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The Senate assembled at 11:00 A.M., 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:

Matthew 7:12 NIV

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Let us pray. Holy God, this passage from Your Scripture is both compelling and powerful. It has stood the test of time for 2000 years. Each of us here is familiar with Your imperative to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

How is it, therefore, that we desire to be treated? We all want to be valued; we all want to be heard and we all want to be encouraged. By Your grace, O God, and through Your power, enable us then to value, hear and encourage others in this very same manner. We offer this prayer in Your holy name, Amen.

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

At 11:02 A.M., Senator LEATHERMAN made the point that a quorum was not present. It was ascertained that a quorum was not present.

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

Alexander                 Bennett                   Cash
Climer                    Corbin                    Cromer
Davis                     Gambrell                  Goldfinch
Hutto                     Johnson                   Leatherman
Martin                    Massey                    Nicholson
Peeler                    Rankin                    Rice

Scott		         Senn			    Setzler
Shealy			 Talley			    Timmons
Turner			 Williams		    Young

A quorum being present, the Senate resumed.

Senator GROOMS recorded his presence subsequent to the Call of the Senate.

On motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, with unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to go into Executive Session.

At 1:29 P.M., Senator GOLDFINCH assumed the Chair.

The following was received:
Document No. 4729
Agency: Commission on Higher Education
Chapter: 62
Statutory Authority: 1976 Code Section 59-112-100
SUBJECT: Determination of Rates of Tuition and Fees
Received by Lieutenant Governor January 13, 2017
Referred to Committee on Education
Legislative Review Expiration January 10, 2018
Withdrawn and Resubmitted January 24, 2018

Senators RANKIN and HEMBREE introduced Dr. Richard C. Osman, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Doctor of the Day.

At 11:06 A.M., Senator LEATHERMAN requested a leave of absence for Senator CAMPBELL for the day.

At 1:37 P.M., Senator YOUNG requested a leave of absence for Senator GAMBRELL for the day.

Senator CASH rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.

Thank you. I want to speak for just a few minutes about two events that took place at the State House yesterday. Yesterday was Personhood Day at the Capitol. There was a rally in the first floor rotunda, between 11:00 and 1:00. They were there in support of S. 217, the Personhood Act of South Carolina. It was a good rally. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Attorney General spoke all in favor of S. 217. There were also two very moving testimonies given. One testimony was given by a woman who was conceived as a result of a rape. The other testimony was given by a woman whose son was present, the son having been conceived in rape. Very simply, S. 217 vests the right to life at the biological beginning of life -- the moment of fertilization. I'm not here to debate it. Hopefully, that will take place in Judiciary next week, and then, God willing, from the floor of the Senate.

The second event took place last night during the State of the State address. I noted that the most sustained applause and standing ovation that the Governor got was when he spoke in defense of innocent life. Also, I noted when he talked about the opioid crisis, which is indeed a very real and tragic crisis, and he mentioned the figure of over 600 deaths in one recent year. And not in any way to lessen the impact of that upon us, and what we need to do about that crisis, but each and every year in the State of South Carolina, there are over 5,000 unborn children that are being killed through abortion. Now, how you view that probably depends a lot on how you view a model of a twelve week old baby and whether you think that baby has an intrinsic, inalienable right to life. Understand my effort to have personhood debated on the floor of the Senate is not necessarily welcomed by all of the members -- some don't want to talk about it, others might think I need to wait my turn or that personhood needs to wait.

Did you know that although I am new to the Senate, I am not new to the personhood effort and the personhood effort itself is not new. Twenty years ago in 1998, I sat down in a restaurant in Greenville with Senator Mike Fair and the late Terry Haskins and I talked to them about the first Personhood Bill that was introduced in South Carolina, which was in 1998. To the best of my knowledge, these Bills have continually been introduced over the past twenty years and to my knowledge not once has personhood been debated fully on the floor of the South Carolina Senate.

Over the past twenty years, we have added 20 million more aborted children in this country. Over the past twenty years we have added over 100,000 more aborted babies in South Carolina. There are many important issues that we will debate in the Senate. There are some urgent issues that we need to debate. But nothing is more important, and nothing is more urgent, than debating the Personhood Bill. This is not a Republican issue, it is not a Democratic issue, it is not a black issue, it is not a white issue. It is not even just a woman's issue or man's issue -- it is fundamentally at its core a human rights issue. So I ask at the first available opportunity that we deal with this question, who qualifies as a member of the human community and is deserving legal protection? That is the question this Body needs to debate fully on this Senate floor and vote on. Thank you very much.

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

The following co-sponsors were added to the respective Bills:
S. 805 (Word version)     Sen. McLeod
S. 891 (Word version)     Sen. Hutto
S. 927 (Word version)     Sen. Senn

The following co-sponsors were removed from the respective Bill:
S. 766 (Word version)     Sens. Talley, Climer, Massey, Davis, Hembree, McElveen, Rice, Fanning, McLeod, Cash, Turner and Bennett

S. 929 (Word version) -- Senator Setzler: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018, AS "CITIES MEAN BUSINESS DAY" AND TO HONOR THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT SOUTH CAROLINA CITIES AND TOWNS MAKE TO THE STATE'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY THROUGH THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES.

Senator ALEXANDER asked unanimous consent to make a motion to recall the Resolution from the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.

The Resolution was recalled from the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.

Senator ALEXANDER asked unanimous consent to make a motion to take the Resolution up for immediate consideration.

There was no objection.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Resolution. The question then was the adoption of the Resolution.

On motion of Senator ALEXANDER, the Resolution was adopted and ordered sent to the House.

S. 916 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-52-870, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ENERGY EFFICIENT MANUFACTURED HOMES INCENTIVE PROGRAM, SO AS TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM TEN ADDITIONAL YEARS.

Senator CROMER asked unanimous consent to make a motion to recall the Bill from the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

There was no objection and the Bill was recalled from the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

On the motion of Senator CROMER, with unanimous consent, the Bill was committed to the Committee on Finance.

On motion of Senator DAVIS, on behalf of Senator JOHN MATTHEWS, the Privilege of the Chamber, to that area behind the rail, was extended to Dr. Graham Adams and Dr. Virginia B. White for their twenty years of dedicated service with Low Country Healthy Start.

On motion of Senator DAVIS, on behalf of Senator McLEOD, the Privilege of the Chamber, to that area behind the rail, was extended to Mrs. Willie Dell Grimes on the occasion of obtaining her high school diploma.

The following were introduced:

S. 930 (Word version) -- Senator Sabb: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE JERUSALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST AND EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR ITS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY OF GEORGETOWN UPON THE OCCASION OF THE NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION'S PRAYER AND PRAISE WEEKEND.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 931 (Word version) -- Senators Timmons, Climer, Talley, Massey, Davis, Hembree, McElveen, Rice, Fanning, McLeod, Cash, Turner, Bennett, Rankin, Shealy, Goldfinch, Gambrell and Senn: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1312 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CAMPAIGN BANK ACCOUNTS, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY CANDIDATES SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO AN INTEREST ON CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT KNOWN AS AN "IOCA", TO PROVIDE THAT AN IOCA BENEFITS THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, TO PROVIDE THAT AN IOCA SHALL BE ESTABLISHED WITH AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION THAT VOLUNTARILY CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RATE OF INTEREST OR DIVIDENDS PAYABLE ON ANY IOCA, TO PROVIDE THAT ONE PERCENT OF ALL CONTRIBUTIONS DEPOSITED INTO AN IOCA SHALL BE REMITTED TO BENEFIT THE COMMISSION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUNDS REMITTED TO THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE USED BY THE COMMISSION TO CREATE A POSITION OR POSITIONS WITHIN ITS EMPLOY TO CHECK AND CONFIRM THE COMPLETENESS OF CANDIDATE FILINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-320 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, TO PROVIDE THAT THOSE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE RECEIVING, ADMINISTERING, INVESTING, DISBURSING, AND SEPARATELY ACCOUNTING FOR FUNDS REMITTED TO IT PURSUANT TO SECTION 8-13-1312; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-340 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, TO PROVIDE THAT THE

STATE ETHICS COMMISSION AT THE CLOSE OF EACH FISCAL YEAR SHALL REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR CONCERNING THE ACTION IT HAS TAKEN, THE NAMES, SALARIES, AND DUTIES OF ALL PERSONS IN ITS EMPLOY, THE MONEY IT HAS DISBURSED, AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS IT HAS RECEIVED FROM IOCAS AND THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL ALSO MAKE OTHER REPORTS ON MATTERS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER LEGISLATION AS MAY APPEAR DESIRABLE; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

S. 932 (Word version) -- Senators Campbell, Hembree, Bennett and Williams: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 5, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 57 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, BY ADDING SECTION 57-5-880, TO PROVIDE THAT AN ENTITY UNDERTAKING A TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT SHALL BEAR THE COSTS RELATED TO RELOCATING WATER AND SEWER LINES; TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR UTILITIES TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR RELOCATION PAYMENTS; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation.

S. 933 (Word version) -- Senator Campsen: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-1705(D) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CATCH LIMITS FOR ESTUARINE AND SALTWATER FINFISH, TO REDUCE THE CATCH LIMITED FOR RED DRUM.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry.

S. 934 (Word version) -- Senators Talley and Setzler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-123-60(A)(3) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROCURED

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S. 935 (Word version) -- Senator Talley: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3775 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCOME TAX CREDIT TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR BUSINESS THAT CONSTRUCTS, PURCHASES, OR LEASES CERTAIN SOLAR ENERGY PROPERTY AND PLACES IT IN SERVICE IN THIS STATE, AND TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION OF "SOLAR ENERGY PROPERTY".
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S. 936 (Word version) -- Senator Johnson: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 11, TITLE 50 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-325, TO DEFINE THE TERM "HUNTING DEER WITH A DOG"; TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON HUNTING DEER WITH A DOG MUST CAUSE THE DOG TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH A COLLAR; TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE WHEREBY A LOST DOG IS RETURNED TO ITS OWNER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE OWNER OF A DOG THAT TRESPASSES ON ANOTHER PERSON'S PROPERTY IS LIABLE FOR CIVIL DAMAGES; TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STEAL, HARM, OR KILL A DOG IN PURSUIT OF A DEER THAT HAS IDENTIFIABLE OWNER INFORMATION OR TO REMOVE OR DESTROY ANY MEANS OF IDENTIFYING OR TRACKING THE DOG; TO PROVIDE THAT HUNTING DEER WITH A DOG IS UNLAWFUL ON A TRACT OF LAND THAT CONTAINS LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND ACRES UNLESS THE TRACT OF LAND IS ENCLOSED BY A FENCE; AND TO PROVIDE VARIOUS PENALTIES.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry.

S. 937 (Word version) -- Senators Hutto and M. B. Matthews: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-53-600(A) AND (B) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE TEMPORARY DEVOLUTION OF POWERS, DUTIES, AND OBLIGATIONS VESTED IN THE DENMARK TECHNICAL

COLLEGE AREA COMMISSION TO THE STATE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION, TO EXTEND THE DEVOLUTION TO JANUARY 1, 2019, FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2018, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SECTION 59-53-600 IS REPEALED ON JANUARY 1, 2019.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Education.

S. 938 (Word version) -- Senators Climer, Gregory, Peeler and Fanning: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF CAROWINDS BOULEVARD FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA-SOUTH CAROLINA BORDER TO THE JUNCTION OF CAROWINDS BOULEVARD AND INTERSTATE 77 IN YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA "DETECTIVE MIKE DOTY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THE LOCATION CONTAINING THIS DESIGNATION.
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The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered sent to the House.

H. 3068 (Word version) -- Reps. J. E. Smith and Clyburn: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 102, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ATHLETE AGENTS AND STUDENT ATHLETES, SO AS TO ENACT THE "UNIFORM ATHLETE AGENTS ACT OF 2017", TO ADOPT THE INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR REGISTRATION OF STUDENT ATHLETE AGENTS AND MAKE NECESSARY CONFORMING CHANGES, TO REVISE VARIOUS PROVISIONS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE EXPANDED IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE SOLICITATION AND RECRUITMENT OF STUDENT ATHLETES BY ATHLETE AGENTS, TO REVISE REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENT ATHLETES AND ATHLETE AGENTS, AND TO REVISE VARIOUS AVAILABLE REMEDIES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

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

H. 4378 (Word version) -- Reps. McCoy, Ott, Lucas, Anderson, Ballentine, Blackwell, Caskey, Crawford, Crosby, Davis, Finlay, Forrester, Gilliard, Hardee, Henegan, Hixon, Mack, Pope, Rutherford, J. E. Smith, Sandifer, Stavrinakis, Erickson, Huggins, W. Newton, Bales, Young, McEachern, Clary, Tallon, Brown, Fry, Robinson-Simpson, V. S. Moss, Clyburn, Bennett, Arrington, Jefferson, King, Daning, Govan, Weeks and Pendarvis: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 58 SO AS TO CREATE THE UTILITY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION, DUTIES, AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMITTEE; TO REPEAL ARTICLE 5, CHAPTER 3, TITLE 58 RELATING TO THE STATE REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE; AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 8-13-935, 58-3-5, 58-9-280, 58-9-285, 58-9-2689, 58-27-2630, 58-31-20, AND 58-39-140, ALL RELATING TO UTILITIES AND THE REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT OF UTILITIES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

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

H. 4379 (Word version) -- Reps. McCoy, Ott, Lucas, Anderson, Ballentine, Blackwell, Caskey, Crawford, Crosby, Davis, Finlay, Forrester, Gilliard, Hardee, Henegan, Hixon, Mack, Pope, Rutherford, J. E. Smith, Sandifer, Stavrinakis, Erickson, Huggins, W. Newton, Bales, Young, McEachern, Clary, Tallon, Brown, Fry, Robinson-Simpson, V. S. Moss, Clyburn, Bennett, Arrington, Daning, Pendarvis, Govan and Toole: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 7, TITLE 1 SO AS TO CREATE THE UTILITIES CONSUMER ADVOCATE IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UTILITIES CONSUMER ADVOCATE, AMONG OTHER THINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-10, RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND ITS MISSION, SO AS TO REMOVE THE PRESERVATION OF THE FINANCIAL INTEGRITY OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC UTILITIES, CONTINUED INVESTMENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES FROM THE MISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-50, RELATING TO REGULATORY STAFF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, SO AS TO ADD THAT THE OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE RESEARCH, EXPERTISE, AND OTHER

ASSISTANCE TO THE UTILITIES CONSUMER ADVOCATE AND MAKE OTHER CONFORMING CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-55, RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF'S ABILITY TO REQUEST CERTAIN INFORMATION, SO AS TO ADD THAT THE OFFICE SHALL HAVE SUBPOENA POWERS AND THAT THE UTILITIES CONSUMER ADVOCATE MAY REQUEST THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS ON HIS BEHALF, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE REQUESTED INFORMATION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-80, RELATING TO INTERVENTION IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ON APPEAL THE OFFICE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

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

H. 4716 (Word version) -- Rep. Bales: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO WELCOME THE NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE HONORABLE DENISE H. ROHAN, TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND INVITE HER TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION IN THE CHAMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT 12:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2018.

The Concurrent Resolution was introduced and referred to the Committee on Invitations.

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

At 2:03 P.M., on motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, the Senate adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11:00 A.M. under the provisions of Rule 1 for the purpose of taking up local matters and uncontested matters which have previously received unanimous consent to be taken up.

This web page was last updated on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 1:56 P.M.