Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Our thought for today is from Proverbs 17:27: "One who spares words is knowledgeable; one who is cool in spirit has understanding."
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, grant these Representatives and staff the knowledge and understanding to accomplish the vital work for the people of this State. Give them courage, wisdom, strength, and integrity in their daily lives both here and in their homes. Care for our Nation, President, State, Governor, Speaker, staff, and all who support them in their duties. 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 Friday, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.

Rep. HIOTT moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Pfc. Barrett L. Austin of Easley who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, which was agreed to.

The House stood in silent prayer for the family of Pfc. Barrett L. Austin who lost his life in Afghanistan.

The House stood in silent prayer for the family of Brandon Brawdy of Piedmont, a sixteen year old who lost his life to cancer.

The following portion of the hearings of March 26, 2013, was not available at the time of printing to be included in the Report contained in the Journal of April 18, 2013:

Members In Attendance:

Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., Chairman

Senator Robert W. Hayes, Jr.

Senator Thomas C. Alexander

Senator J. Yancey McGill

Representative William R. "Bill" Whitmire

Representative David J. Mack III

Representative Phyllis Henderson

Representative Peter M. McCoy, Jr.

Also Present: Martha Casto

SENATOR PEELER: I'd like to call the meeting to order, the meeting of the joint committee to screen University Board of Trustee candidates. We'll get started with the Francis Marion candidates. The first candidate, Martha.
MS. CASTO: Yes, sir. This morning, y'all are going to be screening the Francis Marion candidates that are running for contested seats. The first one up is for the 3rd Congressional District, Lonnie Adamson.
MR. ADAMSON: Thank you for the chance to be a part of this.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning. I guess we'll start off right off the bat. I think probably you're running, and your wife's running for the same seat?
MR. ADAMSON: Correct.
SENATOR PEELER: I'd entertain a motion to maybe go into executive session, and let's hear from -- we don't want to get into a domestic squabble.
MR. ADAMSON: I wouldn't fear that. We're just trying to --
SENATOR PEELER: The motion is to go into executive session. Is there a second?

(The motion was seconded.)

(The Joint Legislative Committee went into executive session from 9:11 a.m. to 9:31 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: We're in open session now. We're screening candidate Lonnie Adamson from Pendleton for the 3rd Congressional District, seat 3.

Mr. Adamson, if you would, please raise your right hand.

(Lonnie Adamson was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 9:31 a.m.) being first duly sworn, testified as follows:
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to serve on the Francis Marion University Board?
MR. ADAMSON: We have a daughter who attends Francis Marion, Nancy's daughter, my stepdaughter. And being in that position, it has allowed us to see a bit of the university and a good bit of her friends and connections. And -- and I believe that seeing that group of -- of kids has reinforced, in my mind, how important their education will be to themselves, important to themselves, and important to the future economy of South Carolina, frankly. We're in a tough spot, and we have to have good education, the best education at the cheapest cost. And that's kind of where -- that's kind of my approach to seeking this position, is to find for them the best education at the least cost.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. I see where you were fired from a job nine years ago for failure to meet a deadline. You're a newspaper man, right?
MR. ADAMSON: Yes.
SENATOR PEELER: You were the general manager and editor of the Easley Progress Newspaper?
MR. ADAMSON: Correct.
SENATOR PEELER: For the matter being, can we give him a deadline, maybe? I'm just -- you don't get it. Newspaper men just don't have my sense of humor, I don't think.
MR. ADAMSON: I haven't walked in your shoes.
SENATOR PEELER: Any questions or comments for Mr. Adamson?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you for your willingness to serve. I've heard your opening comments, and I guess my thoughts are twofold. What is -- you mentioned your daughter and her friends and your observation of Francis Marion. Has that been a positive or a negative observation of the university?
MR. ADAMSON: It's been a positive observation as to the university, its development, its growth. And, you know, there are certain challenges that every organization is going to go through. And, you know, I don't have any specific negatives to point to. But I have seen in my reporting duties the challenges of state government and -- and watching in -- in our arena, Senator, Tri-County Tech and some of the liaisons that have happened between high schools and Tri-County Tech and Clemson and Tri-County Tech and how those -- to my way of thinking, from a man who graduated from the university in '81, that there are out-of-the-box kinds of ways of thinking. And I think, if that makes any sense, kind of generally considering all the possibilities for them, I don't have any negatives against the university that I'm...
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Do you have a specific challenge that you see at the university?
MR. ADAMSON: I do not.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. And the other comment I thought would be interesting to get your response to, you said also about -- talked about the money, the tuition, I think.

What do you see the value of the education, as far as -- I assume y'all are helping to pay for your daughter's education?
MR. ADAMSON: Yes, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I mean, is it a good value? The tuition increases, what's your philosophy on parents and paying for the tuition and the value of Francis Marion for the amount of money that's paid for -- for that tuition for their education?
MR. ADAMSON: I think it's a good education at Francis Marion for what we're paying, if that's your question.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Right.
MR. ADAMSON: We're in a relatively good position in regard to helping Olivia pay her tuition. She's a good student, and she has scholarships and grants and that sort of thing. I guess seeing some of her friends and the challenge, places that they've come from, I just -- you know, I'm ignorant about it, Senator, but I am in a position I think I can learn and be helpful, you know. I have run media companies, several of them now, and some of the worst newspaper times, some of the worst economic times that this country has seen, and we've made money every month. But --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Congratulations.
MR. ADAMSON: But it's not been easy. And so I think I might bring some understanding about -- about that process.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Adamson, if elected, would you be able to work with the other Board members and -- without -- the reason I'm asking this, we've got some schools in our state where we've had some problems. And you being a new potential member to Francis Marion, would you be able to, you know, try to work and solve the problems and differences with them?
MR. ADAMSON: Absolutely. I'm -- I'm obviously new to this process. But I am a -- my method is to listen and grow and learn and plod through issues. I'm a plodder. You may find Nancy to be a little -- a little more out there, but I work through issues. And that's what I would do on this Board.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Good. That's what I wanted to hear. Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments? I guess we need to express the fact that you are offering as a candidate, and your wife, Nancy King, is offering as a candidate.
MR. ADAMSON: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: Do you foresee any problems with that?
MR. ADAMSON: Not from my view, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: I'm anxious to see what she says.
Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Clarification then, Mr. Chairman. I hear your last comments about both of them running, but also, he's running for -- it's my understanding the 3rd Congressional District and the at-large district as well?
SENATOR PEELER: That's correct.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: So will we be screening twice, or would a motion be in order to nominate for the 3rd and for the at-large and let the same record also stand in that at-large seat?
SENATOR PEELER: If that's in agreement with the members.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: So I would make that motion.
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman, before you make such a motion, with the understanding that we need to find out to make sure there's no conflict. That was the only caveat I would put on that. But I second his motion.
SENATOR PEELER: But as far as qualifications --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: At this committee at this time, certainly, I think with the testimony we've heard, as far as being qualified to serve in either of these -- and I guess there's that potential of being elected to -- the same person being elected to two, so, I mean, I guess that's just uncharted territory from that standpoint. But as far as his qualifications for this, that would be my motion, with the caveat that the Senator from Williamsburg put upon them.
SENATOR PEELER: Well, since we're plowing new ground, you can also add that if he became effective he was elected to both positions, he wouldn't be qualified for one of them? He couldn't be qualified for both? We're plowing new ground.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Certainly, I think we would have to reopen -- I don't know either.
SENATOR PEELER: I guess he'd have to choose which seat he would --
SENATOR MCGILL: Chairman, what usually happens under dual office holding is you have to forfeit the first seat that you would win, and then acceptance would be with the second, the last seat that you would win. That's the seat you would serve in.
MR. ADAMSON: Correct.
SENATOR PEELER: There you go. That would work. And that would vacate the -- with the understanding we're -- we're in unchartered waters we're sailing in today.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And if there's any uncomfort, us doing it together, I don't mind making a -- going and waiting and making a second motion for the at-large.
SENATOR PEELER: No. I think it's wise to go ahead and if we find him --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: If he's qualified for one, he's certainly qualified for the other, and I'll accept that motion.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: The motion is and seconded that Lonnie Adamson from Pendleton is qualified for the 3rd Congressional District, seat 3.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: To be a candidate.
SENATOR PEELER: A candidate. And also qualified to be a candidate for the at-large seat 9 for the Francis Marion University Board of Trustees.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: That is my motion.
SENATOR PEELER: And a second is made.
SENATOR MCGILL: Seconded with the stipulation of checking out conflict.
SENATOR PEELER: Yes, sir. Any discussion? None. All in favor raise your right hand. Thank you.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Thank you for your willingness to serve.

Now, Patricia C. Hartung, Greenwood, for 3rd Congressional District, seat 3.

(Patricia C. Hartung was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 9:41 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Ms. Hartung, would you please tell us why you'd like to continue to serve on the Board of Francis Marion University.
MS. HARTUNG: Thank you, sir. I've served on the Board of Trustees since July of 1999. I represent the 3rd Congressional District. It's been a great honor to serve with Dr. Fred Carter and the Board of Trustees over these past 13 and a half years. And I'm extremely proud of the accomplishments that we've been able to undertake, and, most notably, the continuing rising enrollment in that area and, not only from students representing that area, but the whole state of South Carolina, and the expansion of the academic programs to include undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing, while keeping tuition affordable and low.

And next year we hope to bring on a new academic program to better meet the needs of the manufacturing community in the northeastern part of the state. I would like to continue to be a part of that progress and serve the citizens of Francis Marion University and the state of South Carolina.
SENATOR PEELER: Great. Thank you.

Any questions or comments?

Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: You mentioned enrollment at the school. What is your mix of in-state and out-of-state students?
MS. HARTUNG: Currently, it's over 93 percent in-state which is extremely high.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. And what is the major course of -- the focus that students have there? Is it --
MS. HARTUNG: It's a general liberal arts education. However, over the past decade or so, we've expanded the business programs there. So we have a lot of students now enrolling in the business programs. And they've added the masters in business administration which is an outstanding program for that region.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And during your tenure on the Board, how would you classify your attendance at Board meetings?
MS. HARTUNG: Excellent. With the exception of the fact that I had twins four years ago, and I was out for a couple of meetings during the course of my pregnancy.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Sure. And then one last question, if I could, Mr. Chairman, is dealing with the tuition.

Where do you see the value of Francis Marion for the amount of tuition, and what do you foresee going forward?
MS. HARTUNG: Last year, we were -- even though we experienced the same thing that other public universities experienced with the mandated retirement increases and employee increases, we were able to keep tuition at around 3 percent. We raised it to no more than 3 percent. We usually make decisions like that in June of the year. I would hope that we could continue to keep tuition low so that we can continue to keep the enrollment high at Francis Marion University.

It's very difficult -- I would say also that over 90 percent of our students receive some sort of financial aid, so I think that helps a great deal as well.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Senator McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: 14 years a member of the Board?
MS. HARTUNG: Just about, July.
SENATOR MCGILL: Where did you get your MBA from?
MS. HARTUNG: Clemson University.
SENATOR MCGILL: Clemson University. I notice -- I don't know how you're doing what you're doing, but you're so much involved nationally, state, local, it's -- it's quite a resume.
MS. HARTUNG: (Witness moves head up and down.)
SENATOR MCGILL: Do you have enough time to serve?
MS. HARTUNG: Yes, sir, I actually do.
SENATOR MCGILL: How about your -- with the government position?
MS. HARTUNG: You mean?
SENATOR MCGILL: You're the director?
MS. HARTUNG: I'm the director of the Upper Savannah Council of Governments, yes. We have an exceptional staff.
SENATOR MCGILL: Does that fit well with the university?
MS. HARTUNG: Actually, it really does because one of the programs that we run is the work force development program, and we speak with representatives from industry and business almost daily. So we know what they're looking for in a candidate for employment. And we're -- and I think that helps me in helping direct the way the university is growing in their academic curriculum.
SENATOR MCGILL: Have we ever had twins graduate from one university?
MS. HARTUNG: Good question. I have no idea. Have you?
SENATOR PEELER: My brothers, Bill and Bob.
MS. HARTUNG: Excellent.
SENATOR MCGILL: Question's answered. That's all, Mr. Chairman.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
Getting on, what's the desire of the committee?
SENATOR MCGILL: Move for favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Motion made and seconded for a favorable report. All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you for your willingness to serve.
MS. HARTUNG: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: What are your twins' names? Are they two boys, two girls?
MS. HARTUNG: No. Mason and Samantha, girl and boy.
SENATOR PEELER: Oh, okay.
MS. HARTUNG: Very, very different.
SENATOR PEELER: Well, I have twin brothers, and then my daughter has twin sons, so twins run in our family.
MS. HARTUNG: Oh, well, they do in my family as well.
SENATOR PEELER: And there's such thing as twin talk too. I'm telling you.
MS. HARTUNG: Yeah, there is.
SENATOR PEELER: Anyway, God bless you.
MS. HARTUNG: But the girl is dominant right now.
SENATOR PEELER: We'll find out in a minute, won't we? No debate there. Thank you.

Next we have Nancy King from Pendleton, 3rd Congressional District, seat 3.

(Nancy King was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 9:47 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to serve on the Francis Marion University Board?
MS. KING: I have a daughter who will be a sophomore at Francis Marion. I think it's imperative that there is a parental voice on this Board. I think it's important that there is a middle-class, hardworking person also on the Board, and that's who I am.
SENATOR PEELER: I notice you were raised by a Wisconsin dairy farmer and a nurse?
MS. KING: I am. My father farmed since he left the sixth grade. My brother still farms. We have a 200-acre farm with 200 registered Holsteins.
SENATOR PEELER: Good. You know what work is then.
MS. KING: I do.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
Any questions or comments of Ms. King?

Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: In your work ability, would it have any impact on your ability to attend meetings or functions that would be a responsibility as a Board member at Francis Marion?
MS. KING: No. I would be able to attend every meeting.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. And you mentioned the parental voice on the Board. Is -- is there anyone -- no one else serving on the Board that currently has a student, or that's just a perspective that you--
MS. KING: I think that's a perspective that I have. When I looked at the Board of Trustees, I didn't see many salespeople on there, but lots of attorneys, and I just think I would be a different voice on that Board. I think I'd come from a place of compassion, somebody who's worked hard, somebody who's put a strong work ethic into my children's life. I think it would be a different voice on that Board.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative Mack.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: From your perspective as a parent, what -- what have you seen from the school itself, good, bad, or indifferent, from a parent's point of view?
MS. KING: I think the small class sizes are very positive. My daughter has the ability to talk to each of her professors openly. They allow a very open communication with her. She's able to e-mail them, call them. I think that is unheard of.

I wish there were more ways on campus for them to do community outreach, to do a service project. We visited other campuses before she chose Francis Marion where service projects were very important. I think it's important for these students that are graduating to learn how to give back.

Our family gives back all the time. We work at a soup kitchen as a family in Seneca. I think as a student in a university, you need to learn that skill, or you need to have that compassion to give back.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: Another question: What do you see the role of a Board being, individually and collectively?
MS. KING: I think a Board, collectively, would work together to make the experience of a college education positive, to work with the president to make the University work. I know the economic policies are important to the Board of Trustees as well. To make the campus attractive to those who are looking at it to attend.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Just a comment, Ms. King. In reading your personal written statement to the Board, I want to commend you on what you've been through. I want to commend you on, from what I've read too, it -- certainly, it's well said that you put your family first, and you take care of your children, and that's an incredible testimony that you've given here. And I want to commend you on that, and I want to wish you luck.
MS. KING: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Thank you for offering to run. As a parent -- I'm a parent of former college kids and stuff -- what changes or improvements -- I know you just touched on that with Representative Mack -- would you advocate if you were elected?
MS. KING: Improvements, I would work on graduation rates coming out of Francis Marion. I think what is in the media, they're pretty low percentages. I think those need to be improved. I have understood from Olivia how difficult it is for work-study programs on campus for children -- or students to be employed. I would -- would like that to be improved.

I think it would be interesting to explore the possibility of some type of transportation. Clemson has a viable transportation. And I know we're talking different sizes of universities, but there's isn't a viable transportation source for those students to get emerged into Florence to have the jobs that they need. So many of those students come without transportation. They are confined to that on-campus environment for jobs or work-studies. Whereas, I think if there was transportation available, perhaps that would broaden some of the scopes.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Okay. I like your answers. Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
SENATOR PEELER: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I would move that Ms. King be qualified to be a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District and also the at-large seat, as noted, that she's running for. In that standpoint, with the same caveat from the Senator from Williamsburg to be applied.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: All in favor, please raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you for your willingness to serve.
MS. KING: Thank you.

SENATOR PEELER: Is this Mr. Gibbons then?
MS. CASTO: Yes, sir. Alan Gibbons is from New Zion. His is for the 6th Congressional District, seat 6 on the Board. This term expires in 2014.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning, sir.
MR. GIBBONS: Good morning.

(Alan L. Gibbons was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 9:55 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with us why you'd like to serve on the Board?
MR. GIBBONS: Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the Committee, I'm a proud graduate of Francis Marion College, now Francis Marion University. My wife is a graduate of Francis Marion. My business partner of some 28 years is a graduate of Francis Marion. My youngest son is a student at Francis Marion majoring in accounting, Lord help him.

My decision to run for this seat is not one that was made in haste or on a whim. This is something that I have actually been looking at and thinking about for some five or six years. And during that time, I have taken the opportunity to stop by from time to time and talk to Dr. Fred Carter about some of the plans and programs and progress that's being made at the University.

I feel that I've got a skill set that I can bring as a CPA, as a small business person, as a parent of a student there. And I guess, finally, I -- being from -- a life-long resident of Clarendon County, I would welcome the opportunity to bring some more representation from that Clarendon/Sumter/Orangeburg area of our state to the Francis Marion Board. I guess the short answer is that I would like to serve my University.
SENATOR PEELER: Good. Thank you. Any questions or comments?

Representative McCoy?
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Gibbons, thank you for coming for coming forward, and thank you for your ability and want to serve. Looking at this, I see that the seat, unfortunately, expires in 2014, right around the corner.

Do you have any sort of issues with that? Do you have any sort of problems coming back here again?
MR. GIBBONS: Not really. I mean, I understand that there was an awful lot of work in the reshuffling of not only this Board but many, many others, and this is the seat that I would like to seat, so I understand that.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: And it sounds like you certainly have a very rich history with Francis Marion. And what would you like to see or, if you were fortunate enough to become a new Board member, what would be on your agenda or things you'd like to see accomplished in the next few years?
MR. GIBBONS: I guess one thing that springs to mind is -- and I guess this is really from my son's perspective -- I think we need to take a look at the technology at the University and see kind of where we are and what updates need to be made there. The University's made such greats strides over the years, but there's some technology infrastructure that needs to be looked at and improved, primarily in the dorm rooms with the connectability of the students and whatnot.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?

Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.

Being a CPA yourself and your son going in that direction, I know it makes you proud. As far as being -- your profession, would it have any impact on your ability to serve on the Board like January through April or certain things of that -- your attendance?
MR. GIBBONS: No, sir. Obviously, I've found the time to be here today, and, you know, it's all a matter of managing time. And I realize that there are quarterly Board meetings, and one of those Board meetings do fall in March. And I feel that I can make that time available.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Questions or comments?

Representative Whitmire?
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Mr. Chairman, I notice that Mr. Gibbons is a Methodist, so I think we need to go ahead and report him out now.
SENATOR MCGILL: Move favorable.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Motion for favorable report and seconded. All in favor, please raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. That goes for a Baptist too.
Thank you for your willingness to serve.
MR. GIBBONS: Well, I have a cousin who is a Methodist minister. He says Baptists make the best Methodists so...
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Who's next?

MS. CASTO: Next is Floyd Keels. He is running for the 6th District seat as well.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning, sir.
MR. KEELS: Good morning, sir.

(Floyd L. Keels was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 10:00 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to serve on the Francis Marion University Board?
MR. KEELS: Yes, sir. I have a long history with Francis Marion University, and I would love to have the opportunity to continue. We consider Francis Marion as being the pearl of the Pee Dee. Francis Marion provides services far beyond the classrooms. The University is woven throughout the community, and we certainly would appreciate the opportunity to serve.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any questions or comments of Mr. Keels?
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman, let me say this.
SENATOR PEELER: Mr. McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: Of course, I know Mr. Gibbons, and I know Mr. Keels both, and I can tell you both bring very strong financial backgrounds that would be an asset, certainly, for the University, no question about that.

And I know that Mr. Keels, you're president and CEO of Santee Electric Co-Op.
MR. KEELS: Yes, sir. That is correct.
SENATOR MCGILL: And I also note that you live in Florence County and also the fact that you serve on the lower Florence County Hospital Board, and I understand under dual office holding, if you're elected, you automatically forfeit the first seat under dual office holding?
MR. KEELS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: And the question is, what do you feel that you can bring to the Board that can make a difference? You can't hardly do it the first two or three meetings, but it takes time for a new Board member to fit directly into the area that they would like to see the University go. But what would you like to see for the University?
MR. KEELS: Thank you, Senator. What I have to bring to the University would be just a wealth of experience working within the Pee Dee region and having knowledge, first-hand knowledge of Francis Marion University having served on the foundation Board the several years. I have also served on the nursing committee, advisory committee, for a number of years, from inception to this time.
So what I can bring to the Board would be just the skill set it takes -- what it takes to help with strategic planning, business development, and continuation of a great record that has been established by Dr. Carter and the Board.
SENATOR. MCGILL: I would say one other thing. I noted that when the state hit some financial difficulty that you served on some type of commission or Board three or four, five years ago. Most of us in the Senate served on Senate Finance. And, of course, funding is a big issue for any university, but what did you do? What was the commission that you served on in the State.
MR. KEELS: I was privileged to serve on the management accountability and performance commission that was established by our former, governor, Governor Sanford, Mark Sanford, and it was actually during the time that President Carter was on a sabbatical working as Chief of Staff for the governor.
SENATOR MCGILL: What's the -- what's the financial status of Santee Electric Co-Op.
MR. KEELS: The financial status of the corporation that I work for is very strong. We have about 200 -- a little more than $200 million in plant. We serve more than 5,000 miles of lines and the 30 -- about 45,000 accounts. We have the largest geographic footprint for any electric cooperative in the state of South Carolina, so we are very financially strong.
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman, just for the record, both Mr. Keels and Mr. Gibbons, both, of course, are friends of mine, and there's no question that both would make good members on this Board. At this time, I would like to move favorable to Mr. Keels.
SENATOR PEELER: Before we do that, let's ask some more questions.

Representative McCoy, did you have a question?
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: I did. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Keels, this is just the same question I asked Mr. Gibbons. And I appreciate your willingness to serve, and I appreciate your being with us here today. Again, I know this expires quickly. Do you have a problem with that next year?
MR. KEELS: No, sir I do not. I see change is the only constant, and we expect change to take place, and we'd be more than willing to come back and do what we're doing today; although this is my first experience sitting in the presence of such an eloquent staff, but we'll look forward to that.
SENATOR PEELER: I'm glad you said staff and not elected officials. I noticed that. You're pretty sharp.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Mr. Keels, I hear from a lot of folks that the process -- either whether you're running for a board seat or you're running for a judgeship or anything you're doing when you come up here is tough. It takes a lot of time, takes a lot of energy, and to turn around and do it in another year would be tough, but I appreciate you wanting to come back to do that again.
MR. KEELS: Thank you, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: The Senator from Williamsburg mentioned the Lower Florence County Hospital Board, and I have that on my notes too, as far as dual office holding. Is that an appointed position or...
MR. KEELS: Yes, sir, it is.
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. Would that rise to the level of dual office holding?
MS. CASTO: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: So you are willing to step down from that position if you are fortunate enough to be elected to this Board?
MR. KEELS: Yes, sir. It would be a continuation of service so...
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. Any other questions or comments?
Being none, the senator from Williamsburg moves for favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Seconded. All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you for your willingness to serve. We have two fine candidates it looks like.

MS. CASTO: The next two candidates are running for the same seat. They are both incumbents, but because of the restructuring of the Board, they ended up in the same seat. Melissa Johnson Emery is from Conway, and this term expires in 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning.
MS. EMERY: Good morning.

(Melissa Johnson Emery was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 10:06 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with us why you'd like to continue to serve?
MS. EMERY: Yes, sir. I've been on the Board of Trustees at Francis Marion since May of 1998, but my basis with Francis Marion goes back beyond that. I am one of those people that the school was created for to serve. I attended Francis Marion and graduated in 1991. I was from Dillon, drove back and forth. First in my family to go to school -- to -- on to college. And Francis Marion gave me a tremendous basis.
We were able to afford me going to Francis Marion, but it gave me an educational basis that allowed me to springboard. I went on to law school and have done well for myself, and I can chart that back to the foundation that Francis Marion gave me. And so when the opportunity came to serve on the Board, I was happy to do it and to give back to the University that had been so important in my life. And so I have enjoyed my time and tenure on the Board, and I look forward to continuing on.
SENATOR PEELER: Where did you go to law school?
MS. EMERY: I went to law school between '91 and graduated in '94.
SENATOR PEELER: Where?
MS. EMERY: USC.
SENATOR PEELER: And do you have your own law firm?
MS. EMERY: Yes, sir. I'm a sole practitioner in Conway.
SENATOR PEELER: Good. Any questions or comments?

Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

A couple -- does your law firm do any work with the University, with Francis Marion.
MS. EMERY: No, sir. I'm a family court practitioner, so that's 100 percent of my practice.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. The other is how would you describe your attendance since being a Board member?
MS. EMERY: My attendance rate is excellent. The only time that I have been unable to attend is if I've been called in for an emergency hearing. Sometimes in family court if I'm appointed to a DSS case, they have certain time limits and restraints. But, generally, if that happens and I can't make the drive over, I try to attend by phone.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. So that's at the request of a judge?
MS. EMERY: Yes, sir. Something I can't get around, but we try to work it out because they understand how important the Board is to me, and so they really try to work with me.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Ladies first. Representative Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you for your service. I know you've been on the Board for a while. This is actually kind of more of a technical question. I don't know if this would be the appropriate time to ask, but how -- how is it that we actually have two incumbents running in an at-large seat when there are other at-large seats that are also open?
MS. CASTO: Francis Marion was one of those boards when, with the 7th Congressional District that last year, each of the -- the House and Senate education committees went back to the boards and asked them how they wanted to restructure to accommodate the 7th District. Francis Marion had an awful lot from the Pee Dee, I think, on their board and from the 6th Congressional District. So what they did was make some at-large seats, and it was decided by the Board -- it's my understanding in talking with Dr. Carter -- as to which current incumbents would run for which seats. You may remember there was one incumbent who failed to file for the other at-large seat, which is why there is one that doesn't have an incumbent. But for some reason or another -- I don't know if it was a drawing of straws, or whatever, but these were the seats that these two incumbents were to file for.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: So -- just so I understand, so the other at-large seat where we just interviewed Mr. Adamson and his wife, Ms. King, for -- that's the seat that had the incumbent that didn't apply?
MS. CASTO: Correct.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: So then -- so now we have to two incumbents now running against each, and I mean -- with all due respect, does the Board, if Ms. Emery or this other person that's an incumbent had decided, well, you know, I would rather just apply for this other one, it doesn't really matter, I mean, I don't understand how -- maybe this is a whole another discussion.
MS. CASTO: They could have applied for it.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: How that Board can tell them what they have to apply for. I don't understand that. I just feel sorry that we have two incumbents running against each other, and we have two at-large seats, and one of them doesn't have an incumbent. Not that that would make a difference, but I'm just trying to figure out how that all works so...
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to speak to that? Were you lucky or unlucky?
MS. EMERY: Well, she is right in that there was some discussion because we did have a lot of switching around where we were trying to be respectful of -- of making sure that some experienced members remained on the Board that have been of great service to Francis Marion. It was unfortunate that one of the other incumbents did not get his letter in on time to run for an at-large seat. One of the confusions I guess that I might have had is I was in a judicial race back last year, and we were only allowed -- even though there were several seats, we were only allowed to pledge and put in a letter of intent for one spot. We were not allowed to run for multiple seats. So I was kind of under the same impression that we were under that same obligation here.

Had I known that it was open to -- to put in for other slots, we might could have covered that base a little bit better than what was done because it's very unfortunate. I consider Dr. Dozier one of my closest friends, and, I mean, it's very unfortunate that we're in the same race. But I think that part of the confusion -- and it might just have been my misunderstanding based on my experience in the judicial race process.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Emery, good to see you.
MS. EMERY: Good to see you.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Back up here again, obviously, to do this. And I appreciate your willingness to serve as well. And it was a pleasure getting to know you while you were running for your judgeship.
MS. EMERY: Yes, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Is that in your future again? Is that something you'd like to do as well, pursue another judgeship?
MS. EMERY: Well, if I recover from the last process. Because this -- this is -- this is an intense process, but I will dare say it is not quite as rigorous as the judicial process, election process. That is not something that I have given up on by far. I am very passionate about family court. And I think that came across in my election -- my candidacy in my family court race. And can I say that that is something that I would not strive for if the opportunity came available? I probably would, if that opportunity came available. Right now there's nothing that I'm aware of that's coming down the pike, and so that was one of the things I was torn about is if I had won the candidacy for the bench, I would have had to give up my seat at Francis Marion which is my heart. So I think now that there's an upside to not prevailing in the judicial race in that it allows me to continue to serve my home.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Absolutely. And I commend your service. Obviously, you've been with Francis Marion for a long time. Can you tell me, or tell the panel, a little bit about the changes that you've seen in your 15 years serving on the Board and the direction of the University?
MS. EMERY: I sure can. When I first came on the Board, we had a different president, Dr. Vickers. And within the first year of my tenure on the Board, we made a change in the presidency from Dr. Vickers to Dr. Carter. And that was probably one of the most positive things that a Board could do for its school, is to place Dr. Carter at the helm of the school. We have grown in tuition. We have grown in -- with relationship to the community. I'm sorry, not tuition, enrollment, sorry. I apologize, Enrollment. And our relationship to the community. We are actually welcomed out, and the Board is allowed a more active role out at the school.

I remember one time when Dr. Vickers was there, and I was the youngest one ever elected to the Board. I was 28 when I first started on the Board, and I still had a good relationship with a lot of my professors. And they would invite me back out to speak to some of their prelaw classes and political science classes. And I remember going out, and Dr. Vickers did not want me out there. He was very concerned about the mixture of trustee going out into the classes; whereas, Dr. Carter welcomes the involvement. Welcomes it. Because he realizes that a lot of the Board members are former students at Francis Marion, and it's good for the students to look and say I can be that if I work hard.

But we have grown tremendously. I think the involvement of the community out at the school is wonderful. We've grown in the nursing. We have a new nursing school. We have -- the business school has grown. We've got the performing arts center now out in Florence that is in conjunction with the school. We've got a huge new sports complex, and so we have seen remarkable changes and managed to keep the tuition down, not up.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: That's excellent to hear.

And, Mr. Chairman, at the appropriate time, I'd move to find Ms. Emery qualified.
SENATOR PEELER: Sure.

Mr. Mack.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

You've just answered the question I was going to ask about your 15 years experience. But I just wanted to make a comment. I think that your experience and perspective is very valuable to the school and for other folks looking to be trustees.
MS. EMERY: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Mr. Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Ms. Emery, I just want to thank you for your service. Your life's just been a true success story.
MS. EMERY: Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I want just to say that it's a real shame that we're going to lose an outstanding member, whether it's you or Dr. Dozier. I wish Francis Marion had done it differently because the state of South Carolina is going to be the loser somewhere on this.
MS. EMERY: I appreciate you saying that.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any other questions?

Senator McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: Let me say quickly that both of these candidates we know well. You've served, I guess as it says here, some 15 years, and I think Dr. Dozier has served some 22, 23 years. Both very qualified. I would say to you, I represent Horry County as well Georgetown. But I'm a little bit partisan in the fact that I see you being a judge at some point anyway. I'm not soliciting votes for her to be a judge, but the thing is this, is that I think the system works.
MS. EMERY: Yes, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: Because protection of incumbency in this case is not the deal. What has happened is it's two incumbents running against each other. They'll have to get out at the appropriate time after screening and campaign, in which we'll win because both of you will served in some capacity. And there's no question in my mind that you're both well qualified.

That's what amazes me about the Francis Marion Board. We have such quality people running for the Francis Marion Board. It is an attraction. People want to serve on that Board, and that's a good thing. And so Fred Carter must be doing something very well. And I can tell you now, to hear a mother talk about her daughter here, family members that have graduated from the University, that speaks well. There's a lot of pride at Francis Marion.
MS. EMERY: Yes, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: So Representative McCoy moves a favorable report. Is there a second?

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Second is heard.

All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Thank you for your willingness to serve.

Next.

MS. CASTO: Next is Randall Dozier from Murrells Inlet. He is an incumbent, but he is running for at-large seat 11 as well.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning, sir.
MR. DOZIER: Good morning.

(H. Randall Dozier was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 10:19 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to continue to serve?
MR. DOZIER: Yes. My name is Randall Dozier. I'm originally from Marion County. Horry County is where I grew up. I attended Francis Marion, graduated in 1977. Kind of dates me a little bit. Been involved with Francis Marion since 1973. I was appointed in 1991 by Governor Campbell to serve a vacant seat. I have served in a variety of capacities, hold a number of chairmanships there, various committees. I presently serve as chairman of that Board and have done a lot of work there, certainly seen a lot of changes over the years, have a scholarship in the family name. I have a lot of projects that we're working and would like to continue serve the people and the students of the Pee Dee, especially Georgetown, access to Francis Marion, would like to continue in that capacity.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any comments or questions of Dr. Dozier?

Senator McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: Dr. Dozier, presently it states in here that you're the chairman of the Board of Trustees. How long have you been chairman?
MR. DOZIER: I've been chairman since 2011, sir. Two years this July.
SENATOR MCGILL: What is the -- the fiscal strength of Francis Marion?
MR. DOZIER: Well, financially, I guess as you look at it, I think we probably are doing fairly well compared to most. Our tuition is relatively low compared to other state universities. But I would tell you that the quality of education I think is very high. We're very proud of what's going on with Francis Marion with the new nursing program, new nurse practicer, engineering degree that will start fairly soon. I think probably, like myself, I would not have been able to access college if it hadn't been for Francis Marion. It certainly gave me a strong foundation. I still have a number of friends and acquaintances I've had over the years.
SENATOR MCGILL: And presently you're Superintendent of Education of Georgetown County?
MR. DOZIER: Yes, I am.
SENATOR MCGILL: And the question is, what does it take to get into Francis Marion, SAT?
MR. DOZIER: Well, the average SAT, I'm not sure I would have been able to get in now since it's risen so high. But, certainly, it's a little higher. The quality of students that we have is higher. I will tell you though that about 95 percent of our kids are from the Pee Dee. We serve the Pee Dee. My only interest is -- in being a trustee is to make sure that continues and that students have access to a quality education, but not also that they graduate but also stay in the area and work and be productive citizens for the area of the Pee Dee.
SENATOR MCGILL: You know, that's the whole question, Chairman, and the end result, is that this past Christmas a year ago, I spoke with the graduating class at Clemson University, some 1,200 graduates. And that was the message I gave to the graduates. You need to locate here in South Carolina, and if you can't, then try to stay as close in touch, not just with the University, but the business community and the culture of the state. My thought pattern, Dr. Dozier, that -- that Francis Marion is on a fast track for positive, progressive growth.

What is the cost of a student to go, roughly?
MR. DOZIER: You know, I really -- tuition, since I'm not paying tuition right now, I think it's probably about, a little over 8,000 per semester maybe -- or maybe that's for the year, exclusive of room and board -- maybe 8,500, somewhere in that range. I'm sorry to say I don't pay it anymore, thankfully. My child graduated, so -- but he went to College of Charleston. It's in the lower percentile though. As far as the other public institutions, I think we're probably toward the bottom.
SENATOR MCGILL: What is the toughest decision that a trustee has to make at the University?
MR. DOZIER: Well, primarily, we deal with policy, procedure. With President Fred Carter, it's not really hard being a trustee. You know, I defer to him for most things. We do have a number of conversations during the course of the year, course of the month as chairman. For me, as chairman attending, it's certainly an issue. You know, I probably attend one to two to three events a month now, which is a lot more than just a regular trustee. You know, day-to-day for us, being visible, being supportive of the faculty, having access and conversations about what their needs are, certainly, as any faculty, I think salaries and benefits certainly is a priority for us.
SENATOR MCGILL: One last question. Y'all just built a baseball stadium at Francis Marion?
MR. DOZIER: Yes. Athletic complex. Not only baseball. Softball, soccer, try to cover all the facets of Title 9 so it's fairly comprehensive.
SENATOR MCGILL: Is it true that Francis Marion defeated the baseball team at the University of South Carolina?
MR. DOZIER: Yes, it is, 5 to 4.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Can I have that repeated? I didn't hear that.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: It's being recorded.
MR. DOZIER: And they haven't been back either. So as far as getting them there, they haven't returned, so it's an open invitation for them to come back.
SENATOR PEELER: Dr. McGill from Clemson University, anymore questions?
SENATOR MCGILL: No more questions.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Following up on that last question from Dr. McGill, which game was that that -- was that the inaugural game of the new stadium?
MR. DOZIER: I think it was. I think it was the first game in that stadium that night where we had a sellout crowd. It was a very important event. It's an important event for Florence and Francis Marion. You know, we look at people coming and ticket revenue and economy and the impact it had. I think it was really positive. We thank them for coming.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I was just curious here. Looking now, I think I heard you say you grew up in Marion?
MR. DOZIER: Actually Mullins, Marion County.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mullins, Marion County. But your career as a teacher began in Greenville County?
MR. DOZIER: Greenville. I spent 22 years in Greenville, and that's where I hooked up, I guess, with Governor Campbell and a number of people that I've met that I still have friendships with.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Was that because of a coaching position there that took you to Greenville?
MR. DOZIER: It was because I was getting married. I needed a job, and that's where I got one. It's important to be gainfully employed right before you get married.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I understand that. One last question, Mr. Chairman.

As far as your attendance on the Board, how would you classify your attendance of Board meetings?
MR. DOZIER: Senator, I can't remember the last time I've missed a meeting. I certainly haven't missed a meeting in the last two years as chairman, and, again, attendance is something that I take -- how do I say -- utmost. I think they expect you to be at those events and attend. If you're not there, you can't have an input, so I try not to miss.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Physical security of the campus, do you think -- do you want to comment on that, how secure the campus is?
MR. DOZIER: Well, I would assume this is pure as any in state. We have our own University police, and I know they make that a priority. I guess you're referring back to other incidents that have happened throughout.
SENATOR PEELER: Right.
MR. DOZIER: I know they have a plan with regards to notifying folks or -- a lot of people live on that campus in dorms, but not as many. It's still primarily a commuter college where most of those percentage commute and drive back and forth, and so you do have a lot of people coming and going during the day. So it's something that certainly causes concern and we do talk about from time to time.
SENATOR PEELER: How about cyber security? Do you have anything?
MR. DOZIER: Well, I know somebody mentioned technology. I know we've been operating our technology and going to more to wireless, and the dorms have that. And I would assume that the firewalls and things that they have are comparable to most state universities.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any other questions or comments?
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I'd just like to make one comment.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Dr. Dozier, thank you for your service to not only K-12 but to higher ed. I've looked at your resume. Very impressive.
MR. DOZIER: Thank you, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: Move favorable.
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
MR. DOZIER: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you for your service. And I would like to echo what's been commented before. It's a real shame that one of you's got to step down. A lot of institutional knowledge there. I wish it had worked out differently, but we have two fine candidates.

All right.

MS. CASTO: That concludes Francis Marion. The College of Charleston is the next Board to be examined.

(Off-the-record conference.)
MS. CASTO: Ms. Daniel is an incumbent. She is running for the 1st Congressional District. The seat's to expire in 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning.
MS. DANIEL: Good morning.
SENATOR PEELER: How are you?
MS. DANIEL: Very well.

(L. Cherry Daniel was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 10:30 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Ms. Daniel, would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to continue to serve on the College of Charleston Board?
MS. DANIEL: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I appreciate you allowing me to come before you today. I'm a graduate of the College of Charleston, 1975. My younger sister is also a graduate, 1974. My deceased mother attended the College of Charleston. My deceased two uncles graduated from the College of Charleston and went on to become very influential attorneys in South Carolina.

Both my sister and myself, we worked our way through school on a work-study scholarship, and it made it accessible for us to afford to go to the college because we were one of seven children. We graduated, I'm proud to say, without incurring any debt, and we both went on to become teachers. I've been on the Board for 17 years as a trustee. Eight of those 17, I've served as the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, and I also serve on the Executive Committee. The college, needless to say, has given so much to me and my family. It means the world to me. It's a great place. I feel very humbled to serve on there, and I really appreciate the fact that I'm able to give my educational experience that I've had for 32 years in public education, give that knowledge and that experience back to the college to make some real good decisions for our students in our school.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. You also serve on the Work Force Investment Board?
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir. I was appointed by the governor several years ago, but I no longer serve on that.
SENATOR PEELER: So you're not on that?
MS. DANIEL: No, sir. I don't serve on that any more.
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. Any questions or comments?

Representative Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Ms. Daniel, for your service and your enthusiasm for the University. First time I met you, what I remember is your enthusiasm. Let me ask you a question, and I made the comment to Representative McCoy a minute ago. I'm not exactly sure how to go here, but I'm going to go here. And that is, that I hear that there are some issues with different Board members maybe having disagreements with the current college president, and I won't say anything more. I just wanted to ask you to comment on that, what your opinion -- what's that about, and, you know, do you see -- what is your opinion of the president? I honestly -- I have no intent. I mean, if he walked in the door, I probably wouldn't know who he is. So it's not like I have an agenda. But when I hear that and I know that we're appointing new trustees, I feel like I would like to kind of get a handle on what's going on and where people that are running for this Board fall out in that whole situation.
MS. DANIEL: Sure. And that's a fair question. You know, everybody has a different style, management style. And I think that whether you're a superintendent, whether you're a head of a school, like myself, or whether you're a college president, you're going to have people that disagree with certain strategies and certain ways that you go in deciding on decisions. You know, presently, we are supportive of President Benson. And, you know, until -- I think he's got a two year -- two years left on his contract. And so, you know, you're going to hear, you know, unfortunately, people will talk because they, perhaps, do not like his management style. His management style has never bothered me. He's a real nice guy. Actually, if you get to know him, he's a super guy. But I think that sometimes, because our school has grown so fast -- we've added so many majors; we're exploding down in the low country. We really are. And I think that that has got people real nervous. I really do. I think that's got people real nervous, and that parlays into maybe some unfounded criticism.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Daniel, my fellow James Islander, I want to say first of all, thank you for being here, and thank you for your service to the College of Charleston. I think they're a very lucky institution to have you.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: And your education background and your commitment to education of not only our college students but our youth as well is to be commended.

And could you tell the board a little bit about -- I just think it's fascinating -- your virtual charter school and -- and you sharing that.
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir. Well, Mr. Whitmire was very helpful in the charter school movement. And the charter school is all about choices for students, giving the students other options that they don't have in their respective communities. And we serve online students, kindergarten through 12th grade. We have about -- almost 4,000 students in our school.

We've exceeded many of the end-of-course tests with our students. Our students have done very well. We're working on our PASS scores, but the other scores, the ASAT scores in the high school has done very, very well. We have -- we're the -- one of two virtual schools -- actually, one of -- two of five virtual schools that have done well on the report card. So we're real excited about it. This is our fifth year. We're growing, but we want to make sure that we're growing reasonably, just like at the College of Charleston. Any board that we want, we want it to be manageable.

We want to make sure that we have the resources to give our students at the College of Charleston a quality experience and also so they can become gainfully employed.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Ms. Daniel, in your 17 years of being on the Board, can you tell this panel a little bit of how you've seen the college change?
MS. DANIEL: Gosh. You know, it's so funny. Seventeen years ago, first of all, we had our diversity -- our diverse population -- our African-American enrollment was probably around 6 percent. Now it's 14 percent. It's because of the initiatives that we've put in place. We've got an office in diversity. We've got a great program called -- by Mr. Breland, your dear friend. He's done a terrific job in getting African-American males into the teaching profession, getting involved in the schools of education, to train them to become teachers so that they can go out into the word. And all of them have already been promised jobs thus far. That's been a big thing.

Another milestone that's happened is, as you know, we have a terrific problem in South Carolina in child obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes. You name it, we've got a real problem in our state with some health issues. We've implemented or established a major of public health, and right now we have about 300 majors in that. We're projecting that to be 7- or 800 majors in the next three years, in which we've seen that significantly grow. And that literally parlays out -- it parlays what's out in the workforce in the 21st, to get those jobs.

So we're training our future leaders of tomorrow in today's workforce for the 21st Century, so we've done a good job with that.

We're also constantly looking at ways to cut costs. We're conducting a cost-containment study on our operations. You know, down at the college, if you've gone around the campus you see we're in a lot of the old buildings, and maintenance is rather high, so we've done a lot of working and looking at how we can reconfigure our allocation and our revenue because there's not going to be any more revenue. You know, we know that, and we've got to what we call go our own and make sure that we spend those dollars very wisely. So we've kept tuition down. We've grown in a very -- I think a very reasonable and very smart way. And we've implemented majors that parlay into jobs when our students graduate. So our students are not going to be having a bill of $60,000 and coming out and not having a job. So I think we've done a wonderful job in that respect. It's grown. It's not the same school that I started on 17 years ago by any means, but it's really -- it's exciting to be here.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Ms. Daniel, thank you.

And at the appropriate time, Mr. Chairman, I would move for a favorable report.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative Mack.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Daniel, I just wanted to say for the record you do a phenomenal job as a member of the Board. You are -- from what I've seen over the years, you've been the face of the college. We see you at everything --
MS. DANIEL: I take it very seriously.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: -- whether it's small, large. I mean, you know, it's almost like there's more than one of you.
MS. DANIEL: My mother was glad there was only one of me.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: But I just wanted to say for the record and for the Board, you do a great job, and we appreciate your service to the college, and I think that you are a great representative of what a Board member should be.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate that.
SENATOR PEELER: Ms. Daniel, have you every heard of Twitter or tweeting?
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir, but I don't do that.
SENATOR PEELER: I know that. You couldn't because you must say what you're going to say in 140 characters or less.
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?

Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Briefly, if I could, Mr. Chairman, certainly, one, I concur in the comments by Representative Mack, and so I won't repeat those.

How has your attendance record been in your tenure on the Board?
MS. DANIEL: Sir, I've missed one meeting, to my knowledge, in 17 years, and that was because I had a horrible skiing accident, and I literally couldn't sit.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. And I want to commend you. In your statement for us, you mentioned that the Board did not increase tuition in in-states students in the '11-'12.
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: What was the increase for '12-'13?
MS. DANIEL: I think it was less than Senator Leatherman's recommendation of 2.3 percent, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. Thank you for your being a good steward of the tax dollars from that standpoint.

And the last thing is, with your great success with the virtual school, the charter school -- and I commend you for that -- where do you see that -- briefly, where do you see that in the realm of the College of Charleston?
MS. DANIEL: Thank you very much, sir. We have -- our Academic Affairs Committee is very interested in pursuing looking at online programs for the College of Charleston. And, basically, we just conducted a task force, and we had recommendations from that task force at our last meeting, and now we're looking to see how we're going to be able to implement offering some online courses for students that, perhaps, in the summer they want to go back home maybe to Clemson or Dillon or places like that to work, you know, they can't afford to stay in Charleston, so they could take an online course.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And being the leader of a premier, virtual charter school, what has your experience been, and how would that relate to the -- the experience of being at a college institution, compared to online from that -- I know you just mentioned about the summers, but, I mean, is there a concern that people would lose that ability --
MS. DANIEL: Oh, yeah. I wouldn't say that we should offer the entire degree online. I'm not into that at all. I think that we would be another option, if you will. Many of our students that are enrolled in our public online school, they don't go to our school for four or five years. They'll go for two or three years, and then they'll go back to their home base school. And that's how I see this, is that it certainly would not replace that very rich and robust relationships of our faculty and our students enjoying a face-to-face setting.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: So it would have the ability to complement that?
MS. DANIEL: Oh, absolutely, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: Let me just say, I can remember 17 and a half, 18 years ago when she was campaigning. Hasn't aged an ounce. Her academia and her excitement, I can tell you that she has been the ambassador for the College of Charleston.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: And I also can tell you that we're proud of the service that you've had, and for you to take that no vote on raising that tuition on students, that was a hard decision.
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: But I can tell you now, a lot of presidents have had a hard task, as far as increasing that rate over the years. Some have fallen, some have risen with requests, and some have not.
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: But y'all chose to do that. The College of Charleston is one of the finest educational institutions we have in this state.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: I congratulate you for your service.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.
SENATOR PEELER: And I appreciate your wonderful sense of humor. Every time I meet you in any setting, any venue, I leave with a smile.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you, sir. Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?

Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Going back to the virtuals --
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: -- you know, we were talking about that years ago. How much has that grown over the years?
MS. DANIEL: It's incredible. It's gone from 2,000 students in the first year to about 8,000 students at the present level. Right now, in my professional opinion, I think we've kind of capped out, saturated the state. And so we're -- the only issue that I have is that we can't really reach out into the real rural areas where perhaps it would be a wonderful option if you could get a high speed Internet. And I have had that conversation with Pam Lackey at AT&T. And so we're trying to look at some ways that we could partner some way, somehow to get high speed Internet in those areas.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Yes. That's always been a concern of mine.
MS. DANIEL: Yeah. It is a concern. It really is.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Okay. Thank you for what you've done on that, and also thank you for your service.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments? What's the desire of the committee.

Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: I move for a favorable report.
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is favorable.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: All in favor, please raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Please take up twittering. I want to see how you do it.

MS. CASTO: Next is Lee Mikell. Lee is from the 2nd Congressional District. He is an incumbent. His term will expire in 2016, as well.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning, sir.
MR. MIKELL: Good morning.

(G. Lee Mikell was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 10:44 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to continue to serve?
MR. MIKELL: Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I certainly wish I followed somebody else other than Cherry, but I'll try to be brief, and I'll just kind of repeat my statement there. I finished college in 1984. I have a great admiration and appreciation for the school and have enjoyed the opportunity to serve on the Board for the past eight years.

While the past few years have been difficult for higher education institutions in South Carolina and around the country, I'm pleased with the progress that has been made at the College of Charleston. Enrollment applications continued to reach record levels. For instance, this past year, we had roughly 14,000 application for roughly 2,100 freshman positions. Admission standards remain high, and the school continues to receive high ratings from outside organizations such as the Princeton Review and Barron's Best Buys In College Education.

Like other state institutions, the College of Charleston is faced with the hard task of maintaining a balance between providing a high-quality education experience for our students while also ensuring the school remains affordable and accessible. The College of Charleston has completed a detailed strategic plan that I think guides us towards that balance. I've been honored and appreciate the opportunity the General Assembly has given me previously to serve on the Board, and I look forward to continuing to commit the time and resources necessary to continue if re-elected by the general assembly.
SENATOR PEELER: Great. Any questions or comments?
SENATOR MCGILL: Move favorable report.
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. Good.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Can I have --
SENATOR PEELER: Okay.
SENATOR MCGILL: I will hold it back.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I just noticed on here too, your spouse, just for the record, I think is involved in a venture, is that right, that may or may not do business with the state?
MR. MIKELL: Yes.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: But would it be my understanding that any of that would be through a procurement bid process that would go through that process to procure any of those services?
MR. MIKELL: Yes, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. So, for the record, I wanted that to be reflected. And I would second the motion.
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. Any other questions or comments before we take a vote?

Being none, all in favor of a favorable report, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you for your willingness to serve.

Next candidate.

MS. CASTO: The next candidate's Edward Thomas. He's from Anderson, representing the 3rd Congressional District. His term will expire in 2016 as well.

(Edward L. Thomas was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 10:47 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you want to serve?
MR. THOMAS: Well, I'm a graduate of the college. I feel like I received a good education there. I went to dental school in Charleston, and I feel like the college definitely laid the groundwork, you know, for my succeeding there. I've got a daughter that's a senior at the College of Charleston. I think she's the one that kind of got me peaked or interested in pursuing this seat.

My kids are either in college, or they're out of the house. I have time to devote to do it. I have a sincere interest in the wellbeing of the college. And it's just something I've kind of always wanted to do, be more involved with the college. Living in the upstate, it's kind of hard to get down to Charleston very much.
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. Any questions or comments?
SENATOR MCGILL: I'd like to ask him a question.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: What year did you graduate from MUSC?
MR. THOMAS: '78.
SENATOR MCGILL: '78. And so you've been in practice. Are you still in practice?
MR. THOMAS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR MCGILL: And you said your daughter --
MR. THOMAS: Senior at the College of Charleston.
SENATOR MCGILL: Senior at college.
MR. THOMAS: She'll graduate in May.
SENATOR MCGILL: With pride. You know, I had Alexander call me at one time trying to help a student get in, Mr. Chairman, and I said, the young lady's been accepted at Clemson. She'd been accepted at the University, and I know she can get in at the College of Charleston. He said wrong. He said, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you've got to go a long way to get into the College of Charleston academically and across the board. What a statement Alex made, former Senator, and great reputation.
MR. THOMAS: Yeah. That -- the school -- I don't -- I'm not as well-informed as Ms. Daniel is on everything but...
SENATOR PEELER: Nobody is.
MR. THOMAS: I'm just glad that Lee went right after her. At least I got a little bit of a buffer. She's a hard act to follow. But I started in '72. I think the school had only been two years state-supported, and it only had like 1,000 students and just watching how it has grown and how they manage their resources well...
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman, beautiful campus. I believe Senator McConnell and Senator Ravenel both attended the College of Charleston.
SENATOR PEELER: That explains it. You put it in Gaffnese.

Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.

Just for the record as well, and thank you for your willingness to serve and the work that you do, listed on here. Those are -- the claims that you have, those are just general work that you do through insurance, filing claims, things of that nature, is that right, for work that's performed from that standpoint?
MR. THOMAS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Good deal. Thank you, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions and comments? What's the desire of the committee?
SENATOR MCGILL: Move favorable.
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is a favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Second is favorable. All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to serve.
MR. THOMAS: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Good luck.

Next candidate.

MS. CASTO: Next one is Kelly Moorhead. Ms. Moorhead -- this is an open seat. This is the 4th Congressional District with a term to expire in 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning.
MS. MOORHEAD: Good morning.

(Kelly Moorhead was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 10:51 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with us why you'd like to serve?
MS. MOORHEAD: Yes, thank you. I graduated from the college in 1999 with a degree in business administration. I'm thankful for my college education as it gave me foundation to be successful in the workplace and in the community.

I would like to serve on the College of Charleston Board for two reasons. I would like to be a part of continuing to make the college a special place for its students, faculty, staff and alumni, and I also believe I can make a difference.

As you may know, the College of Charleston is the oldest college or university in the state of South Carolina. But what you probably don't know is that because of the growth the college has experienced over the past years, it has a very young alumni base. Approximately 70 percent of the alumni graduated after 1993.

I'm so proud to be a graduate of the College of Charleston. I'm very thankful for this opportunity. I know the college will be an affordable and accessible higher education institution in our state.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any questions or comments?

Representative Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you, Ms. Moorhead. I know both of these ladies are from Greenville and from the 4th District. Tell me a little bit about your involvement with the school since you've left. Involvement in clubs or committees or alumni groups, or whatever.
MS. MOORHEAD: Sure. I have been involved at the College of Charleston, not in Charleston, but I have been involved with the alumni group in Greenville. As you all know, Greenville has the second largest alumni base in the state of South Carolina, second to Charleston, of course. Especially over the past two years, I've probably gone to every alumni event that we've had. And being the second largest alumni base in the state, we probably have about six to eight active alumni members. I think that's a bad statistic.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: What about other community boards and service and things that you've been involved in?
MS. MOORHEAD: Sure. I'm involved in Leadership Greenville. I'm a graduate of Leadership Greenville. I'm currently doing DLI at the Riley Institute, which is a fascinating course. I'm a mentor. I'm mentoring for a youth center. I've coached high school church basketball for Christ Church. And then my work on the alumni board and then other activities work-related.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: All right. Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Morehead, thank you for your willingness to come forward and willingness to serve. Can you tell the panel a little bit about what you would expect to do as a new board member to the College of Charleston Board, maybe one of your first goals or first ideas you would like to see.
MS. MOORHEAD: Well, I don't think you can kind of come in on a board as a newbie or a rookie and blaze your ideas. I think it's a good idea or good thought to sit back and kind of learn a lit bit about what's going on at the college, understand the management style of the president, understand how the Board works, the Board chair, how he likes to run his Board.

So what I would like to see is continue the tradition of keeping tuition low. And I also played basketball at the College of Charleston, so maybe I could offer a little insight on the athletics portion there. Also, like I said, 70 percent of the alumni graduated after 1993, which is who I am. So hopefully I can bring a little bit of interest and energy to the youth of the alumni base.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: And I think what you said is very accurate. I learned from my esteemed colleagues and senators who have been here for a long time, and it's sometimes good to sit back and learn from folks that have done it for a little while. And y'all are this close, NCAA tournament. (Indicating)
MS. MOORHEAD: That's right.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: That's all. Thank you for being here.
MS. MOOREHEAD: Thank you very much.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I just wanted to -- with your employment, would you anticipate any problem with you having the ability to attend board meetings or any events from that standpoint?
MS. MOORHEAD: Not at all. I have worked really closely with the president of our company. He is very supportive of me dong this. He is very supportive of women in leadership roles in his company and in the community, so I have the full support of my office.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I want you to know, Ms. Moorhead, I'm going to vote you out even though you're making me feel very old. My daughter graduated in 2000 from the College of Charleston, and I --
SENATOR PEELER: You are old.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I knew he'd say something.

But thank you for your willingness to serve. I think, you know, a lot of times the colleges have folks in my age bracket, and maybe sometimes we need some youthful perspective, so good luck to you.
MS. MOORHEAD: Thank you very much.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR MCGILL: Move for favorable report.
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is favorable. Is there a second?

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Second is heard. All in favor, please raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
MS. MOORHEAD: Thank you very much.
SENATOR PEELER: We appreciate your willingness to serve.
MS. MOORHEAD: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Next candidate.

MS. CASTO: Next is Renee Romberger. She is from Greenville and is running for the 4th Congressional seat as well.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning.
MS. ROMBERGER: Good morning.

(Renee Buyck Romberger was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 10:56 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with us why you'd like to serve?
MS. ROMBERGER: Sure. I'm in the healthcare business, and as a healthcare professional, I see firsthand every day the impact that education has on the health of our state. And I have a -- as a graduate of the College of Charleston and a long-time supporter of the college, I have a real desire and interest to continue my service.

I've been involved with the college on a number of levels over the passed 30 years. And I'd love to be as young as Kelly, but I graduated in 1981. Since that time, I've served on the alumni board as a young mom, and then I helped to found the alumni association in the upstate. I've served on that board. I've served on the national board for the alumni association. I just completed my tenure on the College of Charleston Foundation Board of Directors, and that really was a great opportunity to contribute and give back to the college and see firsthand the impact that the college does and can make in the future of our state.

I am firmly grounded in the belief that we need to keep tuition low, that we need to keep our colleges, our public institutions, open and available to students in South Carolina. I know that if we're going to improve the health of the state that we've got to be able to make sure that we have educated young folks in the state.

So it is my passion and belief in giving back and continuing my service that drives me to want to serve on the Board of Trustees.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Questions or comments?

Representative Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you, Ms. Romberger for your service. And I know that you have been involved for many years with the University. As a healthcare professional -- I know your husband is too. He's at Shriners -- obviously, you know, healthcare is one of the growing job markets, and I was glad to see that the college has added -- maybe that was Francis Marion. Talk to me a little bit about the University as far where you see -- I know like biology and some of the sciences are real big there, that maybe your input in healthcare could help. What would be some ideas you might have as far as things that they could do to continue to improve jobs, you know, for students in that industry and maybe changes that you might see that -- might need to do to respond to the growing need for healthcare?
MS. ROMBERGER: Sure. Well, first let me say that I agree with, I think, Kelly who said this before me, that if I were elected and coming in as a new trustee, I would walk in with eyes open and wanting to see it from a trustee perspective and not assuming that I've got a global perspective, having served on the Board of Directors at the foundation for eight years. But the college has had a rich tradition of graduating future physicians and nurses in South Carolina, physical therapists, pretty much across the healthcare spectrum.

Oftentimes you see students graduating from the College of Charleston and moving on to the medical University or USC through their programs. So certainly as a clinician, we have a very strong background to support South Carolina. But also, more recently, the school of education has moved in to adding a public health degree. And I feel extremely passionately about that because what I know is in healthcare today, we've got to get out of the focus of just staying isolated, hospitals or doctors or specific realms, but really looking at how we integrate and work together. And that whole public health degree is one that I think will really help improve the health of the state because it will force us to really look more globally at how healthcare is a continuing and not just episodic care.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Okay.
SENATOR PEELER: Questions, comments?

Representative Mack.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I just wanted to say I know Ms. Romberger well, and, you know, what you see is what you get. She's very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, very much involved in the community aspects, and I think she'd be a great person to have an opportunity to serve.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.

And I do appreciate your work in the healthcare field and your work in the community. Again, I guess along the consistent theme I've had, as far as your ability to serve on the Board with your responsibilities, how would that fit in from your perspective?
MS. ROMBERGER: I have a great track record of once I commit to something, I commit. And if I'm elected to serve on the Board of Trustees, then I will be there at every meeting. I believe that you've got to be present and be visible and be involved if you're going to serve.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: Very briefly, we know that education and healthcare go hand-in-hand. And there is no question that your background will bring strength, not just academic strength, but it will bring finance and healthcare strength. And it is the future. Young people that don't have a good healthcare plan or don't have a good academic background and don't have retirement -- you can have five million in the bank, but you can lose that five million in short order not having the proper healthcare. So I think that you have been a great asset to this state, the short time that I've known you. I met you several weeks ago at this walk-in thing, but I've talked to other people, and we look forward to the opportunity to seeing what happens with you and the other person that's running too.

That young lady that's running, what a great testament that she's wanting to get active so young and serve on that board. I'm telling you, Mr. Chairman, every candidate that we have, it's just remarkable that there's that strong desire to support the university that they graduated from.

And we commend you and the young lady that's running both.
MS. ROMBERGER: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Move for favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Motion made for favorable and a second. All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Appreciate your willingness to serve.

MS. CASTO: The next candidate is Robert Burch. He is from Camden. There are three candidates running for the 5th Congressional Seat. There are no incumbents. It's an open seat, and the term expires in 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: So this is for Seat 10, right?
MS. CASTO: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: How are you, sir?
MR. BURCH: Great. Good morning.

(Robert M. Burch III was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 11:03 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you would like to serve?
MR. BURCH: Sure. Back in the fall of 1996, I was a 17-year-old kid, and my parents dropped me off in the dorm at the College of Charleston and left. And I was on my own at that point. I financed my way through school with student loans and worked hard. With an accounting degree, I graduated in 2000. I have two siblings that attended there. I met my wife on the first day of class, so it's a special place to me, and I just want to give back. And now that I have the time to do that in my career, you know, it's something that I hold dear, as I said, and I'd just love to give back and help the college to continue to prosper.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. I notice on the information that the company that you're affiliated with as a controller that contracts with the College of Charleston. How would you handle that?
MR. BURCH: Yes, sir. As of right now, we're not currently not doing any work for the school. We had done some work in the past. But if there were ever an issue, I would recuse myself and, obviously, not participate in the vote or...
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any other questions or comments?

Ms. Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Consistent with my line of questions here, have you been involved with the university over the years since you've started your professional career in committees or alumni groups or anything like that?
MR. BURCH: Yes, ma'am. While I was in school, I was a member of the Student Alumni Associates and also the Charleston 40 which is an ambassador group. And then after school, after college, we joined the alumni associations, lifetime members, stayed active, you know, participated in the local alumni groups, still try to attend the functions. There's a big one coming up in May around graduation. So we still have friends there.

My wife worked in the alumni office. And also when we were in school, she was a student worker in the admissions office. So we still have strong ties to the school and keep in touch. And now that I'm in Camden, it's harder to get back down there, but we do try to stay active as much as we can, yeah.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: What would be some of your top priorities as a new Board member or as a member of the Board as far as for the University, the reasons why you would want to serve?
MR. BURCH: I would like to, first, get in there and learn the issues, learn the school, you know, kind of get a feel for what's going on, and then, you know, if -- for the things that come up to us, I would take it and kind of use it as a common-sense approach, is it good for the school overall and for the state. And, you know, as far as an agenda or priorities, at this point, there are none, just to help the school continue to prosper and to provide a quality education.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Other questions, comments?

Mr. Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Thank you.

Mr. Burch, I am looking at your work that you have done for the College of Charleston in the amount of -- what is it -- about $45,000 over the -- in the last few years; is that correct?

Have I got the wrong one?
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Millions.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I'm sorry, millions. Yes, $45 million.

Is that going to have any impact on, you know, with you getting so many large contracts with the college? Will that affect you at all?
MR. BURCH: I was not employed with the company, my present employer, at the time they did that work.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Okay.
MR. BURCH: I was not employed. I started with them in December.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Okay. So you had nothing to do with that?
MR. BURCH: No, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Okay.
MR. BURCH: And my pay is a base salary and a bonus tied to performance, not tied to profitability or anything. I've contacted the state Ethics Commission and got a general ruling that I should proceed with this and that as long as I recuse myself of any potential conflicts...
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: In the future?
MR. BURCH: Yes, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Okay. That's all I need to know.   Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Good. Glad you did that. Thank you.

Any other questions or comments?

Being none, what's the desire of the committee?
SENATOR MCGILL: Move for favorable report.
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is a favorable report. And a second?

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to serve.

Next candidate.

MS. CASTO: Next candidate is Pansy King-Reid from Fort Mill. This is the 5th Congressional seat as well. The term expires 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning.
MS. KING-REID: Good morning.

(Pansy King-Reid was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 11:08 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to serve?
MS. KING-REID: Well, I'm not a graduate of the College of Charleston. I'm a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina which is a liberal arts college. And I feel like I can bring diversity to the Board. When I was helping with Johnson C. Smith, I was a philanthropist. I gave over $250,000 a year for six years. And now that I'm a marketing director, I feel like that I can help the College of Charleston do the same thing.
SENATOR PEELER: I was looking over the information. You're currently a marketing director for Chestnut Law Firm.
MS. KING-REID: Yes.
SENATOR PEELER: In Gainesville, Florida?
MS. KING-REID: Our home office is based in Gainesville, Florida.
SENATOR PEELER: But you work in Fort Mill now?
MS. KING-REID: I live -- based in South Carolina, yes.
SENATOR PEELER: And it shows you haven't filed a tax return in the last five years?
MS. KING-REID: No, I haven't.
SENATOR PEELER: How did you get by with that?
MS. KING-REID: I was a stay-at-home mom, and alimony and child support, basically child support.
SENATOR PEELER: So your home address is?
MS. KING-REID: 130 Melbourne Drive Fort Mill, South Carolina.
SENATOR PEELER: And your name is Pansy Ellen Louise King? MS. KING-REID: Pansy Ellen Louise King-Reid. I was divorced. I'm a Reid, so I'm Pansy King Reid.
SENATOR PEELER: Is that what's on your driver's license? Have you had a chance to change that yet?
MS. KING-REID: No, I haven't because what happened, when I went to get my driver's license back in South Carolina, I had a Virginia driver's license, and it just popped up Pansy King because I got my license in South Carolina, but my Social Security card and everything says Reid.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you, ma'am.

Any other -- Mr. Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Ms. King-Reid, can you give me, or us, your vision for the College of Charleston as far as what you want to see in the future?
MS. KING-REID: Well, what I would like to see is more diversity on the Board. And I feel like what I can bring is diversity. I'm a minority. I'm an African-American woman, and my views may be a little different, but I won't go in there trying to change anything. I feel like you need to be mentored into anything that you go into. So I would sit down and discuss things with the Board and see what I can see, what I can bring to them.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Can you expound on what you mean by your views might be different?
MS. KING-REID: Well, by me being an African-American woman and having two -- two teeners, one a sophomore in college and one that's about to go to college, my views may be coming from more so as a parent and raising teenagers.

I just know higher education is everything to my family. And sometimes young people don't have the proper things to get into college, and as a Board member, I can bring the aspects of maybe sitting down with some of the students that are trying to get in there that can't afford to go, and we come up with different ways to help them get into college.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Do you know if there are any African-American members on the Board presently? I don't know.
MS. KING-REID: I think it's one.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: One. All right, thank you. SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.

And thank you for your willingness to serve and for being here this morning. I wanted to go back. I want to know if I understood correctly. You have a South Carolina driver's license now?
MS. KING-REID: Oh, yes. I've had a South Carolina driver's license.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: It's just not the correct name?
MS. KING-REID: Yes. You're right.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. And it reflects -- your driver's license reflects the address that's on your information here?
MS. KING-REID: Yes.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: As far as the part of the filling out of the information, is the state Ethics Commission state -- statement of economic interest. Are you aware of that form?
MS. KING-REID: Yes. I filled that out.
SENATOR PEELER: Would you get with --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman, the form I've got before me, I've got the form, but I see nothing marked on the form whatsoever.
MS. KING-REID: Ms. Julie Price had called me, and I submitted it. I had left that out. I didn't know that -- I put it in the packet, but I spoke with her and she put it back in there.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Well, I've got -- we just need to get staff, if we could -- I mean, we've got the form.
MS. CASTO: We've got the form. She did not -- she filled out the first page, and that is all that is complete.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: But there's nothing that's related to any of the questions. Are you aware -- did you fill out one of the forms that has -- did you answer the questions, or did you just do the first page?
MS. KING-REID: I think I did.
SENATOR PEELER: Do you want to show it to us?
MS. CASTO: You have it in your packet, don't you? Didn't Julie give you a copy of --
SENATOR PEELER: We'll just take a few minutes, for the record.

(Off-the-record conference.)
MS. KING-REID: You're talking about page 1?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman, I'm talking about pages 2, 3, and 4.
MS. KING-REID: I have page 1 and 2 filled out. The one that's -- the interests.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And if you don't have it --
MS. KING-REID: No, I don't. I didn't have any interests to anything.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I think for the record, Mr. Chairman, we need to get that completed.
SENATOR PEELER: Yeah. You need to complete that.
MS. KING-REID: Okay.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
SENATOR PEELER: Ms. Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you, Senator Peeler.

I'm trying to be consistent with my questions, and so I won't ask you what your involvement with the College of Charleston has been since you're not a graduate, which we have a lot of people that apply for different boards. So my question then would be actually, what drew you -- what's your interest in the College of Charleston, specifically, that would -- you know, led you to really feel like, you know, I want to be with the College of Charleston and not Francis Marion or Lander, you know, some other school.
MS. KING-REID: Well, once -- I visit -- I work in Charleston a lot. And so I was down there and just visiting the College of Charleston and -- and I just struck an interest because it's a liberal arts school like the college that I graduated from. And I had a couple of -- my sister's friends, they graduated from there. And just talking to them and just, you know, visiting the school. And I feel like I would be an asset to them.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you.
MS. KING-REID: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: I want to get back to your driving record and your driver's license.

You currently have five points on your driver's license, and in the last eight years, you've moved several times; is that correct?
MS. KING-REID: Yes, sir. I was -- my -- my driving record, I have two speeding tickets on there in Georgia, and the tickets were -- my nieces have sickle-cell, and I was trying to get to the hospital. That's why the two tickets that are on there. So about three months ago, I took the class at York Tech to get my points back.
SENATOR PEELER: According to the records, I think it shows seven speeding tickets.
MS. KING-REID: Seven?
SENATOR PEELER: On the ten-year driving record.
MS. KING-REID: Oh. The last two that I received were in Georgia.
SENATOR PEELER: You could give Danica Patrick a run for her money.
MS. KING-REID: I --
SENATOR PEELER: Just say yes.
MS. KING-REID: Yes. Actually, I like her so...
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. Let's go back to the Chestnut Law Firm.
MS. KING-REID: Yes.
SENATOR PEELER: Does that law firm have an office in South Carolina?
MS. KING-REID: No. They don't have an office in South Carolina.
SENATOR PEELER: Are you paid? Do you receive a salary?
MS. KING-REID: Yes.
SENATOR PEELER: How long have you been working there?
MS. KING-REID: I've been working for the Chestnut Law Firm six months.
SENATOR PEELER: Have you filed a tax return?
MS. KING-REID: Yes. This year.
SENATOR PEELER: 2012. Okay. Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman, I've got a question. I want to go back to this $250,000. I want to get a better feel.

You're in marketing?
MS. KING-REID: Yes.
SENATOR MCGILL: And you helped raise funding for your alma mater?
MS. KING-REID: Yes. Actually, we didn't raise it. I was married at the time, and my ex-husband, we -- well, we raised it, but we gave it in his name.
SENATOR MCGILL: All right.
MS. KING-REID: But I'm in marketing now. That's what I do.
SENATOR MCGILL: You're a good communicator.
MS. KING-REID: Thank you.
SENATOR MCGILL: Yes, you are.
SENATOR PEELER: Mr. Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there's a lot of red flags here, but, you know, there have been other candidates with not so golden driving records. But I guess what concerns me the most is not filing a tax return over the last four -- three or four years. However, you know, I still feel like maybe we should report her out favorably and just see where things go. I don't know if that's enough to disqualify her or not, but that's just me.
MS. KING-REID: Excuse me, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Yes.
MS. KING-REID: According to my -- I was married, and my ex-husband, they said I didn't have to file a tax return because you don't file a tax return on child support.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Okay. All right.
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. If you were fortunate enough to be elected, do you plan on staying in Fort Mill for a while?
MS. KING-REID: Oh, yes. South Carolina is my home.
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. All right. And would you drive under the speed limit when you attend the meetings?
MS. KING-REID: Yes, yes.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any other questions or comments?

Hearing none, what's the desire of the committee?
SENATOR MCGILL: Move for favorable report.
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is a favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: And a second is heard. All in favor, please raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Appreciate your willingness to serve.

Next candidate.

MS. CASTO: The last candidate for the 5th Congressional District seat is Michael Todd Warrick from Sumter. It is seat number 10, it expires 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: How are you doing, sir?
DR. WARRICK: Doing well. How are you, sir?
SENATOR PEELER: Doing good.

(Michael Todd Warrick was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 11:20 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to serve?
DR. WARRICK: Certainly. As a second-generation alumnus of the College of Charleston, as well as a second-generation alumnus of the Medical University of South Carolina, I'm a product of the South Carolina higher education. At this point in my life, I enjoy a successful medical practice. I have four lovely children. I'm involved in my community, my local and state medical society, and my church. I'm at a point in my life where I'm enjoying the success both personally and professionally that institutions, like the College of Charleston, helped instill in me. I'm at a point in my life where I feel called to give back, to help others find their own personal and professional success.
SENATOR PEELER: Okay. Any questions of Dr. Warrick?

Ms. Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you, Dr. Warrick. I've got to say you don't look like you're 37 years old.
DR. WARRICK: I do get that from time to time.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: You look very young, and you've accomplished a lot in your short life so far. But I always appreciate physicians because I know how busy you are, and everybody's busy, but your willingness to offer to serve, and with a young family and all the other demands on your time, as I know well when my children were younger how hard it was to find time to do anything outside of, you know, job and home responsibilities. But what would be some things that you would be -- and, again, as I asked Ms. Romberger about being involved in healthcare, what would be some of your unique perspective or ideas or things that you would, perhaps, be able to contribute to the Board about the direction of the University, knowing where we're headed with healthcare?
DR. WARRICK: Certainly. With respect to healthcare specifically, as a physician, as a young graduate, not only do I bring energy and also a sense of purpose, but I like getting involved in institutions that have a clear mission statement, that know where they want to go. I find that in my service to the local YMCA as well as to my church. College of Charleston is a clear mission statement, and it's to provide the best education available to the students of South Carolina, unapologetically.

As a graduate, as someone who has reaped the benefits of that, I would like to help the University to foster its relationships with other universities and institutions that have helped form my personal and professional success. The Medical University of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina, and other institutions in the region and in the state are doing a tremendous effort to grow and develop, not only healthcare workers and providers, but also to do basic science research, clinical research, and expanding focus beyond there to applied engineering and other programs that foster the types of scientific developments necessary to make South Carolina a leader in the nation in developing new technology and infrastructure to provide care for not just the state citizens but also for the rest of the country.

As someone who has family ties to the universities, as someone who has recently graduated from both MUSC and the College of Charleston, I would like to see some added collaboration between those two institutions specifically, such that synergistics and exponential growth of clinical and basic science research could enable both institutions to grow and prosper, such that the rest of the state of South Carolina can enjoy those benefits.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Dr. Warrick, thank you for being here. It's been a pleasure to get to talk to you and get to know you over the past couple of weeks as well. You certainly have the ties to the College of Charleston, and you certainly have the ties to MUSC. And what you spoke about, about creating more of a relationship between those two institutions, I think would be an excellent idea as well. And I don't know if you can answer this. I just don't know the answer to this. Is there anybody else on that board who is a physician?
DR. WARRICK: Yes, there is. There is a gynecologist who lives in the Mt. Pleasant area. Her name is Toya Pound.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Okay. I think you would make an excellent addition. Thank you for being here today.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman, I just want to say I'm very impressed. Impressed.
DR. WARRICK: Oh, thank you, sir. Well, my wife likes to say that busy people stay busy and are effective. I would like to say to the panel, I am a father of young children. I do have a busy medical practice, but I am blessed with a very supportive family, both in Charleston -- my parents still live there, as well as my wife's family, who are all very supportive of me giving back to the community and serving the citizens in the state that they enjoy as well. REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Mr. Chairman, I think that the same Twitter analogy would also apply here.
DR. WARRICK: I tried to be brief. My wife told me to make it short.
SENATOR PEELER: I think you found the fountain of youth.
DR. WARRICK: My father's a dermatologist. I bathe in sunscreen. You can tell from my anemic glow.
SENATOR PEELER: Well, I know you're not even old enough to know who this is, but you remind me of Doogie Howser.
DR. WARRICK: I remember that show. It's on Nick At Nite now.
SENATOR PEELER: That's probably too late. Surely you go to bed before then.
DR. WARRICK: Well, my bedtime is 7:30.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: I move for a favorable report.

(Motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Motion was favorable and a second. All in favor, please raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
DR. WARRICK: Thank you all. Thank you for coming out on your furlough.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. You get bonus points for even noticing that. Thank you.

MS. CASTO: Next is Emily Guess. She's from Denmark and is running for the 6th Congressional District seat, expiring in 2016. This is an open seat.
SENATOR PEELER: Good morning.
MS. GUESS: I think we've gone from the youngest to the oldest.
SENATOR PEELER: Oh, don't say that.
MS. GUESS: I graduated from the College of Charleston in 1966. I was the youngest graduate at that time.
SENATOR PEELER: Ma'am, let me swear you in, not that I don't believe what you're saying.

As time goes on, I get more funny. I promise.

(Emily F. Guess was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 11:27 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Sorry I interrupted you. Go right ahead.
MS. GUESS: So I was the youngest living graduate of the college, and they had my picture in the paper kissing the oldest living graduate of the College of Charleston. My grandfather had attended the College of Charleston, but he beat me out by a few years. It was a tradition in our family.

I have spent my entire life dedicated to education. You know, if I was go to say I had a passion it would be education. I spent 34 years in the public schools in South Carolina, mostly as an elementary guidance counselor. And a lot of my students, when they got ready to go to college, would come and talk to me about what did I think. So I steered a lot of them to the college over the years.

I'm a grandmother. I'm retired, so I have time. I do serve on a lot of boards. I am very active in my community, my church. I don't -- I don't know what y'all want me to say, if you have any questions.
SENATOR PEELER: I'm sure we'll have some questions. Thank you.

Any questions or comments? Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Guess, thank you for being here with us today, and thank you for your willingness to serve. You have an impressive resume, and you've certainly been involved in the education system in a lot of different aspects, and we applaud that, and we thank you for that.

You mentioned that you were involved in a bunch of boards. Is anything that you're involved in now going to be any sort of conflict with time when it comes to serving on this particular Board?
MS. GUESS: No. In fact, I'm known for never missing a meeting. If I put you on my calender, you will see me.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: And can you tell me a little bit about the Bamberg County DDSN Board and how long you served on that board?
MS. GUESS: I was -- my son is 37, and when he was a year old, he was my premie that had a lot of problems, so I was not working then. I was asked to help form that board. So 36 years ago, I helped form that board. It has been my baby.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: You've been involved with it for a long time, and I don't know the legal aspects of it, but if you were elected to this particular Board, would that be dual office holding? Would you have to give up that previous board?
MS. GUESS: I don't know. That's a county board. I don't know that...
MS. CASTO: You were appointed probably by the county legislative delegation?
MS. GUESS: Yes.
MS. CASTO: So, yes, you would have to.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Okay. And that's something that you would be willing to do, even though you've been involved for such a long time, 36 years.
MS. GUESS: It would be hard, but I would do it.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you. I appreciate you answering my questions.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?

Mr. Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Ms. Guess, I just want to say thank you for your service to our state as an elementary educator. My wife is an elementary principal. My wife's mother was an elementary teacher, so was my aunt. So I've gotten a good dose of what it's like to be working with young people, so -- and also, thank you for your willingness to not only serve the young folks but the higher ed folks here in our state. Good luck to you.
MS. GUESS: Well, thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Questions or comments?

Senator Hayes.
SENATOR HAYES: Just wondering what your vision might be for the College of Charleston.
MS. GUESS: Well, it was so important to me, and I think they do such a good job in educating the students. When I went there, there were 70 in my graduating class. I have -- I've been so impressed with their growth and the fact that they're still known for their education. You know, it's a wonderful institution. As I say, my grandfather went there.

My vision would be for it to continue to be a major secondary, you know, postsecondary institution in the state. But, also, I would like to see it -- like, they didn't recruit in Bamberg and Barnwell Counties where I was an educator. And I thought that was something they could have done. I -- one of the students I sent there graduated and has since graduated from medical school. He was superb. I did not know why they were not asked to -- to, you know, try to get him to go there. And he went on my recommendation and loved it. And his sister went there because he loved it so much.

So I would like to see us -- I know we get a lot of students from out of state, but I don't want us to miss anybody like the young man who spoke ahead of me. I mean, I think it was wonderful that he went there. And look what an asset he is to the state now.

Hopefully, I've been an asset to the state.
SENATOR PEELER: We think you have.

Any other questions or comments -- and continue to be.
SENATOR MCGILL: Move for favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is a favorable and a second and third. All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you very much. I appreciate your willingness to serve. Let's double check on the DDSN Board. I'd sure hate to lose you on that too.
MS. GUESS: I know. I would hate -- I would still go by there, and I would still love those people.
SENATOR PEELER: I bet you would. Thank you.

MS. CASTO: The next candidate for the 6th Congressional District is Ricci Land Welch. She's from Manning. This term expires in 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: How are you?
MS. WELCH: I'm doing well.

(Ricci Land Welch was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 11:33 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to serve?
MS. WELCH: I would. First, Senator Peeler, I'd like to thank you all for giving up a large portion of your furlough. I come from a family of political servants who've had to give up vacations, so I have a good perspective of what y'all are giving up, and I thank you for your service.

I would like to follow in my mother's footsteps. She has held this seat that I am running for today since in 1988. I went to College of Charleston in 1988. As soon as I got there, she followed me. My children will be entering college, hopefully, in 2019 and 2020, and I wouldn't mind being there when they got there.

I served on the Lander Board of Trustees for eight years. I started when my son was a week old, and my schedule got such when my kids were eight and nine that I could no longer do it. I don't know if y'all have ever driven from Manning to Greenwood, but there's really no easy way to get there. So I missed that. I missed it as soon as I got off that board. I felt like that was a decision that I should not have made, and I'm ready to get back into the world of higher education.

I am a College of Charleston graduate. I'm also a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. I've kept up with the college's growth since my graduation. I've attended alumni events. I've donated when I could, and have watched its growth and am impressed with its growth. But I know that you can't sit back and enjoy growth without looking towards the future. So I'm familiar with the college's vision for 2020, and I would like to have a small part in that. I know from my service on the Lander Board, you can be a small part of a large thing, and that's what I'd like to do.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Questions or comments from any of the committee?

Senator Hayes.
SENATOR HAYES: You're John Land's daughter. I'll try not to hold that against you.
MS. WELCH: I appreciate that.
SENATOR HAYES: But, obviously, you take after your momma, which is a good thing.
MS. WELCH: I'll take that as a compliment.
SENATOR HAYES: Seriously, I appreciate your willingness to serve on this Board.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I think you've kind of touched on it, from the standpoint of your ability of understanding the time commitments. And I guess with your practice and things of that nature, you certainly would feel comfortable in having the time to contribute and be a member of the Board?
MS. WELCH: I would, Senator. Usually with trials, we know when those are going to occur, and so we can ask for continuances or orders of protection. That never was a problem when I served on the Lander's committee. And Board schedules are given out, and I would stop what I'm doing to take care of my obligations.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Thank you.

You mentioned you've kept up with what's going on at the college. Are there any changes or anything else that you would like to see instituted?
MS. WELCH: There are always changes. One is the -- the entering the Colonial Athletic Association, and the facilities are constantly changing. One thing that I do notice and have been aware of is that the College of Charleston has one of the lowest minority participations, and that's something that needs to be worked on. If we're a state school and we're representing our State and providing higher education for our citizens of our State, we need to make sure that we have a representative student body. And that is something that I would personally be interested in. I would never go onto a board with an agenda. I don't think that's the right way to approach it. But it is something that's true to my heart since I am from a rural community, and I think that's something important to look at.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: How would you go about recruiting more minorities?
MS. WELCH: Like my opponent said earlier, going to the smaller counties and finding students who are qualified. And, unfortunately, while I served on the Lander board, what we found is sometimes the minorities were not as prepared, and so while I was at Lander, there was a grant that was written and approved that helped the minorities once they got there to stay there. Because it's one thing to accept a minority, but what we want is to graduate a minority.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR MCGILL: Chairman?
SENATOR PEELER: Senator McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: Let me say this. Of course, I've known Ms. Welch a long time, and your mother served with great distinction for many years. And I know this, that it's not just tradition historical that you want to serve. It is traditional. It is history. But the fact of the matter is, you bring to the table -- from your legal knowledge, you bring to the table that trustee experience at Lander.

We listened to a lot of Lander trustee potentials yesterday. And I can tell you this, that you will be a great asset with the knowledge that you have for the College of Charleston, and I can tell you that this other lady who's running for the seat as well, she will bring a great deal of knowledge to the College of Charleston Board.

I've known you and your family for some time, and there's no question in my mind that you'll be a great asset, impeccable reputation, and a great mother and a great worker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MS. WELCH: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Favorable.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: The motion is favorable report and seconded.

All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
MS. WELCH: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: I appreciate your willingness to serve.
MS. WELCH: Senator Peeler, we don't have a parking space in the family any longer, so I parked on the road and had to navigate through the traffic. And when I was walking up the first time, I saw, it said, danger, do not enter. I wanted y'all to know that y'all weren't dangerous or scary at all, and I appreciate your time.
SENATOR PEELER: I thought you were going to say you looked at your dad's parking space, and I parked in it.

Please tell your mother and father hello for us.
MS. WELCH: I will.
SENATOR PEELER: Next candidate.

MS. CASTO: The next candidate is Henrietta Golding from Myrtle Beach. She will be the 7th Congressional District. What the College of Charleston did with the new 7th Congressional District is they added an extra person to their board, I believe, so there are two seats for the 7th, seat 13 and seat 14. Ms Golding is from seat 13, running unopposed.
SENATOR PEELER: Hello. How are you?
MS. GOLDING: I'm well. Good morning.

(Henrietta U. Golding was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 11:40 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Welcome. And please share with the committee why you would like to serve.
MS. GOLDING: Thank you for the opportunity of appearing here today. I am a graduate of the College of Charleston, graduated 1974. I was very active in student government, was the president of the student body. In my junior year and in my freshman, sophomore, and my senior year, I was president of my class.

I have continued to remain in contact and active with the Alumni Association. I served on the Foundation Board for eight years as well. I'm at a point in my profession where I have now the opportunity to make a contribution to the college, not only monetarily, but also with my time.

And I believe that the College of Charleston -- were it not for the College of Charleston, I would not have been a lawyer. I would not have been successful. I would not have been able to take care of my family. I owe a great deal to the college, and it is now time that I repay, other than my yearly contributions.

I went to the College of Charleston on scholarship and on student loans. I was raised by a single mother who worked three jobs at one time. She did not have a profession. So I was instilled by my mother that you need to have a profession as a woman to be successful. The college gave me that opportunity, and the college also financed my education through my loans and scholarships. I want that opportunity to be available to all people in South Carolina, to all especially the young people in South Carolina. And that's where I hope to focus my efforts. Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any questions or comments?

Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Golding, for offering to serve. Just curious, you're from San Francisco. How did you end up here in South Carolina?
MS. GOLDING: I was born in San Francisco. I think I stayed there about six weeks. I was an Army brat.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I understand.
SENATOR PEELER: Questions, comments?

Ms. Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Thank you for your willingness to serve. I had a question about the McNair firm. Is there a conflict with that since they are registered -- have many registered lobbyists with the State?
MS. CASTO: No, there is not conflict. You are not a registered lobbyist for McNair.
MS. GOLDING: That's correct. I am not.
MS. CASTO: As long as she is not -- just like we had one before who works for SCANA who hires several lobbyists.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Okay.
MS. CASTO: It's okay.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Right. Well, thank you. I just wanted to make sure that wasn't going to be a problem. Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator Hayes.
SENATOR HAYES: I was going to ask, what vision do you have for the college?
MS. GOLDING: The college academically is excellent, has a great deal of excellence in this State and, I think, nationally and internationally. And my vision is to continue that excellence in academics but have that excellence in academics available to the people in South Carolina who cannot afford a college education. I want them to participate and be able to be part of the college.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions, comments?
SENATOR HAYES: Move for favorable.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is a favorable report and seconded.

Your mother did a fine job, in my opinion.

All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: I sure appreciate your willingness to serve.
MS. GOLDING: Thank you.

MS. CASTO: The next two candidates are from the 7th Congressional District, seat number 14. The first one is Renee Goldfinch. She is from Myrtle Beach, and this term will expire in 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: How are you?
MS. GOLDFINCH: I'm well. How are you?

(Renee B. Goldfinch was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 11:44 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share why you'd like to serve on this committee?
MS. GOLDFINCH: I would love to.

I want to serve on the College of Charleston Board because I feel it is my responsibility to give back to a school that gave so much to me. As a proud graduate, I feel that I am most aware of the current challenges that the school faces and the areas in which it's succeeding.

I'm a native Charlestonian. I'm a native of Wando High School. I got a degree from the College of Charleston in corporate communications, and then I went on to get my masters in business administration at the Citadel.

I understand the importance of the College of Charleston to the Charleston area and to the state. It is obvious that the value of a four-year college degree is not what it used to be. Many people have a degree. Because of that, it is important to maintain and even increase the value of education while keeping tuition low.

Education has always been a passion of mine. I serve on the Georgetown County First Steps Board. I also serve on the Junior Achievement Board, and I'm the director of children's ministry at my church. Because of my service on these boards and through my own personal education, I know that education is the key component to the success of our citizens in this great State.

So, in conclusion, my background, education, and experience in the educational field makes me a qualified candidate for the Board. Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Questions or comments?

Senator McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. Goldfinch, thank you for being here today. I promised your husband I'd be mighty hard on you up here. I want to commend you for getting involved at such a young age. I think we've heard a lot of good folks come up here and testify how they want to help the school or how the school's helped them. And to have a new perspective and have a young, fresh face in there I think would do nothing but benefit the school and help the school further down the road.

Can you tell me what year you did graduate from the College of Charleston?
MS. GOLDFINCH: 2006.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: 2006, makes me feel like an old man too.
SENATOR PEELER: How do you think that makes me feel?
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Can you tell me a little bit about how -- I mean, you're a very recent graduate -- and how you'd like to see the school progress and how you'd like to see it tie in with other schools such as MUSC or even the Citadel. Like you said, you've gotten a degree from there as well.
MS. GOLDFINCH: Right. Which I guess that's kind of what's my vision, you know, being a young graduate with my vision for the school.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Sure.
MS. GOLDFINCH: As I mentioned, I feel like the value of a four degree isn't as valuable as it used to be. You know, most people my age have to have a masters degree or have to go on further. So my vision really is just to -- to develop transitional programs between graduates and alumni to get the graduates into good jobs, really just to increase the value of that education.

You know, my husband's a graduate of the Citadel, and they do it so well there. I mean, their alumni and their students, enrolled students, are so tightly knitted together through networking. And I think that if the college could development a system like that and also with developing relationships with Charleston companies, Boeing, Intertech, Blackbaud. Using the alumni that are there and also building relationships within the community will help increase the value of that degree.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Sure. And I think your age is your biggest asset because you see our state and you see our nation heading towards almost double-digit unemployment. You're seeing how hard it is for folks to get jobs once they graduate from college, not only graduate from college, find a job, but also try to deal with student loan debt --
MS. GOLDFINCH: Right.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: -- which I have, and I'm still working on paying myself.
MS. GOLDFINCH: Right. And I think it's important for everybody to be aware of the high supply of graduates from the College of Charleston. A lot of people when they go to college there, they want to stay there because it's such a great place to live. So there's an influx of graduates there. And being aware of that can help the community and the alumni and the business community plan where to put everyone.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Absolutely. Thank you for answering my questions. It's a pleasure to have you here today.
MS. GOLDFINCH: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Representative Henderson.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Well, thank you. And I do have to mirror the fact that we really have seen for the College of Charleston, more than any of the other schools that we've been doing since yesterday, is a lot of really good young graduates that are here wanting to be a part of this Board. And I think it's a real good testament to the school that you all want to be here, and I just think it's awesome.

You touched on something that I think is -- you're the first person in two days that's touched on it. And as the parent of college students and one that's still getting ready to go to college, and that is, you made the point that a college degree is not worth what it used to be. And I'm lucky that my kids are majoring in science and engineering. And so I feel pretty confident that they're going to have jobs. But, you know, I sat through a whole panel, the governor's thing that she did on higher ed back in the fall and listened to people like Boeing and BMW and the tech colleges Lewis Gossett from the manufacturing lines talk about the fact that the tech schools are reeducating all these kids that have, you know, history degrees from Furman and all this, who can't find jobs.

And so here's where I'm headed, is you mentioned that, and I feel it's also part of the job of higher education to help either put in degree programs and/or move kids to places where they feel -- and as parents to have a job because we don't want to tell our kids, you know, Peter, you really shouldn't major in marketing because you're probably not going to get a job in that, and you should major in something else. So just talk about that a little bit because I think that's really important. And like said, you're the first person to mention it. And I think it's changed a lot, not only in K through 12, but also higher ed, is how do we develop programs and put students into programs that are actually going to get them jobs and not just be there to have a degree?
MS. GOLDFINCH: Right. I think something that will help that is, I mean, just simple planning. You know, when you're a senior or even when you're a junior, you need to be looking for jobs, when you're a senior. And if the school could develop some programs maybe through internships or externships with the community and even throughout the country to kind of secure a job, I mean, I think it's the priority of the student to be kind of working on that and working on finding a job, not the day they graduate, but before. And I think if the school would put those programs in place that that would help a lot of, oh, my gosh, I've got to find a job; what am I going to do. You know, so just with some basic planning, I think that that could help solve some of the problems there.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman, I just would like to say -- and, of course, I've known Renee and her husband for the past year. I've gotten to know them better. And I can tell you that's a fine young family, and I can also tell you that I'm just amazed that these young people are jumping out and wanting to get involved, and never before have we seen that, young females getting involved, young males, and that's commendable.
MS. GOLDFINCH: Thank you.
SENATOR MCGILL: And, of course, I can't help but think your record, too, is impeccable and also can tell you that, if elected, you'll make a great Board member.
MS. GOLDFINCH: Thank you.
SENATOR MCGILL: You really will. Move favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: The motion is favorable report and a seconded.

I would like to discuss just a little bit on what Ms. Henderson brought up about what you said about a college degree is not worth as much now as it was at one time. And then what we've heard over the past couple of days is, it's more difficult now to be admitted into college than it was at one time. There's something wrong with that equation. It's more difficult to get in, yet when you get out, it's not worth as much.

I'm glad you brought that up, and it's really a concern of mine too.

Motion is a favorable report. All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Unanimous.

You probably weren't here earlier this morning, but there's a husband and wife team running for the same seat on the Francis Marion Board, so I need to share with Representative Goldfinch if you ever think about running for the house, he may be in trouble.
MS. GOLDFINCH: He is in trouble. Thank you.

MS. CASTO: The next candidate is Dwight Johnson. He is from Florence. He is the incumbent running for a new seat for the 7th Congressional District seat.
SENATOR PEELER: How do you do, sir?
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

(Dwight Johnson was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 11:53 a.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to serve?
MR. JOHNSON: I will, thank you. And thank you, Senator, and thank you other members of the committee. I sit here feeling like the redheaded stepchild. That is, that when I was originally elected to the College of Charleston Board, I was serving from the 6th district. Due to reapportionment, my house was drawn into the 5th district. Now my residence has been drawn into the 7th district, so it's been a bumpy road, but I've been happy and proud to serve.

I currently serve as chairman of the athletic committee. I serve on the facilities committee and the information technology committee. I feel like that a lot has been done since I've been on the Board, and there's a lot more to do.

The College of Charleston is the premier name. I travel worldwide with my business, and when I wear College of Charleston paraphernalia -- I actually had on a College of Charleston golf shirt in Singapore in May of last year, and this gentleman walked down the street and went, College of Charleston, basketball. So it's obvious that the institutions in the state of South Carolina, because of social media and network, are known worldwide. And I ask you for your indulgence in giving me another four years to serve on this Board.
SENATOR PEELER: Speaking of redheaded stepchildren, does Representative Henderson have anything to say?
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: I'm not making any comment.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you. Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Johnson, thank you. I appreciate your time, and I appreciate you being here today. This is more of a technical question, I guess. As an incumbent, was there an opportunity for you to file for, you know, seat 13? That's an open seat. I mean -- or was it...
MR. JOHNSON: Yes, sir. There's two seats open there. You've got to file for one or the other and I chose 14.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Okay. Because we did deal with this issue earlier where we had folks file for an open seat as opposed -- and filed for a seat that's actually held by an incumbent as well so...
MR. JOHNSON: So we -- last year when we filed originally, I filed for seat 14, and then -- or I was going to file for seat 14. Then we were told it was going to remain the way it was, so I filed for my current 5th district seat. And, of course, you know the delays that was brought on by the Court's actions. And so when those were cleared up, it was back to the 7th district from 14th.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Okay. And you've been on the Board for 11 years?
MR. JOHNSON: 11 years.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Have you seen the curriculum change in terms of requirements for high school folks that are trying to apply to get into the college?
MR. JOHNSON: I've seen the candidates that we get, the students that we get. We have a higher -- SAT score is higher, GPA, higher. The College of Charleston is just a great academic place, and we've added majors that -- that facilitate the job situation we were talking about. There's partnering that's going on with Boeing now and other companies to understand exactly what we need.

We have a problem at the College of Charleston in the fact that we're limited to space. We cannot take a whole lot more students because we are in a historical environment downtown, and there's just no place to put the students. And as we move forward, I think it's -- you know, the fact that we can look at having an adjunct campus in the north, growing it, those will be places where we can expand the programs that will more facilitate the needs of South Carolina. This young lady before me said most of the people that come to the College of Charleston and graduate don't want to leave South Carolina. If we get the best and the brightest there and we educate them and keep them, it can only be good for the entire state.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: They only want to stay, and I agree with you totally. You're a little over a decade of serving on this Board. Can you fill the panel in on how tuition has changed in those ten years?
MR. JOHNSON: Well, tuition has changed, it's gone up. Over the last few years, it's basically mirrored what the inflation rate was, which is 3, 3 and a half percent. You know, I wish I could tell you there was a better way or -- or -- I hate using the word -- cheaper way of doing it. But costs are going up, and I'm confident we have done everything and are doing everything we can to keep the cost down. You know, our professors have gone without raises. Our staff has gone without raises at times. Until we have been able -- in this past year, it was a little over three percent, and the rate of inflation is about 3 percent, so we've been trying to keep it within that realm.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Perfect. And I appreciate you entertaining my questions. Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Representative Mack has a question.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Johnson, I appreciate your willingness to continue to serve. With your experience on the Board, what are some of the other things you see, as it relates to the future? I know -- I'm from Charleston. I know that one of the challenges you mentioned is the college being landlocked. And so many people wanting to come there, I know you have a lot of folks that apply that you just don't have the room.

What do you see is the future in terms of expansion and also the -- looking at other avenues as far as curriculum is concerned?
MR. JOHNSON: Well, administration and the Board all agree that having a north area campus, whether it be along the 526 corridor or further out, is -- it's adamant, we have to have that. It's the only place we can expand. And we're also obvious, that nobody's building homes or going to the east, so all the growth is to the west. I think in doing that and some of the things we've talked about, is developing our program further with Trident Technical College so that the students that are there, that are in a curriculum, can move right on into a curriculum at the College of Charleston.

I think that will be a great thing because a lot of times, whether it's financial or, you know, the inability to meet certain requirements, students go to the tech school. It's good to make sure -- you know, I am a tech school advocate. So make sure that they can do that without hitting flaws.

So the growth area is huge. The other thing is finding a way to increase our minority population on our campus. We recruit heavily. I personally had -- my sister's an educator in Lexington School District Two. She had a young lady that wanted to come to the college, and the college did everything they could to get her there and help finance her education. Unfortunately, we couldn't give her what I would call a 100 percent ride. But there was another school, a smaller school, a minority school, that could give her a 100 percent ride. She had financial needs, and that's why she chose to go to that school over the College of Charleston.

And so it's important for us to continue to look for ways, and we are. We've started scholarships specific for minority students to get those minority students in there, not because they're a minority, but because of what they can bring to the Board and their background and education.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?

Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Just a couple. On your tenure on the Board, how would you rate your attendance?
MR. JOHNSON: I've missed two meetings. One was due to back surgery. The other was last May when we had a meeting, and I was in Beijing, China with my company on business.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: The other question that kind of follows up on Representative McCoy's from the standpoint of tuition, where does the college rank among institutions within the state?
MR. JOHNSON: Within the state, fourth and fifth with in-state and out-of-state. We were sixth. We dropped back with fifth with the latest statistics, mainly because the board at Coastal Carolina chose not have a rate increase. They decided to just add another 500 students, and that's how they've made up for their budget woes this past year, so basically right in the middle.
SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR MCGILL: Mr. Chairman, I want to make an observation.
SENATOR PEELER: Senator McGill.
SENATOR MCGILL: It's evident that you're very knowledgeable about the College of Charleston, and we thank you for your 11 years of service. I've listened to people talk today about entrance fees on students and the increasing and voting no to increase that fee. Several years ago, I think the College of Charleston went above what Chairman Leatherman asked for on an actual fee, yearly admission. And -- and I can't remember exactly what happened. You might can share with us, did the Board retract and lower that number, or did they stay at that higher rating?
MR. JOHNSON: We had voted, because our budget was made before we got a figure with what the state would be adding, and we had voted to raise tuition above what Senator Leatherman had recommended. We met and did draw it back to what Senator Leatherman asked. Of course, we had to make some cuts for that. We had to put some things on hold moving forward. You know, one of the major expenses we have at the College of Charleston, we've got a lot of old buildings that takes a lot of upkeep. So we had to defer some of that maintenance, and that's where we made up -- a lot of that was deferring maintenance down the road of those buildings and some projects we had to make up that difference in what we would have had with the tuition increase that we were asking for.
SENATOR MCGILL: So y'all did reduce that fee?
MR. JOHNSON: We did.
SENATOR MCGILL: And I will say this, that MUSC, all of the universities in South Carolina had a hard time where they may have had a 30 percent participation by the state, and now I think MUSC is down to 6 percent state participation. And it's very hard on the universities. A lot of hard decisions are going to have to be made, not just in the past, but from this day forward. You have done a good job on that board. And I know you, and I also would share with you that you are a qualified candidate.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Any other questions or comments?

I have a quick one. Carolina Commodities, is that grain? What are your commodities? What type of commodities do you sell?
MR. JOHNSON: Right now, I don't -- well, I do sell, I reckon, in a way. What I did was, I retired after 36 years in communications, since 2010. My wife has been in the pecan business for over 30 years, and her company, which was bought out by a company out of Texas, had decided to cease operations in buying pecans in the Pee Dee, in what we call the yard crop. That's the people that comes from Senator McGill's territory, and bring their 50, 100 pounds up.

I had an opportunity to get a building close to her location and opened it up, and I buy what's called a yard crop of pecans. Out of that also came the opportunity to -- my own paper and move my own paper, blueberries. The pecan I thought was very important to the Pee Dee. I have a location in Manning, one in Sumter and one in Coward also at hardware stores.

The main people we buy them from are the -- what we call yard nuts, anything from ten pounds, you know. It's the nuts that pick up the nuts. But anything from 10 pounds to, you know, 1,000 pounds, and it puts money in their pockets and so...
SENATOR MCGILL: Chairman, let me just say this.
SENATOR PEELER: Oh, I want to say something so bad.
SENATOR MCGILL: Senator Verdin is very heavily involved in the pecan business in South Carolina and China, and I was listening the other day, and they said they had planted some 18,000 acres of pecans recently. But there are a lot of opportunities for ag business in South Carolina, and it's a great opportunity.
MR. JOHNSON: They are. And I know Representative Loftis in Greenville that was looking at that. And then I commend Clemson University. Last Tuesday, they had a meeting with pecan growers and buyers in the state of South Carolina because the Chinese only want large nuts, size 15 and 16. Those nuts cannot be grown in west Texas and New Mexico and Mexico. The climate in South Carolina and North Carolina are better suited for that. And so we're trying to -- we're trying to, this year, get 18,000 new trees planted in South Carolina and grow that.
SENATOR PEELER: Under oath, what's the proper pronunciation pe-con or pe-can?
MR. JOHNSON: Well, Gibbons Young's passed away last -- Senator McGill's familiar with Mr. Young. He passed away last May. He always said he bought pe-cans and he sold pe-cons.
SENATOR PEELER: You can put that in Gaffnese.

Motion is a favorable report.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Seconded. All in favor, please raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: I appreciate your willingness to continue to serve. Next candidate.

MS. CASTO: The next candidate is David Mikell Hay. He is from Charleston and running for at-large seat 16 on the College of Charleston Board. The term expires 2016.
SENATOR PEELER: How do you do, sir?
MR. HAY: Good morning.

(David Mikell Hay was duly sworn, after which testimony commenced at 12:08 p.m.)
SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to share with the committee why you'd like to serve?
MR. HAY: Sure. I graduated from the College of Charleston in 1981. I think it was before they even had student loans. So I worked the whole way through my college career. And a few years after graduating, I got a call from my mother-in-law telling me that I needed to serve on the alumni board, and, of course, I did, as we would all do.
SENATOR PEELER: You're smarter than you look.
MR. HAY: I think we all have had those experiences. And so that started my service as a volunteer at the College of Charleston. From there, I've served on the alumni board as president. I've served on the Foundation Board as vice president. I currently serve on the Foundation Board, and I did serve as a trustee for a little under a year filling an unexpired term that was a governor's-appointed seat.

And during all those years of service, I've seen so many examples of opportunities at the College of Charleston for helping people for helping our state. I think there are so many opportunities that we can continue to exploit. Things -- things like, there's a program Bonner Leaders, which are scholarships for first-generation college students. Those are the exciting things, and the college is full of exciting programs right now that are seeking to serve our citizens.

And I see so many opportunities. I come from the business background, and that's the perspective that I have sort of applied to my service of the College of Charleston, looking at operational efficiencies and opportunities, and that's how I would continue to serve the college, looking at it from that perspective.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Questions or comments?

Representative McCoy.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Hay, Thank you for being up here with us today. I appreciate your time. And I've known you for a long time, known your family for a long time, and top-notch family, top-notch business in Charleston, and I appreciate everything you've done for the city itself too. I think you'd make an excellent board member, and I wish you well for this. I think you'd be a real asset to the College of Charleston.

Only question I have for you, is you were appointed by Governor Sanford. Did you choose not to run after that term expired, or kind of what happened after that?
MR. HAY: The -- I was, as I said, serving by Governor Sanford. Governor Haley was elected, and she appointed a different person to serve.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Okay. So she just picked somebody else after that?
MR. HAY: Correct.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Got you, okay. Well, wish you the best of luck.
MR. HAY: Thank you. Congratulations on your baby.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Thank you. I appreciate that.
MR. HAY: The power of Facebook.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: That's right. Not much sleep in my house these days.
SENATOR PEELER: Representative Mack.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Hay, what do you see as the future for the college?
MR. HAY: You know, that's interesting. There are so many opportunities. For my business, if there are challenges or -- or new technology out there that I don't understand, I feel like I better find out what's going on because I know the young people are already there. And that's the sort of thing that, you know, I see at the College of Charleston. There are so many trends and so many opportunities that are out there that in this ever-changing world, and I think we need to be nimble and be able to see what opportunities are out there and make sure to take advantage of it.

Before I went on the college board, I served as chair of the commission, or piloted, which is a harbor pilot commission, and I see such growth. Whatever part of the state you're in, the Port of Charleston is a vital part of our state and the commerce that we enjoy. And I see, you know, for example, supply chain, management logistics, what a neat opportunity there.

We have a vibrant arts culture in Charleston, expanding on that program. Education has been our bedrock, and I think we need to continue to serve the folks in that field too. I think we just -- we need to honor our tradition but be ready for whatever opportunities are coming our way.
REPRESENTATIVE MACK: Okay. Well, I just wanted to echo my good friend and colleague, Representative McCoy, you and your family have been a tremendous asset to the community, and I really appreciate your overall service, not only to the college but so many things you're involved in, I appreciate what you do.
MR. HAY: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Any other questions or comments?

Representative Whitmire has a question.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Actually, it's kind of a comment more than anything.

It makes our job very easy when you have a candidate like you, Mr. Hay.
MR. HAY: Thank you.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I just wish we had every candidate with your expertise and willingness. I did want to make a personal thing. I noticed that your home address is on Broad Street.
MR. HAY: Yes, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: And you're right down the street from my ancestor, John Rutledge House.
MR. HAY: That's right. My friends own that now.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I know. I wish I could afford to stay there, but that's beyond my means now. Anyway, good luck to you.
MR. HAY: Thank you.
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.

Questions or comments?
REPRESENTATIVE MCCOY: Move for favorable.

(The motion was seconded.)
SENATOR PEELER: Motion is a favorable report by Representative McCoy. Seconded by Representative Mack.

All in favor, raise your right hand.

(The motion was granted.)
SENATOR PEELER: Thank you. Unanimous. Thank you for your willingness to serve.
MR. HAY: You're welcome.
SENATOR PEELER: That completes the list for the morning. We'll take a lunch break. We'll take up the candidates for South Carolina State University. It's supposed to start at 2:30. If you would, arrive 15 minutes early at 2:15. And make that House time, not Senate time.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Just real quick, this whole issue of being able to apply for two, because, you know, we've had, since that whole first situation came up, some people that, you know, could have benefitted by maybe applying for two boards at one time.

Is there anything in the rules that says you can or can't do that? If there isn't, should we verify that?
MS. CASTO: That is something that needs to be clarified, and this -- you know, we got this committee in January and didn't have time to get legislation through. And so that is something during the interim that y'all probably need to work on to introduce. And next year -- there's no qualifications. There's nothing saying how many seats you can file for and things of that nature, so yes.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Well, on that note, I actually have a bill filed that requires people that leave the House or Senate to wait that year before they can run, which I always thought was a rule. It's a rule for judicial candidates. It's a rule for lobbying. But it's not a rule for college boards, and so I did file that. I mean, that could be -- we could add some other things to that that would address it.

But I would like -- so that way people might know that, you know, if you can apply for more than one and you really want to be on it, then apply for two or three open seats, or not. So anyway, thank you. I just wanted to bring that up.
SENATOR PEELER: You prefer the rifle rather than the shotgun.
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON: Well, I'm just saying, if it's available or not, it doesn't matter one way or another, but I think people should know what the rules are.
SENATOR PEELER: Sure.

See you at 2:15. (A luncheon recess transpired.)

Received as information.

On motion of Rep. BARFIELD, with unanimous consent, the following were taken up for immediate consideration and accepted:

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, the Members of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Breakfast. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Room 112 of the Blatt Building.

Sincerely,
Pat G. Smith, Director
Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, the Members of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Luncheon. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Richland Room of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Sincerely,
Erin H. Pate, CEO
SC Association of Certified Public Accountants

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina Future Minds, the Members of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Reception. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Sincerely,
Trip DuBard, Exec. Director
South Carolina Future Minds

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina State Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the Members of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Reception. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Inn at USC Wyndham Garden.

Sincerely,
Yvonne Jefferson Barnes, Ed.D., Ph.D.
SC State Chapters, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships, Inc., the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Breakfast. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Room 112 of the Blatt Building.

Sincerely,
Jessica McMoore, Exec. Director
SC Association of Community Action Partnerships

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association, the Members of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Luncheon. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Palmetto Club.

Sincerely,
Dr. Melissa Wood, President
SC Optometric Physicians Association

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of Leadership South Carolina, the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Breakfast. This event will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Room 112 of the Blatt Building.

Sincerely,
Helen Munnerlyn, Exec. Director
Leadership South Carolina

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of Boeing Corporation, BMW North America, General Electric and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Reception. This event will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nexsen-Pruet Law Firm's rooftop terrace, 7th Floor, 1230 Main St., Columbia, South Carolina.

Sincerely,
Mark R. Elam, Director to State & Local Gov't. Operations
The Boeing Company

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of Absolute Total Care, the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Breakfast. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Room 112 of the Blatt Building.

Sincerely,
Betsy Hall, Government Affairs Manager
Absolute Total Care, Inc.

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations, the Members of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Luncheon. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Room 112 of the Blatt Building.

Sincerely,
Bernie Mazyck, President and CEO
SC Association of Community Development Corporations

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina Association of Physician Assistants, the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Breakfast. This event will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Room 112 of the Blatt Building.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Zerwick, President
SC Association of Physicians Assistants

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the University of South Carolina, the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative "Cue on the Shoe" Reception. This event will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the USC Horseshoe.

Sincerely,
Harris Pastides, President
University of South Carolina

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Breakfast. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Room 112 of the Blatt Building.

Sincerely,
Kaela Harmon, Public Relations & Government Affairs Manager
Columbia Metropolitan Airport

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina Tire Manufacturers Council, the Members of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Luncheon. This event will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2013, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the State House Grounds.

Sincerely,
Otis Rawl

April 23, 2013
The Honorable Liston D. Barfield
House Invitations Committee
503-A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Dear Chairman Barfield:

On behalf of the South Carolina Section of the American Water Works Association's Water Utility Council, the Members and staff of the House of Representatives are invited to a Legislative Breakfast. This event will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Room 112 of the Blatt Building.

Sincerely,
Dyke Spencer, Chairman
Water Utility Council

The following was introduced:

H. 3997 (Word version) -- Reps. Nanney, Loftis, Hamilton, Bannister, Dillard, Robinson-Simpson, Bedingfield, Henderson and G. R. Smith: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF GREENVILLE HEALTH SYSTEM ON ITS DEDICATION TO PROVIDING OUTSTANDING MEDICAL CARE FOR EVERY CHILD.

The Resolution was adopted.

The following was introduced:

H. 3999 (Word version) -- Reps. Clemmons, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, G. A. Brown, R. L. Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, H. A. Crawford, K. R. Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hardwick, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Kennedy, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M. S. McLeod, W. J. McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, Powers Norrell, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, 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, Vick, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Wood: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CORPORAL CHAD MULLINIX OF THE MYRTLE BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE FORCE AND TO HIS SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON BEING NAMED THE MYRTLE BEACH ROTARY CLUB 2012 OFFICER JOE MCGARRY MEMORIAL POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR.

The Resolution was adopted.

The following was introduced:

H. 4000 (Word version) -- Rep. Forrester: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE TINDALL CORPORATION OF SPARTANBURG AT THE CELEBRATION OF ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND TO CONGRATULATE ITS CHAIRMAN AND CEO, WILLIAM "BILL" LOWNDES III, ON HALF A CENTURY OF OUTSTANDINGLY SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

The following was introduced:

H. 4001 (Word version) -- Reps. Rivers, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, G. A. Brown, R. L. Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, H. A. Crawford, K. R. Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hardwick, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Kennedy, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M. S. McLeod, W. J. McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, Powers Norrell, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, 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, Vick, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Wood: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STAFF OF MARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IN BERKELEY COUNTY ON THE RECOGNITION OF THEIR SCHOOL AS A 2012 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL.

The Resolution was adopted.

The following was introduced:

H. 3998 (Word version) -- Rep. Mitchell: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF UNION STREET IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH CEDAR SPRINGS ROAD TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH SOUTHPORT ROAD "SCHP PATROLMAN NORRIS NETTLES MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS STREET THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "SCHP PATROLMAN NORRIS NETTLES MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

The following was introduced:

H. 4002 (Word version) -- Reps. G. A. Brown, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, R. L. Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, H. A. Crawford, K. R. Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hardwick, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Kennedy, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M. S. McLeod, W. J. McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, Powers Norrell, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, 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, Vick, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Wood: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPON THE PASSING OF SARAH ROSS JONES OF LEXINGTON COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HER MANY FRIENDS.

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

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

H. 4003 (Word version) -- Reps. Gagnon and Lucas: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-11-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE OPENING AND CLOSING DATES OF THE CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-45, RELATING TO FILING AS A CANDIDATE, SO AS TO REVISE THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN, OR HIS DESIGNEE, MUST BE PRESENT AT A DESIGNATED PLACE TO ACCEPT FILINGS.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

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

Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Ballentine             Bannister
Barfield               Bedingfield            Bernstein
Bingham                Bowers                 Branham
G. A. Brown            R. L. Brown            Burns
Chumley                Clemmons               Clyburn
Cobb-Hunter            Cole                   H. A. Crawford
K. R. Crawford         Crosby                 Daning
Delleney               Dillard                Douglas
Erickson               Felder                 Finlay
Forrester              Funderburk             Gagnon
Gambrell               George                 Goldfinch
Govan                  Hamilton               Hardee
Hardwick               Harrell                Hart
Hayes                  Henderson              Hiott
Hixon                  Hodges                 Horne
Hosey                  Howard                 Jefferson
Kennedy                King                   Knight
Loftis                 Long                   Lowe
Lucas                  McEachern              M. S. McLeod
Merrill                Mitchell               D. C. Moss
V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn              Murphy
Neal                   Newton                 Ott
Owens                  Parks                  Patrick
Pitts                  Pope                   Powers Norrell
Putnam                 Quinn                  Ridgeway
Rivers                 Robinson-Simpson       Rutherford
Ryhal                  Sabb                   Sandifer
Sellers                Simrill                Skelton
G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith            J. E. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stringer               Tallon
Taylor                 Toole                  Vick
Weeks                  Wells                  White
Whitmire               Williams               Willis
Wood

I came in after the roll call and was present for the Session on Tuesday, April 23.

Mike Anthony                      Wendell Gilliard
Peter McCoy, Jr.                  William G. Herbkersman
Leon Stavrinakis                  H. B. "Chip" Limehouse
Wendy Nanney                      Walt J. McLeod
Douglas "Doug" Brannon
J. Seth Whipper   Chip Huggins
David Mack

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

The SPEAKER granted Rep. BOWEN a leave of absence for the day due to official State business.

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

Announcement was made that Dr. Bert Knight of Greenville was the Doctor of the Day for the General Assembly.

In accordance with House Rule 5.2 below:
"5.2   Every bill before presentation shall have its title endorsed; every report, its title at length; every petition, memorial, or other paper, its prayer or substance; and, in every instance, the name of the member presenting any paper shall be endorsed and the papers shall be presented by the member to the Speaker at the desk. 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. 3410 (Word version)
Date:   ADD:
04/23/13   MITCHELL

Bill Number:   H. 3735 (Word version)
Date:   ADD:
04/23/13   MCCOY

Bill Number:   H. 3943 (Word version)
Date:   ADD:
04/23/13   GAGNON

Bill Number:   H. 3945 (Word version)
Date:   ADD:
04/23/13   HENDERSON

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

The following Bill was taken up, read the third time, and ordered sent to the Senate:

H. 3609 (Word version) -- Reps. Barfield, Clemmons and Sandifer: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 77 TO TITLE 39 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE SALE, POSSESSION, AND USE OF CERTAIN LASER POINTING DEVICES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS, EXEMPTIONS, AND REMEDIES.

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 3818 (Word version) -- Reps. K. R. Crawford, Sandifer, Erickson, Simrill, G. M. Smith, Gambrell and Bannister: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 38-71-1730, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CLOSED PANEL HEALTH PLANS, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT CERTAIN EMPLOYERS THAT OFFER ONLY CLOSED PANEL HEALTH PLANS TO ITS EMPLOYEES ALSO OFFER A POINT-OF-SERVICE OPTION TO ITS EMPLOYEES, TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES, AND TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COINSURANCE PERCENTAGES FOR IN-NETWORK AND OUT-OF-NETWORK COVERED SERVICES AND SUPPLIES UNDER A POINT-OF-SERVICE OPTION.

Reps. SANDIFER, HIOTT, SOTTILE, WHITMIRE, FORRESTER, DANING, GAMBRELL, GAGNON and MURPHY requested debate on the Bill.

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 3751 (Word version) -- Rep. Sandifer: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO CONFORM WITH FEDERAL MANDATES ENACTED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS IN THE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE EXTENSION ACT OF 2011; BY ADDING SECTION 41-41-45 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE SHALL IMPOSE A PENALTY ON FRAUDULENT OVERPAYMENTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS; BY ADDING SECTION 41-33-910 SO AS TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE INTEGRITY FUND AND PROVIDE FOR ITS SOURCE AND USE; BY ADDING SECTION 41-35-135 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CHARGE THE ACCOUNT OF AN EMPLOYER WHEN THE EMPLOYER FAILS TO RESPOND TIMELY OR ADEQUATELY TO A REQUEST BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING A CLAIM FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHEN THE EMPLOYER HAS DEMONSTRATED A PATTERN OF FAILING TO TIMELY OR ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO THESE REQUESTS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 43-5-598, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE SOUTH CAROLINA EMPLOYABLES PROGRAM ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "NEW HIRE" TO APPLY WHERE THE SEPARATION OF AN EMPLOYEE FROM EMPLOYMENT IS FOR AT LEAST SIXTY CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

The Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry proposes the following Amendment No. to H. 3751 (COUNCIL\AGM\3751C001. AGM.AB13) which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION   1.   Chapter 41, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-41-45.   (A)   Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, when the department determines that an improper payment was made from its unemployment compensation fund or from any federal unemployment compensation fund to any individual because of a false statement or failure to disclose a material fact pursuant to Section 41-41-20, the department shall assess a monetary penalty of twenty-five percent of the amount of the overpayment.

(B)   The notice of the determination or decision informing the individual of the overpayment must include:

(1)   the claimant's appeal rights;

(2)   the penalty amount;

(3)   an explanation of the reason for the overpayment; and

(4)   the reason the penalty has been applied.

(C)   The recovered amounts must be applied with priority to:

(1)   The principal amount of the overpayment to the unemployment compensation fund;

(2)   Sixty percent of the monetary penalty to the unemployment compensation fund;

(3)   The remaining forty percent of the monetary penalty to promote unemployment compensation integrity; and

(4)   The remaining amounts to interest.

(D)   Offset of future unemployment insurance benefits must not be applied to the monetary penalty or interest associated with an overpayment.

(E)   The monetary penalty must be assessed on any fraudulent overpayment determined by the department after October 21, 2013."
SECTION   2.A.   Title 41, Chapter 33 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-33-910.   (A)   There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Department of Employment and Workforce integrity fund.

(B)   The fund shall consist of monetary penalties collected pursuant to Section 41-41-45(C)(3) for the purpose of promoting unemployment compensation integrity. The Department of Employment and Workforce integrity fund shall be used for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the unemployment compensation fund. These efforts may include, but are not limited to, identifying overpayments, verifying eligibility, determining status, and updating technology and education tools to support integrity activities.

(C)   All money collected in the integrity fund must be deposited, administered, and disbursed in the same manner and under the same conditions and requirements as are provided by law for other special funds in the State Treasury, except that money in this fund must not be commingled with other state funds, but must be maintained in a separate account on the books of a depository bank. These funds must be secured by the bank by securities or surety bonds as required by law of depositories of state funds.

(D)   All money that is deposited or paid into the fund is appropriated and made available to the department. All money in this fund must be expended solely for the purpose of promoting unemployment insurance integrity efforts by the department as provided in Section 41-41-45.

(E)   All balances in this fund must not lapse at any time but must be continuously available to the department by expenditure consistent with Chapters 27 through 41 of the title. The department shall issue its requisition, which must be approved by the executive director or any designated officer, agent, or other individual for payment of the costs of interest to the Comptroller General who shall draw his warrant in the usual form provided by law on the State Treasurer, who shall pay it by check on the integrity fund."
B.   This provisions of this SECTION take effect on October 1, 2013.
SECTION   3.   Article 1, Chapter 35, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-35-135.   (A)   Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the department shall not relieve the charge benefits to an employer's account when it determines that the overpayment has been made to a claimant and it determines that:

(1)   the overpayment occurred because the employer was at fault for failing to respond timely or adequately to a written request of the department for information relating to an unemployment compensation claim; and

(2)   the employer exhibits a pattern of failure to timely or adequately respond to requests from the department for information relating to unemployment compensation claims on three or more occasions or three percent of requests made within the prior calendar year, whichever is greater; provided:

(a)   if an employer uses a third-party agent to respond on its behalf to the department's request for information relating to an unemployment compensation claim, the agent's actions on behalf of the employer will be considered when determining a pattern of behavior;

(b)   a response is considered untimely if it fails to meet the time as prescribed in the statute or in the regulations; and

(c)   a response is considered inadequate if it fails to provide sufficient facts to enable the department to make an accurate determination of benefits that do not result in an overpayment. However, a response may not be considered inadequate if the department fails to request the necessary information.

(B)   Under this section a written request for information may be made by electronic mail, provided the employer has opted for notice by electronic mail pursuant to Section 41-35-615.

(C)   The department shall charge an employer's account that meets the conditions of subsection (1), for each week of unemployment compensation that is an overpayment until the department makes a determination that the individual is no longer eligible for unemployment compensation and stops making such payments.

(D)   If the claim is a combined-wage claim, the determination of noncharging for the combined wage claim shall be made by the paying state. If the response from the employer does not meet the criteria established by the paying state for an adequate or timely response, the paying state must promptly notify the transferring state of its determination and the employer must be appropriately charged.

(E)(1)   The department must waive the charging of benefits to an employer's account when the department finds the employer failed to timely or adequately respond due to good cause.

(2)   For the purposes of this section: 'good cause' may include, but is not limited to:

(a)   the employer's failure is attributable to the department's error; or

(b)   a natural disaster, emergency or similar event, or an illness on the part of the employer, the employer's agent of record, or the staff charged with responding to such inquiries.

(3)   The burden is on the employer or the employer's agent of record to establish good cause.

(F)   Determinations of the department prohibiting the relief of charges pursuant to this section shall be subject to appeal pursuant to the procedures of Title 41, Chapter 35.

(G)   The department shall charge benefits to an employer's account pursuant to this section for any overpayment determined by the department after October 21, 2013."
SECTION   4.A.   Section 43-5-598(A)(6) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 71 of 1997, is amended to read:

"(6)   'New hire' includes an individual newly employed or an individual who has been rehired after having been separated for at least sixty consecutive days or has returned to work after being laid off, furloughed, separated, granted leave without pay, or terminated from employment."
B.   The provisions of this subsection take effect October 1, 2013.
SECTION   5.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor except as otherwise provided in SECTION 2 and SECTION 4. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

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

Rep. SKELTON proposed the following Amendment No. 2 to H. 3751 (COUNCIL\AGM\3751C002.AGM.AB13), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION   1.   Chapter 41, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-41-45.   (A)   Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, when the department determines that an improper payment was made from its unemployment compensation fund or from any federal unemployment compensation fund to any individual because of a false statement or failure to disclose a material fact pursuant to Section 41-41-20, the department shall assess a monetary penalty of twenty-five percent of the amount of the overpayment.

(B)   The notice of the determination or decision informing the individual of the overpayment must include:

(1)   the claimant's appeal rights;

(2)   the penalty amount;

(3)   an explanation of the reason for the overpayment; and

(4)   the reason the penalty has been applied.

(C)   The recovered amounts must be applied with priority to:

(1)   The principal amount of the overpayment to the unemployment compensation fund;

(2)   Sixty percent of the monetary penalty to the unemployment compensation fund;

(3)   The remaining forty percent of the monetary penalty to promote unemployment compensation integrity; and

(4)   The remaining amounts to interest.

(D)   Offset of future unemployment insurance benefits must not be applied to the monetary penalty or interest associated with an overpayment.

(E)   The monetary penalty must be assessed on any fraudulent overpayment determined by the department after October 21, 2013."
SECTION   2.A.   Title 41, Chapter 33 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-33-910.   (A)   There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Department of Employment and Workforce integrity fund.

(B)   The fund shall consist of monetary penalties collected pursuant to Section 41-41-45(C)(3) for the purpose of promoting unemployment compensation integrity. The Department of Employment and Workforce integrity fund shall be used for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the unemployment compensation fund. These efforts may include, but are not limited to, identifying overpayments, verifying eligibility, determining status, and updating technology and education tools to support integrity activities.

(C)   All money collected in the integrity fund must be deposited, administered, and disbursed in the same manner and under the same conditions and requirements as are provided by law for other special funds in the State Treasury, except that money in this fund must not be commingled with other state funds, but must be maintained in a separate account on the books of a depository bank. These funds must be secured by the bank by securities or surety bonds as required by law of depositories of state funds.

(D)   All money that is deposited or paid into the fund is appropriated and made available to the department. All money in this fund must be expended solely for the purpose of promoting unemployment insurance integrity efforts by the department as provided in Section 41-41-45.

(E)   All balances in this fund must not lapse at any time but must be continuously available to the department by expenditure consistent with Chapters 27 through 41 of the title. The department shall issue its requisition, which must be approved by the executive director or any designated officer, agent, or other individual for payment of the costs of interest to the Comptroller General who shall draw his warrant in the usual form provided by law on the State Treasurer, who shall pay it by check on the integrity fund."
B.   This provisions of this SECTION take effect on October 1, 2013.
SECTION   3.   Article 1, Chapter 35, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-35-135.   (A)   Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the department shall not relieve the charge benefits to an employer's account when it determines that the overpayment has been made to a claimant and it determines that:

(1)   the overpayment occurred because the employer was at fault for failing to respond timely or adequately to a written request of the department for information relating to an unemployment compensation claim; and

(2)   the employer exhibits a pattern of failure to timely or adequately respond to requests from the department for information relating to unemployment compensation claims on three or more occasions or three percent of requests made within the prior calendar year, whichever is greater; provided:

(a)   if an employer uses a third-party agent to respond on its behalf to the department's request for information relating to an unemployment compensation claim, the agent's actions on behalf of the employer will be considered when determining a pattern of behavior;

(b)   a response is considered untimely if it fails to meet the time as prescribed in the statute or in the regulations; and

(c)   a response is considered inadequate if it fails to provide sufficient facts to enable the department to make an accurate determination of benefits that do not result in an overpayment. However, a response may not be considered inadequate if the department fails to request the necessary information.

(B)   Under this section a written request for information may be made by electronic mail, provided the employer has opted for notice by electronic mail pursuant to Section 41-35-615.

(C)   The department shall charge an employer's account that meets the conditions of subsection (1), for each week of unemployment compensation that is an overpayment until the department makes a determination that the individual is no longer eligible for unemployment compensation and stops making such payments.

(D)   If the claim is a combined-wage claim, the determination of noncharging for the combined wage claim shall be made by the paying state. If the response from the employer does not meet the criteria established by the paying state for an adequate or timely response, the paying state must promptly notify the transferring state of its determination and the employer must be appropriately charged.

(E)(1)   The department must waive the charging of benefits to an employer's account when the department finds the employer failed to timely or adequately respond due to good cause.

(2)   For the purposes of this section: 'good cause' may include, but is not limited to:

(a)   the employer's failure is attributable to the department's error; or

(b)   a natural disaster, emergency or similar event, or an illness on the part of the employer, the employer's agent of record, or the staff charged with responding to such inquiries.

(3)   The burden is on the employer or the employer's agent of record to establish good cause.

(F)   Determinations of the department prohibiting the relief of charges pursuant to this section shall be subject to appeal pursuant to the procedures of Title 41, Chapter 35.

(G)   The department shall charge benefits to an employer's account pursuant to this section for any overpayment determined by the department after October 21, 2013."
SECTION   4.A.   Section 43-5-598(A)(6) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 71 of 1997, is amended to read:

"(6)   'New hire' includes an individual newly employed or an individual who has been rehired after having been separated for at least sixty consecutive days or has returned to work after being laid off, furloughed, separated, granted leave without pay, or terminated from employment."
B.   The provisions of this subsection take effect October 1, 2013.
SECTION   5.A.   Article 1, Chapter 31, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-31-15.   (A)   Each employee shall pay contributions to the Unemployment Trust Fund at a rate of three-tenths of one percent for all wages paid for employment.

(B)   Each employer subject to this chapter shall withhold in trust contributions from the wages of his employees required under subsection (A) at the time the wages are paid, and shall report and transmit these deductions to the department for deposit into the Unemployment Trust Fund. The employer also shall maintain a separate record of the contributions of each employee and report this amount to the employee at least annually.

(C)   The department shall allocate contributions paid under this section to the separate account of the employer from whom it received the transmitted employee contribution. Funds allocated to the separate account of an employer must be used to offset the contribution required of the employer under this chapter.

(D)   An employee or his agent who violates the provisions of this section is subject to the general penalty provided in Section 41-41-50."
B.   This SECTION takes effect January 1, 2014.
SECTION   6.A.   Section 41-27-200 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 41-27-200.   'Contributions' means the money payment required by Chapter 31, Article 1 Article 1, Chapter 31 to be made into the State Unemployment compensation Trust Fund by an employer or employee."
B.   This SECTION takes effect January 1, 2014.
SECTION   7.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor except as otherwise provided in SECTION 2, SECTION 4, SECTION 5, AND SECTION 6. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. SKELTON explained the amendment.

Rep. SANDIFER moved to table the amendment, which was agreed to by a division vote of 44 to 9.

Rep. SANDIFER proposed the following Amendment No. 3 to H. 3751 (COUNCIL\AGM\3751C003.AGM.AB13), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION   1.   Chapter 41, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-41-45.   (A)   Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, when the department determines that an improper payment was made from its unemployment compensation fund or from any federal unemployment compensation fund to any individual because of a false statement or failure to disclose a material fact pursuant to Section 41-41-20, the department shall assess a monetary penalty of fifteen percent of the amount of the overpayment.

(B)   The notice of the determination or decision informing the individual of the overpayment must include:

(1)   the claimant's appeal rights;

(2)   the penalty amount;

(3)   an explanation of the reason for the overpayment; and

(4)   the reason the penalty has been applied.

(C)   The recovered amounts must be applied with priority to:

(1)   The principal amount of the overpayment to the unemployment compensation fund;

(2)   The monetary penalty to the unemployment compensation fund; and

(3)   The remaining amounts to interest.

(D)   Offset of future unemployment insurance benefits must not be applied to the monetary penalty or interest associated with an overpayment.

(E)   The monetary penalty must be assessed on any fraudulent overpayment determined by the department after October 21, 2013."
SECTION   2.   Article 1, Chapter 35, Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 41-35-135.   (A)   Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the department shall not relieve the charge benefits to an employer's account when it determines that the overpayment has been made to a claimant and it determines that:

(1)   the overpayment occurred because the employer was at fault for failing to respond timely or adequately to a written request of the department for information relating to an unemployment compensation claim; and

(2)   the employer exhibits a pattern of failure to timely or adequately respond to requests from the department for information relating to unemployment compensation claims on three or more occasions or three percent of requests made within the prior calendar year, whichever is greater; provided:

(a)   if an employer uses a third-party agent to respond on its behalf to the department's request for information relating to an unemployment compensation claim, the agent's actions on behalf of the employer will be considered when determining a pattern of behavior;

(b)   a response is considered untimely if it fails to meet the time as prescribed in the statute or in the regulations; and

(c)   a response is considered inadequate if it fails to provide sufficient facts to enable the department to make an accurate determination of benefits that do not result in an overpayment. However, a response may not be considered inadequate if the department fails to request the necessary information.

(B)   Under this section a written request for information may be made by electronic mail, provided the employer has opted for notice by electronic mail pursuant to Section 41-35-615.

(C)   The department shall charge an employer's account that meets the conditions of subsection (1), for each week of unemployment compensation that is an overpayment until the department makes a determination that the individual is no longer eligible for unemployment compensation and stops making such payments.

(D)   If the claim is a combined-wage claim, the determination of noncharging for the combined wage claim shall be made by the paying state. If the response from the employer does not meet the criteria established by the paying state for an adequate or timely response, the paying state must promptly notify the transferring state of its determination and the employer must be appropriately charged.

(E)(1)   The department must waive the charging of benefits to an employer's account when the department finds the employer failed to timely or adequately respond due to good cause.

(2)   For the purposes of this section: 'good cause' may include, but is not limited to:

(a)   the employer's failure is attributable to the department's error; or

(b)   a natural disaster, emergency or similar event, or an illness on the part of the employer, the employer's agent of record, or the staff charged with responding to such inquiries.

(3)   The burden is on the employer or the employer's agent of record to establish good cause.

(F)   Determinations of the department prohibiting the relief of charges pursuant to this section shall be subject to appeal pursuant to the procedures of Title 41, Chapter 35.

(G)   The department shall charge benefits to an employer's account pursuant to this section for any overpayment determined by the department after October 21, 2013."
SECTION   3.A.   Section 43-5-598(A)(6) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 71 of 1997, is amended to read:

"(6)   'New hire' includes an individual newly employed or an individual who has been rehired after having been separated for at least sixty consecutive days or has returned to work after being laid off, furloughed, separated, granted leave without pay, or terminated from employment."
B.   The provisions of this subsection take effect October 1, 2013.
SECTION   4.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor except as otherwise provided in SECTION 3. /
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:

Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Bales                  Ballentine             Bannister
Barfield               Bedingfield            Bernstein
Bingham                Bowers                 G. A. Brown
R. L. Brown            Burns                  Chumley
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cobb-Hunter
Cole                   H. A. Crawford         K. R. Crawford
Crosby                 Daning                 Delleney
Dillard                Douglas                Felder
Finlay                 Forrester              Funderburk
Gagnon                 Gambrell               George
Gilliard               Goldfinch              Hamilton
Hardee                 Hardwick               Harrell
Hart                   Henderson              Herbkersman
Hiott                  Hixon                  Hodges
Horne                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jefferson              King
Knight                 Limehouse              Loftis
Long                   Lowe                   Lucas
McCoy                  McEachern              Merrill
D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss             Munnerlyn
Murphy                 Newton                 Ott
Owens                  Parks                  Patrick
Pitts                  Pope                   Powers Norrell
Putnam                 Quinn                  Ridgeway
Rivers                 Robinson-Simpson       Rutherford
Ryhal                  Sabb                   Sandifer
Simrill                Skelton                G. M. Smith
G. R. Smith            J. E. Smith            J. R. Smith
Sottile                Southard               Spires
Stavrinakis            Stringer               Tallon
Taylor                 Toole                  Vick
Weeks                  Wells                  White
Whitmire               Williams               Willis
Wood

Those who voted in the negative are:

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

Rep. J. E. SMITH moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Wednesday, April 24, which was adopted:

H. 3263 (Word version) -- Rep. J. E. Smith: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 79 TO TITLE 2, TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY PREPAREDNESS AND ENHANCEMENT ACT" SO AS TO ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY PREPAREDNESS AND ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS COMMISSION SHALL ACT TO ENHANCE THE VALUE OF MILITARY FACILITIES LOCATED IN THIS STATE AND ASSIST DEFENSE COMMUNITIES WITH THIS VALUE ENHANCEMENT, TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY VALUE REVOLVING LOAN ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE LOANS TO ASSIST DEFENSE COMMUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE VALUE OF MILITARY FACILITIES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER METHODS AND INCENTIVES TO ACCOMPLISH THESE PURPOSES.

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 3354 (Word version) -- Reps. King, Knight, Hart, Howard, J. E. Smith, Cobb-Hunter, Neal, Douglas and Powers Norrell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 44-63-84, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERSONS TO WHOM DEATH CERTIFICATES MAY BE ISSUED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COUNTY REGISTRAR SHALL ISSUE, UPON REQUEST, DEATH CERTIFICATES THAT WERE FILED ELECTRONICALLY; AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

The Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs proposed the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 3354 (COUNCIL\NBD\3354C002.NBD.VR13), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/   SECTION   1.   Section 44-63-84 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-63-84.   (A)(1)   Copies of death certificates may be issued to members of the deceased's family or their respective legal representatives at any vital records office.

(2)   Upon request, the Department of Social Services or its designee must be provided with copies or certified copies of death certificates for the purpose of establishing paternity or establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation.

(3)   Others Individuals who demonstrate a direct and tangible interest may be issued copies when information is needed for the determination of a personal or property right.

(4)     Other applicants may be provided with a statement that the death occurred, the date, and county of death.   (B)   However, When fifty years have elapsed after the date of death, these records become public records and must be made available in photographic or other suitable format for public viewing. and At such time, any person may obtain copies upon submission of an application containing sufficient information to locate the record.

(C)   For each copy issued or search of the files made, the state registrar of vital statistics, shall collect the same fee as is charged for the issuance of certified copies or a search of the files for other records in his possession, except that the Department of Social Services or its designee may not be charged this fee.

When fifty years have elapsed after the date of death, these records must be made available in photographic or other suitable format for public viewing."
SECTION   2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.

Rep. HART 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:

Allison                Anderson               Atwater
Ballentine             Bannister              Barfield
Bedingfield            Bernstein              Bingham
Bowers                 Branham                G. A. Brown
R. L. Brown            Burns                  Chumley
Clemmons               Clyburn                Cole
H. A. Crawford         K. R. Crawford         Crosby
Daning                 Delleney               Dillard
Douglas                Felder                 Finlay
Forrester              Funderburk             Gagnon
Gambrell               Gilliard               Goldfinch
Govan                  Hamilton               Hardee
Hardwick               Harrell                Hart
Hayes                  Henderson              Herbkersman
Hiott                  Hixon                  Hodges
Horne                  Hosey                  Howard
Huggins                Jefferson              Kennedy
King                   Knight                 Limehouse
Loftis                 Long                   Lowe
Lucas                  McCoy                  McEachern
Mitchell               D. C. Moss             V. S. Moss
Murphy                 Nanney                 Neal
Newton                 Ott                    Owens
Parks                  Patrick                Pitts
Pope                   Powers Norrell         Putnam
Ridgeway               Rivers                 Robinson-Simpson
Rutherford             Ryhal                  Sabb
Sellers                Simrill                Skelton
G. M. Smith            G. R. Smith            J. E. Smith
J. R. Smith            Sottile                Southard
Spires                 Stavrinakis            Stringer
Tallon                 Taylor                 Toole
Vick                   Weeks                  Wells
White                  Williams               Willis
Wood

Those who voted in the negative are:

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

Rep. DANING moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Wednesday, April 24, which was adopted:

H. 3631 (Word version) -- Reps. Daning, Crosby, Sottile, Atwater and Sabb: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF GOLF CART PERMITS, TO REGULATE THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 56-2-105 RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF GOLF CART PERMITS AND THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS.

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 3725 (Word version) -- Reps. Putnam, Ballentine, Patrick, Huggins, H. A. Crawford, Mitchell, Allison, Barfield, Chumley, Felder, Gagnon, Henderson, Hixon, Owens, Rivers, Ryhal, Simrill, Spires, Stringer, Taylor, Willis, Wood, Sellers, Long and Erickson: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ENACTING THE "SAFE ACCESS TO VITAL EPINEPHRINE (SAVE) ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-95 SO AS TO ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PRIVATE SCHOOL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES TO OBTAIN SUPPLIES OF EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS FOR SCHOOLS TO USE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN PEOPLE TO PRESCRIBE AND DISPENSE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS; TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS TO STUDENTS FOR SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF THE INJECTOR; TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN PERSONNEL TO ADMINISTER EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS TO STUDENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PRIVATE SCHOOL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES TO DEVELOP AND FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT OF STUDENTS WITH LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES, INCLUDING FOR ADMINISTRATION AND PROVISION OF EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS TO STUDENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE; AND TO PROVIDE FOR IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY WITH REGARD TO USE OF EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS BY SCHOOLS.

Rep. HIOTT made the Point of Order that the Bill was improperly before the House for consideration since its number and title have not been printed in the House Calendar at least one statewide legislative day prior to second reading.
The SPEAKER sustained the Point of Order.

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 3853 (Word version) -- Reps. Owens, Patrick, Bedingfield, Loftis, Taylor, Allison, Anthony, Brannon, Southard, Bowen, Whitmire, Limehouse, Cole, Erickson, Forrester, Harrell, Herbkersman, Hixon, Lucas, D. C. Moss, Norman, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Simrill, G. R. Smith, Sottile, Stringer, Wells and Willis: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-40-111 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CAMPUS (AEC) TO BE ESTABLISHED BY A CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSOR WHICH SHALL CONSTITUTE A CHARTER SCHOOL SERVING A SPECIFIC STUDENT POPULATION, AND TO PROVIDE THE CRITERIA FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL TO BE DESIGNATED AS AN AEC; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-55, RELATING TO A CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSOR'S POWERS AND DUTIES, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THESE POWERS AND DUTIES INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF NATIONAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR THE SCHOOL, AND THE CLOSURE OF LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-60, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS AND THE FORMATION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION MUST BE BASED ON AN APPLICATION TEMPLATE WITH COMPLIANCE GUIDELINES DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THE APPLICATION AND FOR LETTERS OF INTENT TO BE SUBMITTED BY AN APPLICANT AND A CHARTER COMMITTEE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ITS DUTY TO REVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS, SO AS TO DELETE THE COMMITTEE, TO REVISE THE PROCEDURES REQUIRED OF A CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICANT IN REGARD TO A CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON COMPLIANCE TO BOTH SPONSORS AND APPLICANTS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE STANDARDS FOR A SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES OR AREA COMMISSION TO FOLLOW WHEN CONSIDERING THE DENIAL OF AN APPLICATION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-90, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO APPEAL OF FINAL DECISIONS OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE ADMINISTRATION LAW COURT, SO AS TO ALSO INCLUDE FINAL DECISIONS OF A PUBLIC OR INDEPENDENT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING SPONSOR; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF A CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSOR AND THE RENEWAL OR TERMINATION OF A CHARTER BY THE SPONSOR, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL AUTOMATICALLY AND PERMANENTLY CLOSE, TO REVISE THE CRITERIA TO CONSIDER WHEN REVOKING OR NOT RENEWING A CHARTER, TO PROVIDE FOR WHEN A SPONSOR SUMMARILY MAY REVOKE A CHARTER, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH STAYS OF THE REVOCATION OR NONRENEWAL OF THE CHARTER TAKE EFFECT OR MAY BE GRANTED; TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-115, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TERMINATION OF A CHARTER SCHOOL'S CONTRACT WITH A SPONSOR, SO AS TO DELETE A REFERENCE TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-40-180, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES PERTAINING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, SO AS TO DELETE A REFERENCE TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Rep. HIOTT made the Point of Order that the Bill was improperly before the House for consideration since its number and title have not been printed in the House Calendar at least one statewide legislative day prior to second reading.
The SPEAKER sustained the Point of Order.

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 3847 (Word version) -- Reps. Hiott and Hardwick: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR TERMS USED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY AND CONSUMER CONVENIENCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT COLLECTION AND RECOVERY ACT OF 2010, SO AS TO ADD, AMONG OTHER DEFINITIONS, TERMS RELATED TO COMPUTER MONITORS; TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-30, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS OF CERTAIN MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE LABELS ON DEVICES INDICATING THE BRAND, SO AS TO REQUIRE COMPUTER MONITOR MANUFACTURERS TO DO SO; TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-50, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR TELEVISION MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE A RECOVERY PROGRAM FOR RECYCLING TELEVISIONS, SO AS TO REQUIRE COMPUTER MONITOR MANUFACTURERS TO DO SO; BY ADDING SECTION 48-60-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION AND OPERATION OF STATEWIDE CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RELATED RECOVERY PLANS, INCLUDING REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL OF PLANS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, AND TO ESTABLISH OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT AND REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATED MANUFACTURERS; TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-60, RELATING TO PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN DAMAGES, SO AS TO APPLY TO COMPUTER MONITOR MANUFACTURERS; TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-70, RELATING TO RETAILER SALE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT RETAILERS FROM SELLING DEVICES MADE BY MANUFACTURERS WHO DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 48-60-55; TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-90, RELATING TO DISCARDING OR PLACING COVERED DEVICES IN A WASTE STREAM, TO PROHIBIT COMPONENTS OF COVERED DEVICES; TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-100, RELATING TO RECOVERY PROCESS FEES, SO AS TO LIMIT THE ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CHARGE CERTAIN FEES; TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-140, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS THAT RECOVERY PROCESSES COMPLY WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, SO AS TO REQUIRE RECYCLING OR REUSE FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION, TO IDENTIFY APPROVED CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, AND TO REQUIRE MANUFACTURERS AND GOVERNMENTS ONLY TO USE FACILITIES THAT HAVE APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATION; TO AMEND SECTION 48-60-150, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS, SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE RIGHT TO CHARGE CERTAIN FEES TO MANUFACTURERS; BY ADDING SECTION 48-60-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN FEES AND PENALTIES; BY ADDING SECTION 48-60-170 SO AS TO SET FORTH THE PURPOSES OF THE CHAPTER AND CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY; TO PROVIDE EXPIRATION DATES FOR REGULATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 48-60-50 JUNE 30, 2014, AND CERTAIN OTHER PROVISIONS JUNE 30, 2020.

Rep. HIOTT made the Point of Order that the Bill was improperly before the House for consideration since its number and title have not been printed in the House Calendar at least one statewide legislative day prior to second reading.
The SPEAKER sustained the Point of Order.

The following Joint Resolution was taken up:

H. 3774 (Word version) -- Reps. Loftis, Hardwick, Clemmons, Hamilton, Huggins, J. R. Smith, Goldfinch, Hixon, Ryhal, Sottile and Spires: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO SUSPEND THE RUNNING OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT APPROVALS AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2013 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017; AND TO PROVIDE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ISSUING SUCH APPROVALS SHALL PUBLISH NOTICE IN THE STATE REGISTER LISTING THE TYPES OF THESE APPROVALS IT ISSUES AND NOTING THE SUSPENSION OF THE RUNNING OF THE PERIOD OF THE APPROVAL AND TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FOR UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Rep. HIOTT made the Point of Order that the Joint Resolution was improperly before the House for consideration since its number and title have not been printed in the House Calendar at least one statewide legislative day prior to second reading.
The SPEAKER sustained the Point of Order.

The following Bill was taken up:

H. 3925 (Word version) -- Rep. Hardwick: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-1-90, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PROHIBITING THE DISCHARGE OF POLLUTANTS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO CLARIFY PERSONS WHO MAY FILE A PETITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT DO NOT INCLUDE CERTAIN AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE STATE AND TO PROVIDE THAT ANY DECISION OF THE DEPARTMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE TYPE OF REVIEW OBTAINED IS NOT SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW; TO AMEND SECTION 48-1-250, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO WHOM BENEFITS FROM CAUSES OF ACTION RESULTING FROM POLLUTION VIOLATIONS INURE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW NO PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION IS CREATED BY OR EXISTS UNDER THE POLLUTION CONTROL ACT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 6 OF ACT 198 OF 2012, RELATING TO THE SAVINGS CLAUSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SAVINGS CLAUSE OF ACT 198 OF 2012 APPLIES ONLY TO CASES FILED BEFORE JUNE 6, 2012, AND TO ANY FEDERAL PROJECT FOR WHICH A FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WAS ISSUED PRIOR TO JUNE 6, 2012, BUT NO RECORD OF DECISION WAS ISSUED PRIOR TO JUNE 6, 2012.

Reps. HIOTT, CLEMMONS, HARDWICK, NEAL, FINLAY, OWENS, ANDERSON, G. A. BROWN, CROSBY, GOLDFINCH, HARDEE, WOOD, R. L. BROWN, HART, RYHAL, ROBINSON-SIMPSON, FORRESTER, G. R. SMITH and DILLARD requested debate on the Bill.

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

Rep. SKELTON asked unanimous consent to recall H. 3435 (Word version) from the Committee on Education and Public Works.
Rep. NANNEY objected.

On motion of Rep. WHITE, with unanimous consent, the following Bill was ordered recalled from the Committee on Ways and Means:

S. 163 (Word version) -- Senators Campbell, McGill, O'Dell, Cleary, Ford and Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-62-50 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE TAX REBATE TO A MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION COMPANY BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA FILM COMMISSION, TO PROVIDE THAT THE REBATE MAY NOT EXCEED TWENTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL AGGREGATE PAYROLL FOR PERSONS SUBJECT TO INCOME TAX WITHHOLDINGS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND MAY NOT EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT FOR RESIDENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND FOR PERSONS EMPLOYED WITH THE PRODUCTION WHEN TOTAL PRODUCTION COSTS IN THIS STATE EQUAL OR EXCEED ONE MILLION DOLLARS DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-62-60, RELATING TO REBATES TO MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION COMPANIES, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY REBATE UP TO THIRTY PERCENT OF THE EXPENDITURES IN SOUTH CAROLINA IF THERE IS A MINIMUM IN-STATE EXPENDITURE OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

Rep. SANDIFER asked unanimous consent to recall S. 417 (Word version) from the Committee on Education and Public Works.
Rep. R. L. BROWN objected.

On motion of Rep. LOFTIS, with unanimous consent, the following Bill was ordered recalled from the Committee on Judiciary:

H. 3974 (Word version) -- Reps. Loftis, Brannon, Burns, Erickson, Bannister, Barfield, Hamilton, Harrell, Henderson, Hosey, Murphy, G. M. Smith, G. R. Smith and J. R. Smith: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-54-240, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS AND RETURNS FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, SO AS TO ALLOW THE DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ABOUT A TAXPAYER WHO FILED AN INITIAL OR FINAL CORPORATE RETURN; AND BY ADDING SECTION 12-58-165 SO AS TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO EXPUNGE THE RECORDING OF A LIEN ONCE THE LIEN IS FULLY PAID AND SATISFIED.

On motion of Rep. DELLENEY, with unanimous consent, the following Bill was ordered recalled from the Committee on Judiciary and was referred to the Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs:

S. 117 (Word version) -- Senators Hayes, Courson, O'Dell, Verdin and Ford: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-66-75 SO AS TO REQUIRE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO GIVE A PATIENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION TO DESIGNATED FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THESE FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE TREATMENT OF THE PATIENT; TO SPECIFY THE CONTENTS OF THE AUTHORIZATION; AND TO PROVIDE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL IMMUNITY FOR GOOD FAITH DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 44-66-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE ADULT HEALTH CARE CONSENT ACT, SO AS TO DEFINE "PATIENT" AND "TREATMENT" AND TO AMEND OTHER DEFINITIONS.

On motion of Rep. OWENS, with unanimous consent, the following Bill was ordered recalled from the Committee on Education and Public Works and was referred to the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry:

S. 417 (Word version) -- Senator Alexander: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "MILITARY SERVICE OCCUPATION, EDUCATION, AND CREDENTIALING ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-400 SO AS TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC, POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THIS STATE MAY AWARD EDUCATIONAL CREDIT TO AN HONORABLY DISCHARGED MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR A COURSE THAT IS PART OF HIS MILITARY TRAINING OR SERVICE, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO REQUIRE THE INSTITUTION TO IMPLEMENT RELATED POLICIES AND REGULATIONS WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME FRAME; BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 40 SO AS TO PROVIDE MISCELLANEOUS LICENSURE PROVISIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL, TO PROVIDE A PERSON LICENSED BY BOARD OR COMMISSION UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION IS EXEMPT FROM CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND FEE ASSESSMENTS DURING ACTIVE DUTY IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, TO PROVIDE A BOARD OR COMMISSION MAY ISSUE A TEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL LICENSE TO THE SPOUSE OF AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE A BOARD OR COMMISSION MAY ACCEPT CERTAIN COURSEWORK OR EXPERIENCE OBTAINED DURING THE COURSE OF MILITARY SERVICE TO SATISFY RELATED PROFESSIONAL OR OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION OR TRAINING LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS; AND TO REPEAL SECTIONS 40-1-75 RELATING TO EXEMPTING ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, AND 40-1-77 RELATING TO TEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL OR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES FOR MILITARY SPOUSES, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEW ARTICLE ADDED BY THIS ACT.

Rep. BINGHAM 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. 602 (Word version) -- Senators Coleman, Hayes, Jackson, Sheheen, Peeler and Gregory: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 901 IN YORK COUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 72 TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH CHERRY ROAD "STATE REPRESENTATIVE BESSIE MOODY-LAWRENCE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "STATE REPRESENTATIVE BESSIE MOODY-LAWRENCE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.

The following was introduced:

H. 4004 (Word version) -- Rep. Williams: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DR. CHARLES GOULD, PRESIDENT OF FLORENCE-DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER TWENTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

The Resolution was adopted.

The following was introduced:

H. 4005 (Word version) -- Rep. Williams: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DR. JAMES R. FREDERICK, PROFESSOR OF CROP PHYSIOLOGY AND SMALL GRAINS AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, FOR HIS OUTSTANDING RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP THAT HAS LED TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF CROPS USED AROUND THE WORLD FOR FUEL AND FOOD.

The Resolution was adopted.

The following was introduced:

H. 4006 (Word version) -- Rep. Williams: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 95 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 165 AND 167 "SCHP LANCE CORPORAL JACOB HAM, JR. MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "SCHP LANCE CORPORAL JACOB HAM, JR. MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".
The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

The following was introduced:

H. 4007 (Word version) -- Reps. Hardwick, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, G. A. Brown, R. L. Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, H. A. Crawford, K. R. Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Kennedy, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M. S. McLeod, W. J. McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, Powers Norrell, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, 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, Vick, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Wood: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE CAPTAIN ROBERT E. CARR OF THE HORRY COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT ON HIS RECENT PROMOTION AND TO THANK HIM FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HORRY COUNTY.

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

The following was introduced:

H. 4008 (Word version) -- Reps. Hardwick, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, G. A. Brown, R. L. Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, H. A. Crawford, K. R. Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Kennedy, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M. S. McLeod, W. J. McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D. C. Moss, V. S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, Powers Norrell, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, 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, Vick, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Wood: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE HORRY COUNTY POLICE CHIEF SAUNDRA RHODES ON HER PROMOTION TO CHIEF OF POLICE AND TO THANK HER FOR HER MANY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HORRY COUNTY.

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

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

H. 4009 (Word version) -- Reps. Jefferson, Southard, Vick, Williams and Gagnon: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE "FREE HEALTH CARE STUDY COMMITTEE" TO STUDY THE EXTENT TO WHICH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS VOLUNTEER AT FREE MEDICAL CLINICS AND THE VARIETY AND EXTENT OF MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, TO PROVIDE FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE AND THE METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS, TO SET FORTH THE DUTIES OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE, TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A REPORT WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND TO INCLUDE A SUNSET PROVISION FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE.
Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

H. 4010 (Word version) -- Rep. Bingham: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 288 OF 2012, RELATING TO THE 2012-2013 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, SO AS TO REVISE PARAGRAPH 1A.48, SECTION 1A, PART IB, THAT DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO TRANSFER CERTAIN FUNDS TO MEET MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT BY DELETING THE SET MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE TRANSFERRED.
On motion of Rep. BINGHAM, with unanimous consent, the Bill was ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.

H. 4011 (Word version) -- Reps. Ridgeway, Powers Norrell and George: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 6-29-760, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR THE ENACTMENT OF ZONING REGULATIONS OR MAPS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY A LANDOWNER, HIS OR HER APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE, OR THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ZONING REGULATIONS OR MAPS PERTAINING TO THE PROPERTY MAY APPLY TO AMEND OR CHANGE ANY ZONING REGULATION OR MAP RELATING TO THAT PROPERTY.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary

S. 620 (Word version) -- Senator Verdin: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-2335 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE MANUFACTURE AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS STATE IN THE DEFINITION OF "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS", TO DEFINE THE TERM "TRANSMISSIONS", TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY ISSUE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LICENSE PLATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF TESTING AND EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS' TRANSMISSIONS ON THE MOTOR VEHICLE, AND THE DEPARTMENT MAY ENTER INTO RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER STATES CONCERNING THE REGISTRATION AND OPERATION OF VEHICLES OWNED BY A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF TESTING AND EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS' TRANSMISSIONS, TO PROVIDE IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS OR CONTRACTED FLEET OWNER TO TAKE ANY OTHER ACTIONS REQUIRED BY ANOTHER STATE THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS OR CONTRACTED FLEET OWNER, AND TO LEGALLY TEST AND EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS' TRANSMISSIONS IN THAT STATE.
Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

S. 621 (Word version) -- Education Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, RELATING TO ASSISTING, DEVELOPING, AND EVALUATING PROFESSIONAL TEACHING (ADEPT), DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4325, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.
Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

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

The Senate returned to the House with concurrence the following:

H. 3947 (Word version) -- Reps. Clemmons, Mack, Bannister, Whitmire, Henderson and McCoy: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO FIX NOON ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013, AS THE TIME TO ELECT A SUCCESSOR TO A CERTAIN JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SEAT 1, TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM THAT EXPIRES JUNE 30, 2016; AND AS THE DATE TO MEET IN JOINT SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON JUNE 30, 2017, AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, MEDICAL SEAT, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON JUNE 30, 2016.

H. 3920 (Word version) -- Reps. Goldfinch, Clemmons, Hardwick and H. A. Crawford: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE OPPOSITION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO ANY VESSEL MONITORING SYSTEMS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA OR WITHIN THE STATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT 30 OR ANY FUTURE AMENDMENTS TO THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SNAPPER-GROUPER FISHERY OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION, AND STRONGLY URGING THE SOUTH CAROLINIANS APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES TO SERVE ON THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL TO REFLECT THIS OPPOSITION IN THE COUNCIL'S DELIBERATIONS ON THESE MATTERS.

At 1:23 p.m. the House, in accordance with the motion of Rep. HIOTT, adjourned in memory of Pfc. Barrett L. Austin of Easley, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, to meet at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

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