Legislative Update
News from the House of Representatives
Emergency Anaphylaxis Treatment Act
On Tuesday the House gave second reading to a bill by Representative Joshua Putnam known as the “Emergency Anaphylaxis Treatment Act”. The legislation would allow a health care practitioner to prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors to authorized entities such as recreation camps, colleges and universities, daycare facilities, places of worship, youth sports leagues, amusement parks, restaurants, places of employment, and sports arenas. The authorized entity may acquire and stock a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors and they must be stored in a location readily accessible in an emergency. Designated employees of the authorized entity must complete anaphylaxis training at least every two years that is conducted by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The bill received third reading on Wednesday and was referred to the Senate Medical Affairs Committee.
Move Over Awareness Month
A bill by Representative Donna Hicks establishing the month of April as “Move Over Awareness Month” was approved by the House on Wednesday. The legislation also requires the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety to conduct programs during the month of April that emphasize the importance of motor vehicle drivers moving over into an adjacent lane whenever possible when approaching or passing through a highway work zone, an emergency scene, or any other highway traffic incident. The bill received third reading on Thursday and was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.
South Carolina Founding Principles Act
The House approved legislation creating the “South Carolina Founding Principles Act” this week. The bill, by Representative Chip Huggins, requires the completion of a separate, full semester course consisting only of instruction in certain founding principles of the United States of America. The State Board of Education and the Education Oversight Committee is to incorporate instruction on the founding principles and shall include, at a minimum, the Federalist Papers and instruction on the structure of government and the role of the separation of powers and the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution. The bill received third reading in the House and was referred to the Senate Education Committee.
2016 House Budget Debate
The House will convene at 1:00pm on Monday, March 21st to begin debating the General Appropriations Bill and the Capital Reserve Fund.
Additional House Furloughs
The House of Representatives has announced that they will furlough for three weeks during this session. The remaining weeks are listed below.
- March 29-31
- April 5-7
News from the Senate
Flounder
On Thursday the Senate gave second reading to a bill by Senator Chip Campsen relating to the size limits of flounder. The bill increases the size limit for flounder that may be lawfully taken, possessed, landed, or sold from fourteen inches to fifteen inches in total length. The bill received second reading by a vote of 40-1 and must receive third reading before being sent to the House.
Refugees
The Senate debated legislation this week by Senator Lee Bright relating to refugees placed in South Carolina by the federal government. Senator Bright’s bill provides that refugees placed in this state by the federal government must register with the Department of Social Services and prohibits state or local funds from being expended for the direct or indirect benefit of refugees until legislation specifically authorizing the expenditure is enacted. The Senate adjourned for the week on Thursday afternoon without taking a vote on the bill. The Senate will continue to work on the issue when they return to session next week.
South Carolina Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day
The Senate approved a bill by Representative James Smith this week that designates June 27th of each year as South Carolina Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Awareness Day. The legislation’s goal is to raise public awareness of the injury, to increase awareness of the need to develop effective treatments, and to aid the effort to eliminate any negative stigmas associated with post-traumatic stress injuries.
2016 Senate Budget Calendar
The Senate Finance Committee has released the Senate’s tentative 2016 budget calendar, which is listed below.
- April 12-14: Full Committee Deliberations
- April 19-21: Final Senate Finance Committee Version Printed
- April 26-28: Senate Floor Debate
- May 3-5: Senate Floor Debate
- May 10-12: Bill Returned to the House, Conference Committee
- May 17-19: Conference Committee
- May 24-26: Conference Report Delivered to the Governor
- May 31-June2: Vetoes
Senate Furlough
The Senate has announced that they will furlough for one week during this session. The week is listed below.
- March 29-31