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 1 Samuel 25: "Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have."
Let us pray. Lord, let us turn to You in times of trouble, or stress, or times of special need. Bring to us a sense of understanding that You will always care for us and not forsake us. Give us understanding and peace as we approach the weekend. Grant us rest and renewal of strength for the work ahead. Protect our defenders of freedom, as they protect us. Heal the wounds, those seen and those hidden, of our brave warriors. Sustain and uphold our Nation, President, State, Governor, Speaker, staff, and all who serve in these Chambers and beyond. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

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

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

S. 1298 (Word version) -- Senator McGill: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 84 OF 2011, RELATING TO THE FLORENCE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER THREE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SO AS TO MODIFY THE PROCEDURE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE DISTRICT BUDGET AND PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND FINAL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT.

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

S. 321 (Word version) -- Senators O'Dell and Nicholson: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 595 OF 1994, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF GREENWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 50 IN GREENWOOD COUNTY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS TO BE FILLED, THE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION SHALL DECLARE THOSE CANDIDATES ELECTED.

S. 710 (Word version) -- Senators Knotts, O'Dell, Ford, Alexander, Bryant and Setzler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-140, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE AND CONTENTS OF A SOUTH CAROLINA DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO AS TO, UPON THE LICENSEE'S REQUEST AND PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY, INCLUDE A VETERAN STATUS DESIGNATION ON THE DRIVER'S LICENSE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-3350, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS, SO AS TO, UPON THE CARD HOLDER'S REQUEST AND PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY, INCLUDE A VETERAN STATUS DESIGNATION ON THE SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARD.

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

H. 5026 (Word version) -- Rep. J. E. Smith: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 1-23-600, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO HEARINGS AND PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT, SO AS TO DELETE AN OBSOLETE REFERENCE EXEMPTING APPEALS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE TO THE COURT.

H. 5042 (Word version) -- Rep. Funderburk: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-340, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF PRECINCTS IN KERSHAW COUNTY, SO AS TO CONSOLIDATE THE "CAMDEN NO. 3" AND THE "CAMDEN NO. 4" PRECINCTS INTO THE "HOBKIRK'S HILL" PRECINCT, TO ADD THE "ELGIN NO. 6" PRECINCT, TO REDESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE NAMES OF THESE PRECINCTS MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICS OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, AND TO CORRECT ARCHAIC LANGUAGE.

H. 4008 (Word version) -- Reps. Harrison, H. B. Brown, G. R. Smith, Knight, Atwater, Branham, Viers, Bannister, Dillard, Erickson, Hamilton, Hearn, Hosey, Limehouse, D. C. Moss, Patrick, Pinson, Sandifer, G. M. Smith, J. R. Smith, Stringer, Toole, Willis, Bingham and Clemmons: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-390 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THERE IS NO MONETARY LIABILITY, AND NO CAUSE OF ACTION IS CREATED, BY A HOSPITAL UNDERTAKING OR PERFORMING CERTAIN ACTS IF NOT DONE WITH MALICE; BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-392 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN HOSPITAL PROCEEDINGS AND DATA, DOCUMENTS, RECORDS, AND INFORMATION RESULTING FROM THESE PROCEEDINGS ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO DISCOVERY OR SUBPOENA AND MAY NOT BE USED AS EVIDENCE IN A CIVIL ACTION UNLESS THE HOSPITAL HAS WAIVED CONFIDENTIALITY OR THE DATA, DOCUMENTS, RECORDS, OR INFORMATION ARE OTHERWISE AVAILABLE AND SUBJECT TO DISCOVERY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE OUTCOME OF A PRACTITIONER'S APPLICATION FOR HOSPITAL STAFF MEMBERSHIP OR CLINICAL PRIVILEGES IS NOT CONFIDENTIAL BUT THAT THE APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL; TO PROVIDE THAT DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY A HOSPITAL THROUGH REPORTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, THE JOINT COMMISSION, OR THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS IS NOT A WAIVER OF ANY PRIVILEGE OR CONFIDENTIALITY; AND TO PROVIDE THAT AN AFFECTED PERSON MAY FILE AN ACTION TO ASSERT A CLAIM OF CONFIDENTIALITY AND TO ENJOIN THE HOSPITAL, THE JOINT COMMISSION, OR THE

BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS FROM RELEASING SUCH INFORMATION, AND IF THE COURT FINDS THAT THE PERSON ACTED UNREASONABLY IN ASSERTING THIS CLAIM, THE COURT SHALL ASSESS ATTORNEY'S FEES AGAINST THAT PERSON; BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-394 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF IN A JUDICIAL PROCEEDING THE COURT FINDS DOCUMENTS, OVER WHICH THE HOSPITAL ASSERTED A CLAIM OF CONFIDENTIALITY, ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CONFIDENTIALITY AND THAT THE HOSPITAL ACTED UNREASONABLY IN ASSERTING THIS CLAIM, THE COURT SHALL ASSESS ATTORNEY'S FEES AGAINST THE HOSPITAL FOR COSTS INCURRED BY THE REQUESTING PARTY TO OBTAIN THE DOCUMENTS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-71-10, RELATING TO THE EXEMPTION FROM TORT LIABILITY FOR MEMBERS OF CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEES, SO AS TO DELETE FROM THE EXEMPTION AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE OF A MEDICAL STAFF OF A HOSPITAL IF THE STAFF OPERATES PURSUANT TO WRITTEN BYLAWS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE HOSPITAL.

H. 4513 (Word version) -- Rep. Harrison: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 43-35-310, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADULT PROTECTION COORDINATING COUNCIL, SO AS TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP AND MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 43-35-330, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE ADULT PROTECTION COORDINATING COUNCIL, SO AS TO REVISE THE DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL AND ADD THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE COUNCIL ANNUALLY PREPARE AND DISTRIBUTE TO THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REPORT OF THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR.

H. 4699 (Word version) -- Reps. Bannister, Harrison, Horne, Sellers, Hearn, Young, H. B. Brown, J. E. Smith, Brannon, Stavrinakis, Funderburk, Allen, Weeks, Munnerlyn and McLeod: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 14-5-610, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DIVISION OF THE STATE INTO SIXTEEN JUDICIAL CIRCUITS AND ADDITIONAL AT-LARGE

JUDGES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AT-LARGE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES FROM THIRTEEN TO NINETEEN; AND TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-40, RELATING TO FAMILY COURT JUDGES ELECTED FROM EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SO AS TO ADD SIX ADDITIONAL FAMILY COURT JUDGES WHO SHALL BE AT LARGE AND MUST BE ELECTED WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR COUNTY OR CIRCUIT OF RESIDENCE.

At 10:35 a.m. the House, in accordance with the ruling of the SPEAKER, adjourned to meet at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, March 27.

This web page was last updated on Friday, December 21, 2012 at 12:32 P.M.