, if the member at the time specified for the member's service retirement has:
(1) five or more years of earned service;
(2) attained the age of sixty years or has twenty-eight or more years of creditable service; and
(3) separated from service.
(B) A Class Three member may retire upon written application to the system setting forth at what time, no more than ninety days before nor more than six months after the execution and filing of the application, the member desires to be retired, if the member at the time specified for the member's service retirement has:
(1) five or more years of earned service;
(2) attained the age of sixty years or has thirty or more years of creditable service; and
(3) separated from service.
(C) A member who is an elected official whose annual compensation is less than the earnings limitation pursuant to Section 9-1-1790 and who is otherwise eligible for service retirement may retire for purposes of this section without a break in service."
SECTION 7. Section 9-1-1515 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 1 of 2001, is amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1515. (A)(1) In addition to other types of retirement provided by this chapter, a Class One or Class Two member may elect early retirement if the member:
(1)(a) has five or more years of earned service;
(2)(b) has attained the age of fifty-five years;
(3)(c) has at least twenty-five years of creditable service; and
(4)(d) has separated from service.
A member electing early retirement pursuant to this subsection shall apply in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1510(A).
(B)(2) The benefits for a member electing early retirement under this section subsection must be calculated in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1550, except that in lieu of any other reduction factor, the member's early retirement allowance is reduced by four percent a year, prorated for periods less than one year, for each year of creditable service less than twenty-eight.
(C)(3) A member who elects early retirement under this section subsection is ineligible to receive any cost-of-living increase in the member's retirement allowance as provided by law to retirees until the second July first after the date the member attains age sixty; or the second July first after the date the member would have twenty-eight years' creditable service had he the member not retired, whichever is earlier.
(D)(1)(4)(a) Except as provided in item (2) subitem (b) of this subsection item, a member who elects early retirement under this section subsection is not covered by the State Insurance Benefits Plan until the earlier of:
(a)(i) the date the member attains age sixty, or
(b)(ii) the date the member would have twenty-eight years' creditable service had he the member not retired.
(2)(b) A member taking early retirement under this subsection may maintain coverage under the State Insurance Benefits Plan until the date his the member's coverage is reinstated pursuant to item (1) subitem (a) of this subsection item by paying the total premium cost, including the employer's contribution, in the manner provided by the Division of Insurance Services of the State Budget and Control Board.
(B)(1) In addition to other types of retirement provided by this chapter, a Class Three member may elect early retirement if the member:
(a) has five or more years of earned service;
(b) has attained the age of fifty-five years;
(c) has at least twenty-five years of creditable service; and
(d) has separated from service.
A member electing early retirement pursuant to this subsection shall apply in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1510(B).
(2) The benefits for a member electing early retirement under this subsection must be calculated in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1550, except that in lieu of any other reduction factor, the member's early retirement allowance is reduced by four percent a year, prorated for periods less than one year, for each year of creditable service less than thirty.
(3) A member who elects early retirement under this subsection is ineligible to receive any increase in the member's retirement allowance as provided by law to retirees until the second July first after the date the member attains age sixty; or the second July first after the date the member would have thirty years' creditable service had the member not retired, whichever is earlier.
(4)(a) Except as provided in subitem (b) of this item, a member who elects early retirement under this subsection is not covered by the State Insurance Benefits Plan until the earlier of:
(i) the date the member attains age sixty, or
(ii) the date the member would have thirty years' creditable service had the member not retired.
(b) A member taking early retirement under this subsection may maintain coverage under the State Insurance Benefits Plan until the date the member's coverage is reinstated pursuant to subitem (a) of this item by paying the total premium cost, including the employer's contribution, in the manner provided by the Division of Insurance Services of the State Budget and Control Board."
SECTION 8. A. Section 9-1-1540 of the 1976 Code, as lasted amended by Act 162 of 2010, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1540. (A) Upon the application of a member in service or of his the member's employer that is received by the system before January 1, 2013, a member in service on or after July 1, 1970, who has had five or more years of the earned service required pursuant to Section 9-1-1510 for the member's class, or a contributing member who is disabled as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of his the member's duties regardless of length of membership on or after July 1, 1985, may be retired by the board not less than thirty days and not more than nine months next following the date of filing the application on a disability retirement allowance if the system, after a medical examination of the member, certifies that the member is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, that the incapacity is likely to be permanent, and that the member should be retired. For purposes of this section, a member is considered to be in service on the date the application is filed if the member is not retired and the last day the member was employed by a covered employer in the system occurred not more than ninety days prior to the date of filing.
The South Carolina Retirement System may contract with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to evaluate the medical evidence submitted with the disability application relative to the job being performed and make recommendations to the medical board. The system may approve a disability retirement subject to the member participating in vocational rehabilitation with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Upon determination by the department that a member retired on disability is able to reenter the job market and work is available, the retirement system may adjust the benefit paid by the system in accordance with Sections 9-1-1580, 9-1-1590, 9-9-60, and 9-11-90.
(B)(1) Upon the application of a member in service or of the member's employer received by the system after December 31, 2012, a member in service who has the earned service required for the member's class pursuant to Section 9-1-1510, or who is disabled as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of the member's duties regardless of length of membership, may be retired by the board if the member is determined to be disabled pursuant to subsection (B)(2) of this section. For purposes of this section, a member is considered to be in service on the date the application is filed if the last day the member was employed by a covered employer in the system occurred not more than ninety days before the date of filing and, if the member has retired on a service retirement allowance, the member's date of retirement occurred not more than ninety days before the date of filing.
(2) A member whose application for disability retirement benefits was received by the system after December 31, 2012 is considered disabled if the member qualifies for the payment of Social Security disability benefits and is eligible for benefits pursuant to this section upon proof of the disability, provided that the date of disability established by the Social Security Administration falls within one year after the last day the member was employed by a covered employer in the system. The member shall submit to the retirement system the Social Security Award Notice certifying the date of entitlement for disability benefits as issued by the Social Security Administration. Upon final approval by the system, disability benefits become effective on the date of entitlement as established by the Social Security Administration or the day after the member's last day on the payroll of a covered employer, whichever is later."
B. Section 9-1-1560 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 166 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1560. (A) Except as provided in subsection (E) of this section, upon retirement for disability on or after July 1, 1976, a Class One member shall receive a service retirement allowance if he has attained the age of sixty-five years. Otherwise he shall receive a disability retirement allowance which shall be computed as follows:
(1) Such allowance shall be equal to the service retirement allowance which would have been payable had he continued in service to age sixty-five based on the average final compensation, minus the actuarial equivalent of the contribution the member would have made during such continued service, with an interest rate of four percent per annum.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any Class One member whose creditable service commenced prior to July 1, 1976, shall receive not less than the benefit which would have been provided by the provisions of this section in effect immediately prior to July 1, 1976.
(B) Except as provided in subsection (E) of this section, upon retirement for disability on or after May 19, 1973, a Class Two member shall receive a service retirement allowance if he has attained the age of sixty-five years. Otherwise he shall receive a disability retirement allowance which shall be computed as follows:
(1) Such allowance shall be equal to the service retirement allowance which would have been payable had he continued in service to age sixty-five based on the average final compensation, minus the actuarial equivalent of the contribution the member would have made during such continued service, with an interest rate of four percent per annum.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any Class Two member whose creditable service commenced prior to July 1, 1964, shall receive not less than the benefit provided by subsection (A) of this section.
(C) Except as provided in subsection (E) of this section, employees retired on disability subsequent to July 1, 1982, must have their benefits recalculated in accordance with the provisions of item (1) of subsection (A) and item (2) of subsection (B). (D) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon retirement for disability after October 15, 1992, at any age, a member must receive a disability retirement allowance equal to at least fifteen percent of his average final compensation.
(E)(1) Upon retirement for disability based on an application for disability benefits received by the system after December 31, 2012, a Class One member shall receive a disability retirement allowance equal to one and forty-five hundredths percent of his average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of his creditable service as of the date of retirement, without reduction because of commencement before the normal retirement date.
(2) Upon retirement for disability based on an application for disability benefits received by the system after December 31, 2012, a Class Two or Class Three member shall receive a disability retirement allowance equal to one and eighty-two hundredths percent of his average final compensation, multiplied by the number of years of his creditable service as of the date of retirement, without reduction because of commencement before the normal retirement date."
C. Section 9-1-1570 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1570. (A) Once each year during the first five years following the retirement of a member on a disability retirement allowance and once in every three-year period thereafter the board may, and upon his application, require any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of sixty-five years to undergo a medical examination to be made at the place of residence of the beneficiary or other place mutually agreed upon by a physician designated by the board. Should If any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of sixty-five years refuse refuses to submit to at least one medical examination in any such year by a physician designated by the board his the member's disability retirement allowance may be discontinued until his the member's withdrawal of refusal and should his if the member's refusal continue continues for one year, all his the member's rights in and to his the member's disability retirement allowance may be revoked by the board.
(B) A member who is retired on a disability retirement allowance based upon an application received by the system after December 31, 2012, and who has not yet attained the age of sixty-five years annually shall provide proof to the system that the member remains qualified for the receipt of Social Security disability benefits within thirty days of the anniversary of his retirement date. A member's disability retirement allowance ceases upon a determination by the Social Security Administration that the member is no longer entitled to Social Security disability benefits for any reason. If any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of sixty-five years refuses to provide proof of disability required by the board, the member's disability retirement allowance must be discontinued until the member provides such proof. If a member's refusal to provide proof that the member remains qualified for Social Security disability benefits continues for one year, all of the member's rights in and to the member's disability retirement allowance pursuant to Section 9-1-1540 may be revoked by the board."
SECTION 9. Section 9-1-1550 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 1 of 2001, is further amended by adding a new subsection at the end to read:
"(C) Upon retirement from service after December 31, 2012, a Class Three member shall receive a service retirement allowance computed as follows:
(1) If the member's service retirement date occurs on or after his sixty-fifth birthday or after he has completed thirty or more years of creditable service, the allowance must be equal to one and eighty-two hundredths percent of his average final compensation, multiplied by the number of years of his creditable service.
(2) If the member's service retirement date occurs before his sixty-fifth birthday and before he completes thirty years of creditable service, his service retirement allowance is computed as in item (1) of this subsection but is reduced by five-twelfths of one percent thereof for each month, prorated for periods less than a month, by which his retirement date precedes the first day of the month coincident with or next following his sixty-fifth birthday."
SECTION 10. Section 9-1-1660(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"(A) The person nominated by a member to receive the full amount of the member's accumulated contributions if the member dies before retirement may, if the member:
(1) has five or more years of earned service;
(2) dies while in service; and
(3) has either attained the age of sixty years or has accumulated fifteen years or more of creditable service, elect to receive in lieu of the accumulated contributions an allowance for life in the same amount as if the deceased member had retired at the time of the member's death and had named the person as beneficiary under an election of Option B of Section 9-1-1620(A). For purposes of the benefit calculation, a Class One or Class Two member under age sixty with less than twenty-eight years' credit, or thirty years such credit in the case of a Class Three member, is assumed to be sixty years of age."
SECTION 11. A. Section 9-1-1790(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 2005, is further amended to read:
"(A)(1) A retired member of the system who has been retired for at least fifteen sixty consecutive calendar days may be hired and return to employment covered by this system or any other system provided in this title and earn up to ten thousand dollars without affecting the monthly retirement allowance he the member is receiving from the system. If the retired member continues in service after earning ten thousand dollars in a calendar year, the member's allowance must be discontinued during his period of service in the remainder of the calendar year. If the employment continues for at least forty-eight consecutive months, the provisions of Section 9-1-1590 apply. If a retired member of the system returns to employment covered by this system or any other system provided in this title sooner than fifteen sixty days after retirement, the member's retirement allowance is suspended while the member remains employed by the participating employer. If an employer fails to notify the system of the engagement of a retired member to perform services, the employer shall reimburse the system for all benefits wrongly paid to the retired member.
(2) The earnings limitation imposed pursuant to this item does not apply if the member meets at least one of the following qualifications:
(a) the member retired before January 1, 2013;
(b) the member has attained the age of sixty-two years at retirement; or
(c) compensation received by the retired member from the covered employer is for service in a public office filled by the appointment of the Governor and with confirmation by the Senate, by appointment or election by the General Assembly, or by election of the qualified electors of the applicable jurisdiction."
B. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, this SECTION takes effect January 1, 2013.
SECTION 12. Section 9-1-2210(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 112 of 2007, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-1-2210. (A) An active Class One or Class Two contributing member who is eligible for service retirement under this chapter and complies with the requirements of this article may elect to participate in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program (program). A member electing to participate in the program retires for purposes of the system. The program participant shall agree to continue employment with an employer participating in the system for a program period, not to exceed five years. The member shall notify the system before the beginning of the program period. Participation in the program does not guarantee employment for the specified program period. Class Three members are not eligible to participate in the program."
SECTION 13. A. Section 9-1-1810 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
B. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, this SECTION takes effect June 15, 2012.
SECTION 14. A. Section 9-9-60 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 334 of 2002, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-9-60. (1) A member of the system may retire upon written application to the board setting forth at what time, not more than ninety days before nor more than six months after the execution and filing of the application, the member desires to be retired, if at the time specified for retirement, the member is no longer in the service of the State, whether as a member of the General Assembly or otherwise, except as provided in Section 9-9-40(3), and has either attained the age of sixty years or completed thirty years of credited service.
(2) Effective July 1, 1989, a retired member shall receive a monthly retirement allowance which is equal to one-twelfth of four and eighty-two hundredths percent of earnable compensation multiplied by the number of years of his credited service prorated for periods less than a year.
(3) A member who has attained the age of seventy and one-half years and has twenty-five years of service or who has attained the age of 70 or has 30 years of service may retire and draw a retirement benefit while continuing to serve in the General Assembly upon written application to the board setting forth at what time, not more than ninety days before nor more than six months after the execution and filing of the application, the member desires to be retired. A member who has retired under this provision shall make no further contributions to the system, shall earn no further service credit, and may not reenter membership in the system.
The member must retire at the beginning of an annual session of the General Assembly and the election to receive the member's retirement allowance under this system is in lieu of receiving the constitutionally mandated per diem salary, currently established at ten thousand four hundred dollars for a regular session. This election if made is irrevocable and applies for as long as that person serves thereafter in the General Assembly including service in both regular and extra sessions."
B. A member of the General Assembly who on the effective date of this section is receiving a GARS annuity benefit attributable to that member's credited service in GARS shall continue to receive that benefit as provided by the provisions of Section 9-9-60 in effect immediately before the effective date of this SECTION.
C. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, this SECTION takes effect after January 31, 2013.
SECTION 15. Section 9-9-120(2) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
(2) Each member of the System shall contribute ten eleven percent of earnable compensation in each calendar year, up to twenty-two years of credited service, commencing with the calendar year 1976 2013. Such contributions shall be made through payroll deductions in the case of members of the General Assembly or through direct remittance by contributing special members as set forth in Item (2)(ii) of Section 9-9- 40. The twenty-two year limitation provided for in this item shall not apply to any member of the General Assembly during periods of active service.
SECTION 16. Article 1, Chapter 11, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 9-11-312. (A) Effective July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, the retirement allowance received by retirees and their surviving annuitants pursuant to this chapter, inclusive of Section 9-11-140, must be increased by one percent. Only those retirees and their surviving annuitants in receipt of an allowance on July first preceding the effective date of the increase provided by this subsection are eligible to receive the increase. Any increase in allowance granted pursuant to this subsection must be included in the determination of any subsequent increase.
(B)(1) Effective July 1, 2014, the retirement allowance received by retirees and their surviving annuitants pursuant to this chapter, inclusive of Section 9-11-140, are subject to an annual adjustment calculated as provided in this subsection. Annually, beginning in November, 2013, the board shall subtract the assumed annual rate of return on the investments of the assets of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System from the five-year average investment return of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System. If the difference of that subtraction is a positive percentage, then retirement allowances paid must be increased by the same percentage, but not more than two percent. If the annual calculation percentage results in a positive percentage, but the actual rate of return on the system's investments for the preceding plan year was less than zero, an increase may not be granted. In no case may the calculation result in an adjustment that decreases benefits. If the annual calculation results in an increased retirement allowance, the board, by December thirty-first following the calculation, by resolution, shall direct the increase.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, the 'five-year average investment return' means the average of the investment returns of the most recent five plan years ending on June thirtieth before the November calculation date as determined by the board.
(C) An increase in the retirement allowance pursuant to subsection (B) of this section begins the July first immediately following the date of the resolution directing the increase, and all increases in retirement allowances must be granted to those retirees and their surviving annuitants in receipt of a retirement allowance on July first immediately preceding the effective date of the increase. Any increase in allowance granted pursuant to subsection (B) must be included in the determination of any subsequent increase."
SECTION 17. A. Section 9-11-10(7) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"(7)(a) 'Average final compensation' after July 1, 1986, for Class One and Class Two members means the average annual compensation of a member during the twelve consecutive quarters of the member's creditable service on which regular contributions as a member were made to the system producing the highest average; a quarter means a period January through March, April through June, July through September, or October through December. An amount up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave at retirement may be added to the average final compensation. Average final compensation for an elected official may be calculated as the average annual earnable compensation for the thirty-six consecutive months prior to the expiration of his term of office.
(b) 'Average final compensation' for Class Three members means the average annual earnable compensation of a member during the twenty consecutive quarters of the member's creditable service on which regular contributions as a member were made to the system producing the highest such average; a quarter means a period January through March, April through June, July through September, or October through December. Termination pay for unused annual leave at retirement may not be added to the average final compensation."
B. Section 9-11-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 2005, is further amended by adding a new item after item (11) to read:
"(11A) 'Class Three member' means an employee member of the system with an effective date of membership after June 30, 2012."
SECTION 18. A. Section 9-11-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 311 of 2008, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-11-50 (A) An active member may establish service credit for any period of paid public service by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board, based on the member's current age and service credit, board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of public service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit for public service to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code.
(B) An active member may establish service credit for any period of paid educational service by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board, based on the member's current age and service credit, board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of educational service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit for educational service to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code.
(C) An active member may establish up to six years of service credit for any period of military service, if the member was discharged or separated from military service under conditions other than dishonorable, by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board, based on the member's current age and service credit, board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.
(D) An active member on an approved leave of absence from an employer that participates in the system who returns to covered employment within four years may purchase service credit for the period of the approved leave, but may not purchase more than two years of service credit for each separate leave period, by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board, based on the member's current age and service credit, board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.
(E) An active member who has five or more years of earned service credit may establish up to five years of nonqualified service by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board, based on the member's current age and service credit board, but not less than thirty-five percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.
(F) An active member may establish service credit for any period of service in which the member participated in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education, by making a an actuarially neutral payment to the system to be determined by the actuary for the board, based on the member's current age and service credit, board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit under this subsection to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code. Service purchased under this subsection is 'earned service' and counts toward the required five or more years of earned service necessary for benefit eligibility. Compensation earned while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education is not earnable compensation under the system and shall not be used in calculating a member's average final compensation. A member purchasing service under this subsection who has funds invested in a TIAA Traditional account under a TIAA-CREF Retirement Annuity contract shall be eligible to make a plan to plan transfer in accordance with the terms of that contract.
(G) An active member who previously withdrew contributions from the system may reestablish the service credited to the member at the time of the withdrawal of contributions by repaying the amount of the contributions previously withdrawn, plus regular interest from the date of the withdrawal to the date of repayment to the system.
(H) An active member establishing retirement credit pursuant to this chapter may establish that credit by means of payroll deducted installment payments. Interest must be paid on the unpaid balance of the amount due at the rate of the prime rate plus two percent a year.
(I) An employer, at its discretion, may pay to the system all or a portion of the cost for an employee's purchase of service credit under this chapter. Amounts paid by the employer under this subsection for all purposes must be treated as employer contributions.
(J) Service credit purchased under this section is not 'earned service' and does not count toward the required five or more years of earned service necessary for benefit eligibility except:
(1) earned service previously withdrawn and reestablished;
(2) service rendered while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education that has been purchased pursuant to subsection (F); or
(3) service earned as a participant in the system, the South Carolina Retirement System, the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly, or the Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors that is transferred to or purchased in the system.
(K) A member may purchase each type of service under this section once each fiscal year.
(L) At retirement, after March 31, 1991, a Class One or Class Two member shall receive credit for not more than ninety days of his unused sick leave from the member's last employer at no cost to the member. The leave must be credited at a rate where twenty days of unused sick leave equals one month of service. This additional service credit may not be used to qualify for retirement.
(M) The board shall promulgate regulations and prescribe rules and policies, as necessary, to implement the service purchase provisions of this chapter.
(N) An employee drawing workers' compensation who is on a leave of absence for a limited period may voluntarily contribute on his contractual salary, to be matched by the employer."
B. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, this SECTION takes effect January 1, 2013.
SECTION 19. Section 9-11-60(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2001, is further amended to read:
"(2) Upon service retirement on or after July 1, 1989, the member shall receive a service retirement allowance which is equal to the sum of (a), (b), and (c) below:
(a) a monthly retirement allowance equal to ten dollars and ninety-seven cents multiplied by the number of years of his Class One service;
(b) a monthly retirement allowance equal to one-twelfth of two and fourteen hundredths percent of his average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of his Class Two or Class Three service;
(c) an additional monthly retirement allowance which is the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated additional contributions.
The sum of the retirement allowances computed under (a) and (b) above may not be less than the allowance which would have been provided under (a) if all of the member's credited service were Class One service. For a police officer who became a member before July 1, 1974, and who was a participant in the Supplemental Allowance Program, the portion of his service retirement allowance not provided by his accumulated contributions may not be less than it would have been if the provisions of the System in effect on June 30, 1974, had continued in effect until his date of retirement."
SECTION 20. Section 9-11-80 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 162 of 2010, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-11-80. (1) On the application of a member in service or the member's employer, a member who has five or more completed the years of earned service required for the member's class pursuant to Section 9-11-60(1) or any contributing member who is disabled as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of the member's duties regardless of length of membership, may be retired by the retirement board not less than thirty days and not more than nine months next following the date of filing the application on a disability retirement allowance if the system, after a medical examination of the member, certifies that the member is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, that the incapacity is likely to be permanent, and that the member should be retired. For purposes of this section, a member is considered to be in service on the date the application is filed if the member is not retired and the last day the member was employed by a covered employer in the system occurred not more than ninety days prior to before the date of filing.
The South Carolina Retirement System may contract with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to evaluate the medical evidence submitted with the disability application relative to the job being performed and make recommendations to the system. The system may approve a disability retirement subject to the member participating in vocational rehabilitation with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Upon determination by the department that a member retired on disability is able to reenter the job market and work is available, the retirement system may adjust the benefit paid by the system in accordance with Sections 9-1-1580, 9-1-1590, 9-9-60, and 9-11-90.
(2)(A) Upon disability retirement based upon an application received by the system before January 1, 2013, the member shall receive a disability retirement allowance which shall be equal to a service retirement allowance computed on the basis of his average final compensation, his years of credited service and his accumulated additional contributions at the date of his disability retirement; provided, however, that, at disability retirement, his disability retirement allowance shall be determined on the basis of the number of years of credited service the member would have completed had he remained in service until attaining age fifty-five and on the basis of the average final compensation. For the purpose of calculating the disability retirement allowance, the additional credited service so determined shall be either Class One service or Class Two service depending upon the classification of the member at time of retirement.
(B) Upon disability retirement based upon an application received by the system after December 31, 2012, the member shall receive a disability retirement allowance which is equal to a service retirement allowance computed on the basis of the member's average final compensation, the member's years of credited service, and the member's accumulated additional contributions at the date of the member's disability retirement. However, at disability retirement, the member's disability retirement allowance must be determined on the basis of the member's average final compensation at retirement and on the basis of the number of years of credited service the member would have completed had the member remained in service until attaining age fifty-five or until attaining twenty-five years of credited service, whichever is less. For the purpose of calculating the disability retirement allowance, the additional credited service so determined must be either Class One service or Class Two service depending upon the classification of the member at time of retirement.
(3)(A) Once each year during the first five years following the retirement of a member on a disability retirement allowance, and once in every three-year period thereafter, the Board may require any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of fifty-five years to undergo a medical examination, such examination to be made at the place of residence of the beneficiary or other place mutually agreed upon, by the system. Should any If a disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of fifty-five years refuse refuses to submit to any such medical examination, his the member's retirement allowance may be discontinued until his the member's withdrawal of such refusal, and should his if the refusal continue continues for one year, all his the member's rights in and to his the member's retirement allowance may be revoked, but upon revocation any unexpended portion of his the member's accumulated contributions to date of retirement shall be returned to him the member.
(B) To continue to receive a disability retirement allowance, a member who is retired on a disability retirement allowance based upon an application received by the system after December 31, 2012, and who has not yet attained the age of fifty-five years shall provide proof to the system that the member is qualified for the receipt of Social Security disability benefits. This proof must be submitted to the system within thirty days of the third anniversary of the member's disability retirement date and within thirty days of each anniversary thereafter. A member's disability retirement allowance ceases upon a determination by the Social Security Administration that the member is no longer entitled to Social Security disability benefits for any reason. If any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of fifty-five years refuses to provide proof of disability required by the board, his disability retirement allowance must be discontinued until the member provides such proof. If a member's refusal to provide proof that the member remains qualified for Social Security disability benefits continues for one year, all of the member's rights in and to the member's disability retirement allowance pursuant to this section may be revoked by the board.
(4) If the system certifies that the member's disability has been removed and that he the member has regained his earning capacity, his the member's disability retirement allowance may be discontinued, or if the disability has been partly removed and his the member's earning capacity regained in part, the disability retirement allowance may be reduced proportionately as provided pursuant to Section 9-1-1580. The determination of the board as to any disputed question, after due consideration accorded to the member, is conclusive. Should If the retirement allowance of any member retired for disability be is discontinued or reduced, and should he if the member again suffer suffers disability within five years of the date of his the member's recovery and again lose his loses earning capacity, he shall be the member is entitled to apply to the board for a restoration of his the original retirement allowance, and the board may restore all or part of his the member's original retirement allowance. At the expiration of the five-year period, if the retirement allowance has not been restored, all rights in and to the member's disability retirement allowance are revoked. The member then is entitled to a deferred early retirement allowance as provided in Section 9-11-70 based upon his the member's average final compensation and credited service at his the member's date of disability retirement.
(5) After age fifty-five, a disability retiree is subject to the same earnings limitation as a service retiree.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon retirement for disability after October 15, 1992, at any age, a member must receive a disability retirement allowance equal to at least fifteen percent of his average final compensation."
SECTION 21. A. Section 9-11-90(4)(a) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 356 of 2002, is further amended to read:
"(a)(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, a retired member of the system who has been retired for at least fifteen sixty consecutive calendar days may be hired and return to employment covered by this system or any system provided in this title and may earn up to ten thousand dollars without affecting the monthly retirement allowance he the member is receiving from this system. If the retired member continues in service after having earned ten thousand dollars in a calendar year, the member's retirement allowance must be discontinued during the member's period of service in the remainder of the calendar year. If the employment continues for at least forty-eight consecutive months, the provisions of Section 9-11-90(3) apply. If a retired member of the system returns to employment covered by the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System or any other system provided in this title sooner than fifteen sixty consecutive calendar days after retirement, the member's retirement allowance is suspended while the member remains employed by a participating employer of any of these systems. If an employer fails to notify the system of the engagement of a retired member to perform services, the employer shall reimburse the system for all benefits wrongly paid to the retired member.
(ii) The earnings limitation imposed pursuant to this item does not apply if the member meets at least one of the following qualifications:
(A) the member retired before January 1, 2013;
(B) the member has attained the age of fifty-seven years at retirement; or
(C) compensation received by the retired member from the covered employer is for service in a public office filled by the appointment of the Governor and with confirmation by the Senate, by appointment or election by the General Assembly, or by election of the qualified electors of the applicable jurisdiction."
B. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, this SECTION takes effect January 1, 2013.
SECTION 22. Subsections (1) and (12) of Section 9-11-210, as last amended by Act 14 of 2005, are further amended to read:
"(1) Each Class One member shall contribute to the system twenty-one dollars a month during his service after becoming a member. Before July 1, 2013, each Class Two member shall contribute to the system six seven and one-half percent of his compensation. After June 30, 2013, each Class Two member shall contribute to the system seven and one-half percent of his compensation.
(12) Payments for unused sick leave, single special payments at retirement, bonus and incentive-type payments, or any other payments not considered a part of the regular salary base are not compensation for which contributions are deductible. This item does not apply to bonus payments paid to certain categories of employees annually during their work careers. Bonus or special payments applied only during the 'Average Final Compensation' period are excluded as compensation. Not including Class Three members, contributions are deductible on up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave. If a member has received termination pay for unused annual leave on more than one occasion, contributions are deductible on up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave for each termination payment for unused annual leave received by the member. However, only an amount up to and including forty-five days' pay for unused annual leave from the member's last termination payment shall must be included in a member's average final compensation calculation for those members eligible to have that pay included in that member's average final compensation calculation."
SECTION 23. Section 9-11-220(1) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(1) Commencing as of July 1, 1974, each employer shall contribute to the System seven and one-half percent of the compensation of Class One members in its employ and ten percent of compensation of Class Two members in its employ. Such rates of contribution shall be subject to adjustment from time to time on the basis of the annual actuarial valuations of the system; however, after June 30, 2012, the employer contribution rate for Class Two members shall not be less than twelve and three-tenths percent of the earnable compensation of those members, until an accrued liability contribution is no longer required."
SECTION 24. A. Section 9-11-310 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
B. Upon approval of this act by the governor, this SECTION takes effect June 15, 2012.
SECTION 25. Article 3, Chapter 16, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 9-16-335. For all purposes of this title, the assumed annual rate of return on the investments of the retirement system must be established by the General Assembly pursuant to this section. Effective July 1, 2012, the assumed annual rate of return on retirement system investments is seven and one-half percent."
SECTION 26. A. Section 9-1-1135 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 311 of 2008, is amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1135. (A) Interest shall must be credited to the account of each member once each year as of June thirtieth, on the basis of the balance in the account of each member as of the previous June thirtieth. Upon the death, retirement, or termination of a member, interest shall must be figured to the end of the month immediately preceding the date of refund or retirement, interest being based on the balance in such the member's account as of the June thirtieth immediately preceding the date of refund or retirement.
(B) Notwithstanding subsection (A), interest must not be credited to an inactive member account. For purposes of this subsection, a member account becomes inactive on July first if no contributions were made to the account in the preceding twelve months."
B. Section 9-8-185 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 311 of 2008, is amended to read:
"Section 9-8-185. (A) Interest shall must be credited to the account of each member once each year as of June thirtieth, on the basis of the balance in the account of each member as of the previous June thirtieth. Upon the death, retirement, or termination of a member, interest shall must be figured to the end of the month immediately preceding the date of refund or retirement, interest being based on the balance in such the member's account as of the June thirtieth immediately preceding the date of refund or retirement.
(B) Notwithstanding subsection (A), interest must not be credited to an inactive member account. For purposes of this subsection, a member account becomes inactive on July first if no contributions were made to the account in the preceding twelve months."
C. Section 9-9-175 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 311 of 2008, is amended to read:
"Section 9-9-175. (A) Interest shall must be credited to the account of each member once each year as of June thirtieth, on the basis of the balance in the account of each member as of the previous June thirtieth. Upon the death, retirement, or termination of a member, interest shall must be figured to the end of the month immediately preceding the date of refund or retirement, interest being based on the balance in such the member's account as of the June thirtieth immediately preceding the date of refund or retirement.
(B) Notwithstanding subsection (A), interest must not be credited to an inactive member account. For purposes of this subsection, a member account becomes inactive on July first if no contributions were made to the account in the preceding twelve months."
D. Section 9-11-265 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 311 of 2008, is amended to read:
"Section 9-11-265. (A) Interest shall must be credited to the account of each member once each year as of June thirtieth, on the basis of the balance in the account of each member as of the previous June thirtieth. Upon the death, retirement, or termination of a member, interest shall must be figured to the end of the month immediately preceding the date of refund or retirement, interest being based on the balance in such the member's account as of the June thirtieth immediately preceding the date of refund or retirement.
(B) Notwithstanding subsection (A), interest must not be credited to an inactive member account. For purposes of this subsection, a member account becomes inactive on July first if no contributions were made to the account in the preceding twelve months."
SECTION 27. If any part, 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 part, section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other parts, sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.
SECTION 28. Except where otherwise stated, this act takes effect July 1, 2012. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. MERRILL explained the amendment.
Rep. BINGHAM spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. HOWARD moved to waive the time limit for debate pursuant to Rule 5.19, Subsection (a).
Rep. MURPHY demanded the yeas and nays which were taken, resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bowers Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Crosby Daning Dillard Funderburk Gilliard Govan Hayes Hodges Hosey Howard Huggins Johnson King Mack McEachern McLeod Munnerlyn J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Parks Rutherford Sabb Sellers J. E. Smith Southard Tallon Taylor Thayer Vick Weeks Williams
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allison Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Brannon Chumley Cole Corbin Delleney Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Gambrell Hamilton Harrell Harrison Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Horne Jefferson Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lucas McCoy Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy Norman Owens Parker Patrick Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Sandifer Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Spires Stringer Toole Tribble White Whitmire Willis Young
So, the time limit, under Rule 5.19, Subsection (a), was not waived.
Rep. SKELTON spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. OTT spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. COBB-HUNTER spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. BALES spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. MCLEOD spoke against the amendment.
The question then recurred to the adoption of Amendment 1A.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lowe Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Ryan Sabb Sandifer Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Weeks White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
Bowers Crosby Govan Howard McLeod J. M. Neal Sellers J. E. Smith Whipper
So, the amendment was adopted.
I was temporarily out of the Chamber, attending in the Senate Chambers during the vote on Amendment No. 1A to H. 4967. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Amendment.
Rep. Rick Quinn
Reps. OTT and COBB-HUNTER proposed the following Amendment No. 2A to H. 4967 (COUNCIL\GGS\22415HTC12), which was rejected:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered new Part to read:
Section 9-4-10. (A) Effective July 1, 2012, there is created the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority. The authority is comprised of the Insurance Reserve Fund, the employee insurance division and the retirement systems division. The governing body of the authority is a board of directors consisting of nine members. The functions of the authority must be performed, exercised, and discharged under the supervision and direction of the board. The board may organize its staff as it considers appropriate to carry out the various duties, responsibilities, and authorities assigned to it and to its various divisions. The board may delegate to one or more officers, agents, or employees the powers and duties it determines are necessary for the effective, efficient operation of the authority, including the hiring of an executive director of the authority. The executive director must be employed by the authority and compensation of the executive director may be fixed by the board in its judgment and as appropriated by the General Assembly.
(B) The board is composed of:
(1) three members appointed by the Governor;
(2) two members, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of whom is a representative member who is either an active or retired member of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System or a retired member of the South Carolina Retirement System, and one member from the State at large;
(3) one member appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee;
(4) two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a representative member who must be a state employee who is an active contributing member of the South Carolina Retirement System or an employee of a public school district in South Carolina who is an active member of the South Carolina Retirement System, and one member from the State at large;
(5) one member appointed by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
(C)(1) A nonrepresentative member may not be appointed to the board unless the person possesses at least one of the following qualifications:
(a) at least twelve years of professional experience in the financial management of pensions or insurance plans;
(b) at least twelve years academic experience and holds a bachelor's or higher degree from a college or university as classified by the Carnegie Foundation;
(c) at least twelve years of professional experience as a certified public accountant with financial management, pension, or insurance audit expertise;
(d) at least twelve years as a Certified Financial Planner credentialed by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards; or
(e) at least twelve years membership in the South Carolina Bar and extensive experience in one or more of the following areas of law:
(i) taxation;
(ii) insurance;
(iii) health care;
(iv) securities;
(v) corporate;
(vi) finance; or
(vii) the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
(2) In addition to the requirements of subsections (B)(2) and (4) of this section, a representative member may not be appointed to the board unless the person:
(a) possesses one of the qualifications set forth in item (1); or
(b) has at least twelve years of public employment experience and holds a bachelor's degree from a college or university as classified by the Carnegie Foundation.
(D) Representative members must be appointed from three nominations jointly made to the appointing official by membership organizations representative of the interests to be represented. The appointing official may request three additional nominations if the official elects not to appoint any of those nominated.
(E) Members of the board shall serve for terms of two years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Vacancies must be filled in the manner of original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term. Terms commence on July first of even numbered years. Upon a member's appointment, the appointing official shall certify to the Secretary of State that the appointee meets or exceeds the qualifications set forth in subsections (B) and (C). No person appointed may qualify unless he first certifies that he meets or exceeds the qualifications applicable for their appointment. A member may be removed before the expiration of his term by the applicable appointing official only for the reasons specified in Section 1-3-240(C).
(F) The members shall select a nonrepresentative member to serve as chairman and shall select those other officers they determine necessary. Subject to the qualifications for chairman provided in this section, members may set their own policy related to the rotation of the selection of a chairman of the board.
(G)(1) Each member must receive an annual salary of twelve thousand dollars. This compensation must be paid from approved accounts of general funds and retirement system funds based on the proportionate amount of time the board devotes to its various functions. Members may receive the mileage and subsistence authorized by law for members of state boards, commissions, and committees paid from approved accounts funded by general funds and retirement system funds in the proportion that compensation is paid.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, membership on the board does not make a member eligible to participate in a retirement system administered pursuant to this title and does not make a member eligible to participate in the employee insurance program administered pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 11, Title 1. Any compensation paid on account of the member's service on the board is not considered earnable compensation for purposes of any state retirement system.
(H) Minimally, the board shall meet monthly. If the chairman considers it more effective, the board may meet by teleconferencing or video conferencing. However, if the agenda of the meeting consists of items that are not exempt from disclosure or the meeting may not be closed to the public pursuant to Chapter 4, Title 30, the provisions of Chapter 4, Title 30 apply, and the meeting must be open to the public.
(I) Effective July 1, 2012, the following offices, divisions, or components of the State Budget and Control Board are transferred to, and incorporated into, an administrative agency of state government to be known as the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority:
(1) Employee Insurance Program;
(2) Retirement Division; and
(3) Insurance Reserve Fund.
Section 9-4-15. The South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority shall operate the Insurance Reserve Fund and may establish it as a division or other appropriate subdivision of the authority.
Section 9-4-20. (A) The South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority shall operate an employee insurance program division to administer insurance programs pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 11, Title 1.
(B) The board of directors of the authority shall appoint a State Health Plan Advisory Committee (committee) to review and make recommendations to the board on proposed changes to the State Health Plan. Representation on the committee must be equal among health care professionals, the insurance industry, and consumers. The board, by resolution, shall establish the committee, provide for its membership, and provide for its operations. Members shall serve without compensation, but may receive the mileage, subsistence, and per diem allowed by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions to be paid from approved accounts of the authority.
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or policy to the contrary, the board shall allow the governing body of a participating political subdivision to allow a judicial appointee to participate in the program.
Section 9-4-30. (A)(1) The South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority shall operate a retirement division to administer the various retirement systems and retirement programs pursuant to Title 9 and, effective after December 31, 2013, to administer the deferred compensation program pursuant to Chapter 23, Title 8.
(2) Expenses incurred by the retirement division in administering, after December 31, 2013, the deferred compensation plans must be reimbursed to the retirement division from funds generated by the deferred compensation plans available to pay for administrative expenses.
(B) The South Carolina Public Employee Benefits Authority shall provide copies of annual actuarial valuations of all retirement systems requiring such annual valuations to the General Assembly by the second Tuesday in January of every year.
Section 9-4-40. Each year in the general appropriations act, the General Assembly shall appropriate sufficient funds to the Office of the State Inspector General to employ a private audit firm to perform a fiduciary audit on the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority. The audit firm must be selected by the State Inspector General. The report from the previous fiscal year must be completed by January fifteenth. Upon completion, the report must be submitted to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Section 9-4-50. (A) The South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority shall maintain a transaction register that includes a complete record of all funds expended, from whatever source for whatever purpose. The register must be prominently posted on the authority's Internet website and made available for public viewing and downloading.
(1)(a) The register must include for each expenditure:
(i) the transaction amount;
(ii) the name of the payee;
(iii) the identification number of the transaction; and
(iv) a description of the expenditure, including the source of funds, a category title, and an object title for the expenditure.
(b) The register must include all reimbursements for expenses, but must not include an entry for:
(i) salary, wages, or other compensation paid to individual employees; and
(ii) retirement benefits, deferred compensation plan distributions, insurance reimbursements, or other payments paid to individual employees, members, or participants, as applicable, pursuant to programs administered by the board.
(c) The register must not include a social security number.
(d) The register must be accompanied by a complete explanation of any codes or acronyms used to identify a payee or an expenditure.
(e) The register may exclude any information that can be used to identify an individual employee or student.
(f) This section does not require the posting of any information that is not required to be disclosed under Chapter 4, Title 30.
(2) The register must be searchable and updated at least once a month. Each monthly register must be maintained on the Internet website for at least three years.
(B) Any information that is expressly prohibited from public disclosure by federal or state law or regulation must be redacted from any posting required by this section.
(C) If the authority has a question or issue relating to technical aspects of complying with the requirements of this section or the disclosure of public information under this section, it shall consult with the Office of the Comptroller General, which may provide guidance to the authority."
B. This SECTION takes effect July 1, 2012.
SECTION __. Section 1-11-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 1-11-140. (A) The State Budget and Control Board Public Employee Benefits Authority, through the Office of Insurance Services Insurance Reserve Fund, is authorized to provide insurance for the State, its departments, agencies, institutions, commissions, boards, and the personnel employed by the State in its departments, agencies, institutions, commissions, and boards so as to protect the State against tort liability and to protect these personnel against tort liability arising in the course of their employment. The insurance also may be provided for physicians or dentists employed by the State, its departments, agencies, institutions, commissions, or boards against any tort liability arising out of the rendering of any professional services as a physician or dentist for which no fee is charged or professional services rendered of any type whatsoever so long as any fees received are directly payable to the employer of a covered physician or dentist, or to any practice plan authorized by the employer whether or not the practice plan is incorporated and registered with the Secretary of State; provided, any insurance coverage provided by the Budget and Control Board authority may be on the basis of claims made or upon occurrences. The insurance also may be provided for students of high schools, South Carolina Technical Schools, or state-supported colleges and universities while these students are engaged in work study, distributive education, or apprentice programs on the premises of private companies. Premiums for the insurance must be paid from appropriations to or funds collected by the various entities, except that in the case of the above-referenced students in which case the premiums must be paid from fees paid by students participating in these training programs. The board authority has the exclusive control over the investigation, settlement, and defense of claims against the various entities and personnel for whom it provided insurance coverage and may promulgate regulations in connection therewith.
(B)(1) Beginning on January 1, 2013, and biennially thereafter, the Insurance Reserve Fund must request applications, in a manner and form prescribed by the fund, from private attorneys and law firms to determine from the applicants those that will be authorized to defend litigation covered by fund policies. The fund shall authorize attorneys and law firms to defend litigation covered by fund policies based upon such factors as it determines relevant, including those necessary to maintain the appropriate level of qualification, experience, and expertise given geographical needs, case load, efficiencies, and other business requirements.
(2) Before submitting a request for applicants, the fund must submit the list of factors for authorizing attorneys and law firms to defend litigation covered by fund policies to the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and receive comments and recommendations offered by the committees.
(B)(C) Any political subdivision of the State including, without limitations, municipalities, counties, and school districts, may procure the insurance for itself and for its employees in the same manner provided for the procurement of this insurance for the State, its entities, and its employees, or in a manner provided by Section 15-78-140.
(C)(D) The procurement of tort liability insurance in the manner provided is the exclusive means for the procurement of this insurance.
(D)(E) The State Budget and Control Board authority, through the Office of Insurance Services Insurance Reserve Fund, also is authorized to offer insurance to governmental hospitals and any subsidiary of or other entity affiliated with the hospital currently existing or as may be established; and chartered, nonprofit, eleemosynary hospitals and any subsidiary of or other entity affiliated with the hospital currently existing or as may be established in this State so as to protect these hospitals against tort liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the procurement of tort liability insurance by a hospital and any subsidiary of or other entity affiliated with the hospital currently existing or as may be established supported wholly or partially by public funds contributed by the State or any of its political subdivisions in the manner herein provided is not the exclusive means by which the hospital may procure tort liability insurance.
(E)(F) The State Budget and Control Board authority, through the Office of Insurance Services Insurance Reserve Fund, is authorized to provide insurance for duly appointed members of the boards and employees of health system agencies, and for members of the State Health Coordinating Council which are created pursuant to Public Law 93-641.
(F)(G) The board authority, through the Office of Insurance Services Insurance Reserve Fund, is further authorized to provide insurance as prescribed in Sections 10-7-10 through 10-7-40, 59-67-710, and 59-67-790.
(G)(H) Documentary or other material prepared by or for the Office of Insurance Services Insurance Reserve Fund in providing any insurance coverage authorized by this section or any other provision of law which is contained in any claim file is subject to disclosure to the extent required by the Freedom of Information Act only after the claim is settled or finally concluded by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(H)(I) The board authority, through the Office of Insurance Services Insurance Reserve Fund, is further authorized to provide insurance for state constables, including volunteer state constables, to protect these personnel against tort liability arising in the course of their employment, whether or not for compensation, while serving in a law enforcement capacity."
SECTION __. Section 1-11-703(9) and (10) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 195 of 2008, is amended to read:
"(9) 'Board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority.
(10) 'Employee insurance program' or 'EIP' means the office of the board South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority designated by the board to operate insurance programs pursuant to this article."
SECTION __. Section 1-11-710(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 195 of 2008, before the first item, is further amended to read:
"(A) The State Budget and Control Board board shall:"
SECTION __. Section 1-11-720(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B) To be eligible to participate in the state health and dental insurance plans, the entities listed in subsection (A) shall comply with the requirements established by the State Budget and Control Board board, and the benefits provided must be the same benefits provided to state and school district employees. These entities must agree to participate for a minimum of four years and the board may adjust the premiums during the coverage period based on experience. An entity which withdraws from participation may not subsequently rejoin during the first four years after the withdrawal date."
SECTION __. Section 1-11-725 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 353 of 2008, is amended to read:
"Section 1-11-725. The State Budget and Control Board's board's experience rating of all local disabilities and special needs providers pursuant to Section 1-11-720(A)(3) must be rated as a single group when rating all optional groups participating in the state employee health insurance program."
SECTION __. Section 1-11-730(A)(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 195 of 2008, is amended to read:
"(2) A member of the General Assembly who leaves office or retires with at least eight years' credited service in the General Assembly Retirement System is eligible to participate in the state health and dental plans by paying the full premium as determined by the State Budget and Control Board board."
SECTION __. Sections 1-11-740 and 1-11-750 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:
"Section 1-11-740. The Division of Insurance Services of the State Budget and Control Board board may develop an optional long-term care insurance program for active and retired members of the various state retirement systems depending on the availability of a qualified vendor. A program must require members to pay the full insurance premium.
Section 1-11-750. The Budget and Control Board board shall devise a method of withholding long-term care insurance premiums offered under Section 1-11-740 for retirees if sufficient enrollment is obtained to make the deductions feasible."
SECTION __. Section 1-11-770(A) of the 1976 Code, before the first item, is amended to read:
"(A) Subject to appropriations, the General Assembly authorizes the State Budget and Control Board board to plan, develop, and implement a statewide South Carolina 211 Network, which must serve as the single point of coordination for information and referral for health and human services. The objectives for establishing the South Carolina 211 Network are to:"
SECTION __. A. Sections 8-23-20 and 8-23-30 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 305 of 2008, are further amended to read:
"Section 8-23-20. A Deferred Compensation Commission is established consisting of eight members including the director of the South Carolina Retirement System, chief investment officer of the State Retirement System Investment Commission, and the executive director of the State Employees' Association, each of whom serve ex officio, and five other public employees to be appointed by the State Budget and Control Board, at least two of whom must be state employees and one must be a retired public employee. The appointed members shall serve for terms of three years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. The State Budget and Control Board shall designate the chairman.
The commission Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority shall establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to implement and administer the Deferred Compensation Program. The commission board shall make such administrative appointments and contracts as are necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of this chapter and in the administration of account assets. For purposes of administering this program, an individual account shall be maintained in the name of each employee.
The commission board shall select, through competitive bidding and contracts, plans for purchase of fixed and variable annuities, savings, mutual funds, insurance and such other investments as the commission board may approve which are not in conflict with the State Constitution and with the advice and approval of the State Treasurer.
Costs of administration may be paid from the interest earnings of the funds accrued as a result of deposits or as an assessment against each account.
Section 8-23-30. The State or any political subdivision of the State, by contract, may agree with an employee to defer, a portion of his compensation in an amount as provided for in a plan approved by the commission Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority and subsequently with the consent of the employee may contract for purchase or otherwise procure fixed or variable annuities, savings, mutual funds, insurance, or such other investments as the commission board may approve for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of the program with the advice and approval of the State Treasurer. The investments shall be underwritten and offered in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations by persons who are authorized by the commission board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter."
B. Section 8-23-70 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 8-23-70. The Deferred Compensation Program established pursuant to this chapter shall be in addition to retirement, pension, or benefit systems established by the State, federal government, or political subdivision and no deferral of income under the Deferred Compensation Program shall affect a reduction of any retirement, pension, social security, or other benefit provided by law. Any sum deferred under the Deferred Compensation Program shall not be subject to taxation until distribution is actually made to the employee.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit counties, municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions of the State and their employees from participation in deferred compensation plans or programs offered independently of the State Deferred Compensation Commission Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority by building and loan or savings and loan associations, banks, trust companies, and credit unions chartered by the state or federal governments, and all such political subdivisions shall be empowered with such contractual authority as may be necessary or incident to such participation; provided, however, that (a) such deferred compensation plans or programs shall comply with applicable federal income tax law in providing income deferral, (b) all deferred amounts shall be held in accounts, certificates of deposit, or other forms of savings vehicles which are insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation in the case of savings and loan associations, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the case of commercial banks, and the National Credit Union Administration in the case of credit unions."
C. Section 8-23-110 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 387 of 2000, is amended to read:
"Section 8-23-110. (A) The commission Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority shall ensure that plan documents governing deferred compensation plans administered by the commission board permit employer contributions to the extent allowed under the Internal Revenue Code.
(B) Political subdivisions of the State, including school districts, participating in deferred compensation plans administered by the commission board or such plans offered by other providers may make matching or other contributions on behalf of their participating employees.
(C) As an additional benefit for state employees, and to the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the State shall make matching or other contributions on behalf of state employees participating in the deferred compensation plans offered by the commission board or such plans offered by other providers in an amount and under the terms and conditions prescribed for such contributions by the State Budget and Control Board board."
D. The amendments to Sections 8-23-20, 8-23-30, 8-23-70, and 8-23-110 of the 1976 Code contained in this SECTION take effect January 1, 2014.
SECTION __. Section 9-1-10(6) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"(6) 'Board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority which shall act under the provisions of this chapter through its Division of Retirement Systems."
SECTION __. Section 9-1-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 9-1-20. A retirement system is hereby established and placed under the management of the State Budget and Control Board board for the purpose of providing retirement allowances and other benefits for teachers and employees of the State and political subdivisions or agencies or departments thereof. The system so created shall have the power and privileges of a corporation and shall be known as the 'South Carolina Retirement System', and by such name all of its business shall be transacted, all of its funds invested and all of its cash, securities, and other property held."
SECTION __. Section 9-1-210 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 9-1-210. The general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the system and for making effective the provisions hereof are hereby vested in the State Budget and Control Board board."
SECTION __. Section 9-1-310 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 155 of 2005, is further amended to read:
"Section 9-1-310. The administrative cost of the South Carolina Retirement System, the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System, the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, the Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors of the State of South Carolina, and the National Guard Retirement System must be funded from the interest earnings of the above systems. The allocation of the administrative costs of the systems must be made by the State Budget and Control Board board and must be based upon a proration of the cost in proportion to the assets that each system bears to the total assets of all of the systems for the most recently completed fiscal year."
SECTION __. Section 9-1-1515(D)(2) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(2) A member taking early retirement may maintain coverage under the State Insurance Benefits Plan until the date his coverage is reinstated pursuant to item (1) of this subsection by paying the total premium cost, including the employer's contribution, in the manner provided by the Division of Insurance Services of the State Budget and Control Board board."
SECTION __. Section 9-1-1830 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 9-1-1830. Starting July 1, 1981, there must be paid to the system, and credited to the post-retirement increase special fund, contributions by the employers in an amount equal to two-tenths of one percent of the earnable compensation of each member employed by each employer. In addition, the State Budget and Control Board shall board, on the recommendation of the actuary, shall transfer a portion of the monies as are received pursuant to Section 9-1-1050 that are available due to actuarial gains in the system if the transfers do not adversely affect the funding status of the system. Starting July 1, 1986, all contributions previously credited to the post-retirement increase special fund must be diverted and credited to the employer annuity accumulation fund."
SECTION __. Chapter 2, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
Section 9-2-10. There is hereby created the South Carolina Retirement and Preretirement Advisory Board Panel for the purpose of advising the Director of the South Carolina Retirement System and the Director of the State Personnel Division on matters relating to retirement and preretirement programs and policies.
Section 9-2-20.(a) The board panel shall consist of eight members appointed by the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority and must be constituted as follows:
(1) one member representing municipal employees;
(2) one member representing county employees;
(3) three members representing state employees, one of whom must be retired and one of whom must be an active or retired law enforcement officer who is contributing to or receiving benefits from the Police Officers Retirement System. If this law enforcement member is retired, the other two members representing state employees do not have to be retired;
(4) two members representing public school teachers, one of whom must be retired;
(5) one member representing the higher education teachers. The Budget and Control Board board of directors shall invite the appropriate associations, groups, and individuals to recommend persons to serve on the board panel.
(b) The terms of the members shall be for four years and until their successors have been appointed and qualify. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms. After serving two consecutive terms a member shall be eligible to serve again, four years after the expiration of his second term. Provided that of those first appointed, four of the members shall serve for a term of two years. In the event of a vacancy, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment to serve the unexpired term.
(c) A chairman, vice chairman, and secretary shall be elected from among the membership to serve for terms of two years.
Section 9-2-30. The board panel shall meet once a year with the Director of the South Carolina Retirement System; once a year with the State Personnel Director; and once a year with the State Budget and Control Board Executive Director of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority. The chairman may call additional meetings of the board panel at such other times as deemed considered necessary and shall give timely notice of such meetings.
Section 9-2-40. The board panel shall review retirement and preretirement programs and policies, propose recommendations, and identify major issues for consideration.
Section 9-2-50. The board panel is authorized to seek reasonable staff assistance from the South Carolina Retirement System, the State Personnel Division, and other state agencies which may be concerned with a particular area of study. The board panel is also encouraged to use such resources as faculty and students at public universities, colleges, and technical education schools in South Carolina."
SECTION __. Section 9-8-10(3) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(3) 'Board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority."
SECTION __. Section 9-8-30(1) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(1) The administration and responsibility for the operation of the system and for making effective the provisions of this chapter are vested in the State Budget and Control Board board."
SECTION __. The last undesignated paragraph of Section 9-8-60(1) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 164 of 1993, is amended to read:
"A person receiving retirement allowances under this system who is elected to the General Assembly continues to receive the retirement allowances while serving in the General Assembly, and must also must be a member of the General Assembly Retirement System retirement system unless the person files a statement with the State Budget and Control Board board on a form prescribed by the board electing not to participate in the General Assembly Retirement System the applicable system while a member of the General Assembly. A person making this election shall not make contributions to the General Assembly Retirement System applicable retirement system nor shall the State make contributions on the member's behalf and the person is not entitled to benefits from the General Assembly Retirement System applicable retirement system after ceasing to be a member of the General Assembly."
SECTION __. Section 9-9-10(3) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(3) 'Board' shall mean means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority."
SECTION __. Section 9-9-30(1) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(1) The general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the system and for making effective the provisions hereof are hereby vested in the State Budget and Control Board board."
SECTION __. Section 9-10-10(1) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 155 of 2005, is amended to read:
"(1) 'Board' or 'board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority, acting pursuant to the provisions of this chapter through its Division of Retirement Systems."
SECTION __. Section 9-10-60(D) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 155 of 2005, is amended to read:
"(D) The General Assembly annually shall appropriate sums sufficient to establish and maintain the National Guard Retirement System on a sound actuarial basis as determined by the State Budget and Control Board board."
SECTION __. Section 9-11-10(9) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(9) 'Board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority acting through its Division of Retirement Systems."
SECTION __. Section 9-11-30(1) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(1) The general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the system and for making effective the provisions hereof are hereby vested in the State Budget and Control Board board."
SECTION __. Section 9-12-10(1) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 311 of 2008, is amended to read:
"(1) 'Board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority acting as trustee of the retirement systems and acting through its Division of Retirement Systems."
SECTION __. Items (3) and (9) of Section 9-16-10 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 371 of 1998, are amended to read:
"(3) 'Board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority acting as trustee of the retirement system.
(9) 'Trustee' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority."
SECTION __. Section 9-16-55(F) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 248 of 2008, is amended to read:
"(F) Present, future, and former board members, officers, and employees of the State Budget and Control Board, present, future, and former directors, officers, and employees of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority, the Retirement System Investment Commission, and contract investment managers retained by the commission must be indemnified from the general fund of the State and held harmless by the State from all claims, demands, suits, actions, damages, judgments, costs, charges, and expenses, including court costs and attorney's fees, and against all liability, losses, and damages of any nature whatsoever that these present, future, or former board members, officers, employees, or contract investment managers shall or may at any time sustain by reason of any decision to restrict, reduce, or eliminate investments pursuant to this section."
SECTION __. Section 9-18-10(3) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 38 of 1995, is amended to read:
"(3) 'Board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority."
SECTION __. Section 9-20-30 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 54 of 2001, is further amended to read:
Section 9-20-30. The South Carolina Retirement System shall provide for the administration of the State Optional Retirement Program under this chapter. The Director acting on behalf of the South Carolina Retirement System acting on behalf of the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority shall designate no fewer than four companies to provide annuity contracts, mutual fund accounts, or similar investment products offered through state or national banking institutions, or a combination of them, under the program. In making the designation, selection criteria must include:
(1) the nature and extent of the rights and benefits to be provided by the contracts or accounts, or both, of participants and their beneficiaries;
(2) the relation of the rights and benefits to the amount of contributions to be made;
(3) the suitability of these rights and benefits to the needs of the participants;
(4) the ability and experience of the designated companies in providing suitable rights and benefits under the contracts or accounts, or both;
(5) the ability and experience of the designated companies to provide suitable education and investment options.
Companies participating in the optional retirement program for publicly supported four-year and postgraduate institutions of higher education as of July 1, 2002, or the optional retirement program for teachers and school administrators as of July 1, 2001, may continue to participate in this program and this participation is governed by their existing contracts.
SECTION __. Section 9-21-20(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 12 of 2003, is amended to read:
"(2) 'Board' means the State Budget and Control Board Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority."
SECTION __. Section 15-78-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 15-78-140. (a) (Reserved)
(b) The political subdivisions of this State, in regard to tort and automobile liability, property and casualty insurance shall procure insurance to cover these risks for which immunity has been waived by (1) the purchase of liability insurance pursuant to Section 1-11-140; or (2) the purchase of liability insurance from a private carrier; or (3) self-insurance; or (4) establishing pooled self-insurance liability funds, by intergovernmental agreement, which may not be construed as transacting the business of insurance or otherwise subject to state laws regulating insurance. A pooled self-insurance liability pool is authorized to purchase specific and aggregate excess insurance. A pooled self-insurance liability fund must provide liability coverage for all employees of a political subdivision applying for participation in the fund. If the insurance is obtained other than pursuant to Section 1-11-140, it must be obtained subject to the following conditions:
(1) If the political subdivision does not procure tort liability insurance pursuant to Section 1-11-140, it must also procure its automobile liability and property and casualty insurance from other sources and shall not procure these coverages through the Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund;
(2) If a political subdivision procures its tort liability insurance, automobile liability insurance, or property and casualty insurance through the Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund, all liability exposures of the political subdivision as well as its property and casualty insurance must be insured with the Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund;
(3) If the political subdivision, at any time, procures its tort liability, automobile liability, property, or casualty insurance other than through the Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund and then subsequently desires to obtain this coverage with the Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund, notice of its intention to so obtain this subsequent coverage must be provided the Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund at least ninety days prior to before the beginning of the coverage with the State Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund. The other lines of insurance that the political subdivision is required to procure from the board fund are not required to commence until the coverage for that line of insurance expires. Any political subdivision may cancel all lines of insurance with the State Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund if it gives ninety days' notice to the board fund. The Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund may negotiate the insurance coverage for any political subdivision separate from the insurance coverage for other insureds.
(4) If any political subdivision cancels its insurance with the Budget and Control Board Insurance Reserve Fund, it is entitled to an appropriate refund of the premium, less reasonable administrative cost.
(c) For any claim filed under this chapter, the remedy provided in Section 15-78-120 is exclusive. The immunity of the State and its political subdivisions, with regard to the seizure, execution, or encumbrance of their properties is reaffirmed."
SECTION __. Section 59-1-470 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-1-470. Funds appropriated by the General Assembly for a deferred compensation employer matching contribution must be distributed by the State Department of Education to school districts for the purpose of providing an employer matching contribution for eligible school district employees making contributions to deferred compensation plans offered by the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Commission or, after December 31, 2013, the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority, or other approved and qualified plans of other providers. These funds must be distributed in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 8-23-110. The employer matching contribution by the school district may not exceed three hundred dollars for each eligible employee a year. Individuals eligible for the matching contribution must be classified as required in Section 9-20-20, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators."
SECTION __. This subpart takes effect July 1, 2012.
SECTION __. (A) Where the provisions of this act transfer portions of the Budget and Control Board to the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority, the employees, authorized appropriations, and assets and liabilities of the transferred portions of the Budget and Control Board are also transferred to and become part of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority. All classified or unclassified personnel employed by the transferred portions of the Budget and Control Board either by contract or by employment at will, shall become on July 1, 2012, employees of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority, with the same compensation, classification, and grade level, as applicable. Before its abolition, the Budget and Control Board shall cause all necessary actions to be taken to accomplish this transfer in accordance with state laws and regulations. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9-4-10(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by this act, on the effective date of this SECTION, the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee jointly shall appoint the initial and any necessary succeeding Executive Director of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority to serve through December 31, 2013, after which the position must be filled by the appointment of the authority board. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9-4-10(F) of the 1976 Code, as added by this act, the Governor shall name a member of the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority to serve as chairman of that board through December 31, 2013.
(B) Regulations promulgated by the transferred portions of the Budget and Control Board are continued and are considered to be promulgated by the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority. Contracts entered into by the Budget and Control Board and the Deferred Compensation Commission are continued and are considered to be devolved upon the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority at the time of the transfer.
(C) The Code Commissioner is directed to change or correct all references to the State Budget and Control Board, the Insurance Reserve Fund, the Employee Insurance Program, the Retirement Division, and the Deferred Compensation Commission to reflect the transfer to the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority. References to the State Budget and Control Board, the Insurance Reserve Fund, the Employee Insurance Program, the Retirement Division, and the Deferred Compensation Commission in the 1976 Code or other provisions of law are considered to be and must be construed to mean appropriate references.
SECTION __. Except where otherwise provided, this Part takes effect July 1, 2012. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. OTT explained the amendment.
Rep. WHITE moved to table the amendment.
Rep. COBB-HUNTER demanded the yeas and nays which were taken, resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allison Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Chumley Clemmons Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Edge Erickson Forrester Gambrell Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hearn Henderson Hiott Hixon Horne Limehouse Loftis Long Lowe Lucas Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy Norman Owens Parker Patrick Pope Putnam Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith Sottile Stringer Thayer Tribble White Whitmire Willis
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allen Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bowers Brady Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Dillard Frye Funderburk Gilliard Govan Hayes Herbkersman Hodges Hosey Howard Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Munnerlyn J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Parks Pinson Quinn Ryan Sabb Sandifer Sellers J. E. Smith Southard Spires Stavrinakis Tallon Taylor Toole Vick Weeks Whipper Williams Young
So, the House refused to table the amendment.
Rep. MERRILL spoke against the amendment.
Rep. OTT spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. MERRILL spoke against the amendment.
The question then recurred to the adoption of the amendment.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bowers Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Dillard Frye Funderburk Gilliard Govan Hayes Hodges Hosey Howard Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Mack McEachern McLeod Munnerlyn J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Parks Pinson Quinn Rutherford Sabb Sandifer Sellers J. E. Smith Southard Spires Stavrinakis Taylor Vick Weeks Whipper Williams
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allison Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Chumley Clemmons Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Edge Erickson Forrester Gambrell Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Horne Limehouse Loftis Long Lowe Lucas McCoy Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy Norman Owens Parker Patrick Pitts Pope Putnam Ryan Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Stringer Tallon Thayer Toole Tribble White Whitmire Willis Young
So, the amendment was rejected.
Rep. HAYES proposed the following Amendment No. 3A to H. 4967 (COUNCIL\BBM\10712HTC12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, in Part IV, by adding a new SECTION at the end appropriately numbered to read:
/ SECTION __. A. Section 9-1-1660 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended by adding two new subsections at the end to read:
"(C) Regardless of whether a member is in service, if a member dies before retirement and, at the time of the member's death, was eligible to receive a service retirement allowance pursuant to Section 9-1-1510 or Section 9-1-1515, the person nominated by a member to receive the full amount of the member's accumulated contributions if the member dies before retirement may elect to receive, in lieu of the accumulated contributions, an allowance for life in the same amount as if the deceased member had retired at the time of the member's death and had named the person as beneficiary under an election of Option B of Section 9-1-1620(A).
(D) If a member has designated more than one beneficiary for the receipt of the member's accumulated contributions if the member dies before retirement, and if those beneficiaries become eligible to elect an allowance pursuant to this Section upon the member's death, all of the beneficiaries must elect the allowance in order for the allowance to become payable in lieu of the return of accumulated contributions."
B. Section 9-11-130 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended by adding two new subsections at the end to read:
"(3) Regardless of whether a member is in service, if a member dies before retirement and, at the time of the member's death, was eligible to receive a service retirement allowance pursuant to Section 9-11-60 or Section 9-11-70, the person nominated by a member pursuant to Section 9-11-110 to receive a lump sum amount if the member dies before retirement may elect to receive, in lieu of the lump sum amount otherwise payable, an allowance for life in the same amount as if the deceased member had retired at the time of the member's death and had named the person as beneficiary under an election of Option B under Section 9-11-150(A).
(4) If a member has designated more than one beneficiary pursuant to Section 9-11-110 to receive a lump sum amount if the member dies before retirement, and if those beneficiaries become eligible to elect an allowance pursuant to this Section upon the member's death, all of the beneficiaries must elect the allowance in order for the allowance to become payable in lieu of the lump sum amount otherwise payable." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. HAYES explained the amendment.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield 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 Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lowe Lucas Mack McCoy McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pinson Pope Putnam Quinn Rutherford Ryan Sabb Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
The amendment was then adopted.
The Senate Amendments were amended, and the Bill was ordered returned to the Senate.
The following Bill was taken up:
S. 1088 (Word version) -- Senators McConnell, Ford and Knotts: A BILL TO AMEND STATUTES CREATING CERTAIN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHOSE MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED OR ELECTED BY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WHICH ARE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE RULE 19, RELATING TO THE STATE HUMAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION, THE STATE COMMISSION ON MINORITY AFFAIRS, THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY, THE DIVISION FOR THE REVIEW OF THE FOSTER CARE OF CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THE BOARD OF JUVENILE PAROLE, NAMELY, SECTION 1-13-40, SECTION 1-31-10, SECTION 8-13-310, SECTION 58-3-20, SECTION 58-31-20, SECTION 63-11-700, SECTION 63-11-920, AND SECTION 63-19-610 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADDITIONAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ASSIGNED TO SOUTH CAROLINA PURSUANT TO THE 2010 CENSUS.
Rep. HAMILTON proposed the following Amendment No. 5 to S. 1088 (COUNCIL\BBM\10696HTC12), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking the unnumbered SECTION amending Section 40-57-40(A) and inserting:
/ SECTION __. Section 40-57-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 40-57-40. (A) The South Carolina Real Estate Commission consists of nine eleven members elected or appointed as follows:
(1) Six Seven members who are professionally engaged in the active practice of real estate, one elected from each of the six seven congressional districts by a majority of house members and senators, representing the house and senate districts located within each of the congressional districts the members of the General Assembly in joint assembly.
(2) Two members representing the public who are not professionally engaged in the practice of real estate, each appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(3) The eight nine elected and appointed members shall elect from the State at large, one from the State at large two additional member members who must be in the active practice of real estate.
(B) Commission members serve a term of four years and until their successors are elected or appointed and qualify. A vacancy on the commission must be filled in the manner of the original election or appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(C)(1)(a) A candidate for election to the commission must first be:
(i) screened by a Real Estate Commission Review Committee comprised of three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House and three members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore; and
(ii) found qualified by the review committee by meeting the minimum requirements in item (2).
(b) The review committee must submit a written report to the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House setting forth its findings about the qualifications of each candidate.
(c) A candidate cannot serve on the commission, even in an interim capacity, until he is screened and found qualified by the Real Estate Commission Review Committee.
(2) An elected member must be an active South Carolina real estate broker who possesses abilities and experience generally found among real estate professionals practicing in this State and that allow him to make valuable contributions to the conduct of the business of the commission. These abilities include, but are not limited to:
(a) substantial business skills and experience;
(b) general knowledge of the history, purpose, and operations of the commission and the responsibilities of being a commissioner;
(c) general knowledge of real estate transaction documents, ethical standards, and other pertinent information needed to further the activities and affairs of the commission;
(d) with the assistance of counsel, the ability to understand and apply federal and state laws, rules, and regulations including, but not limited to, Chapter 57, Title 40 as they relate to the activities and affairs of the commission;
(e) with the assistance of counsel, the ability to understand and apply judicial decisions as they relate to the activities and affairs of the commission; and
(f) substantial business skills and experience.
(CD) After screening but before entering upon the discharge of the duties of the office, a member's the election or appointment of a member must be certified by, and the member shall take and file with, the Secretary of State, in writing, an a written oath to perform the duties of the office as a member of the commission and to uphold the Constitutions of this State and the United States.
(DE) A member's The term of a member commences on the date on which his election or appointment is certified by the Secretary of State.
(EF) A member may be removed from office in accordance with pursuant to Section 1-3-240." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. HAMILTON spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. SELLERS moved to table the amendment.
Rep. BEDINGFIELD demanded the yeas and nays which were taken, resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Barfield Battle Bingham Bowen Brady Branham Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Crosby Daning Dillard Erickson Gambrell Gilliard Harrison Hayes Hiott Hodges Hosey Howard Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Long Mack McEachern McLeod V. S. Moss Munnerlyn J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Owens Parker Parks Quinn Sabb Sandifer Sellers Skelton Sottile Thayer Toole Vick Weeks Whipper White Williams
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allison Bannister Bedingfield Bowers Brannon Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Corbin Delleney Edge Forrester Frye Funderburk Hamilton Hardwick Henderson Herbkersman Hixon Horne Loftis Lowe Lucas D. C. Moss Murphy Norman Patrick Pinson Pitts Pope Putnam Ryan Simrill G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Tribble Whitmire Willis Young
So, the amendment was tabled.
Rep. SANDIFER proposed the following Amendment No. 6 to S. 1088 (COUNCIL\AGM\19325AB12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:
/ SECTION ___. Section 41-43-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 41-13-30. There is created the South Carolina Jobs - Economic Development Authority, a public body corporate and politic and an agency of the State, with the responsibility of effecting the public purposes of this act. The authority is governed by a Board of Directors (board) which consists of nine ten members." /
Amend the bill further, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:
/ SECTION ___. Section 48-39-45(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 285 of 2010, is amended to read:
"(A)(1) On July 1, 2010, there There is created the Coastal Zone Management Advisory Council that consists of fourteen fifteen members, which shall act as an advisory council to the department's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management.
(2) The members of the council must be constituted as follows:
(a) eight members, one from each coastal zone county, to be elected by a majority vote of the members of the House of Representatives and a majority vote of the Senate members representing the county from three nominees submitted by the governing body of each coastal zone county, each House or Senate member to have one vote; and
(b) six seven members, one from each of the congressional districts of the State, to be elected by a majority vote of the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate representing the counties in that district, each House or Senate member to have one vote.
(3) The council shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, and other officers it considers necessary." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. SANDIFER explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Rep. PITTS proposed the following Amendment No. 8 to S. 1088 (COUNCIL\GGS\22408ZW12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking the unnumbered SECTION amending Section 48-59-40(A) and inserting:
/ SECTION ___. Section 48-59-40(a) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A) There is established the South Carolina Conservation Bank. The bank is governed by a twelvefourteen-member board selected as follows:
(1) the Chairman of the Board for the Department of Natural Resources, the Chairman of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, and the Director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, all of whom shall serve ex officio and without voting privileges;
(2) threefour members appointed by the Governor from the State at large;
(3) three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one each from the third, fourth, and sixth congressional districts; and
(4) three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one each from the first, second, and fifth congressional districts.; and
(5) one member appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate from the seventh congressional district." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. PITTS 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:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Bowers Brady Branham Brannon Brantley H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Gilliard Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Howard Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lowe Lucas Mack McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Norman Ott Owens Parker Parks Patrick Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Sabb Sandifer Sellers Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. E. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stavrinakis Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
Rep. SANDIFER moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Thursday, May 31, which was adopted:
S. 1419 (Word version) -- Senators Thomas, Ford and Hayes: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 45, TITLE 38, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO INSURANCE BROKERS AND SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE, SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE REVENUE COLLECTED FROM THE BROKER'S PREMIUM TAX RATE MUST BE CREDITED TO A SPECIAL EARMARKED FUND, TO PROVIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FUND MAY BE USED AND DISBURSED, TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO CONDUCT EXAMINATIONS OF BROKER RECORDS, TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE CHAPTER, TO PROVIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE NONADMITTED AND REINSURANCE REFORM ACT OF 2010 MAY BE IMPLEMENTED; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-7-160, RELATING TO MUNICIPAL LICENSE FEES AND TAXES, SO AS TO DISALLOW A MUNICIPALITY FROM CHARGING AN ADDITIONAL LICENSE FEE OR TAX BASED UPON A PERCENTAGE OF PREMIUMS FOR PURPOSES OF SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE.
The following Bill was taken up:
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.
The Education and Public Works Committee proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to S. 149 (COUNCIL\DKA\4144SD12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking SECTION 2 in its entirety and inserting:
/ SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-63-100. (A) As used in this section:
(1) 'Charter school student' is a child enrolled in a charter school established pursuant to Chapter 40, Title 59.
(2) 'Governor's school student' is a child enrolled at a Governor's school established pursuant to this title.
(3) 'Home school student' is a child taught in accordance with Section 59-65-40, 59-65-45, or 59-65-47 and has been taught in accordance with one of these sections for a full academic year prior to participating in an interscholastic activity pursuant to this section.
(4) 'Interscholastic activities' includes, but is not limited to, athletics, music, speech, and other extracurricular activities.
(B) Individual Governor's school students and home school students may not be denied by a school district the opportunity to participate in interscholastic activities if the:
(1) student meets all school district eligibility requirements with the exception of the:
(a) school district's school or class attendance requirements; and
(b) class and enrollment requirements of the associations administering the interscholastic activities;
(2) student's teacher, in the case of a Governor's school student, certifies by submitting an affidavit to the school district that the student fully complies with the law and any attendance, class, or enrollment requirements for a Governor's school. In addition, A charter school student's teacher, in the same manner required by this subsection for a Governor's school student, also must certify by affidavit to the student's school district that the student fully complies with the law and any attendance, class, or enrollment requirements for a charter school in order for the student to participate in interscholastic activities in the manner permitted by Chapter 40 of this title;
(3) student participating in interscholastic activities, in the case of a Governor's school student, resides or attends a Governor's school within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student participates; and
(4) student notifies the superintendent of the school district in writing of his intent to participate in the interscholastic activity as a representative of the school before the beginning date of the season for the activity in which he wishes to participate.
(C) A public school student who has been unable to maintain academic eligibility is ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities as a charter school student, Governor's school student, or home school student for the following semester. To establish eligibility for subsequent school years, the student's teacher shall certify by submitting an affidavit to the school district that the student meets the relevant policies of the school at which the student wishes to participate.
(D) A Governor's school student or home school student is required to fulfill the same responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance, including related practice requirements, of other students participating in the interscholastic activities of the team or squad and is required to meet the same standards for acceptance on the team or squad.
(E) A Governor's school may not be denied by a school district the opportunity to have a team representing the school participate in interscholastic activities if the team meets the same eligibility requirements of other teams. An individual Governor's school student may not participate in an interscholastic activity of a public school district if the school that the student is enrolled in has a team or squad participating in that interscholastic activity.
(F) A school district may not contract with a private entity that supervises interscholastic activities if the private entity prohibits the participation of charter school students, Governor's school students, or home school students in interscholastic activities." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. J. M. NEAL spoke in favor of the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Rep. BRANNON proposed the following Amendment No. 2 to S. 149 (COUNCIL\AGM\19634AB12), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 59-63-100(B)(1)(b), as contained in SECTION 2, by deleting the subitem in its entirety and inserting:
/ (b) class and enrollment requirements of the associations administering interscholastic activities unless enrollment in a specific curricular class is required for participation in a specific extracurricular activity; /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. BRANNON explained the amendment.
Rep. BEDINGFIELD moved to table the amendment.
Rep. BRANNON demanded the yeas and nays which were taken, resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allison Atwater Ballentine Bannister Barfield Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Chumley Clemmons Corbin Delleney Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Gambrell Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Huggins Limehouse Loftis Long Lowe Lucas Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy Norman Owens Patrick Pitts Pope Putnam Quinn Ryan Sandifer Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Southard Spires Stringer Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Whipper White Whitmire Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
Agnew Allen Anderson Anthony Bales Battle Bowers Brady Branham Brannon Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Crosby Daning Dillard Gilliard Govan Hayes Hodges Horne Hosey Howard Jefferson Johnson King Knight Mack McEachern McLeod Munnerlyn J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Parker Parks Pinson Sabb Sellers J. E. Smith Tallon Vick Weeks Williams
So, the amendment was tabled.
Rep. GOVAN proposed the following Amendment No. 3 to S. 149 (COUNCIL\DKA\4146SD12), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 59-63-100, as contained in SECTION 2, by adding a new appropriately lettered subsection to read:
/ ( ) Home school students taught at home under the provisions of Section 59-65-47, in order to participate in interscholastic activities in the manner permitted by this section, must submit to the school district the same documentation as required of public school students to participate in the interscholastic activity, including a transcript or grade or progress report evidencing that the home school student is making adequate academic progress at his grade level and would be academically eligible to participate in the interscholastic activity if the home school student were a public school student. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. GOVAN explained the amendment.
Rep. OWENS spoke against the amendment.
Rep. GOVAN spoke in favor of the amendment.
Rep. OWENS moved to table the amendment.
Rep. GOVAN demanded the yeas and nays which were taken, resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Allison Atwater Ballentine Bannister Barfield Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Brady H. B. Brown Chumley Clemmons Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Gambrell Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Horne Huggins Limehouse Loftis Long Lowe Lucas D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Murphy Norman Owens Parker Patrick Pinson Pope Putnam Ryan Sandifer Simrill Skelton G. M. Smith G. R. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Spires Stringer Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble White Whitmire Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
Agnew Allen Anderson Anthony Bales Battle Bowers Branham Brantley G. A. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Clyburn Dillard Gilliard Govan Hayes Hodges Hosey Howard Jefferson Johnson King Knight Mack McEachern McLeod Munnerlyn J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Ott Parks Sabb Sellers Vick Weeks Whipper Williams
So, the amendment was tabled.
Rep. SELLERS proposed the following Amendment No. 4 to S. 149 (COUNCIL\AGM\19647AB12), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting Section 59-63-100(B)(3), as contained in SECTION 2, page 149-2, lines 18 through 21, and inserting:
/ (3) student participating in interscholastic activities:
(a) resides within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student participates; or
(b) in the case of a Governor's School student, resides or attends a Governor's school within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student participates; and /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Rep. SELLERS explained the amendment.
The amendment was then adopted.
Rep. PATRICK spoke in favor of the Bill.
Rep. ANTHONY spoke upon the Bill.
Rep. HAYES spoke in favor of the Bill.
The question then recurred to the passage of the Bill.
The yeas and nays were taken resulting as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Allen Allison Anderson Anthony Atwater Bales Ballentine Bannister Barfield Battle Bedingfield Bingham Bowen Bowers Brady Branham Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Butler Garrick Chumley Clemmons Clyburn Cole Corbin Crosby Daning Delleney Dillard Edge Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gambrell Govan Hamilton Hardwick Harrell Harrison Hayes Hearn Henderson Herbkersman Hiott Hixon Hodges Horne Hosey Huggins Jefferson Johnson King Knight Limehouse Loftis Long Lowe Lucas McEachern McLeod Merrill D. C. Moss V. S. Moss Munnerlyn Murphy J. M. Neal 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 Tallon Taylor Thayer Toole Tribble Vick Weeks Whipper White Whitmire Williams Willis Young
Those who voted in the negative are:
So, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time and ordered to third reading.
I was temporarily out of the Chamber on constituent business during the vote on S. 149. If I had been present, I would have voted in favor of the Bill.
Rep. Wendell Gilliard
Rep. WILLIS moved that the House do now adjourn, which was agreed to.
The Senate returned to the House with concurrence the following:
H. 4124 (Word version) -- Rep. V. S. Moss: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE ON EL BETHEL ROAD THAT CROSSES THICKETTY CREEK IN CHEROKEE COUNTY "COLONEL JAMES STEEN MEMORIAL BRIDGE" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS BRIDGE THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "COLONEL JAMES STEEN MEMORIAL BRIDGE".
H. 4703 (Word version) -- Reps. Pitts, Herbkersman, Parker, Hardwick, White, Erickson, Henderson, Limehouse, Sandifer, G. R. Smith, Spires, Tribble and Ott: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO AFFIRM THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN DETERMINING APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES AND USES OF RESOURCES IN WATERS CONTROLLED BY THE STATE AND TO RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL ROLE OF STATES IN FEDERAL OCEAN PLANNING, INCLUDING THE GATHERING OF COASTAL AND MARINE SPATIAL DATA.
H. 5131 (Word version) -- Reps. Clemmons, Bowen, Taylor, J. R. Smith, Sandifer and Vick: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO REVISE ITS REGULATIONS FOR THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 PERTAINING TO PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACCESS TO AMENITIES, INCLUDING ACCESS TO POOLS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT THIS ACCESS MAY BE PROVIDED BY USE OF A PORTABLE CHAIRLIFT, RATHER THAN A PERMANENT CHAIRLIFT.
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.
H. 5338 (Word version) -- Reps. Funderburk, Bales, G. A. Brown, Lucas, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, H. B. Brown, R. L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Erickson, Forrester, Frye, 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, 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 KERSHAW COUNTY VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM ON THE OCCASION OF ITS TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY AND TO THANK THE PROGRAM FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE ON BEHALF OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN.
At 6:12 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. TALLON, adjourned in memory of Virginia Taylor Brandt of Rock Hill, to meet at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
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