NO. 11
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
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:
1 Peter 5:6
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
Let us pray. We thank You God for this special moment when I hearts can be united in prayer to You, our creator, redeemer and Lord. Let not the importance of our position, the accomplishments of our past or the plans of the present deceive us into thinking that we are the architects of our own destiny. All that we have and all that we achieve is a result of Your divine providence and Your grace in our lives. Deliver us from the error of asking and expecting Your blessing and Your guidance in our public lives while closing the doors to You in our private living.
Help us, O God, to humble ourselves before You, and with Your help, be the best that we can -- twenty four hours a day. In Your holy name we pray, Amen.
The PRESIDENT called for Petitions, Memorials, Presentments of Grand Juries and such like papers.
At 11:05 A.M., Senator SETZLER made the point that a quorum was not present. It was ascertained that a quorum was not present.
Senator SETZLER moved that a Call of the Senate be made. The following Senators answered the Call:
Alexander Allen Bennett Cash Corbin Cromer Davis Hembree Johnson Leatherman Malloy Martin Massey Nicholson Peeler Rice Sabb Scott Senn Setzler Shealy Talley Turner Verdin Williams Young
A quorum being present, the Senate resumed.
Senator NICHOLSON introduced Dr. Gregory Tarasidis of Greenwood, S.C., Doctor of the Day.
At 11:57 A.M., Senator MASSEY requested a leave of absence for Senators GREGORY and GROOMS for the day.
At 11:57 A.M., Senator BENNETT requested a leave of absence for Senator CAMPBELL for the balance of the day.
At 11:58 A.M., Senator CLIMER requested a leave of absence for Senator GOLDFINCH for the balance of the day.
At 12:05 P.M., Senator LEATHERMAN requested leave of absence for the balance of the day.
Senator CASH rose for an Expression of Personal Interest.
On motion of Senator RICE, with unanimous consent, the remarks of Senator CASH, when reduced to writing and made available to the Desk, would be printed in the Journal.
The following co-sponsors were added to the respective Bills:
S. 16 (Word version) Sen. Cash
S. 105 (Word version) Sens. Verdin and Rankin
S. 168 (Word version) Sens. Climer, Setzler, Leatherman, Young, Cromer, Verdin
Johnson, Rice, Alexander and Campsen
S. 169 (Word version) Sen. Campsen
S. 194 (Word version) Sen. Senn
S. 196 (Word version) Sen. Senn
S. 330 (Word version) Sen. Gregory
S. 332 (Word version) Sen. Gregory
S. 384 (Word version) Sen. Verdin
S. 419 (Word version) Sen. Turner
S. 403 (Word version) -- Senator Setzler: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR ITS MANY AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EDUCATION AND CULTURE OF OUR CITIZENS AND TO DECLARE JANUARY 30, 2019, AS "CAROLINA DAY" AT THE STATE HOUSE.
Senator HEMBREE asked unanimous consent to make a motion to recall the Resolution from the Committee on Education.
The Resolution was recalled rom the Committee on Education.
Senator HEMBREE 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.
The Resolution was adopted and ordered sent to the House.
S. 418 (Word version) -- Senator Scott: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO MEMORIALIZE BANKS, CREDIT UNIONS, UTILITY PROVIDERS, AND OTHER LENDING INSTITUTIONS OPERATING IN THIS STATE TO ASSIST FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AFFECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
Senator SCOTT asked unanimous consent to make a motion to recall the Resolution from the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
The Resolution was recalled from the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
Senator SCOTT 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 SCOTT, the Resolution was adopted and ordered sent to the House.
The following were introduced:
S. 419 (Word version) -- Senators Hembree, Malloy, Turner, Setzler and Sheheen: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA CAREER OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS FOR ALL ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-485 SO AS TO PROVIDE A STATEWIDE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS GOAL FOR 2030; BY ADDING ARTICLE 15 TO CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59 SO AS TO CREATE THE "STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS"; TO AMEND SECTION 59-5-10, RELATING TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO ADD A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO SERVE A TWO-YEAR TERM AS A NONVOTING ADVISORY MEMBER; BY ADDING CHAPTER 12 TO TITLE 1 SO AS TO CREATE THE "ZERO TO TWENTY COMMITTEE" AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURPOSES, MEMBERSHIP, AND DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE; BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION IN HIGH SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-310, RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO REMOVE SOCIAL STUDIES FROM THE ACADEMIC AREAS ASSESSED; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-320, RELATING TO FIELD TESTS IN THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM AND ADMINISTRATION OF ASSESSMENTS UNDER THE PROGRAM, SO AS TO MAKE CHANGES TO CONFORM TO THE REMOVAL OF SOCIAL STUDIES FROM THE ACADEMIC AREAS ASSESSED; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-325, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT PROCURE AND ADMINISTER CERTAIN STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENTS, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR PROCURING AND ADMINISTERING STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES TO STUDENTS IN FIFTH GRADE AND SEVENTH GRADE; BY ADDING SECTION 59-156-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE OFFICE OF FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL COMPILE AND REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD READING EFFORTS, PLANS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN RELATED PROGRAMS IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS, AND TO REQUIRE A SUBSEQUENT REPORT IN FIVE YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE CRITERIA FOR PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO STRENGTHEN ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, AND COMPUTER SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SEEKING PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS BY REQUIRING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF CERTAIN ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS OR COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSEWORK DURING THEIR SENIOR YEARS, AND TO EXCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE 2019-2020 SENIOR CLASS FROM THESE REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-149-50, RELATING TO THE CRITERIA FOR LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO STRENGTHEN ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, AND COMPUTER SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SEEKING LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS BY REQUIRING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF CERTAIN ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS OR COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSEWORK DURING THEIR SENIOR YEARS, AND TO EXCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE 2019-2020 SENIOR CLASS FROM THESE REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-59-210, RELATING TO ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS PROVIDING DUAL ENROLLMENT BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO EXPAND SUCH DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY CREATING A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF DUAL ENROLLMENT COLLEGE COURSES OFFERED TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; BY ADDING SECTION 59-18-365 SO AS TO PROVIDE A SYSTEM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STUDENT PROGRESS TOWARD COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-5-65, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE REMEDIAL COURSEWORK FOR COLLEGE READINESS ONLY MAY BE PROVIDED AT THE HIGH-SCHOOL LEVEL AND MAY NOT BE PROVIDED AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; TO AMEND SECTIONS 59-18-1950 AND 59-101-350, BOTH RELATING TO REMEDIAL COURSEWORK, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE TO THE ELIMINATION OF REMEDIAL COURSEWORK BEING OFFERED AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; BY ADDING SECTION 59-155-155 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL APPROVE NO MORE THAN FIVE RELIABLE AND VALID EARLY LITERACY AND NUMERACY SCREENING ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS FOR SELECTION AND USE BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH INSTRUMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-155-110, RELATING TO THE READ TO SUCCEED OFFICE, SO AS TO CORRECT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR; TO AMEND SECTION 59-155-120, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE READ TO SUCCEED ACT, SO AS TO REVISE DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-155-130, RELATING TO DUTIES OF THE READ TO SUCCEED OFFICE, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING COURSEWORK NECESSARY FOR LITERACY ADD-ON ENDORSEMENTS AND TO REVISE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN READING AND COACHING FOR CERTIFIED READING/LITERACY COACHES AND LITERACY TEACHERS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-155-140, RELATING TO THE STATE READING PROFICIENCY PROGRAM, SO AS TO REMOVE THE USE OF BOOK CLUBS FOR CERTAIN REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-155-150, RELATING TO THE READINESS ASSESSMENT PROVIDED BY THE READ TO SUCCEED ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-155-160, RELATING TO MANDATORY STUDENT RETENTION PROVISIONS OF THE READ TO SUCCEED ACT, SO AS TO REVISE CRITERIA FOR RETENTION AND EXEMPTIONS FROM RETENTION, TO ELIMINATE AN APPEALS PROCESS, AND TO REVISE CRITERIA FOR INTENSIVE INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT PROVIDED TO RETAINED STUDENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-155-180, RELATING TO PROVISIONS CONCERNING TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE READ TO SUCCEED ACT, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT READING/LITERACY COACHES BE EMPLOYED IN ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, TO REVISE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF READING/LITERACY COACHES, TO PROVIDE MEASURES TO ENSURE TEACHER CANDIDATES UNDERSTAND THE FOUNDATIONS OF READING AND ARE PREPARED TO TEACH READING TO ALL STUDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE LEARNING DISORDERS TASK FORCE ANNUALLY SHALL ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN PREPARING TEACHERS TO DIAGNOSE READING PROBLEMS IN STUDENTS AND PROVIDE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSION SHALL REPORT FINDINGS OF THIS ASSESSMENT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO AMEND SECTION 59-59-20, RELATING TO CAREER-CLUSTER CURRICULUM, SO AS TO REVISE THE CURRICULUM TO ALIGN WITH WORKFORCE NEEDS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-59-50, RELATING TO STATE MODELS AND PROTOTYPES FOR INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION PLANS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE CAREER CLUSTERS AND RELATED PATHWAYS AND PROGRAMS OF STUDY, AMONG OTHER THINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-59-60, RELATING TO THE ORGANIZATION OF HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULA AROUND CLUSTERS OF STUDY AND CLUSTER MAJORS, SO AS TO REORGANIZE THE CURRICULA AROUND CAREER PATHWAYS AND TO PROMOTE RELATED INCREASED AWARENESS AND CAREER COUNSELING; BY ADDING SECTION 59-53-30 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH COMMON MINIMUM ADMISSIONS SCORES FOR ITS INSTITUTIONS, TO PROVIDE VARIATIONS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE ADVICE INSTITUTIONS SHOULD GIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET THESE MINIMUM SCORES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-150-360, RELATING TO TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS WHO ATTEND TECHNICAL COLLEGES OR TWO-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THIS ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS SEEKING CERTAIN BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3800 SO AS TO ALLOW AN INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR A TAXPAYER WHO EMPLOYS A PUBLIC SCHOOL K4-12 TEACHER AS AN INTERN, TO PROVIDE THAT THE INTERNSHIP MUST BE APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE TEACHER IS EMPLOYED BASED ON CRITERIA PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRANSFERRING ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND ADULT SECONDARY EDUCATION TO THE STATE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND HOW TO BEST USE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTERS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED AND UPDATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION; TO AMEND SECTION 59-111-110, RELATING TO CERTAIN PEOPLE EXEMPT FROM PAYING TUITION TO ATTEND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO INCLUDE FULL-TIME CERTIFIED CLASSROOM TEACHERS EMPLOYED IN SCHOOLS WITH ABSOLUTE RATINGS OF BELOW AVERAGE OR UNSATISFACTORY FOR THREE OF THE FOUR PRECEDING YEARS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-111-155 SO AS TO PROVIDE A NECESSARY DEFINITION; BY ADDING SECTION 59-19-360 SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL BOARDS MAY REIMBURSE TEACHERS WHO MUST TRAVEL MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE MILES EACH WAY BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL FOR MILEAGE AT A RATE NOT TO EXCEED THE FEDERAL RATE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-19-350, RELATING TO SCHOOLS OF CHOICE, SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS INSTEAD MAY CREATE MULTIPLE SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION; BY ADDING SECTION 59-8-1115 SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOLS RECEIVING OVERALL RATINGS OF "GOOD" OR "EXCELLENT" ON THEIR ANNUAL REPORT CARDS FOR AT LEAST TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS MAY HIRE NONCERTIFIED TEACHERS FOR UP TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF ITS TEACHING STAFF AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR NONCERTIFIED TEACHERS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAY SUBMIT SEPARATE AND DISTINCT EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS FOR ALTERNATIVE PREPARATION TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR APPROVAL, TO PROVIDE THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED BUT MUST MEET CERTAIN OTHER REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNUALLY SHALL REPORT RELATED DATA TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO AMEND SECTION 59-26-20, RELATING TO DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION CONCERNING THE TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, AND EVALUATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATORS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS REGARDING A CYCLICAL EVALUATION PROCESS FOR APPROVED TEACHER EDUCATOR PROGRAMS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-35 SO AS TO IMPROVE THE MEANS FOR EVALUATING EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING FOR THE ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TEACHER PREPARATION REPORT CARD; BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-120 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE CERTAIN EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS WITH CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING GRADUATES OF THOSE PROGRAMS, TO PROVIDE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS MAY NOT SHARE IDENTIFIABLE EDUCATOR DATA WITH THIRD PARTIES WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT, AND TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT; BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-52 SO AS TO INCREASE EFFORTS TO RETAIN EDUCATORS BY CONDUCTING A SEMIANNUAL WORKPLACE SATISFACTION OPINION SURVEY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE REPORTING OF THE RESULTS OF THESE SURVEYS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-20-50, RELATING TO TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULES, SO AS TO DELETE EXISTING LANGUAGE AND PROVIDE DISTRICTS MAY PAY TEACHERS ANNUAL SALARIES AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE MINIMUM STARTING SCHEDULE FOR THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM STARTING SALARY FOR NEW TEACHERS, TO PROVIDE THIS STARTING SALARY MUST BE ESTABLISHED WITH THE GOAL OF REACHING THE SOUTHEASTERN AVERAGE, AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MAKE CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PLAN TO REMOVE THE EXISTING TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE AND IMPLEMENT BETWEEN FIVE AND NINE CAREER BANDS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY ADDING ARTICLE 16 TO CHAPTER 18, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE REVISED ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-15 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION SHALL DEVELOP AND PROVIDE CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-100, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, SO AS TO PROVIDE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL UNITS OF STUDY FOR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS BEGINNING WITH STUDENTS ENTERING NINTH GRADE IN THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR; BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 19, TITLE 59 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMINOLOGY, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MEMBER CONDUCT, TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL ADOPT A MODEL CODE OF ETHICS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CONDUCT, TO PROVIDE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS SHALL ADOPT CODES OF ETHICS BASED ON THIS MODEL CODE, TO PROVIDE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS SHALL ADOPT NEPOTISM POLICIES THAT MEET CERTAIN MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, TO PROHIBIT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFERRAL OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST ALLEGATIONS TO THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION UPON A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT FOR SUCH A VOTE, TO REQUIRE NOTICE TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WHEN A PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCREDITING BODY PLACES A DISTRICT OR SCHOOL ON A LEVEL OF ACCREDITATION THAT IMMEDIATELY PRECEDES ACCREDITATION LOSS FOR GOVERNANCE REASONS, TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL CONDUCT A HEARING ON THE MATTER AND MAY RECOMMEND SUSPENSION OF A BOARD TO THE GOVERNOR, AND TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNOR MAY SUSPEND AN ENTIRE BOARD AND APPOINT A TEMPORARY BOARD; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-920, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS SPONSORED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST BE INCLUDED IN OVERALL PERFORMANCE RATINGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THIS REQUIREMENT ALSO APPLIES TO CHARTER SCHOOLS SPONSORED BY REGISTERED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; BY ADDING SECTION 59-19-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS SHALL COMPLY WITH CERTAIN ETHICS PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES; BY ADDING SECTION 8-13-810 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL NOTIFY THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION OF ANY SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE WHO FAILS TO COMPLETE REQUIRED ETHICS TRAINING, TO PROVIDE FAILURE OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO COMPLETE THIS TRAINING CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF THE STATE ETHICS ACT AND SUBJECTS THE MEMBER TO CERTAIN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES, TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSION ALSO MAY IMPOSE ORAL OR WRITTEN WARNINGS OR REPRIMANDS, AND TO PROVIDE TRUSTEES MUST BE PROVIDED NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING BEFORE THEIR POSITION ON THE SCHOOL BOARD MAY BE TERMINATED FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE STATE ETHICS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 1-3-240, RELATING TO STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS SUBJECT TO REMOVAL FROM OFFICE BY THE GOVERNOR IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, SO AS TO INCLUDE SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-19-45, RELATING TO MANDATORY ORIENTATION FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL ADOPT A MODEL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHICH DISTRICTS SHALL ADOPT, TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL ADOPT LOCAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL PROVIDE SUCH TRAINING TO BOARD MEMBERS WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER TAKING OFFICE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-19-60, RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OF SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES, SO AS TO REVISE THE GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL, THE MANNER OF REMOVAL, AND PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE FILLING OF SEATS VACATED BY REMOVAL, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-444 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST ALL REPORTS, STUDIES, PUBLISHED FINDINGS, MEMORANDA, GUIDELINES, RULES, AND CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS ON ITS INTERNET WEBSITE WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER BEING MADE PUBLIC, TO PROVIDE THE POSTING MUST BE IN A CERTAIN FORM AND MANNER EASILY LOCATABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR VIEWING AND DOWNLOADING BY THE PUBLIC, AND TO SUBJECT THE DEPARTMENT TO CERTAIN MONETARY FINES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-19-90, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE RULES ADOPTED BY THESE BOARDS MUST ALIGN WITH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS; AND TO REPEAL ARTICLE 15 OF CHAPTER 18, TITLE 59 RELATING TO INTERVENTION AND ASSISTANCE UNDER THE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT AND SECTION 59-59-30 RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT.
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Senators HEMBREE and SETZLER spoke on the Bill.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Education.
S. 420 (Word version) -- Senator Rice: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-750, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF FAILURE TO STOP A MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN SIGNALED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE, SO AS TO PROVIDE A PENALTY WHEN A VEHICLE LEADS AN OFFICER ON A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT WHICH HAS BEEN VIDEO RECORDED.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
S. 421 (Word version) -- Senator Scott: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-23-465, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PENALTY FOR UNLAWFULLY CARRYING A FIREARM INTO THE PREMISES OF A BUSINESS THAT SELLS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR ON-PREMISE CONSUMPTION, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT PROVIDES THAT THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A PERSON WHO HOLDS A CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT WHILE CARRYING A FIREARM ONTO THE PREMISE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO REVISE THE PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES.
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Senator SCOTT spoke on the Bill.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
S. 422 (Word version) -- Senator Scott: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-75-70 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN INSURER MAY NOT DENY A CLAIM ARISING FROM A LEAK UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
S. 423 (Word version) -- Senator Hutto: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-23-420(A) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE POSSESSION OF A FIREARM ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO POSSESS A FIREARM OF ANY KIND ON OR WITHIN ONE THOUSAND FEET OF ANY PREMISES OR PROPERTY OWNED, OPERATED, OR CONTROLLED BY A PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SCHOOL, COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, TECHNICAL COLLEGE, OR OTHER POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION OR CONTROLLED BY A PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SCHOOL, COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, TECHNICAL COLLEGE, OR OTHER POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION OR IN ANY PUBLICLY OWNED BUILDING, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORITIES IN CHARGE OF THE PREMISES OR PROPERTY.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
S. 424 (Word version) -- Senators Campbell, Talley, Scott, Reese, M. B. Matthews and Gambrell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3530, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDITS, SO AS TO ALLOW A TAX CREDIT OF FIFTY PERCENT OF ANY CASH DONATION TO A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, TO DELETE AN AGGREGATE CREDIT PROVISION AND SET AN ANNUAL LIMIT, TO ESTABLISH TAX CREDIT RESERVE ACCOUNTS FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF EACH TAX YEAR SO AS TO AVOID THE DEPLETION OF CREDITS BY AN INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER, TO DELETE THE PRO-RATA DISTRIBUTION OF TAX CREDITS, TO ALLOW FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WITH TAX LIABILITIES IN THIS STATE TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING A TAX CREDIT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS IN CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AND CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS MAY NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE INITIAL INVESTMENT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 4 OF ACT 314 OF 2000, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, SO AS TO EXTEND THE PROVISIONS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2023.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
S. 425 (Word version) -- Senator Fanning: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-60 SO AS TO PROVIDE NO STUDENT-TEACHER CLASSROOM RATIO CREATED BY STATUTE, RESOLUTION, OR REGULATION MAY BE WAIVED OR OTHERWISE CHANGED TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY BY ANY LEGISLATIVE MEASURE ABSENT A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF APPROVAL BY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SENATE.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Education.
S. 426 (Word version) -- Senator Goldfinch: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR A BOAT RAMP IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO CREDIT SUCH FUNDS AS WATER RECREATIONAL RESOURCE FUNDS FOR GEORGETOWN COUNTY.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
S. 427 (Word version) -- Senator Campbell: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 70 TO TITLE 12 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA AGRIBUSINESS, RURAL, AND OPPORTUNITY ZONE JOBS ACT", TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS, TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SHALL ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL AS A GROWTH FUND, TO PROVIDE FOR CRITERIA FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO EITHER GRANT OR DENY AN APPLICATION, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN INCOME TAX CREDITS, TO PROVIDE FOR CRITERIA FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO REVOKE A TAX CREDIT CERTIFICATE, TO PROVIDE THAT A GROWTH FUND MAY REQUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT CERTAIN WRITTEN OPINIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE SUBMITTAL OF REPORTS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND ISSUE FORMS AND NOTICES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE OF THE NAME OF ANY INSURANCE COMPANY ALLOCATED CERTAIN TAX CREDITS.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
S. 428 (Word version) -- Senators Gambrell and Cash: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-80, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN ANDERSON COUNTY, SO AS TO DELETE THE GROVE SCHOOL AND ANDERSON 5/A PRECINCTS AND ADD THE SOUTH FANT 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.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
S. 429 (Word version) -- Senator Malloy: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE TOWN OF PAGELAND'S BID TO BE SELECTED FOR THE TELEVISION PROGRAM SMALL BUSINESS REVOLUTION - MAIN STREET AND TO RECOGNIZE JANUARY 24, 2019, AS "MY PAGELAND DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN RECOGNITION OF THE TOWN'S OUTSTANDING CAMPAIGN.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.
S. 430 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE WEEK OF MARCH 10-16, 2019 AS "MEDICAL ASSISTANTS WEEK" IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL AND VALUABLE WORK OF MEDICAL ASSISTANTS IN THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION.
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The Senate Resolution was introduced and referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs.
S. 431 (Word version) -- Senators Hutto and Jackson: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-112-45 SO AS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LAWFUL PRESENCE IN THIS STATE AND ARE NOT PRECLUDED FROM ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY UNDER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW MAY ESTABLISH DOMICILE IN THIS STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING IN-STATE TUITION RATES AND FEES AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND FOR STATE-SUPPORTED SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LAWFUL PRESENCE IN THIS STATE AND ARE NOT PRECLUDED FROM ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY UNDER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW MAY ESTABLISH RESIDENCY AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR OCCUPATIONAL OR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, PROVIDED OTHER LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Education.
S. 432 (Word version) -- Senators Hutto and Jackson: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 13-7-47 SO AS TO PROHIBIT MINORS FROM USING SOURCES OF NONIONIZED RADIATION WHICH ARE USED IN COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS FOR THE TANNING OF HUMAN SKIN, TO REQUIRE IDENTIFICATION OF AGE FOR CUSTOMERS WHO UTILIZE TANNING DEVICES, TO REQUIRE POSTING AND WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF WARNING INFORMATION REGARDING THE HEALTH RISKS AND EFFECTS OF TANNING, AND TO ESTABLISH A CIVIL PENALTY FOR REGISTRANTS WHO FAIL TO ADHERE TO THESE PROVISIONS.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.
S. 433 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 52 TO TITLE 12 SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT EACH COUNTY SHALL DESIGNATE A TAX COLLECTOR FOR THE COLLECTION OF PROPERTY TAXES AND PREPARE A TAX COLLECTION NOTICE; TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN PENALTIES; TO PROVIDE FOR A DELINQUENT TAX SALE IN CERTAIN INSTANCES; TO PROVIDE THAT A PROPERTY ADVERTISED FOR SALE MUST BE SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION; TO PROVIDE FOR AN INITIAL BID TO BE PLACED ON BEHALF OF THE FORFEITED LAND COMMISSION AND PROVIDE A PROCEDURE TO VOID A BID IN THE CASE OF CONTAMINATED PROPERTY; TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN CANCELLATIONS OF BIDS WHEN THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER FAILS TO REMIT THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE BID; TO PROVIDE FOR REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVIDING A RECEIPT TO A SUCCESSFUL BIDDER; TO PROVIDE FOR REQUIREMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WHO ASSIGNS HIS INTERESTS; TO PROVIDE FOR A NOTICE REQUIREMENT BEFORE THE END OF THE REDEMPTION PERIOD TO THE DEFAULTING TAXPAYER; TO PROVIDE THAT THERE IS NO REDEMPTION PERIOD FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A PROPERTY IS REDEEMED THEN THE TAX COLLECTOR SHALL CANCEL THE SALE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE REDEMPTION OF MOBILE HOMES; TO PROVIDE THAT IN ORDER FOR AN OWNER OF A MOBILE HOME TO REDEEM HIS PROPERTY, THE MOBILE HOME MAY NOT BE REMOVED FROM ITS LOCATION; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADOPTION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO CERTAIN NOTICES TO MORTGAGEES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE VOID OF A TAX SALE IN CERTAIN INSTANCES; TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN OVERAGES FROM A TAX SALE AND PROVIDE NOTICE OF THE OVERAGES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE TAX COLLECTOR SHALL MAINTAIN PROOF THAT THE LAW GOVERNING TAX SALES HAS BEEN COMPLIED WITH; TO PROVIDE THAT A MUNICIPALITY MAY CONTRACT WITH A COUNTY FOR THE COLLECTION OF MUNICIPAL TAXES BY THE COUNTY; TO PROVIDE WHO MAY BRING AN ACTION TO SET ASIDE A TAX SALE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXISTENCE AND PRIORITY OF CERTAIN EASEMENTS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CHAPTER; AND TO REPEAL CHAPTER 51, TITLE 12 RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR THE COLLECTION OF PROPERTY TAXES.
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Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
H. 3012 (Word version) -- Reps. McDaniel, S. Williams, Moore, Brawley and Gilliard: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE BELIEF OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THIS STATE SHOULD UTILIZE THE EDUCATION RATE PROGRAM OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (E-RATE) ESTABLISHED BY THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996 WHICH PROVIDES DISCOUNTS ON INTERNET ACCESS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH HIGHER POVERTY LEVELS IN THEIR STUDENT POPULATION THAT WOULD BE OF GREAT BENEFIT TO THESE STUDENTS.
The Concurrent Resolution was introduced and referred to the Committee on Education.
H. 3662 (Word version) -- Rep. McCoy: A BILL TO ADOPT REVISED CODE VOLUMES 3 AND 4 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 AS OF JANUARY 1, 2019.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. H. 3697 (Word version) -- Reps. Taylor, Allison, Gilliard, Simmons, Bales, Moore and Govan: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION 62-6-(D), SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF REGULATIONS, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT AT LEAST TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS MUST BE EARNED THROUGH INSTRUCTION BY THE INSTITUTION AWARDING THE DEGREE, THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION MAY GRANT ALTERNATE PROGRAM COMPLETION OPTIONS TO STUDENTS IMPACTED BY THE CLOSURE OF SIX EDUCATION CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC., HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN 2018.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Education.
The PRESIDENT ordered the following invitations placed on the Calendar:
Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - 5:30pm-7:00pm
Members Only, Reception, Marriott Hotel, 1200 Hampton Street, by the MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - 6:00pm-8:00pm
Members and Staff, Reception, The Palmetto Club, 1231 Sumter Street, by the SC FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION (SCFDA)
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - 8:00am-10:00am
Members and Staff, Breakfast, 112 Blatt Building, by the SOUTH CAROLINA WATER UTILITY COUNCIL
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - 12:00pm-2:00pm
Members Only, Luncheon, 112 Blatt Building, by the SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (SCACED)
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - 12:00pm-2:00pm
Members Only, Luncheon, The Palmetto Club, by the SC OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIANS ASSOCIATION
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - 5:30pm-7:30pm
Members and Staff, Reception, Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main Street, by RICHLAND COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Thursday, February 7, 2019 - 8:00am-10:00am
Members and Staff, Breakfast, 112 Blatt Building, by the SOUTH CAROLINA RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Members and Staff, Reception, Hilton Columbia Center, Palmetto Ballroom, by the SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 - 6:00pm-8:00pm
Members and Staff, Reception, The Grand on Main Street, downtown Columbia, by the CITY OF COLUMBIA
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 - 8:00am-10:00am
Members Only, Breakfast, 112 Blatt Building, by the SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS ALLIANCE
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 - 6:00pm-8:00pm
Members and Staff, Reception, Columbia Museum of Art, by FLORENCE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP & FLORENCE COUNTY PROGRESS
Thursday, February 14, 2019 - 8:00am-10:00am
Members and Staff, Breakfast, 112 Blatt Building, by the SOUTH CAROLINA SPEECH LANGUAGE AND HEARING ASSOCIATION
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - 6:00pm-8:00pm
Members Only, Reception, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, by the LEXINGTON COUNTY NIGHT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 8:00am-10:00am
Members Only, Breakfast, 112 Blatt Building, by the SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF PROBATE JUDGES
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 12:00pm-2:00pm
Members and Staff, Luncheon, 112 Blatt Building, by the UNITED WAY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Members and Staff, Reception, The Palmetto Club, by the SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 5:00pm-7:30pm
Members and Staff, Reception, Nelson Mullins Offices - 1320 Main Street, 17th Floor ABC Room, by the SOUTH CAROLINA RESEARCH AUTHORITY (SCRA)
Thursday, February 21, 2019 - 8:00am-10:00am
Members and Staff, Breakfast, 112 Blatt Building, by the SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION COALITION
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - 5:30pm-8:00pm
Members, 300 Senate Street, by the THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, DUCKS UNLIMITED AND THE SC LAND TRUST NETWORK
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - 6:00pm-8:00pm
Members and Staff, Reception, Hall at Senate's End, 320 Senate Street, by CLEMSON UNIVERSITY AND THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - 6:00pm-8:00pm
Members and Staff, Reception, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, by the ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF SC
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 8:00am-10:00am
Members Only, Breakfast, 112 Blatt Building, by the SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 12:00am-2:00pm
Members Only, Luncheon, State House Grounds, by the SOUTH CAROLINA BAPTIST CONVENTION
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 6:00pm-9:00pm
Members and Staff, Reception, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, by the MYRTLE BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Thursday, February 28, 2019 - 8:00am-10:00am
Members and Staff, Breakfast, 112 Blatt Building, by the ASSOCIATION OF COSMETOLOGY SALON PROFESSIONALS
Senator SHEALY from the Committee on Family and Veterans' Services polled out S. 12 favorable:
S. 12 (Word version) -- Senator Reese: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-225 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE THIRD WEDNESDAY IN FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR AS "BARBERS' DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Shealy Sheheen Young Johnson McElveen Turner Climer Fanning Gambrell Cash Verdin Cromer Gregory Margie Matthews Harpootlian
McLeod Talley
Ordered for consideration tomorrow. Senator HEMBREE from the Committee on Education submitted a favorable with amendment report on:
S. 35 (Word version) -- Senators Grooms and Campsen: A BILL TO ENACT THE "REINFORCING COLLEGE EDUCATION ON AMERICA'S CONSTITUTIONAL HERITAGE ACT" OR THE "REACH ACT," TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-120(A), RELATING TO THE STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION REQUISITE FOR GRADUATION, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL MUST PROVIDE INSTRUCTION CONCERNING THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO EACH STUDENT FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR; TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-130, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF INSTRUCTION IN THE ESSENTIALS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING MUST PROVIDE INSTRUCTION CONCERNING THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO EACH UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT FOR THREE SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-29-140, RELATING TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROGRAM OF STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Senator CROMER from the Committee on Banking and Insurance submitted a favorable report on: S. 75 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 13, TITLE 38 SO AS TO REQUIRE AN INSURER OR AN INSURANCE GROUP TO SUBMIT A CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ANNUAL DISCLOSURE AND ESTABLISH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DISCLOSURE, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE DISCLOSURE, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR AND TO PROHIBIT THE DIRECTOR OR A PERSON WHO RECEIVES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ANNUAL DISCLOSURE FROM TESTIFYING IN A PRIVATE CIVIL ACTION CONCERNING THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR TO RETAIN THIRD PARTY CONSULTANTS AND PRESCRIBE CERTAIN RULES FOR THE CONSULTANTS, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR AN INSURER WHO FAILS TO FILE THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ANNUAL DISCLOSURE, AND TO SET AN EFFECTIVE DATE; BY ADDING SECTION 38-21-295 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR TO ACT AS THE GROUP-WIDE SUPERVISOR FOR AN INTERNATIONALLY ACTIVE INSURANCE GROUP UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE FOR THE DIRECTOR TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE MAY ACT AS THE GROUP-WIDE SUPERVISOR OR ACKNOWLEDGE ANOTHER REGULATORY OFFICIAL TO ACT AS THE GROUP-WIDE SUPERVISOR, TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR TO ENGAGE IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES AS GROUP-WIDE SUPERVISOR, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-21-10 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERMS "DIRECTOR," "GROUP-WIDE SUPERVISOR," AND "INTERNATIONALLY ACTIVE INSURANCE GROUP".
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Senator CROMER from the Committee on Banking and Insurance submitted a favorable report on: S. 358 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 38-31-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION, SO AS TO APPLY THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 31, TITLE 38, TO A CLAIM OR LOSS COVERED BY SELF-INSURANCE THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE ACQUISITION OF A BLOCK OF BUSINESS BY A LICENSED INSURER; AND TO AMEND SECTION 42-5-20, RELATING TO INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION, SO AS TO PROHIBIT A SELF-INSURER FROM PARTICIPATING IN OR OBTAINING BENEFITS FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION AND TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION TO SECURE AN ACTUARIAL OPINION BEFORE APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF A SELF-INSURER TO A LICENSED INSURER.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Senator CROMER from the Committee on Banking and Insurance submitted a favorable with amendment report on: S. 360 (Word version) -- Senator Cromer: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-47-55 SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ARE AUTHORIZED TO ADJUST FOOD SPOILAGE CLAIMS WITHOUT AN ADJUSTER'S LICENSE; BY ADDING SECTION 38-72-75 SO AS TO REQUIRE A LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROVIDER TO SUBMIT ALL PREMIUM RATE SCHEDULES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN PROCEDURES CONCERNING THE PREMIUM APPROVAL PROCESS; TO AMEND SECTION 38-3-110, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, SO AS TO ALTER PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 38-7-20, RELATING TO INSURANCE PREMIUM TAXES, SO AS TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN FACTORS FROM THE TOTAL PREMIUM COMPUTATION; TO AMEND SECTION 38-7-60, RELATING TO THE SUBMISSION OF A RETURN OF PREMIUMS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF A RETURN OF PREMIUMS COLLECTED; TO AMEND SECTION 38-43-247, RELATING TO THE REPORTING OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS, SO AS TO ONLY REQUIRE THE REPORTING OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 38-44-50, RELATING TO THE REVIEW OF A MANAGING GENERAL AGENT, SO AS TO ALTER THE SUBMISSION DATE FROM MARCH FIRST TO JUNE FIRST; TO AMEND SECTIONS 38-46-60 AND 38-46-90, BOTH RELATING TO A PARTY ENGAGED AS A REINSURANCE INTERMEDIARY-BROKER, SO AS TO ALTER THE SUBMISSION DATE OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS FROM MARCH FIRST TO JUNE FIRST; TO AMEND SECTIONS 38-57-130, 38-57-140, AND 38-57-150, ALL RELATING TO PROHIBITED TRADE PRACTICES, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT CERTAIN PRACTICES ARE PROHIBITED; TO AMEND SECTIONS 38-75-730 AND 38-75-1200, BOTH RELATING TO CANCELLATIONS OF PROPERTY, CASUALTY, AND TITLE INSURANCE POLICIES, SO AS TO EXTEND WHEN AN INSURER CAN CANCEL A POLICY WITHOUT CAUSE TO ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AND TO PROHIBIT AN INSURER FROM CANCELLING A POLICY OUTSIDE OF THE ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-DAY PERIOD IF THEY HAD NOTICE OF A CHANGE IN RISK PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-DAY PERIOD; TO AMEND SECTION 38-90-160, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS TO CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANIES, SO AS TO APPLY THE SOUTH CAROLINA INSURANCE DATA SECURITY ACT TO CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANIES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-99-70, RELATING TO LICENSEES EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN DATA SECURITY REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO ONLY EXEMPT THE LICENSEES FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 38-99-20.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
S. 382 (Word version) -- Senators Alexander, Rankin and Hutto: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO FIX WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS FOR THE POSITIONS NAMED IN THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION IN WHICH CANDIDATES SCREENED BY THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION AND THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY TRUSTEE SCREENING COMMISSION, AS THE TIME TO ELECT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOR A TERM EXPIRING ON JUNE 30, 2022.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information.
S. 409 (Word version) -- Senator Fanning: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LAMAR RICHARDS, A SENIOR IN THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM AT RICHLAND ONE MIDDLE COLLEGE, FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM FOR WINNING THE TENTH ANNUAL LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information. S. 411 (Word version) -- Senator Fanning: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR BENNIE MCMURRAY FOR HIS THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS A COACH IN THE PALMETTO STATE, PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES, AND TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR HIS ROLE IN PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR PLACES AS PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information.
THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO A CALL OF THE UNCONTESTED LOCAL AND STATEWIDE CALENDAR.
The following Bill was read the third time and ordered sent to the House of Representatives: S. 94 (Word version) -- Senators Campsen and Senn: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 24-21-710 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO FILM, VIDEOTAPE, OR OTHER ELECTRONIC INFORMATION THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES IN PAROLE DETERMINATION, TO PROVIDE THAT THE VICTIM OF A CRIME'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY MAY SUBMIT FILM, VIDEOTAPE, OR WRITTEN OR OTHER ELECTRONIC INFORMATION, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY FILM, VIDEOTAPE, OR WRITTEN OR OTHER ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY THE VICTIM OR THE VICTIM'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY MUST BE RETAINED BY THE BOARD AND MUST BE SUBMITTED AT SUBSEQUENT PAROLE HEARINGS UNLESS THE SUBMITTING PERSON PROVIDES A WRITTEN STATEMENT DECLARING THAT THE INFORMATION NO LONGER REPRESENTS THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE PERSON, AND TO PROVIDE THAT FILM, VIDEOTAPE, OR WRITTEN OR OTHER ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY THE PROSECUTING SOLICITOR'S OFFICE OR THE PERSON WHOSE PAROLE IS BEING CONSIDERED MAY BE SUBMITTED AT SUBSEQUENT PAROLE HEARINGS EACH TIME THE SUBMITTING OFFICE OR PERSON PROVIDES A WRITTEN STATEMENT DECLARING THAT THE INFORMATION REPRESENTS THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE OFFICE OR PERSON; AND TO AMEND SECTION 30-4-40(a) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO MATTERS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE, TO PROVIDE THAT A PUBLIC BODY MAY EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE FILM, VIDEOTAPE, OR WRITTEN OR OTHER ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY THE VICTIM OF A CRIME FOR WHICH A PRISONER HAS BEEN SENTENCED OR BY THE VICTIM'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
S. 227 (Word version) -- Senator Gambrell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 6-1-320, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MILLAGE RATE INCREASE LIMITATIONS, SO AS TO ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY WITHOUT AN OPERATING MILLAGE ON JANUARY 1, 2019, OR A MUNICIPALITY THAT INCORPORATES AFTER JANUARY 1, 2019, TO IMPOSE AN OPERATING MILLAGE AND TO IMPOSE LIMITATIONS.
Senator VERDIN desired to be recorded as voting against the third reading of the Bill.
S. 309 (Word version) -- Senators Setzler, Campbell and Williams: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3585, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP FUND TAX CREDIT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE AGGREGATE ANNUAL CREDIT AMOUNT.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.
The question being the second reading of the Bill.
The Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
Senator MARTIN asked unanimous consent to make a motion to take up further amendments pursuant to the provisions of Rule 26B. There was no objection.
S. 16 (Word version) -- Senator Rankin: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-43-86(P) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO EMERGENCY REFILLS OF PRESCRIPTIONS BY PHARMACISTS, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF A PRESCRIPTION THAT MAY BE REFILLED WHEN AUTHORIZATION FROM THE PRESCRIBER IS NOT OBTAINABLE FROM A TEN-DAY SUPPLY TO A THIRTY-DAY SUPPLY, AND TO PROVIDE CONDITIONS.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.
The Committee on Medical Affairs proposed the following amendment (16R003.SP.DBV), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, page 1, by striking SECTION 1 and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Section 40-43-86(P) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(P) If a pharmacist receives a request for a prescription refill and the pharmacist is unable to obtain refill authorization from the prescriber, the pharmacist may dispense, once within a twelve-month period, an emergency refill of up to a ten-day fourteen-day supply of the prescribed medication if:
(1) the prescription is not for a controlled substance;
(2) the medication is essential to the maintenance of life or to the continuation of therapy;
(3) in the pharmacist's professional judgment, continuing the therapy for up to ten fourteen days will produce no undesirable health consequences or cause physical or mental discomfort;
(4) the pharmacist properly records the dispensing; and
(5) the dispensing pharmacist notifies the prescriber of the refill and the amount of the refill, not to exceed a ten-day fourteen-day supply, within a reasonable time, but no later than ten days after the once in twelve months refill dispensing." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator MARTIN explained the committee amendment.
The amendment was adopted. Senators CASH and RANKIN proposed the following amendment (16R006.SP.RJC), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by inserting after item (5):
/ In the event that a pharmacist is unable to dispense an emergency refill for the time period specified in this subsection due to the medication's packaging, the pharmacist is permitted to dispense up to a thirty-day quantity of the medication so long as the requirements contained in this subsection are otherwise met." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator RANKIN explained the amendment.
The amendment was adopted.
The question then was second reading of the Bill as amended.
There being no further amendments, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
Senator RANKIN asked unanimous consent to make a motion to take up further amendments pursuant to the provisions of Rule 26B.
There was no objection.
S. 21 (Word version) -- Senators Hutto, Shealy and Jackson: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 63-17-70, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COURT ORDERS DETERMINING THAT A PUTATIVE FATHER IS THE LEGAL FATHER, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT THE CHILD'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE BE AMENDED; AND TO AMEND SECTION 44-63-163, RELATING TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES PREPARED AFTER A PATERNITY DETERMINATION, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.
The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD0021.001), which was adopted: Amend the bill, as and if amended, beginning on page 1, by striking lines 26 through 41 on page 1 and lines 1 through 8 on page 2, in Section 63-17-70, as contained in SECTION 1, and inserting therein the following:
/ "Section 63-17-70. (A)(1) Upon a finding that the putative father is the natural father of the child, the court must issue an order designating the putative father as the natural father and ordering that the birth certificate be amended to include the name of the father.
(2) The order also shall must:
(a) set forth the social security numbers, or the alien identification numbers assigned to resident aliens who do not have social security numbers, of both parents. The order shall;
(b) establish a duty of support and provide for child support payments in amounts and at a frequency to be determined by the court. The order also shall; and
(c) provide for other relief which has been properly prayed for in the pleadings and which is considered reasonable and just by the court.
(B) Upon a finding that the putative father is not the father of the child, the court shall issue an order which sets forth this finding.
(C) Upon entry of a court order or an administrative determination that the putative father is the legal father pursuant to subsection (A), the clerk of court shall send a report to the Registrar of the Division of Vital Statistics of the Department of Health and Environmental Control showing such information as may be required on an amended certificate of birth to be furnished by the Division of Vital Statistics of the Department of Health and Environmental Control." /
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 2, by striking line 13, in Section 44-63-163, as contained in SECTION 2, and inserting therein the following:
/ "Section 44-63-163. Upon entry of a court order or an /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator SHEALY explained the committee amendment.
The amendment was adopted.
The question being the second reading of the Bill.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Alexander Allen Bennett Campbell Campsen Cash Climer Corbin Cromer Davis Fanning Gambrell Harpootlian Hembree Hutto Johnson Kimpson Leatherman Malloy Martin Massey Matthews, John Matthews, Margie McElveen McLeod Nicholson Peeler Rankin Rice Sabb Scott Senn Setzler Shealy Talley Turner Verdin Williams Young
There being no further amendments, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
S. 80 (Word version) -- Senator Sheheen: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO AMEND SECTION 3 OF ACT 289 OF 2018, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA AMERICAN REVOLUTION SESTERCENTENNIAL COMMISSION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Resolution.
The question being the second reading of the Resolution.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Alexander Allen Bennett Campbell Campsen Cash Climer Corbin Cromer Fanning Gambrell Harpootlian Hembree Hutto Johnson Kimpson Leatherman Malloy Martin Massey Matthews, John Matthews, Margie McElveen McLeod Nicholson Peeler Rankin Reese Rice Sabb Scott Senn Setzler Shealy Sheheen Talley Turner Verdin Williams Young
The Resolution was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
S. 168 (Word version) -- Senator s Hembree, Setzler, Climer, Leatherman, Cromer, Johnson, Rice, Young, Verdin, Alexander and Campsen: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REDUCING AND STREAMLINING THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTENT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPORT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2020.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Resolution.
Senator HEMBREE explained the Resolution.
The question being the second reading of the Resolution.
The Resolution was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
Senator MARTIN asked unanimous consent to make a motion to take up further amendments pursuant to the provisions of Rule 26B.
There was no objection.
S. 194 (Word version) -- Senators Shealy and Senn: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-15-90 AND 16-15-100, RELATING TO PROSTITUTION, TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR SOLICITATION OF PROSTITUTION, ESTABLISHING OR KEEPING A BROTHEL OR HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION, OR CAUSING OR INDUCING ANOTHER TO PARTICIPATE IN PROSTITUTION; TO ESTABLISH THE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE OF BEING A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR SOLICITING, CAUSING, OR INDUCING ANOTHER FOR OR INTO PROSTITUTION WHEN THE PROSTITUTE HAS A MENTAL DISABILITY.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill.
The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD0194.004), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, page 2, by striking lines 25-29 and inserting:
/ (C) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for a violation of this section subject to the requirements of Section 16-3-2020(F), that, during the commission of the offense, the defendant was a victim of trafficking in persons as defined by Section 16-3-2010(9).
(D) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a minor under the age of eighteen at the time of the incident may not be prosecuted pursuant to this section." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator HUTTO explained the committee amendment.
The amendment was adopted.
The question being the second reading of the Bill.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Alexander Allen Bennett Campsen Cash Climer Corbin Cromer Davis Fanning Gambrell Harpootlian Hembree Hutto Johnson Kimpson Malloy Martin Massey Matthews, John Matthews, Margie McElveen McLeod Nicholson Peeler Rankin Reese Rice Sabb Scott Senn Setzler Shealy Sheheen Talley Turner Verdin Williams Young
There being no further amendments, the Bill, as amended, was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
S. 196 (Word version) -- Senators Shealy, Hutto, Jackson and Senn: A BILL TO REPEAL SECTION 20-1-300 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE TO AN UNMARRIED FEMALE AND MALE UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE WHEN THE FEMALE IS PREGNANT OR HAS BORNE A CHILD.
Senator MARTIN raised a Point of Order under Rule 39 that the Bill had not been on the desks of the members at least one day prior to second reading.
The PRESIDENT sustained the Point of Order.
Senator MARTIN raised a Point of Order under Rule 39 that the Bill had not been on the desks of the members at least one day prior to second reading.
The PRESIDENT sustained the Point of Order.
Senator M.B. MATTHEWS objected to the consideration of the Bill.
S. 214 (Word version) -- Senators Kimpson, Sheheen, Gregory and Campsen: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-36-71 SO AS TO DEFINE "MARKETPLACE FACILITATOR"; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-36-70, 12-36-90, AND 12-36-130, ALL RELATING TO SALES TAX DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO FURTHER INFORM MARKETPLACE FACILITATORS OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-1340, RELATING TO THE COLLECTION OF SALES TAX BY RETAILERS, SO AS TO FURTHER INFORM MARKETPLACE FACILITATORS OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS.
On motion of Senator CLIMER, the Bill was carried over.
S. 169 (Word version) -- Senators Hembree and Campsen: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO WORK EXPEDITIOUSLY TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON THE USE OF CANNABIS TO TREAT MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND ILLNESSES.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Resolution.
The Committee on Medical Affairs proposed the following amendment (169R002.SP.DBV), which was adopted:
Amend the concurrent resolution, as and if amended, page 2, by striking line 14 and inserting:
/ urges the United States Attorney General and Congress to take immediate and additional steps to promote /
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 2, by striking line 21 and inserting:
/ the President of the United States, the United States Attorney General, the President and President Pro /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator HEMBREE explained the committee amendment. The amendment was adopted.
The question being the adoption of the Resolution as amended.
The Resolution, as amended, was adopted and ordered sent to the House.
Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., Chairman
Senator Thomas C. Alexander
Senator John. L. Scott, Jr.
Senator
Staff:
Martha Casto
Julie Price
Representative William R. Whitmire,
Vice-Chairman
Representative John King
Representative Sylleste Davis
Representative Gary E. Clary
Date: Monday, January 14, 2019
Time: 1:30 P.M.
Location: 209 Gressette Building
1101 Pendleton Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Committee Members Present:
Chairman Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., Chairman
Representative William R. Whitmire, Vice-Chairman
Senator John L. Scott
Senator Daniel B. Verdin, III
Representative Richard C. King
Representative Sylleste H. Davis
Representative Gary E. Clary
Also Present:
Martha Casto, Staff
Julie Price, Staff CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: I'll call the meeting to order. College and University Trustees Screening Commission. I'd like to welcome everyone. I pray that God continues to bless us all.
Members and folks in the audience, I'd like the staff to publish the commission's schedule for February.
MS. CASTO: Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman.
Behind your agenda is the commission's schedule that we have. The screening is today. The transcript will be printed in the journal next Thursday, January 24, for these four entities. And then on Wednesday, January 30, at noon, the candidates will be released for commitments. And that's on Wednesday, January 30, at noon.
Then the election. Pending the adoption -- it's passed the Senate, it's sitting in the House -- of S14 to set the date, the election will be February 6 at 12 noon in the house chamber. That will include the judicial elections this election.
After that, you have 11 more seats, one for The Citadel, three Coastal Carolina, and three Wil Lou Gray seats that have not been advertised yet because the elections cannot be held until after April 1, so we were waiting to get through this round of screening.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: I like to welcome Representative Clary, a new member of the commission.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Go Tigers!
Any questions or comments so far?
Hearing none, we'll get started with the agenda.
First up, The Citadel, At Large, expires 2023, one seat. We have two candidates. The first candidate is Walt H. Cartin from Columbia.
Mr. Cartin, would you come forward.
MR. CARTIN: Mr. Chairman.
MS. CASTO: Members of the committee, he is behind Tab A, his information, and then there is a skinny I've done on all the candidates on the inside jacket of your notebooks.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Mr. Cartin, let me swear you in. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. CARTIN: I do.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to make a brief statement to the commission on why you'd like to serve on The Citadel board?
MR. CARTIN: I would, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, my name is Walt Cartin. I'm from here in Richland County in Columbia. I am a 2002 graduate of The Citadel.
I graduated and immediately went to serve in the United States Army where I served as an infantry officer stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. I was deployed to Iraq where I served as an infantry rifle platoon leader, a scout platoon leader, and finally as an executive officer at the end of my 14-month tour in Iraq.
Following that time, I attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where I graduated in 2009. I have been practicing law here with Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein as a healthcare attorney representing a variety of corporate clients since 2009.
In 2017 I completed a master's in business administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
I believe and want to run for The Citadel because I believe I can add certain value. 2001, in particular September 11, 2001, was a watershed moment for our country. On September 11, our nation was attacked and subsequently launched us into two decades' worth of war. We are now to the point where soldiers who will serve in Afghanistan this year may not actually have been born on September 11.
In addition to the military changes that have occurred, there also been substantial changes to the way in which college is funded. When I graduated in 2002, I was right at the very bottom of the school debt bubble. It has subsequently, I believe, gotten a little bit out of hand. As tuition has risen far past the rate of inflation and far past the rate at which South Carolinians' paychecks have grown, it's created a substantial problem.
As someone who graduated post-2001, I believe I am uniquely situated. I dealt with some of these issues personally. I graduated from law school in an economy that was terrible, so I'm familiar with some of the unique challenges that many of the millennials are facing.
So I don't want to take up too much of the committee's time. I think I've already gone a little bit longer that was intended. But I'll just wrap up and say I think that based on my life experience and unique time at which I graduated from The Citadel, I think I can be of service to the board, and I would like to do that.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you for your willingness to serve.
Does the commission have any questions, comments?
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, President, whatever else you are now.
Thank you for your service to our country. Infantry, speaking from experience, I wasn't quite as high up the chain as you were, so I can appreciate what you've done.
I notice you said that the biggest weakness of The Citadel is academic rigor to be improved. Could you expand on that a little bit and in what areas.
MR. CARTIN: Absolutely.
I graduated in 2002 and had some time before I started law school, but when I started law school at the University of South Carolina, right across the street here, I felt like I was not adequately prepared to meet the challenge, to get into the mix with a number of the students who had graduated from other state universities. That's a very honest, very candorous opinion that I can give to you.
And that's to say I graduated from The Citadel with departmental honors in the English department, but I found that my own analytical skills were lacking, and I felt like they had not been adequately developed. And as I look back now on the curriculum, I feel like it could have been a little bit more difficult. I feel like some of our core classes, some of the grading standards -- I feel like there was some checking the block that was going on.
So I would spend specific and special attention to ensuring that our curriculum is consistent with what other schools in South Carolina and the nation are preparing their students to deal with and to actively compete both in postgraduate education and in the workforce.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: I'm kind of surprised because I just assumed The Citadel was already more academically rigorous than some of our other state schools. So you're saying you would push to raise the bar or standard over what's happening now.
MR. CARTIN: I do. I believe you can always raise the bar on academic excellence. I think there's a question in there about how do we -- do we need to grow the student body population. I think we need to focus on recruiting the highest and most talented folks that we possibly can. And one of the ways that you do that is to raise the academic reputation.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: How many students does The Citadel have now? Do you know?
MR. CARTIN: Twenty-three hundred.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: And that's been pretty standard throughout the years?
MR. CARTIN: It grew just recently because they added another battalion. Because of geographically where The Citadel is, it really can't grow. There's not much room. It's kind of like, akin to VMI in that it's landlocked, VMI by the mountains and The Citadel, certainly, by the rivers that surround it, the wetlands.
So the ability to grow that student body much bigger I think is limited while still preserving some of the unique characteristics of The Citadel.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Do you favor keeping those characteristics as they are now as opposed to any change in the future for The Citadel?
MR. CARTIN: I do. I think that it is important to maintain that tradition, some of those traditional things that generations of Citadel folks who were there in the '50s, the '60s, the '70s can come back and have a common point of reference with many of the different age groups that have graduated in subsequent years.
And specifically, what I'm thinking about is the quad system where fourth classmen are required to go out, sweep the quad, to assemble on the quad. If you were to raise either the height of the buildings, you would start to pack that area too much. That's sort of a central area to campus life.
It's kind of like the Horseshoe at USC or something like or -- you know, I didn't go to Clemson, but I'd imagine there's some similar place like that that's unique. And I think our battalions are like that. So if you were to change the physical design, I think you would lose a little bit of sort of the traditional experience that binds generations of Citadel graduates together.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: If you haven't been to Clemson recently, they are changing the landscape quite considerably up there, I don't know if for the better or not.
I will say one other thing, though. The Citadel barbecue every year, I am amazed at the closeness of the graduates going back to the '50s and '60s to recently. It's just a unique, unique school, and I appreciate your willingness to serve what I consider one of our crown jewels in the state.
MR. CARTIN: Thank you, Representative Whitmire.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
Any other questions or comments?
Senator Scott.
SENATOR SCOTT: Yes, sir. Thank you.
And thank you so much for your willingness to serve. I'm a little concerned about maintaining The Citadel in the same position, some of the same qualities it had in the '50s and '60s. You were there in 2002 when it underwent its change to allow women to come to The Citadel. Now you guys have got, what, five battalions, and two of the five are led by women.
And so I'm concerned about that along with trying to maintain the same status quo. And I'm just trying to, I guess, paraphrase what you meant --
MR. CARTIN: Oh. No.
SENATOR SCOTT: -- what you said, and I hope that's not what you meant, as we move the state, of course, to try to bring more South Carolinians into some of the schools and try to integrate some of the behavior with some of the schools.
Twenty-three hundred is a good-sized school. It's not a small school for a South Carolina school. And if I'm not reading you correctly, would you please, sir, correct me on that thought process because maybe I got lost in that thought process.
I've got a question coming after that one.
MR. CARTIN: Senator Scott, thank you very much for that question.
What I meant by maintaining some of the traditions is there are certain things, like the Citadel ring, for instance. Every generation that's graduated has the same ring. And these are sort of common points of reference that bind the group together. Some of the physical attributes of the school, the parade deck, things like that, are more what I was referencing.
The student body is certainly changed. I think right now we're at 8.6 percent female participation in the Corps. When I was there in 2002 Ms. Mace -- Representative Mace now -- was the first female graduate, in the Class of 1999.
I was there when -- I witnessed some of the challenges that she faced and have some sympathies for the folks and some deep admiration for the very brave people that came after her to really establish a spot for female cadets in the Corps.
In addition, we've got about 25 percent minority participation. I'm not sure what the exact racial breakdown is there.
But, you know, one of the things that I think about and what I think would make me unique is I would be one of only two other millennials or one other millennial on the board. And why is that important for diversity? Because the way you appeal to different diverse groups, I think, is affected by their generation. The generation coming up today doesn't consume information, and so when we're advertising to recruit more diverse candidates, we've got to make sure that we are advertising to them in such a way, reaching out to them in such a way that it's actually getting to them.
So how would that -- what would happen -- what would be an example of that? You know, if we are advertising in traditional print media or if we are advertising with pop-up ads on websites that are frequented by a particular demographic that might not be reaching some of the more diverse candidates, the good candidates that we want there to strengthen our institution.
So I absolutely do not believe at all that The Citadel should be static in certain respects, but there are wonderful traditions, as there at any school, that I think are important and are good for creating cohesion amongst the generations.
SENATOR SCOTT: My last question: What is your real thought process as it relates to diversity with faculty, students, administrators at The Citadel?
MR. CARTIN: So in my law firm I've been very involved with our diversity and inclusion committee. We have a very active program. So I've seen in a corporate setting how a successful program, an award-winning program -- a number of different chambers of commerce, both Charlotte and locally in Columbia, have given us accolades -- can work.
And I think what it really drills down to is making sure that we are paying special attention to ensure that we are doing what we can to recruit both diverse faculty and diverse student bodies -- sometimes they're overlooked groups, again -- and who we're reaching out to.
Where are we sending our representatives out to speak at different Rotary Clubs and so forth? Are we ignoring certain neighborhoods? Are we ignoring certain high schools when we send recruiters to go talk to students, participating in college fairs and so forth.
So I think it takes a deliberate, intentional process whereby we actively reach out to those groups to find qualified candidates, because they may not be looking for a place like The Citadel, and they don't know they need to come there until we tell them about the school and what it can offer.
SENATOR SCOTT: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
Any others?
REPRESENTATIVE KING: I have a question.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative King.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I just have a quick question just to follow up on Senator Scott. And what I've experienced at the university in my district, which is Winthrop, is that in trying to reach, I guess, quotas, if you would say it as a quota, minorities on staff or as instructors, they are sometimes put in places as adjunct instructors with no pathway of being tenured or a full-time instructor.
What would you do to ensure that people -- minorities would be advanced at The Citadel?
MR. CARTIN: I think you have to develop policies about how faculty is recruited and how faculty is hired, and I think you have to enforce those without regard to race and you have to make an intention that you're not.
I think you have to take a hard look at it every year. It's not something you can look at in a five-year strategic plan and then stick it on a shelf and not worry about it. It's the type of thing that you have to annually, if not quarterly, go back and look and see what we're doing.
Are we working to recruit them? And are the types of people that we're working to recruit the kinds that are going to be tenure-track professors versus adjuncts? If all we're looking to recruit is adjuncts, we shouldn't be surprised when all we're getting is adjuncts, you know.
I will tell you there is a lot of competition nationally for diverse, tenure-qualified professors. I mean, that's a fact. And so we are up against schools like Harvard, Chapel Hill, Clemson, USC, not to offend anybody. I'll make sure I include all the South Carolina schools.
There's a lot of competition for those diverse candidates, and we need to make sure that we're putting the resources in to get the types of folks that, A, meet the qualifications that we need for those professorships and, B, can provide value to our students through their unique experiences.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: And I guess my last comment to you is, I was just in a hearing last week when Winthrop came to the state capitol to talk about their budget, and on their team that came down, there was not one person of color. And I'm not just speaking of African Americans. There was no person of color that was on their leadership team. And I think that's a shame on Winthrop, and I would hope that you would promote something different as a member of the board at The Citadel.
MR. CARTIN: Yes, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative Clary.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Cartin, I wanted to follow up on your comment about the academic rigor at The Citadel. I think back to my law school days, and when I came in, a lot of very good friends who attended The Citadel, I thought they were as well prepared as anyone who was there. Is your comment about the academic rigor at The Citadel -- is that throughout the institution, or is it the fact that you received a bachelor's degree in English? I had a history major and an English minor at Clemson, which was kind of unheard of.
So tell me about that because that's something that is concerning to me when I look at The Citadel because I've always had such a high regard for the academic quality there. So explain that to me a little bit better.
MR. CARTIN: I do not think it's as evenly distributed. I think there are certain pockets of excellence there. I think that the civil engineering program at The Citadel is in the top 25 in the country, I have heard. Certainly in the Southeast, it's going to be up there.
As I recall from my time being at The Citadel, and certainly, again, as a candidate who's not privy to all the information, I can give you basically what my impressions are, what my anecdotal experiences was.
I started out there as a business major and quickly changed over to English when I found that I had, as a freshman, with all the demands of a knob, gotten a 3.9 GPA. And I knew something was wrong. I was not being challenged in that respect.
Business administration majors, I had noted, were -- had a lot of free time. My roommate my senior year was a business administration major. He had one book on his shelf, and it was called, Who Moved My Cheese? Now, that's sort of a classic business book, but I think there's a problem there when a senior at The Citadel can have one book on his desk called Who Moved My Cheese, not to denigrate that book.
But again, a lot of this is my subjective impression. A lot of this is seeing that my Citadel classmates in law school were not necessarily toward the top of the class. Things may have changed from -- over the years, but I know personally about the struggle I had to keep up. Ultimately I graduated in the top 10 percent of the class, though. I figured it out. I was able to overcome that.
But I feel very strongly that as a board member this would be something that I would spend considerable focus on, digging into it. Is there evidence to support what my anecdotal suspicion is? And then, if there is evidence to support that, I think we would look very hard and I would look very actively at working to solve that.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: I was going to say it seems that you recovered fairly nicely because you were on the Law Review, and that does not come easily.
And Mr. Chairman, for the record, I think I probably could have taken my first two semesters at Clemson and added them together and not had a 3.9.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Statute of limitations ran on you.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative Davis.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I've got to chime in on the academic rigor discussion here. My son just graduated from The Citadel in May with a mechanical engineering degree. Based on my observation, it was a rigorous curriculum. And he and one other roommate were the only ones that survived the mechanical engineering program to graduate with a degree.
So it seemed to be, from the outside looking in, that the engineering school, at least, was sort of a -- there was a weeding process, and those top students were the ones that made it. And, in fact, he was able to pass his Engineer in Training exam the first time he took it.
So I would say from a parent's point of view, it was a good value for my money, and I feel like my son got a great education. So I would just add that to the discussion.
Thank you.
SENATOR VERDIN: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Senator Verdin.
SENATOR VERDIN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
You really prompted our attention on the academic excellence. I, like Representative Davis, have just had a son -- well, in 2016 -- drag himself across the finish line down there.
And I'm looking at the timeline. I look at you and I think, Millennial, young man. And I have a constituent like you back home who will look 50 when he's 90. And I'm jealous of you.
But 2002 on your baccalaureate, and it's almost a decade since your first run for the board. I'm just curious about -- with the same observations -- and it's obviously poignant to you because I sense the transition from undergraduate to law school was like a bell ringer, a wake-up call.
MR. CARTIN: (Nodding head.)
SENATOR VERDIN: But I'm also thinking that -- and I'm sure it was probably one of your observations and probably the most salient point of your run back in 2011, the academic excellence component.
And I'm going to salute you here and in perpetuity on that note because I, like Representative Davis, want to make sure that my son who's still working on his payments and/or any other cadet that comes through there gets the best return on their investment. So I commend you for raising the matter even if it might not be as pertinent today as it was in your time frame, I would like to believe, and I think all of us are looking forward to digging deeper with The Citadel as it relates to academic standards.
Senator Scott, I know you still serve the education side on finance.
I am curious, though. And this will just kind of give us more insight. What's the most gratifying degree you have, The Citadel degree, the Carolina degree, or the Chapel Hill degree?
MR. CARTIN: The Citadel, by far. I made the best friends that I've ever had in my entire life there, lifelong friends. My roommate just came -- and he is a -- he works for the State Department -- came and stayed at my house for several weeks.
These are friends that you make forever, and its part of those common traditions that you have that bind you together, some of the challenges in the fourth class system. Absolutely the most valuable degree.
The other point I'll mention about the academic rigor is my brother graduated in 2007 with a magna cum laude, I think, in accounting and struggled to pass the CPA exams. That's my other point of reference. Watching him struggle through that after having done so well, it just concerned me.
And so I don't mean to denigrate, certainly, at all. I love the school.
SENATOR VERDIN: Well, I don't take it that way, and I don't think any of us do. It's just, actually, the fact that you've given so much thought. And that is -- the Corps -- and I was going to ask you about ensuring cadet control of the Corps and things along those lines.
But I'm telling you, for those of us that invest a hundred grand, we want to make sure it is as best as it can possibly be. So I don't consider it denigration. I consider it a very merited point of focus.
SENATOR SCOTT: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Senator Scott.
SENATOR SCOTT: I just wanted to make one comment.
I graduated from South Carolina State with a degree in accounting and a minor in economics, and I can assure you, him coming out in 2007, he was not going to sit for the CPA exam and pass it on the first go around. It takes some time. You come out of school with the theory. When you get the job, then you get the practicality. A lot of it is about audit and audit procedures, valuations, and so forth.
The other part, I'm more than sure that after 17 years from the time you graduated The Citadel has remained competitive with the other schools. And yes, those who are in the management portion of the program are not going to work as hard as those who are in the accounting portion of the program. They are just two different things. Your friend who was a senior probably was just going on the field in that particular semester. That's probably why there were no books on the shelf. But if he had switched to accounting major, trust me, he would have struggled just as hard as you did.
And let's just be serious, some of the programs, no matter which school you go to, are going to be a lot easier than others. I started in the field of history and changed my major because history was too easy, just read and study. I went to accounting and discovered it was a lot more challenging.
It was just the individual, and that's why some fields pay a lot more than other fields, because they're a lot more challenging.
Thank you so much.
MR. CARTIN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Anyone else?
What's the desire of the committee?
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Favorable.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Motion is a favorable report. Is there a second?
SENATOR VERDIN: Second.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Second's heard. Any other discussion?
Hearing none, we'll take it to a vote. All in favor, raise your right hand. Unanimous.
Thank you, again, for your willingness to serve, sir.
MR. CARTIN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Next, Mr. James E. Nicholson from Lexington.
MR. NICHOLSON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Also a candidate at large.
Good afternoon, sir.
MR. NICHOLSON: Good afternoon, sir.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Let me swear you in. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. NICHOLSON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to make a brief statement?
MR. NICHOLSON: Yes, sir, I would.
Before I start, I'd like to give a shout-out to the Tigers too. I've got -- well, I had one trying to get out of school up here. He's 23, and he's making a career out of it, and I've got a junior up here right now. So I'm very happy for the Tigers.
You know, my story is a pretty simple one. In 1981 I graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School, and I was going to Clemson University to play baseball. And a week before school started, I made a decision that I needed to go to The Citadel.
It's probably the most mature decision I made even now, to go to The Citadel. I love what the school stands for, I love the discipline, I love the teamwork, and I appreciate what the school has done for the state of South Carolina, this country, and this world.
We've got a son that's a freshman down there, and I have not had a lifelong dream be on the board of visitors. With that said, I don't want anybody to think that I'm not one hundred percent committed to being on the board of visitors.
I had a classmate about a year ago say something to me time and time again about getting on the board of visitors, and I really didn't take it to heart, but with this opening that came up and then my son, who made the decision on his own to attend The Citadel, every time I drive through that gate now, the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
And so I'm at a point in time right now, my wife and I that I've got time to serve. I'm a hundred percent committed to doing it.
I've worked at SCANA for 31 years. I hope you all don't hold that against me. Senator Scott, I know you were on the review committee.
But the company has been great to me. I've been on the natural gas side for 31 years, and in all two years, I've been in a position of leadership on the natural gas side.
And the things I've learned about relationships and communication and people, the things I've learned about risk management and assessing risks, about making decisions, finances, human resources, strategic planning -- we've referred already to diversity and inclusions -- the training we've done on that I really think will make me a good candidate for the board of visitors.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you, sir.
Questions or comments?
REPRESENTATIVE KING: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative King.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I have a question for you, Mr. Nicholson.
MR. NICHOLSON: Yes, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: Can you explain to me what you think is the time commitment for a person on any college board of trustees here in South Carolina? What would be the time commitment?
MR. NICHOLSON: Well, I've talked to a number of people on the board, people I've known. And there's a quarterly meeting for a couple days at a time, but there's also probably 15 to 20 hours in anticipation of getting ready for those meetings. You're on, usually, three committees. And I believe it's going to be a significant amount of time. And I am fully and definitely prepared to serve and do what I need to do.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: What do you believe is your most important obligation to the citizens of South Carolina when it comes to your representation on that?
MR. NICHOLSON: Well, The Citadel was founded to help underprivileged South Carolinians, and I think The Citadel -- even though we're known throughout this nation and throughout the world, The Citadel serves the state of South Carolina. And I think that needs to be its biggest mission.
I think we're pretty low percentage-wise on the number of South Carolinians that go to The Citadel compared to some other state institutions. I think we need to do a better job of attracting more people from South Carolina.
Diversity and inclusion was mentioned a while ago. I think we've got to cast a wider net to get diverse candidates in there. And we're looking for the best people. And when I talk about diversity and inclusion, some of our training at work has been around not just the vessel that you see me in or I see you in but it's about diversity of thought and diversity of personality and diversity of background and that sort of thing.
But we need to be looking for the best people, regardless of who they are, to help make The Citadel a better place.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: We've heard in the past from some board members that the reason why they select out-of-state students is because of the money that they can get from those students versus what they can get from in-state students.
How do you weigh on both of those--?
MR. NICHOLSON: Yes, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: -- to ensure that the institution is not looking at the student out of state before they're looking at in-state students?
MR. NICHOLSON: That's a good question, Representative King. And I felt the same way and heard some of the same things at Clemson. Our oldest son got directly into Clemson, but our youngest -- our middle daughter went into the bridge, which, quite frankly, was a great program. And I kind of like the tuition there versus going straight into Clemson.
But I do think that probably one of the biggest things not just The Citadel but higher education in South Carolina and this nation faces is the cost of education. And I'm concerned about -- I don't know if the business model that's there now and what it's taking for people to go to college and spend that kind of money is going to last.
So I can understand the universities -- if they do lean towards out-of-state people because of budget and finance issues, I understand that, but I really believe that we've got to stay focused on the state of South Carolina.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
Others?
Hearing none, what's the desire of the committee?
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Favorable.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Motion is favorable.
SENATOR SCOTT: Second.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Second. Any other discussion?
Hearing none, we'll take it to a vote. All in favor, raise your right hand.
Unanimous.
There's a plus in coming second rather than first. Thank you for your willingness to serve, sir.
MR. NICHOLSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: All right. Now we'll move to College of Charleston, Fifth Congressional District, Seat 10, R. Laurin Burch from Camden.
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. BURCH: I do.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to make a brief statement?
MR. BURCH: Yes, sir. Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, members of the commission, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today. I'll try to keep this brief. My name is Laurin Burch. I'm a Spring 2000 graduate of the College of Charleston with an undergraduate degree in accounting. I currently live with my wife and three daughters in Camden. I'm a South Carolina licensed CPA and the controller for the Pepsi-Cola Bottlers based out of Florence, Greenville, and Cheraw.
I'm here quite simply because I want to serve my alma mater as a member of the board of trustees. I come from a C of C family. I was the first of three siblings to graduate from the school. I also met my wife there as well as many great friends. I care about the college and want to give back.
As the father of those three elementary-aged daughters, I'm extremely concerned about the ever-increasing cost of a four-year degree. I don't believe that that trend is sustainable, and I'm confident that my finance and accounting background would serve the board well when navigating those issues.
My goal is simple: to do whatever I can to improve the school in all areas, academics, athletics, finances, student life, and so on. I'm proud of the college and its rich history and would love an opportunity to serve.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
Questions? Comments?
SENATOR SCOTT: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Senator Scott.
SENATOR SCOTT: Thank you for your willingness to serve.
My first question: Did you pass the CPA on the first go-around?
MR. BURCH: I passed three out of four on the first try.
SENATOR SCOTT: We got that part out of the way.
MR. BURCH: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SCOTT: Tell me a little bit about your thoughts with diversity, especially at the College of Charleston. I know when President McConnell was there, I think they hired a diversity officer, and they were going through some changes, trying to put some things together to create a decent format for bringing in new students and trying to bring some balance to the college.
MR. BURCH: We do have the Office of Institutional Diversity.
SENATOR SCOTT: Right.
MR. BURCH: And I don't have the numbers in front of me --
SENATOR SCOTT: That's okay.
MR. BURCH: -- but I do think that over the last three or four years we've seen a steady increase in the percentage of minority students as a whole. I'm a big fan of diversity even in the corporate world where I see the huge benefits of broadening your scope and your experiences and the resources available, the thoughts and intellectual capital. So I'm a big fan of that.
I think we're moving in the right direction. And, obviously, I also believe that you can always improve. As you all are probably very well aware, we have a new president that's a minority, so that sort of sets the tone at the top there for that. But I'll always be big on diversity and try to improve and do better wherever we can.
SENATOR SCOTT: I know the College of Charleston is trying to expand from downtown Charleston I guess into North Charleston because they're planning the location. Are you up to date on what's going onwith that? I know downtown you have a lot of facilities that need it also.
MR. BURCH: The downtown peninsula has been crowded for years, even when I was there in 2000. There's been a sort of butting heads between the school and the residents around the school, around the campus, as far as -- parking has always been an issue. Student life, residents' housing is a problem.
And then, again, when you add ever-increasing tuition and fees on top of the cost of living in downtown Charleston that continues to increase, those students get hit more than others.
So from my point of view, I would just like -- if we are going to -- if we're in a budget crunch and have to increase revenue or either -- it's either is increase revenue or cut costs, I don't want the first reaction to be, let's just raise tuition. Let's take a hard look at our costs and what we're spending money on before we make that decision.
SENATOR SCOTT: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative Clary.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: Mr. Burch, that last question that Senator Scott asked you, coming from a college town where there is a tremendous amount of pressure between the city and the university and the growth that we've had there, we're not as -- well, I won't say that.
The university has a certain amount of land that they have and the ability to develop and other external factors that create living opportunities for students that allows the college to expand its student body.
And we talk about the term town and gown relationships. What do you see that you could bring to the College's board in regard to the relationship that exists between the community, the city of Charleston, and the university? Could you elaborate on that?
MR. BURCH: Well, the school -- even if we bought -- acquired other property in the downtown area, we are land -- not landlocked, but we're on that peninsula. And so the only growth is West Ashley, North Charleston, James Island, and up the I-26 Corridor.
They have a North Campus, so this has been a problem that they've dealt with for years. We just need to be more engaged with the local residents or continue that engagement, potentially offer them benefits of the facilities, you know, try to partnership within the city, you know, just to ease their concerns and do whatever we can to make a -- we need a partnership between the city and the residents in the school.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: I don't disagree with you, and I think that Charleston has a different situation from the standpoint that it's not the only game in town. You've got the tourism and other factors that we don't have up in my areas.
But I think that it's very important for anyone who offers to serve as a trustee for one of our state institutions to always be mindful of the relationship that exists between the university, the municipality or town or city that is there, but even more importantly, the residential and business community because you can have this town gown relationship that sounds good on its face, but if the residents/businesses are left out, then that's the third leg of that three-legged stool that's missing, and it creates a lot of friction.
So thank you very much for your answer.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative Davis.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I graduated from the College of Charleston in 1983. That was a while ago. And I'm a member of the alumni board there and have been involved in the College on and off since I graduated.
I see -- with your background in finance and accounting, I'm assuming that you believe that that is one of the primary things you can bring to the board of trustees is your experience.
MR. BURCH: Yes, ma'am.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: So given that that is your background and your experience and sort of your view of the world, what specifically would you do if you were elected to the board of trustees that would reflect and use that experience to make the College better?
MR. BURCH: I like to look at data, analytics. And we need to determine what is the appropriate balance of more revenue generated or more tuition income generated on out-of-state students. You know, there's a balancing act of, what does that ratio need to be? If we allow more out-of-state students, can we alleviate some of the financial pressures on the in-state students?
So I'd look at that, you know, and then do everything that we -- if we can get more grant money, more scholarships from corporate private donors and other entities, that's a bonus too.
So those would be the areas that I would try to focus on and see if I could help.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Okay.
Have you been involved in the College since you graduated?
MR. BURCH: We have -- I was extremely involved earlier on in my career, but after raising three daughters, we had to step back. I do stay involved in the contact with a lot of the staff that are still there. My wife worked in the admissions office and the alumni services when we were first out of school. So we still do have a lot of connections. And then I try to make it to a basketball game or two when I can.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Okay. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Anyone else?
Hearing none, what's the desire of the committee?
SENATOR SCOTT: Favorable.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Motion is favorable. Is there a second?
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Second.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Second. All in favor raise your right hand.
Seven to nothing.
Thank you for your willingness to serve, sir.
MR. BURCH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Next, under Tab H, Adam J. Smith from Fort Mill.
Good afternoon, sir. Let me swear you in. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. SMITH: I do.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to make a brief statement?
MR. SMITH: Yes, sir.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and the committee for allowing me the opportunity to be screened today. I grew up in Anderson, South Carolina. I went to TL Hanna. I graduated in '98 from high school. I got recruited by a lot of colleges across the country to play sports, and I went on a visit down to Charleston. And the first time I stepped foot on campus was when I knew that this was where I was going to go. I knew I wanted to go there the moment I stepped foot on campus. I'm in love with the history of it. I'm infatuated with it, really. I love everything about that campus. That's the reason why, from someone that had multiple opportunities to go multiple locations, I chose Charleston, and I feel like I'm in debt.
I graduated in '02, and I think that the liberal arts side of my degree is what prepared me and is what has made me so successful in my career up until this point.
It allowed me to kind of discover my strengths as I -- I'm kind of the accidental salesperson. I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I accidentally fell into that, but because of the education that the College of Charleston gave me, it allowed me to progress.
I felt because of that education and because I graduated debt-free that I'm forever indebted to Charleston, and whatever I can do to help them help preserve the rich history, I'm up for it.
And now I have three children, nine, seven, and four, and it's become more important to me that I want to give my kids and their generation every bit of the opportunity to experience what I experienced when I went to school back there from '98 to '02.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
Questions?
REPRESENTATIVE KING: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative King. REPRESENTATIVE KING: Thank you.
Can you tell me, as a board member, how would you tackle the issue of diversity on the campus?
MR. SMITH: I believe that everybody deserves the same opportunities that I have had, and from what I've seen with the College of Charleston, you know, over the last five years, they've become more diverse. I believe 20 percent of the students now are minorities. Eight percent are African American. And it's up in the last five years' timeframe.
I would think that -- somebody said it earlier today. I think it also starts with leadership, and as you can see, you know, our new president is a minority. You kind of practice what you preach is what I've always been told. And I think that as leadership and the board and people behave that way and show that it's important, then I think else will follow over time. And I'm a believer in that.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions?
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: I have a question.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative Davis.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Mr. Smith, thank you for being here with us today.
I do have a question, your concern about the four-year graduation rate. It looks like in your notes -- because my question was the current four-year graduation rate. And it's 56 percent. Is that correct?
MR. SMITH: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: What would you do to improve that?
MR. SMITH: I would have to learn a little bit more, but what struck me with that number is we talked about debt for the last hour here, and that's why -- I'm not so sure how we rank with all the other state schools, but 56 only graduating in four years -- I was lucky enough to have baseball that kind of kept me in line and made sure that my grades and everything were in line, so I was on a four-year program. I was in and out.
I've also had a lot of friends that were on the five- and six- and six-and-a-half-year programs, and they're coming out of school with a lot more debt. And so I think from a board perspective, being able to sit down and have conversations with, how can we educate the financial implications of our students taking five and six years to finish their degree and look at processes and things that we could do on the front end to show people that getting in and out in four years puts you at a lower debt coming out and there's a benefit there?
And I was just surprised when I saw that percentage, but maybe that's in line with everybody else.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: I don't know. I was surprised by that number as well. So thank you. I appreciate your efforts in that regard.
MR. SMITH: Thank you, Representative Davis.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative Clary.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: I know Senator Peeler and I were on the four-year plan because I think both of us knew when we went to Clemson that's all there was there. You better be out in four years.
The idea of these percentages -- you know, I've heard in other meetings and other discussion that sometimes these graduation rates are affected by the ability of the school to offer courses at particular times for students to be able to meet that four-year deadline. That becomes an issue. And just to throw that out there for you.
But I want to follow with you the question that I asked Mr. Burch. You're a fairly recent graduate of the College. and insofar as the relationship between the College and the Charleston community and the growth that you have that's kind of normal, what is that relationship? What would you do to try to improve it?
MR. SMITH: I think there's a lot that I would need to -- I mean, it's a great question, Representative Clary. I think there's a lot that I would need to read up on to fully understand that relationship as it stands today.
I do know that, like, one of the biggest things when I went to school there was I didn't know whether or not my car would be in front of the house that I parked at when I went to school.
So something as simple as give us a parking area in North Charleston where we can ride a tram in or something along those lines because, I mean, that seems to be -- I can remember that. Everyone's cars were getting booted, towed, ticketed. And it was because we were parking in front of peoples' homes and blocking their driveways and things like that.
The other thing that would be interesting, going back to your telemedicine, I think online classes or recorded online classes for people that are, you know, working parents or that may otherwise not be able to come in for a 9:00 class, but they could watch a recorded class later on that evening and be expected to do the same type of work. I think that the biggest thing is we need to have conversations about it to see what it looks like.
The other thing that stuck out to me with C of C is -- I'm only ranking it against the other state schools, but the endowment's the lowest out of a lot of them, compared to, you know, your USCs, your Clemsons, The Citadel.
And I'm wondering if, you know, with Charleston being the number one city, tourist destination in the country and number one place to vacation and things like that, you would think that -- the school's getting ready to celebrate the 250th anniversary. You would think that the town and the people that live downtown could coincide or come together and realize that they can have that town and gown positive relationship.
REPRESENTATIVE CLARY: Well, I will also tell you that the problems with parking are not singular to Charleston. It's the same thing that I hear from students at Clemson too.
But thank you for your answer.
MR. SMITH: Yes, sir. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Anyone else?
Other questions or comments? What's the desire of the committee?
REPRESENTATIVE KING: Favorable report.
SENATOR SCOTT: Second.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Motion is favorable. Any other discussion?
Hearing none, we'll take it to a vote. All in favor raise your right hand.
Seven to nothing.
Thank you for your willingness to serve.
MR. SMITH: Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Now we'll take Old Exchange Building Commission, At Large, Expires 2020, two seats. Under Tab I, Catherine M. Patterson from Lexington.
How do you do, ma'am?
MS. PATTERSON: Fine. How are you?
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Let me swear you in. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. PATTERSON: I do.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to make a brief statement.
MS. PATTERSON: Yes, sir. I don't know that I can follow that, but I was born in North Carolina and raised in Moncks Corner. And I went to Winthrop for a year. Back when I went in 1966, it was ranked fourth academically in the nation is what they told us then.
And then I also attended the College of Charleston for three years at night while I worked when President Carter was president and we had the BEOG grant. And so I was able to go with everything paid. And, of course, then when he was not re-elected, that went with it too.
But then, eventually, I started working for the City of Charleston in 1991 and retired in July 2017. In 1996, I became the director of special facilities for the city. And the facilities I was responsible for were the -- and throughout my career, were the Dock Street Theatre, the original Gaillard Auditorium before the Gaillard Center, the Charleston Visitor Center, Charleston Maritime Center, Angel Oak Tree Park, the Old Slave Mart Museum, and the Old Exchange.
So I'm here today seeking the position on the commission for the Old Exchange, primarily because when the Old Exchange was put into my department in 2003, I had to work very closely with the commission because the building was struggling them, and because we were revenue generating facilities, that was the primary reason it was put into my department.
But I saw the work that the commission did, the members of the commission, the dedication and the hard work that they put in for that building to make sure that it was preserved financially and physically as the historic treasure of South Carolina that it is.
And then when I retired in 2017, I realized I really missed the involvement with that building and wanted to be a part of it again. So that's why I am seeking this position on the commission.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Questions or comments?
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: (Raises hand.)
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Representative Davis.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'm making sure that I'm caught up here on what we're discussing. The Old Exchange Commission is, as it relates to the Old Exchange building that's in Charleston, downtown Charleston?
MS. PATTERSON: Right. Right.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: I had -- excuse me.
SENATOR VERDIN: Foot of Broad.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Yeah.
I understood that a portion of that building was owned by the Rebecca Motte Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I'm a member of that chapter, by the way.
MS. PATTERSON: Okay.
It's not just the Rebecca Motte Chapter, the state DAR organization. The Rebecca Motte Chapter is the chapter in residence there, and they have been.
But in 1913, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the state chapter, won the Old Exchange building in a quit claim -- a quit deed sale from the federal government, and then the Rebecca Motte Chapter was housed in the Old Exchange from that time on.
And then in 1976, when the state -- the Bicentennial committee for the state wanted the project to restore the Old Exchange building because nothing really had been done with it, and so they entered into a 100-year lease with the state DAR, and we're in the second 25 years of that 100-year lease.
But the state entered into it then. The state ran it from '76 until 1989, and then the commission at the time wanted to investigate different management procedures and new ways to attract visitors and increase revenue.
So that's when they put out a management bid. And the City of Charleston and the College of Charleston both put in a bid, and the City won the management agreement. And so the City has managed it since 1989, and it's renewed through the commission, through city council, every November.
But the Rebecca Motte Chapter is -- they live there. They're housed there, and they always will be there.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: So the building is owned by --
MS. PATTERSON: It's owned -- it privately -- the way the put it is it's privately owned by the state DAR, and the Rebecca Motte Chapter and the DAR, the state DAR, are trustees of the building. And then the state doesn't own it but they lease it.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Okay. So, then, the state leases it and then the city maintains --
MS. PATTERSON: The city manages it.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: -- manages it. Okay. All right. That is sort of a convoluted relationship there.
MS. PATTERSON: It is.
SENATOR VERDIN: Well, is the state not the lessee -- excuse me, the lessor?
MS. PATTERSON: The state is the -- the state and the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution entered into a 100-year lease agreement. And the state oversees it. We go -- the day-to-day work, anything that is to be done, we'll go through the commission as a representative of the state. That's how it does. It is complicated, but it works.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Well, thank you. Thank you for clarifying that for me. And I would encourage my fellow members of the committee to go and visit the building because it's a historical treasure and has a good number of historical artifacts housed there.
MS. PATTERSON: Well, and I'm going to toot the staff's horn there because when we took over in my department, Special Facilities, when we started managing it in 2003, the building was struggling financially and, quite frankly, was about $2- or $300,000 in the red.
And then we hired a different director, Tony Youmans, who is there now, and by the end of 2004, we were $1800 in the black. And the building has been self-sufficient ever since. And right now, we're over a million in the black in that building.
And with help from the state -- we've had financial help from the state along the way -- and then just over 65,000 visitors last year -- over 6,000 schoolchildren come through with tours -- evening events, gift shop... We entered into an agreement in 2004, I believe it was, with Little Dog Tours there, and they do ghost tours in the dungeon at night. That's a $100,000 contract that the building gets each year.
So the commission has done very well working with the staff there. And that's -- it's such an important building, and it needs to be taken care of.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: It does. I agree. Thank you for your willingness to serve.
MS. PATTERSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Any other questions or comments?
SENATOR VERDIN: I'd like to ask about --
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Senator Verdin.
SENATOR VERDIN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'd like to ask about the evening event. I was wondering about -- that's a dramatic revenue turnaround. I can -- I took my dad's elderly sisters around Charleston a year or two back, and the only reason we didn't ascend those steps on East Bay was the steep nature of them. And I didn't have the time to go seek an alternative.
MS. PATTERSON: It is in the back. There's a handicapped entrance in the back.
SENATOR VERDIN: Well, I'm glad it's in the back because it would mess up the aesthetics otherwise.
MS. PATTERSON: And there's no place to put it.
SENATOR VERDIN: I'm curious about those evening -- okay. So you have the contract with the ghost tours. What about somebody wanting a major event?
MS. PATTERSON: Evening rentals. They rent for wedding receptions or parties, dances.
SENATOR VERDIN: Were you doing that before '03, '04.
MS. PATTERSON: Yeah, they were. Before '04? Yeah. They'd always done them.
SENATOR VERDIN: That's when you had the 300,000 red to black.
MS. PATTERSON: Yeah. But they weren't -- they weren't being done as much as it could have been.
SENATOR VERDIN: Off the top of your head, do you know what those rent fees are?
MS. PATTERSON: What the rental fees are now?
SENATOR VERDIN: Yes, ma'am.
MS. PATTERSON: I don't know. I've been retired now since 2017.
SENATOR VERDIN: Two hours in the Old Exchange if you're on the main floor.
MS. PATTERSON: When I left, it seems to me like it was a couple thousand dollars to rent it for an evening. It's probably more than that now.
SENATOR VERDIN: Well, you don't want to sell short on those wedding rates because I've got these magazines laying around all over my house that says you can't find a place in Charleston to get married.
MS. PATTERSON: Well, we don't really like to do much weddings because they tear up the building, so we don't much like weddings. But it's -- in Charleston, good grief, you pay $5,000 for a two-by-four.
SENATOR VERDIN: Favorable.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Motion is favorable.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS: Second.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Second. Any other discussion?
Hearing none, we'll take it to a vote. All in favor raise your right hand.
Senator Scott asked to be recorded favorable.
Thank you, ma'am.
MS. PATTERSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: We appreciate your willingness to serve.
Next, R. Tracy Power from Columbia. We saved the best for last, right?
MR. POWER: Good afternoon.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Let me swear you in. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. POWER: I do.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Would you like to make a brief statement?
MR. POWER: Yes. Thank you.
Senator Peeler and members of the screening commission, I am delighted to be here, honored to be asked. My name is Tracy Power. I tell people when they introduce me for talks that I'm a Georgian by birth but a South Carolinian by choice.
I came to Columbia in 1981 for graduate school in history at the University of South Carolina, received my masters and Ph.D. there. I am now a professor of history, an assistant professor of history, and a college archivist at Newberry College. I've been there for the last five years.
But for 28 years before that, I was a historian in the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office at the Department of Archives and History.
I worked with the National Register of Historic Places, the federal program that recognizes historic properties, for all 28 years of the time I was at Archives and History, first on Senate Street and then on Parklane Avenue, and then for 19 1/2 of those years, I was also the coordinator of the South Carolina Historical Marker Program.
And so my experience is with telling stories about South Carolina history from 1670 to the 20th century to the 21st century in every county, in every locale, working with local organizations and local historians.
So I have a vast experience in history and what is called public history, that is historic preservation, historic site interpretation, archives and records management. And so I am vitally interested in the history of my adopted state and would welcome the opportunity to serve on this commission.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you.
Questions or comments?
SENATOR VERDIN: I'll just comment --
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Senator Verdin.
SENATOR VERDIN: -- that I've known Tracy a long time -- thank you, Mr. Chairman -- and he is a consummate professional. The stuff that he can find out digging back into the archives. Of course, his interpretive skills for relating it to us here in the 21st century are par excellence.
I'm glad to make a motion for a favorable report.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: The motion is favorable. Second?
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: No. I want to say something.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: All right. Open for discussion. Representative Whitmire.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITMIRE: Well, as a former history teacher, way back when, I really appreciate what you've done for our state.
I just wanted to say that I've got kind of a Charleston connection. My grandmother was a Rutledge, so I really care about the Charleston area and stuff.
So if we're ready for the favorable, Senator, I'm ready to go. I second the motion.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Ready for the vote?
All in favor, raise your right hand.
Thank you.
MR. POWER: Thank you, very much.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Senator Scott wanted to be recorded voting "aye."
MS. CASTO: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: Thank you, sir.
MR. POWER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SENATOR PEELER: That completes our agenda for today. Thank you for your attendance and your participation.
(The meeting was concluded at approximately 3:37 p.m.)
On motion of Senator MASSEY, the Senate agreed to stand adjourned.
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