Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The Senate assembled at 12:00 Noon, the hour to which it stood adjourned, and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.

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

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." NIV

Let us pray. Gracious God, as we bow before You, we are hopeful and excited about the possibilities of this new year. But we also know that we may find ourselves overwhelmed with a seemingly endless work load. There are so many things to consider.

We are constantly trying to balance the demands of our vocation, our responsibilities to family at home and our public service to the people of this State. It can be a daunting task. It is easy to become discouraged especially in the midst of our demanding schedule, we loose a family member. Today we extend our heartfelt sympathy to Senator Rex Rice who recently lost his beloved mother Claire Fontaine Rice.

Together we find strength in the word of God for all of life's challenges: "Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Loving God, help us to remember it is only by Your hand and with Your hand that we can and will do mighty things for Your glory. Through the power of Your grace we commit this prayer to You. Amen

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

At 12:05 P.M., Senator LEATHERMAN made the point that a quorum was not present. It was ascertained that a quorum was not present.

Senator PEELER moved that a Call of the Senate be made. The following Senators answered the Call:

Alexander                 Bennett                   Campbell
Cash                      Climer                    Corbin
Cromer                    Davis                     Goldfinch
Gregory                   Grooms                    Hutto
Johnson                   Leatherman                Malloy
Martin                    Matthews, John            McElveen
Peeler                    Rice                      Sabb
Senn                      Setzler                   Shealy
Talley                    Timmons                   Turner
Verdin                    Young

A quorum being present, the Senate resumed.

Senators WILLIAMS and KIMPSON recorded their presence subsequent to the Call of the Senate.

The following appointment was transmitted by the Honorable Henry Dargan McMaster:

Initial Appointment, Department of Natural Resources Board, with the term to commence July 1, 2016, and to expire July 1, 2020
6th Congressional District:
Duane Swygert, P. O. Box 486, Hardeeville, SC 29927-0486 VICE Cary L. Chastain

Referred to the Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry.

Senator SETZLER introduced Dr. Ponce DeLeon Bullard of Columbia, S.C., Doctor of the Day.

Senator CAMPBELL rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.

The following co-sponsor was removed from the respective Bill:
S. 472 (Word version)     Sen. Grooms

S. 639 (Word version) -- Senator Alexander: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE PIONEER RURAL WATER DISTRICT TO CEASE ACTIVITY RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WATER TREATMENT PLANT UNTIL A COURT MAKES A FINAL DETERMINATION WHETHER OR NOT PIONEER RURAL WATER DISTRICT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT A WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

On motion of Senator ALEXANDER, the Resolution was recommitted to Committee on Judiciary.

The following were introduced:

S. 879 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR LEE ANN LAWRENCE UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AS HELP DESK SERVICES MANAGER FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY, TO EXTEND DEEP APPRECIATION FOR HER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EXEMPLARY AND DEVOTED SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO OFFER HER BEST WISHES FOR A SATISFYING AND REWARDING RETIREMENT.
l:\s-res\rwc\007lee .kmm.rwc.docx

The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 880 (Word version) -- Senator Gambrell: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-353 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY MAY OPERATE AN ALL - TERRAIN VEHICLE ALONG THE PUBLIC STREETS AND HIGHWAYS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION.
l:\council\bills\gt\5366cm18.docx

Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation.

S. 881 (Word version) - Senator Kimpson: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-43-220(c)(1), RELATING TO PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATIONS AND ASSESSMENT RATIOS FOR COUNTY EQUALIZATION AND REASSESSMENT TAXATION, TO PROVIDE THAT ACCOMMODATIONS FURNISHED TO TRANSIENTS FOR LESS THAN THIRTY CONSECUTIVE DAYS ON A SEPARATE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY ON WHICH A LEGAL RESIDENCE LOCATED SHALL BE ASSESSED AT A FOUR-PERCENT RATIO; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-70(1)(b), RELATING TO DEFINITIONS OF "RETAILER" AND "SELLER" FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA SALES AND USE TAX, TO PROVIDE THAT THE TERMS EXCLUDE AN INDIVIDUAL FURNISHING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A CONSIDERATION ON THE SAME PREMISES WHEN THE ACCOMMODATIONS FURNISHED CONTAIN LESS THAN SIX SLEEPING ROOMS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-920(A), RELATING TO TAX ON ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TRANSIENTS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE TAX DOES NOT APPLY WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL FURNISHES SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS TO TRANSIENTS ON THE SAME PREMISES AS THE INDIVIDUAL'S PLACE OF ABODE WHEN THE ACCOMMODATIONS FURNISHED TO TRANSIENTS CONTAIN LESS THAN SIX SLEEPING ROOMS AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT THE GROSS PROCEEDS DERIVED FROM THE LEASE OR RENTAL OF SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS SUPPLIED TO THE SAME PERSON FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY CONTINUOUS DAYS ARE NOT CONSIDERED PROCEEDS FROM TRANSIENTS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-43-220(c)(2)(iv), RELATING TO PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATIONS AND ASSESSMENT RATIOS FOR COUNTY EQUALIZATION AND REASSESSMENT TAXATION, TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT A RESIDENCE NOT RENTED FOR MORE THAN SEVENTY-TWO DAYS IN A CALENDAR YEAR WILL RETAIN ITS ELIGIBILITY FOR THE FOUR-PERCENT ASSESSMENT RATIO AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE THAT INDIVIDUALS ENGAGING IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS MUST ALSO PROVIDE THE ASSESSOR WITH A SWORN AFFIDAVIT THAT HE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH A SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE IN THE JURISDICTION WHERE THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED, IF SUCH AN ORDINANCE EXISTS IN THE JURISDICTION TO QUALIFY FOR THE FOUR-PERCENT ASSESSMENT RATIO.
l:\s-res\mek\030prop.kmm.mek.docx

Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S. 882 (Word version) -- Senator Rankin: A BILL TO ADOPT REVISED CODE VOLUMES 15A AND 18 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO THE EXTENT OF THEIR CONTENTS, AS THE ONLY GENERAL PERMANENT STATUTORY LAW OF THE STATE; AND TO ADOPT THE 2017 CUMULATIVE SUPPLEMENTS TO THE CODE OF LAWS AS PART OF THE CODE AND PROVIDE THAT THESE SUPPLEMENTS, VOLUMES AS SUPPLEMENTED BY THEM, AND THE REPLACEMENT VOLUMES CONSTITUTE THE ONLY GENERAL PERMANENT STATUTORY LAWS OF THE STATE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2018.
l:\council\bills\bh\7158ahb18.docx

Read the first time and ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.

S. 883 (Word version) -- Senator Martin: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 25, CHAPTER 6, TITLE 12 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO SOUTH CAROLINA INCOME TAX CREDITS, TO PROVIDE THAT A TAXPAYER WHO PURCHASES AND USES MOTOR FUEL FOR A PURPOSE OTHER THAN TO OPERATE A PRIVATE PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 56-3-630 IS ALLOWED A REFUNDABLE INCOME TAX CREDIT.
l:\s-res\srm\004boat.dmr.srm.docx

Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S. 884 (Word version) -- Senator Nicholson: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-290, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN GREENWOOD COUNTY, SO AS TO RENAME CERTAIN PRECINCTS, AND TO REDESIGNATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE NAMES OF THESE PRECINCTS MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
l:\council\bills\ggs\22053zw18.docx

Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

S. 885 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-420, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN NEWBERRY COUNTY, SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE PROSPERITY PRECINCT, TO ADD THE PROSPERITY CITY PRECINCT AND THE PROSPERITY OUTSIDE PRECINCT, AND TO REDESIGNATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE NAMES OF THESE PRECINCTS MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
l:\council\bills\ggs\22056zw18.docx

Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

S. 886 (Word version) -- Senator Williams: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE BOBBY JOLLEY FOR HIS FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE AND ACTIVISM IN FLORENCE COUNTY.
l:\s-res\kmw\003bobb.kmm.kmw.docx

The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 887 (Word version) -- Senator Allen: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF BILL NICK SKENTERIS OF GREENVILLE COUNTY UPON HIS PASSING, AND TO HONOR HIS REMARKABLE WORK ETHIC AND COMMITMENT TO HIS COMMUNITY, AND TO EXTEND DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.
l:\council\bills\gm\25077cz18.docx

The Senate Resolution was adopted.

H. 4527 (Word version) -- Rep. Lucas: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION INVITING HIS EXCELLENCY, HENRY MCMASTER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION AT 7:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018, IN THE CHAMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

On motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, with unanimous consent, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.

H. 4544 (Word version) -- Rep. Allison: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DECLARE JUNE 2018 AS "SOUTH CAROLINA WHOLE CHILD MONTH" IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT THE WHOLE CHILD INITIATIVE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF CURRICULUM AND SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT (ASCD) HAS IN ADVANCING THE WELL-BEING OF SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

The Concurrent Resolution was introduced and referred to the General Committee.

H. 4545 (Word version) -- Reps. Hewitt, Anderson, Crawford, Clemmons, McGinnis, Fry and Hardee: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR GERALD E. HARMON, M.D., OF GEORGETOWN COUNTY UPON BEING NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

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

H. 3649 (Word version) -- Reps. Crawford and Sandifer: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-60, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO RULES AND OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL EXAMINERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD MAY PROVIDE ADVICE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATUTORY REVISIONS AND OTHER MATTERS AS THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHAPTER 3, TITLE 40; TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-115, RELATING TO JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD, SO AS TO REVISE THIS JURISDICTION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-3-290, RELATING TO EXCEPTIONS FROM CHAPTER 3, TITLE 40, SO AS TO REVISE CRITERIA FOR CERTAIN EXEMPT BUILDINGS AND DETACHED SINGLE-FAMILY OR TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS.

Whereupon, Senator CORBIN was appointed in lieu of Senator BENNETT to the Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate and a message was sent to the House accordingly. The Senate conferees are Senators SCOTT, DAVIS and CORBIN.

THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO A CALL OF THE UNCONTESTED LOCAL AND STATEWIDE CALENDAR.

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

H. 4180 (Word version) -- Reps. W. Newton, Erickson, Herbkersman, Bowers, Bradley and M. Rivers: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 4-3-75 AND 4-3-325 SO AS TO ALTER THE BOUNDARY LINES OF BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES BY ANNEXING A CERTAIN PORTION OF JASPER COUNTY TO BEAUFORT COUNTY AND A CERTAIN PORTION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO JASPER COUNTY AND MAKE PROVISIONS FOR LEGAL RECORDS.

Senators DAVIS and M.B. MATTHEWS explained the Bill.

S. 83 (Word version) -- Senator Hembree: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-60 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, TO INCLUDE WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER THE SALE OR DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, THEIR ANALOGUES, OR OTHER UNLAWFUL SUBSTANCES THAT CAUSE THE DEATH OF THE USER WHEN INGESTED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON CONVICTED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER MUST BE IMPRISONED NOT MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS.

On motion of Senator HEMBREE, the Bill was carried over.

S. 681 (Word version) -- Judiciary Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION, RELATING TO CHAPTER REVISIONS, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4735, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE.

On motion of Senator YOUNG, the Resolution was carried over.

H. 3234 (Word version) -- Reps. McEachern and Sandifer: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 27-40-120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT, SO AS TO DELETE OCCUPANCY UNDER A RENTAL AGREEMENT COVERING THE PREMISES USED BY THE OCCUPANT PRIMARILY FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES AS AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE ACT.

Senator HUTTO explained the Bill.

On motion of Senator MASSEY, the Bill was carried over.

THE CALL OF THE UNCONTESTED CALENDAR HAVING BEEN COMPLETED, THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO THE MOTION PERIOD.

At 12:30 P.M., on motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, the Senate agreed to dispense with the balance of the Motion Period.

Senator CAMPSEN rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.

Thank you Mr. PRESIDENT, members of the Senate, Senator DAVIS just informed me that the Governor has just requested of the Trump administration that South Carolina be taken off the list of states where offshore drilling could occur, as the administration did for Florida yesterday. I wanted to inform the Body of that. I also want to inform the Body that I applaud Governor McMaster for doing that. I represent about half of South Carolina's coastline and I'm not against burning hydrocarbons. I probably burn more hydrocarbons than anyone in this Chamber through my boat business. But I applaud the Governor for this simple reason: the land use patterns that have developed along South Carolina's coastline are wholly incompatible with the industrialization of the coastline that is necessary to support offshore oil. That is the most compelling reason I am opposed to offshore drilling. You don't put a skunk factory next to the Reedy River redevelopment area in downtown Greenville; and you don't put a refinery next to Kiawah Island; or a yard where you are building offshore drilling rigs next to downtown Charleston near the battery -- the number one tourist destination in the country.

Folks don't think about this much, but I've had occasion to spend a lot of time in the Gulf of Mexico on boats. I've had boats built in the gulf and spent a lot of time in the boat yards. I have navigated the boats across the gulf and up the east coast to Charleston. In doing so, I have seen what it takes to support offshore drilling. The landside industrialization necessary to support offshore drilling is massive, dirty and highly industrial. If anyone questions that, I would encourage you to click on Google Earth and look at Port Fourchon, Louisiana; Beaumont, Texas; Deer Park, Texas; and Morgan City, Louisiana. I've spent time in some of these places. The industrialization necessary to support offshore drilling is extensive and incompatible with what we've developed on our coasts. If we were to do it in the 1940's, that would be a different matter. But now we have wildlife refuges, resorts, beach communities and historic areas. Oil drilling is simply incompatible with what has developed on our coast. It doesn't mesh with our current land uses. Furthermore, hydraulic fracking has revolutionized the oil industry.

We are one of the world's producers of oil now, and we will soon become a net exporter. The cost of producing productive, profitable oil from fracking is being driven down by the ingenuity and the creativity of entrepreneurs in a free market system. They have driven the cost of production of land based oil down so low, oil prices can't support what it takes for greenfield development of offshore oil.

I represent over fifteen municipalities and counties along the coast. Every single one of them has adopted a resolution in opposition to offshore drilling. This is not because we hate oil and it is not because we think everything could be run by solar and wind. Offshore drilling is simply incompatible with the land use patterns we've developed. I applaud Governor McMaster for taking a stand against offshore drilling.

If the Trump administration is responsive to the request of Florida's governor, it ought to be responsive to the request of our Governor McMaster. Our governor was the first statewide elected official in the nation to endorse President Trump. He gave a nomination speech for President Trump at the Republican Convention. So I hope the administration is as responsive to Governor McMaster's request as he was to the request of the governor from Florida. Thank you.

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

On motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, the Senate agreed to stand adjourned.

On motion of Senator MALLOY, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of Reverend John Foster III of Bennettsville, S.C. Rev. Foster was an associate professor of Religion, and Director for Diversity, Interfaith and Inclusion Education at Coker College in Hartsville. He was also ordained by the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and had been with St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Darlington the past year. Rev. Foster was a great man who gave much to his community.

On motion of Senator McELVEEN, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr. of Sumter, S.C. Justice Finney opened a law office in 1961 in Sumter, S.C. where he was an outstanding defense lawyer and civil rights advocate. In 1963, he was appointed as Chairman of the South Carolina Advisory Commission on Civil Rights. In 1972, he was elected to the House of Representatives and in 1976 he became the first African American to serve as a circuit court judge in South Carolina. Justice Finney was a loving husband, devoted father and doting grandfather who will be dearly missed.

At 12:42 P.M., on motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, the Senate adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.

This web page was last updated on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 3:54 P.M.