NO. 77

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

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

Ezekiel 34:31

In Ezekiel 34 we read: "You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord God."

Join me as we pray, friends: Holy God, as this Senate has yet again returned to this Chamber, we are so very much aware that each one of us is counted by You as one of Your flock, "the sheep of Your pasture." And as such, we are all so very grateful for Your ongoing care, for the blessings You bestow, for the comfort and love You unfailingly grant to us. In the light of these realities, O Lord, graciously give to each of these Senators and aides the wisdom and zeal -- and the integrity -- they need as they labor here. And may all of their decisions prove to be an illustration of the fact that South Carolina is indeed a State blessed with "shepherds" who absolutely care for each and every individual, We so pray, O Lord, in Your blessed and holy name. Amen.

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

At 12:04 P.M., Senator SETZLER made the point that a quorum was not present. It was ascertained that a quorum was present.

The following appointments were transmitted by the Honorable Henry Dargan McMaster:

Initial Appointment, Secretary of Department of Commerce, with term coterminous with Governor
Harry M. Lightsey III, 1520 Senate Street #155, Columbia, SC 29205 VICE Robert M. Hitt III
Referred to the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.

Initial Appointment, South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation, with the term to commence February 15, 2018, and to expire February 15, 2022
2nd Congressional District:
Bill B. Dukes, 523 Carol Lane, Chapin, SC 29036 VICE John Hay Burriss

Referred to the Committee on Transportation.

Initial Appointment, Allendale County Magistrate, with the term to commence April 30, 2019, and to expire April 30, 2023
James A. White, 951 Allen Street, Allendale, SC 29810-2315 VICE John Alonzo Chaney

On motion of Senator KIMBRELL, at 12:37 P.M., Senator M. JOHNSON was granted a leave of absence for today.

On motion of Senator RICE, at 12:37 P.M., Senator SENN was granted a leave of absence for today.

The following co-sponsor was added to the respective Bill:
S. 811 (Word version)     Sen. Gustafson

The following were introduced:

S. 843 (Word version) -- Senator Alexander: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND HONOR MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS STOWE "TOM" MULLIKIN, RETIRED COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD, CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA FLOODWATER COMMISSION, AND FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL ECO ADVENTURES, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE POWER PLANT SC EARTH DAY 2021 TREE-PLANTING EVENT AND FOR HIS VISIONARY WORK; SACRIFICES OF TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES; EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP; AND OVERALL EXAMPLE, FOR WHICH THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD ARE ALL BENEFICIARIES.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 844 (Word version) -- Senator Harpootlian: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR LIEUTENANT LANSING P. "PETE" LOGAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS SIXTY YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH JOY AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
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The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered sent to the House.

S. 845 (Word version) -- Senator Gambrell: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE WREN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO HONOR THEM FOR WINNING THE 2021 MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 846 (Word version) -- Senator Leatherman: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE DEBRA ANNE DUNCAN, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
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The Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered sent to the House.

S. 847 (Word version) -- Senators McElveen and K. Johnson: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE WILSON HALL LADIES SCHOLASTIC SHOOT TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO HONOR THEM FOR WINNING THE 2021 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 848 (Word version) -- Senators McElveen and K. Johnson: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE WILSON HALL GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM ON THEIR STELLAR SEASON AND TO SALUTE THEM FOR CAPTURING THE 2021 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 849 (Word version) -- Senator Alexander: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LARRY PENLEY, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY MEN'S GOLF COACH, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS OF AWARD-WINNING COACHING, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 850 (Word version) -- Senator Alexander: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE TURK PETTIT OF THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY GOLF TEAM ON CAPTURING THE 2021 NCAA MEN'S GOLF INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 851 (Word version) -- Senator Fanning: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE CAROLINE ROUECHE OF ROCK HILL UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HER FOR FIFTY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS AN EDUCATOR, AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
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The Senate Resolution was adopted.

S. 844 (Word version) -- Senator Harpootlian: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR LIEUTENANT LANSING P. "PETE" LOGAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS SIXTY YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH JOY AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Returned with concurrence.

Received as information.

S. 846 (Word version) -- Senator Leatherman: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE DEBRA ANNE DUNCAN, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Returned with concurrence.

Received as information.

THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO A CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS OF COMMITTEES OF CONFERENCE AND FREE CONFERENCE.

Senator SETZLER was recognized to give a status report on the Committee of Conference.

Senator SETZLER moved under Rule 24B to allow the inclusion of Proviso 34.63 in the Report of the Committee of Conference.

34.63. (DHEC: Permit Extension) The expiration and any associated vested right of a critical area permit or navigable water permit issued by Department of Health and Environmental Control for the construction of a dock is extended until June 30, 2022, provided the permit is valid on July 1, 2021 or at any time during the previous eighteen months. This provision may not be construed or implemented to:
(1) extend a permit or approval issued by the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities;
(2) extend a permit or approval for which the term or duration of the permit or approval is specified or determined pursuant to federal law;
(3) shorten the duration that a permit would have had in the absence of this provision;
(4) prohibit the granting of additional extensions provided by law;
(5) affect an administrative consent order issued by the department which is in effect on, or issued at any time from the effective date of this provision to June 30, 2022;
(6) affect the ability of a governmental entity to revoke or modify a permit pursuant to law;
(7) modify a requirement of law that is necessary to retain federal delegation by the State of South Carolina of the authority to implement a federal law or program; or
(8) affect department's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management permits issued pursuant to R.30 12(N) Access to Coastal Lands
Within thirty days after the effective date of this act, the department shall place a notice in the State Register noting the extension of expiration dates provided for in this provision.

Senator SETZLER explained the proviso.

The motion was adopted.

Senator SETZLER moved under Rule 24B to allow the inclusion of Proviso 108.13 in the Report of the Committee of Conference.

108.13. (PEBA: Optional Payment of Employee Contributions by Employer) No later than July 1, 2021, an employer in the South Carolina Retirement System or the Police Officers Retirement System may elect to pay all or a portion of the employee contribution set out in Sections 9-1-1085 and 9-11-225, respectively, of the 1976 Code with respect to its employees during the fiscal year. In lieu of the deductions from compensation required by Sections 9-1-1020, 9-1-1160, and 9-11-210, as applicable, an employer electing to pay employee contributions under this provision hereby elects to pick up all or a portion of the employee contributions required by Sections 9-1-1085 and 9-11-225, as applicable, for the fiscal year without a reduction or offset from its employees' compensation. Employee contributions picked up without such reduction or offset from the employee's compensation shall be treated as employer contributions in determining federal tax treatment under Section 414(h)(2) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, but shall be credited as employee contributions for the purposes of the South Carolina Retirement System or the Police Officers Retirement System. An employer making the election provided by this provision shall be deemed to have taken formal action to provide that the contributions on behalf of its employees, although designated as employee contributions, shall be paid by the employer in lieu of employee contributions. The employer shall pay these employee contributions from the same source of funds which is used in paying earnings to the employee. The employee, however, must not be given any option of choosing to receive the contributed amount of the pick ups directly instead of having them paid by the employer to the South Carolina Retirement System or the Police Officers Retirement System. An employer's election to pick up contributions without a reduction or offset from its employees' compensation pursuant to this proviso may not be changed during the fiscal year. Employee contributions picked up by an employer pursuant to this provision without a reduction or offset from the member's compensation are: 1) not earnable compensation for the purposes of the South Carolina Retirement System or the Police Officers Retirement System; and 2) shall be deposited in the employee's South Carolina Retirement System or Police Officers Retirement System individual accumulated contribution account described in Sections 9-1-10(1), 9-11-10(2) and (6), and 9-11-260(2), as applicable, of the 1976 Code.
Explanation: Proviso 108.13 allows a participating employer in South Carolina Retirement System or Police Officers Retirement System to pay all or a part of its employees' retirement contributions during the fiscal year, rather than deducting those contributions from employees' pay. An employer's election to pay its employees' retirement contributions must be made for all of its employees and may not be changed during the fiscal year. The proviso also contains technical language to ensure that any employee contributions paid by an employer pursuant to this proviso are credited like other employee contributions for the purposes of the South Carolina Retirement System or Police Officers Retirement System and are continued to be treated as tax-deferred "picked up" contributions for the purposes of federal tax law.

Senator SETZLER explained the proviso.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Alexander                 Allen                     Fanning
Gambrell                  Goldfinch                 Harpootlian
Hutto                     Jackson                   Johnson, Kevin
Kimpson                   Leatherman                Matthews
McElveen                  McLeod                    Rankin
Sabb                      Scott                     Setzler
Stephens                  Talley                    Turner
Williams

Adams                     Bennett                   Campsen
Cash                      Climer                    Cromer
Davis                     Garrett                   Grooms
Gustafson                 Hembree                   Kimbrell
Malloy                    Martin                    Massey
Peeler                    Rice                      Shealy
Verdin                    Young

Corbin                    Loftis

The motion failed.

Senator SETZLER moved under Rule 24B to allow the inclusion of Proviso 108.14 in the Report of the Committee of Conference.

108.14. (PEBA: Non-State Agency Furloughs) For the current fiscal year, a participating employer in the South Carolina Retirement System or Police Officers Retirement System that is not a state agency or institution of higher learning may make employee and employer contributions for a period of not more than ninety working days during a furlough program that was implemented as a result of and took place during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and if the terms of the furlough program are consistent with the requirements for an approved mandatory furlough program established by a state agency or institution of higher learning under state law. The participating employer shall make such contributions in order to ensure that a furloughed employee's retirement benefits are not interrupted as a result of the furlough, and the period for which such contributions are made will not be considered a break in consecutive employment.
Explanation: Proviso 108.14 allows participating employers in the South Carolina Retirement System or the Police Officers Retirement System that are not state agencies or higher education institutions to remit employee and employer retirement contributions during the fiscal year to ensure that employees who were subject to a COVID-related furlough of not more than 90 days do not have interruptions in their eligibility for retirement benefits or retiree health insurance coverage as a result of the furlough. This furlough provision for non-state entities is intended to be consistent with furlough provisions available to state agencies and institutions under state law, including the COVID-related furlough provisions in Proviso 117.149 and other furlough-related provisions, such as Provisos 117.65 and 117.72.

Senator SETZLER explained the proviso.

The motion was adopted.

Senator SETZLER moved under Rule 24B to allow the inclusion of Proviso 109.15 in the Report of the Committee of Conference.

109.15. (DOR: Renewable Fuel Credit) The date the taxpayer must place property or facility into service that is used for distribution or dispensing renewable fuel shall be extended to January 1, 2022.
Explanation: The current tax credit for property used for the distribution or dispensing renewable fuel is located in Section 12-6-3610. The credit is equal to 25% of the cost of purchasing, constructing and installing the property. This tax credit states the taxpayer must place the property or facility in service prior to January 1, 2020.
This proviso extends the date the property must be placed in service out to January 1, 2022.
The revenue impact associated with the adoption of this proviso is $32,000 to the General Fund. This cost is accounted for in Part 1A of the Budget Conference Committee Report.

Senator SETZLER explained the proviso.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Adams                     Alexander                 Allen
Bennett                   Campsen                   Cash
Climer                    Cromer                    Davis
Fanning                   Gambrell                  Garrett
Goldfinch                 Grooms                    Gustafson
Hutto                     Jackson                   Johnson, Kevin
Kimbrell                  Kimpson                   Leatherman
Loftis                    Malloy                    Massey
Matthews                  McElveen                  McLeod
Peeler                    Rankin                    Sabb
Scott                     Setzler                   Shealy
Stephens                  Talley                    Turner
Verdin                    Williams                  Young

Corbin                    Martin                    Rice

The motion was adopted.

On motion of Senator PEELER, on behalf of Senator LEATHERMAN, the Privilege of the Chamber, to that area behind the rail, was extended to Ms. Debra A. Duncan in recognition of her outstanding service with the General Assembly as Senior Proviso Coordinator for the South Carolina Legislative Council and in honor of her well deserved retirement.

THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO A CONSIDERATION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS RETURNED FROM THE HOUSE.

S. 771 (Word version) -- Senator Hutto: A BILL TO CONSOLIDATE BAMBERG-EHRHARDT SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE (ALSO KNOWN AS BAMBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE) AND DENMARK-OLAR SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO (ALSO KNOWN AS BAMBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO) INTO ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE KNOWN AS THE BAMBERG COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO ABOLISH BAMBERG-EHRHARDT SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE AND DENMARK-OLAR SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO ON JULY 1, 2022; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BAMBERG COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST BE GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONSISTING OF SEVEN MEMBERS, WHICH INITIALLY MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE BAMBERG COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, AND BEGINNING WITH THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION, SEVEN MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED FROM DEFINED SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS DRAWN FROM THE COMBINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE FORMER BAMBERG-EHRHARDT SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE AND THE FORMER DENMARK-OLAR SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BAMBERG COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MUST BE ELECTED IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS CONDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION AND EVERY FOUR YEARS THEREAFTER, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT TO STAGGER THE MEMBERS' TERMS; TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD'S POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE DISTRICT AND IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE BOARD FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF ALL AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT AND SUBJECT TO ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATING TO HIS DUTIES; TO INCLUDE INTERIM MILLAGE PROVISIONS FOR YEARS 2022 AND 2023, AND TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING IN 2024, THE BAMBERG COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL HAVE TOTAL FISCAL AUTONOMY.

The House returned the Bill with amendments, the question being concurrence in the House amendments.

Senator HUTTO explained the amendments.

On motion of Senator HUTTO, the Senate concurred in the House amendments and a message was sent to the House accordingly. Ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for Ratification.

Senator ALEXANDER assumed the Chair.

THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO A CONSIDERATION OF H. 4100, THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.

H. 4100 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

On motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, with unanimous consent, the Report of the Committee of Conference was taken up for immediate consideration.

Senator LEATHERMAN spoke on the report.

Senator PEELER spoke on the report.

At 1:22 P.M., the PRESIDENT assumed the Chair.

Senator SETZLER spoke on the report.

Senator CASH spoke on the Bill.

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.

Senator LEATHERMAN spoke on the Bill.

Senator CLIMER spoke on the Bill.

The question then was adoption of the Report of Committee of Conference.

The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Adams                     Alexander                 Allen
Bennett                   Campsen                   Cromer
Davis                     Fanning                   Gambrell
Garrett                   Goldfinch                 Grooms
Gustafson                 Harpootlian               Hembree
Hutto                     Jackson                   Johnson, Kevin
Kimbrell                  Kimpson                   Leatherman
Loftis                    Malloy                    Martin
Matthews                  McElveen                  McLeod
Peeler                    Rankin                    Sabb
Scott                     Setzler                   Shealy
Stephens                  Talley                    Turner
Verdin                    Williams                  Young

Cash                      Climer                    Corbin
Massey                    Rice

The Committee of Conference Committee was adopted as follows:

The COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE, to whom was referred:

H. 4100 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Beg leave to report that they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend:

That the same do pass with the following amendments:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/

/

Amend title to conform.

/s/Sen. Hugh Kenneth Leatherman Sr. /s/Rep. George Murrell Smith Jr.
/s/Sen. Harvey Smith Peeler Jr.   /s/Rep. Bruce Wyche Bannister
/s/Sen. Nikki Giles Setzler       /s/Rep. Jackie Elliott "Coach"                Hayes
On Part of the Senate.            On Part of the House.

, and a message was sent to the House accordingly.

Columbia, S.C., June 21, 2021

Mr. President and Senators:

The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has adopted the Report of the Committee of Conference on:

H. 4100 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House

Received as information.

H. 4100 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

The Report of the Committee of Conference having been adopted by both Houses, ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act, and the Act enrolled for Ratification.

A message was sent to the House accordingly.

Having received a favorable report from the Senate, the following appointment was confirmed in open session:

Initial Appointment, Allendale County Magistrate, with the term to commence April 30, 2019, and to expire April 30, 2023
James A. White, 951 Allen Street, Allendale, SC 29810-2315 VICE John Alonzo Chaney

The following remarks by Senator K. JOHNSON were ordered printed in the Journal of May 11, 2021:

Thank you, Mr. PRESIDENT. Over the weekend, I was thinking about an issue, and I remember that once toward the end of session my good friend, Senator DAVIS, had an issue that he was very concerned about and he made a promise to speak about that issue for a few minutes every day until we adjourned.

This whole idea regarding enhanced unemployment benefits and minimum wage concerns me. The Governor has directed the Department of Employment and Workforce not to accept or not to participate in the enhanced unemployment benefit for South Carolinians. This bothers me because as I said last week, we have many people in South Carolina who are making poverty wages. They work full time and sometimes their spouse and maybe sometimes their older children work, and they still cannot make ends meet. They do not have access to health insurance or they cannot afford it. There is a connotation that people are lazy or they do not want to work. However, as I said last week, some people are not at work under these circumstances during this pandemic, because they fear for their health. Some people are not at work because schools are closed and their young school aged children are at home participating in virtual education. In addition, there are others that are not working because their children are in a daycare program, and the daycare program is closed. Therefore, it is not always true that a person wants to sit home and not work and just receive a check from the government. Part of it may be, as I said last week, that people want to survive. If you give me the choice of leaving home to make $7.25, $8.00 or $9.00 an hour or staying home with my children, who can't go to school and can't go to daycare -- receiving assistance during this pandemic to make ends meet then the choice is to be safe and stay home and take care of my children. I rise to say that $300 a week extra is also peanuts if you are not making any money to begin with. I looked over the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) list this weekend. We have people receiving thousands, tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands -- I saw a couple that were over $1 million in PPP money and yet, there is a problem when people will not come to work for $7.25 an hour. It bothers me that we would end the program, to give people a few extra dollars a week to make ends meet. When we have very wealthy and successful people receiving a considerable amount of money from the federal government -- we chose to cut off the funds that benefit the people who are most in need.

I just submit to you this afternoon that we got it wrong, and I wanted to make that point. I say again, if we have a problem in South Carolina, with what we are paying these employees, we need to support the increase in minimum wage. I am not saying it should be $15.00, or whatever the case may be, but what I am saying, it is difficult for many people to survive off $7.25 an hour. I am not going to come up here every day, but it is going to be one of my priorities next year to work hard to see that we pay people in South Carolina a livable wage and not poverty wages. I think people want to work and make a living. I think it is appalling that we would cut off the need or the funds that benefit them in favor of thousands and millions of dollars going to large businesses. It is somewhat ironic to me so I wanted to get up, make that point, and ask that we think about this while we are out of session. If we think about it and realize that none of us can live off $7.25 an hour, we should be willing, next year, to try to do something to correct this issue. Thank you.

The following remarks by Senator KIMPSON were ordered printed in the Journal of April 22, 2021:

Thank you, MR. PRESIDENT. I actually had an amendment up on the House Bill, and I have been eagerly listening to this debate for the last couple of days. I think my amendment raises the issue to explore a potential sale. My efforts will likely be futile so at the appropriate time I am going to withdraw my amendment to the House Bill because I understand Senator RANKIN is likely to do a strike, insert with the Senate Bill, and put it on top of the house Bill. I wanted to make a few comments, then I'm going to head on the road to Charleston. I have to pick my kids up later on this evening, Marleigh and Marlon. They have good names and I have an opportunity to spend some time with my children. I think Senator CLIMER engaged with Senator CAMPSEN on this subject, and I think their comments were telling. I think Senator CLIMER made great points yesterday. One point that stood out to me was that when you do the analysis, focus on the ratepayer -- be passing the Bill or amendment Senator MASSEY offered. I think it was amendment eight, leaving the possibility of a sale open because when you strip away the tax benefits and I think it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 25% in other words -- quasi utility, get certain tax benefits theoretically that ought to insure to the benefit of the ratepayer. It doesn't. I have heard about the Santee Cooper being the lowest provider, but the evidence is, frankly, to the contrary. If you have the ratepayer in mind, this Bill isn't the vehicle you want to use to put a statement in the Senate Journal. When the history of Santee Cooper is written, it will be written in such a fashion that this General Assembly missed an opportunity to off-load this albatross. Those are my words. You flashback to television screens, the Wall Street Journal and financial papers all around the country -- we were the laughing stock of the nation less than a year ago. Let me get this straight. We have a $9 billion debacle in the State of South Carolina. All but two board members are still on the board. People, at SCANA, went to jail or at least one went to jail. We are talking about prison. Now, we are going to give them a promotion. That is effectively what we are doing. Listen, I am not a utility expert. I certainly give great credit to all the Senators who have worked on this proposal. Yes, it is a good reform proposal. It is just mind boggling to me that it received a 38-6 vote. That is why I'm probably going to pull down the amendment. The people across the hall, who don't normally get it right, they sent us a Bill to consider selling. I want all my colleagues to be clear, I want the record to reflect that here we are on this Thursday afternoon getting ready to pass a reform Bill on an entity that just a few months ago was on the cover of the Wall Street Journal for being exhibit A for mismanagement -- town closed down -- jobs lost. Then last summer, they go out and borrow another $100 million. Now, there was some discussion about the board. And about the General Assembly not having the expertise to conduct a sales process. I think I made some comments with respect to you can't get any more negligent than what we have. I'm sure there are good people at Santee Cooper, especially the new CEO. I had a conference call with him. We are talking about a quasi-governmental entity that by 2056 will be paying more than $13 billion in debt. Who is going to manage that? I appreciate ORS and PERC. In my view, we had better get somebody that knows something about power generation and electricity. History has not been kind on this issue to Santee Cooper. The bottom line is, I think the Bill should have traveled with a process. We are not going to touch this issue again until three years later when we are going to be back here debating the same thing. Y'all watch TV.

I know if you follow the former president, you watch a lot of TV. That is all he did when he was president. Last night I watched TV, President Joe Biden, who by the way, got more votes than any other president in the history of the United States -- President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden just announced yesterday we are re-joining the Paris Accord. He is going to double the time we get to net zero. This plan, before us, isn't going to get us to net zero carbon emissions. You know why? Forty percent of Santee Cooper at least, and that is probably generous to them, probably more like 50% is generated by coal. So what are we going to do then? That Joint Board Review Committee is going to be meeting a lot. Under this plan they are going to have a decommission plan that is approved by -- I can't remember the acronym -- IRP or ICP and the PSC? If they are going to comport with the national climate change policy in this country, this reform package is not going to work. We are going to have to gut Santee Cooper, because it is not going to comport with federal policy. For those who don't believe in climate change, climate change is real. That is real stuff so I don't know how we walk away. I know we have financial experts. There was some question about expertise. Who are we going to appoint on the committee? I think Senator BENNETT -- with his financial expertise, Senator CLIMER -- with his financial expertise and myself -- with my financial and legal expertise. We would be good candidates to explore any offers. We negotiate with Boeing, we negotiate with BMW, we have the expertise to appropriately secure solicitations for the sale of Santee Cooper, assuming it is warranted. So we go from the front page of the Wall Street Journal as Exhibit A for negligence and mismanagement and $100 million in new debt to an already $13 billion portfolio of debt by a quasi-governmental utility to walking away. There has been a lot of talk about NextEra. I talked to their CEO. You know what I talked to him about? ESG. That is going to be a big term. ESG is good corporate governance in getting rid of what causes harm to our environment. I also talked to him about minority procurement. This is for my democratic colleagues, as well as my republican colleagues. In my community all the grassroot conscious leadership are supporting a sale because they understand the opportunity for the transformation that a sale would bring. So the bottom line is, folks, we had an opportunity to entertain an offer. Most recently last week the President of NextEra sent a letter. I don't have it in front of me; but I hope you read it. NextEra is the largest producer of energy in the world. I might have that wrong but they are a large producer of energy in the world. I think I can say that without fear of contradiction. I do know the market cap -- $129 billion. They have money. I have never been to Juneau, don't care to go. But the bottom line is, I think we have an obligation to talk to all parties -- not just the people in Juneau. Certainly we ought to entertain offers by somebody who has the ability to write a check and that check will clear the bank. We are talking about $13 billion in debt. Even under this reform plan, I'm glad Senator RANKIN has a robust provision that the ratepayers can have a seat at the corporate table. They say if the board doesn't give permission the ratepayers can go to the Supreme Court. I think that is still in the plan. So we put needless barriers on the backs of poor people who are not going to have the resources to take off work and go to a board meeting nor hire a lawyer to got to the Supreme Court. You know why they are concerned? They currently have $7 billion of debt they are going to have to pay off. These are our constituents. You say, "KIMPSON, how did you get from 7 to 13 billion?" $7 billion is on the balance sheet now. When you amortize the debt to 2056, we talk about $13 billion. I did the calculation in the Judiciary meeting. I think Senator MASSEY was sitting next to me. I asked the young man how much interest on this debt do we have to pay a week? He didn't know -- a day. I think the interest on the debt is almost a million dollars a week. I might have that wrong but it is in the neighborhood of a million dollars a week or more. So you mean to tell me, we are not going to provide a process to some Fortune 20 or 500 company to come in and buy off all that debt? To come in and manage a utility company that's been clearly mismanaged so I think we missed an opportunity today but the ship has sailed. I'm going to be voting for the reform because I think reform is a good thing. But mark my words, we are going to be back here in three years. In addition to that, there are a lot of prices going to go up then. We all assume this is going to work. When has it worked for the ratepayers? The ratepayers at Santee Cooper are paying the highest rates in the State. So clearly we have breached our fiduciary duty. Those are strong words, and I don't casually throw those words around. I know the significance of it. You have a duty to loyalty when you sit in these seats -- duty of loyalty, duty of care. In my view, the vote that was 36-8 did not reflect what I think would have been a viable option to balance the options available to us -- reform and providing a clear path and process for sale. Particularly when we have people or institutions that are credible institutions that are willing to sell.   The final point I will make is in terms of the minority community, and this may not be politically popular in this group, but Santee Cooper doesn't have an African-American on the board. They don't have any procurement process -- zero. How long are we going to allow the alumni association of the Citadel or the good old boys that stay at Wampee to manage what has been described as a very, very sophisticated operation? I guess indefinitely. Again, my remarks reflect in no way that these Senators didn't do their jobs, because they did. There are no greater advocates for Santee Cooper than Senator GROOMS, Senator RANKIN and Senator GOLDFINCH. They are fighting for those jobs. One thing I like about Santee Cooper is they have a defined benefit plan. They can keep that plan. Under a merger with a public utility -- they probably go to a 401k plan. It is interesting the issue has been lost on the General Assembly. I hear privatization all the time, but the same people, pushing privatization seem to have forgotten about this transaction. We have heard it about the port. We hadn't had much discussion about that. We have a $13 billion quasi-governmental owned institution that the State of South Carolina is going to be responsible for -- going to be a lot more money as we move to clean energy. We will be required to move to clean energy. That is going to be billions more because they are going to have to decommission essentially their entire higher generation facilities.

The following remarks by Senator JACKSON were ordered printed in the Journal of March 9, 2021:

I rise to speak for just a few moments on the historic celebration of Benedict College along with the other Senators from Charleston and Richland. 150 years celebrated this year -- I not only had the privilege of graduating from that institution -- I'm the third generation graduating there. My grandmother went there. Benedict College has done so much good for this community -- created right after the end of slavery. We are honored to be part of its legacy and part of its history. And so we want to help celebrate this joyous occasion and in the age of COVID they are not able to have a physical celebration so we are sending them this video so they know that the members of the South Carolina Senate join them in celebrating 150 wonderful years. We wish them many, many more.

I'll leave with you one wonderful story. The Senator to my left's father, the late Dr. Kimpson was a board member -- member of Benedict College and went on to work in Governor Riley's office. I was the student body president, which not only allowed me an opportunity to be a page in this Senate, but to also be an intern for Governor Dick Riley and it was all because of the ability and the desire to pass it on to the next generation. So I will always eternally be grateful to Benedict College and its family.

The following remarks by Senator SENN were ordered printed in the Journal of March 17, 2021:

To my colleagues, especially my newest colleagues, I want to tell you that about four -- maybe five years ago we voted on something and it was unanimous. It had to do with allowing triploid oysters to have summer harvest. I'm bringing this up to you because that Bill -- we did not foresee any problems with. We thought everything would be okay. But now it's become a big problem and I feel like it's the duty of all of us to warn. When we sit in on a subcommittee meeting, it is our duty to tell the rest of you any potential dangers. I certainly expect that y'all will do that for me. So to let you know, I don't have any problem with what I heard in subcommittee with this industry except that they are so new and there are so many unknowns. I highly disagree with any statement that says, "Oh it's proven clean or it's proven safe." That, I can tell you, is not what we heard in subcommittee. So, the reason I sit here -- I know that there are 46 Senators, only 11 of us are from urban areas, and so we are going to be greatly outnumbered by those in rural areas who want the industry and want any industry and I get that. I understand that. But what I don't want -- and I feel sure this industry is not coming to the urban areas because the land prices are too much. They are not going to go where we are, I doubt. But, I still care very much about the rural areas and I want to help them, but I also want to protect them. So, there was a couple of mentions that we are talking about the Sumter County Landfill -- that's totally different. But as we know, plastics are made from petroleum and there are many plastics fires. I didn't hear from Senator FANNING, which kind of surprises me because there was a major fire there not very long ago. It was a heck of a battle and it involved a plastic industry and that same week another one in that plastic industry had one of its locations in another state also get set on fire. In the Chester County case it burned for days. It had not only plastics on fire -- tires, tractor-trailers -- all sort of stuff because these materials are combustible. I had heard someone say yesterday that, well it's really not that volatile; we don't need to worry about it. But one of the things that concerns me about how we push this thing through is we didn't get enough answers, even in subcommittee. There was a move that it needed to come out. I don't ever want to stop anything when my chairman or other rural Senators really want this. I don't want to stop it from coming out, but we really didn't get a lot of answers. And one of the questions I still have is what are they manufacturing? We don't know. We don't know. They have not successfully manufactured anything. I am told that they can make jet fuel. I am told that they can make crayons and candles. First, nobody is going to want wax candles. We don't use those anymore. Remember how we used to go to weddings and they would drip all over the carpet? We don't do that, you know. Crayons...no company is going to come in here and put that kind of money into making some crayons. What the Bill says if you read the Bill -- I hope you take the time to read the Bill -- is that they can make all sorts. First of all, I don't understand half the words. I really don't and I've read it over and over again. If you take a look at it, it not only can make jet fuel as we've heard, or they want it to. They've not been successful, but chemical feedstock, unfinished chemicals, crude oil, naphtha, waxes, lubricants, coating, hydrocarbons, crude oil, diesel gasoline, home heating oil or other fuels, chemicals, waxes, lubricants, blah blah blah, including gasoline blend stocks. So just hearing that and hearing the word pyrolysis, something I do think I have some knowledge of, it sounds to me like there would be some volatility. Hearing that from my colleagues that I heard here yesterday -- I was hearing Senator GAMBRELL, I believe it was, talking about how when he went to the Nexus plant in Atlanta that it seemed very clean and that basically they would fill up these tankers with the melted product, and take it out of there when they could. Where does it go? Where does that stuff go? Is it going somewhere in South Carolina? I'm having to do my own research. So here I am looking to try and figure out, okay there are 37 of them I think that started -- very few really doing anything or still in existence. But where does it go? I don't want it to go and stay in South Carolina because of the volatility. The only thing that I've learned is that it can go -- just from my own research -- not that I heard in subcommittee, that it's going to go to one of three different places usually. One of those being in Texas, another I know is in Oregon and there's one other I can't remember. But why are they all wanting to be in the southeast? Why, if they're going to be having to take this melted product to these other states? That, I don't have an answer to and I don't get. I did see this though. There is a company called Agilyx. That's the one in Oregon. One thing I did learn from reading about them and I found them because they had been fined $46,500 for violations that they stored hazardous waste at the site. They violated the 90-day storage limit. They stored waste improperly and they did not maintain a contingency plan. That particular group, their primary output, what they do is they send it for combustion to cement kilns. What, are we just taking these things, melting them down, sending them to combustion and if we don't have anything useful what kind of dangers could there possibly be, and I do not know? There's another company, as well, called Nexus and that's the one in Atlanta that we heard our Senators talk about yesterday -- the one in Atlanta. If you read the website, again, this is from my own research, but if you read Nexus's website it says they convert waste plastics into feedstock for plastic. And also the website says that they accept contaminated plastic and stockpile plastic. So, again, what are they manufacturing and why can't they just come in here under recyclers or waste? They don't want to do that because of a bond and that's the part that scares me so very much. I did want to point out that we don't have a cap on what this facility can take in. So even though they are supposed to get rid of 75% of it -- 75% of what? I mean, there is no cap, so we don't know what that 75% is. I actually contacted DHEC because I wanted to know how much a bond would be. They came back with what I thought was a very low number, $1 million dollars, and I thought well, you know, at least the company can easily put that kind of money up. But I even warned DHEC. I said now I'm really worried about the agency because if something bad happens are you sure you got this covered? They said the biggest concern was fire, but that they felt like they could contain something like that and that this industry could contain it. Well, you know we saw what happened in Chester. It is not exactly the same, but still it was plastics and it was just an awful explosion out there in Chester County, not very long ago at all -- within the year. And we still don't have a closeout on the investigation there, so I think that's important.

Like I said, I was on the Medical Affairs Committee. Not even sure why in the world this thing went through Medical Affairs, but it did and that's okay. My main goal in coming here is to let all of you know that I do not think that this is something that we should take lightly. I have told my colleagues that really want to push this that it will have my vote. It will have my vote if there is a bond. So what my Bill does, it does not involve commerce or anything like that. My Bill requires the bond that is going to be set by DHEC, which I have been told is $1 million and it also will sunset in five years. That's a clean Bill and I can't understand why anybody would oppose that. And if the industry opposes a small bond like that my "spidey" senses go way up and it will not have my vote.

Pursuant to an invitation the Honorable Speaker and House of Representatives appeared in the Senate Chamber on June 21, 2021, at 2:00 P.M. and the following Acts and Joint Resolutions were ratified:

(R112, S. 153 (Word version)) -- Senator Martin: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-490, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SO AS TO REVISE THE NAMES OF CERTAIN SPARTANBURG COUNTY VOTING PRECINCTS, AND TO UPDATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THE NAMES OF THESE VOTING PRECINCTS MAY BE FOUND AND MAINTAINED BY THE REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
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(R113, S. 691 (Word version)) -- Senator Hutto: AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE BARNWELL COUNTY (BLACKVILLE) SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 19 AND BARNWELL COUNTY (WILLISTON) SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 29 INTO ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE KNOWN AS THE BARNWELL COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO ABOLISH BARNWELL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 19 AND BARNWELL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 29 ON JULY 1, 2022; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BARNWELL COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST BE GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONSISTING OF SEVEN MEMBERS, WHICH INITIALLY MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE BARNWELL COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, AND BEGINNING WITH THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION, SEVEN MEMBERS MUST BE ELECTED FROM DEFINED SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS DRAWN FROM THE COMBINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE FORMER BARNWELL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 19 AND THE FORMER BARNWELL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 29; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BARNWELL COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MUST BE ELECTED IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS CONDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION AND EVERY FOUR YEARS THEREAFTER, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT TO STAGGER THE MEMBERS' TERMS; TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD'S POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE DISTRICT AND IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE BOARD FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF ALL AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT AND SUBJECT TO ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATING TO HIS DUTIES; TO INCLUDE INTERIM MILLAGE PROVISIONS FOR YEARS 2022 AND 2023, AND TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING IN 2024, THE BARNWELL COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL HAVE TOTAL FISCAL AUTONOMY.
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(R114, S. 716 (Word version)) -- Senator Climer: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-530, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN YORK COUNTY, SO AS TO ADD THE CRESCENT AND HANDS MILL VOTING PRECINCTS, AND TO UPDATE 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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(R115, S. 771 (Word version)) -- Senator Hutto: AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE BAMBERG-EHRHARDT SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE (ALSO KNOWN AS BAMBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE) AND DENMARK-OLAR SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO (ALSO KNOWN AS BAMBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO) INTO ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE KNOWN AS THE BAMBERG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO ABOLISH BAMBERG-EHRHARDT SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE AND DENMARK-OLAR SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO ON JULY 1, 2022; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BAMBERG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST BE GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONSISTING OF NINE MEMBERS, WHICH INITIALLY MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE BAMBERG COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING IN 2024, THE INITIAL NINE-MEMBER APPOINTED BOARD SHALL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING TO A NINE-MEMBER ELECTED BOARD OF TRUSTEES BY ELECTING FOUR MEMBERS TO SERVE FOUR-YEAR TERMS FROM SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS 2, 4, 6, AND 8 IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION; TO ESTABLISH CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP PROVISIONS BY REQUIRING THE BAMBERG COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO SELECT FIVE MEMBERS FROM THE INITIAL NINE-MEMBER APPOINTED BOARD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THE FOUR MEMBERS ELECTED IN 2024 UNTIL THE FIVE APPOINTED MEMBERS' SUCCESSORS ARE ELECTED TO SERVE FOUR-YEAR TERMS FROM SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS 1, 3, 5, 7, AND 9 IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTION, AND, THEREAFTER, TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE BAMBERG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MUST BE ELECTED IN NONPARTISAN SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR TERMS OF FOUR YEARS AND UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE ELECTED AND QUALIFY, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT TO STAGGER THE MEMBERS' TERMS; TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD'S POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE DISTRICT AND IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE BOARD FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF ALL AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT AND SUBJECT TO ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATING TO HIS DUTIES; TO ESTABLISH INTERIM MILLAGE PROVISIONS UNTIL 2027 WHEN THE BAMBERG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL ASSUME TOTAL FISCAL AUTONOMY; TO TRANSFER THE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF BAMBERG-EHRHARDT SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE AND DENMARK-OLAR SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO TO THE BAMBERG SCHOOL DISTRICT ON JULY 1, 2022; AND TO REPEAL ALL LOCAL ACTS INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.
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(R116, H. 4100 (Word version)) -- Ways and Means Committee: AN ACT TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO PROVIDE REVENUES TO MEET THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021, TO REGULATE THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH FUNDS, AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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(R117, H. 4101 (Word version)) -- Ways and Means Committee: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE MONIES FROM THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021, AND TO ALLOW UNEXPENDED FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO BE CARRIED FORWARD TO SUCCEEDING FISCAL YEARS AND EXPENDED FOR THE SAME PURPOSES.
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On motion of Senator MASSEY, the Senate agreed to stand adjourned.

On motion of Senator SCOTT, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of Mr. Joseph "Joe" E. Sharpe, Sr. of Blythewood, S.C. Joe was a graduate of Eau Claire High School and served in the Army National Guard. In 1976, he took over the family business and Sharpe Service Station became a thriving business. Joe served on the Fairfield Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees for 46 years. He was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, the Blythewood Masonic Lodge, Jamil Temple and was a founding member of the Blythewood Rotary Club. Joe enjoyed playing golf, gardening and spending time with his grandchildren. Joe was a loving husband, devoted father and doting grandfather who will be dearly missed.

At 2:26 P.M., on motion of Senator MASSEY, the Senate adjourned under the provisions of H. 4285, the Sine Die Resolution.

This web page was last updated on Monday, June 21, 2021 at 5:07 P.M.