Legislative Update
News from the House of Representatives
Barbershops
On Tuesday the House gave second reading to a bill by Representative Patricia Henegan that would authorize the State Board of Barber Examiners to issue mobile barbershop permits. The legislation requires the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to regulate and inspect mobile barbershops and it authorizes the Department to charge permit and renew fees that will be set by regulation. The bill received third reading on Wednesday and was referred to the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.
High School Diplomas
A bill by Representative Bill Crosby relating to the issuance of high school diplomas was approved by the House this week. The legislation would issue high school diplomas to Korean War Veterans and Vietnam Veterans with proof of school enrollment and a copy of an honorable discharge or honorable discharge papers. The bill received unanimous approval in the House and was referred to the Senate Education Committee.
Magistrates
On Tuesday the House gave second reading to a bill by Representative Chip Huggins relating to the civil jurisdiction of the magistrates court. The bill increases the civil jurisdiction from seven thousand five hundred dollars to fifteen thousand dollars. The legislation received third reading on Wednesday and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Superintendent of Education
A joint resolution by Representative Greg Delleney proposing an amendment to the Constitution of South Carolina relating to the constiutitonal officers of this state was approved by the House on Wednesday. The amendment to the constitution would delete the Superintendent of Education from the list of state officers which the constitution requires to be elected and provide that the Superintendent of Education must be appointed by the Governor upon advice and consent of the Senate. The Superintendent’s term would be coterminous with the Governor and would begin upon the expiration of the term of Superintendent of Education serving in office on January 10, 2019. The House gave third reading to the joint resolution on Thursday and it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
2016 House Budget Calendar
The House Ways & Means Committee has released the House’s tentative 2016 budget calendar, which is listed below. Please note that the schedule has been updated and the full House deliberations have been pushed back until March 21st.
- February 16-18: Proviso Subcommittee Meetings
- February 22-25: Full Ways & Means Committee Budget Deliberations
- March 1-3: Appropriation Bill Printed
- March 8-10: Printed Appropriation Bill Distributed to All House Members
- March 15-17: Printed Appropriation Bill Distributed to All House Members
- March 21-24: House Floor Budget Deliberations
House Furlough
The House of Representatives has announced that they will furlough for three weeks during this session. The weeks are listed below.
- February 16-18
- March 29-31
- April 5-7
News from the Senate
Eels
On Tuesday the Senate gave third and final approval to a bill by Senator Ronnie Cromer that would make it unlawful for a recreational fisherman to take more than twenty-five American Eel a day and that each American Eel taken must be at least nine inches long. The law currently allows recreational fisherman to take no more than fifty American Eel each day and they can be only six inches long. The bill was referred to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee for its consideration.
High School Diplomas
A bill by Senator Kevin Johnson relating to academic standards and assessments was given second reading by the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation would provide a two year extension for high school diploma petitions for a person who is no longer enrolled in a public school and who previously failed to receive a high school diploma or was denied graduation solely for failing to meet the exit exam requirements. The bill received third reading on Wednesday and was referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee.
Religious Instruction
On Thursday the Senate unanimously gave second reading to a bill by Senator Chip Campsen relating to elective credit for released time classes in religious instruction for high school students. School district board of trustees may award high school students no more than two elective Carnegie units for the completion of released time classes in religious instruction if the classes are evaluated on the basis of purely secular criteria that are substantially the same criteria used to evaluate similar classes at established private high schools. The legislation amends current law to say the provisions of the law are satisfied if a school district leaves the evaluation and assessment function for an off-campus released time class to an accredited private school, and accepts the off-campus released time transfer of credit without individually assessing the quality or subject matter of the class. The bill must receive third reading before being sent to the House.
Unclaimed Property Tax Day
A Senate resolution by Senator Ronnie Cromer declaring Wednesday, March 9, 2016 as “Unclaimed Property Tax Day” was adopted by the Senate on Thursday. The resolution urges all citizens to utilize the Office of State Treasurer’s database to search for unclaimed property for themselves, their friends and family, and their businesses.
Senate Furlough
The Senate has announced that they will furlough for one week during this session. The week is listed below.
- March 29-31