Friday Report Issue 1-19 - January 11, 2019

The General Assembly officially began the new, two-year session on Tuesday. This being the first year of the session, all legislation has to be introduced before being considered and there is no pending legislation. Also, with the inauguration of the Governor being held on Wednesday there was not much time for new legislation to be considered. SCAC staff expects the pace to pick up starting next week so please look out for the Friday Report and other Legislative Alerts to keep you aware of what's happening in Columbia.

SCAC Legislative Program - Now is the Time to Reach Out to Legislators!

You received SCAC's Policy Positions for the 2019 Session last week. This contains the legislative policy positions adopted by the Legislative Committee. The policy positions are also available online at www.SCCounties.org.  

The positions represent an ambitious legislative program, but SCAC believes it will be a successful one. County officials must convey their support for these positions to members of the General Assembly. Legislators give more weight to a contact from someone who lives in their district than others.

When SCAC staff speaks to legislators on an issue, the end result is almost always more favorable if members have already been contacted by their local officials. It is also important that legislators hear the details of how a bill will impact their constituents from county officials so they understand the local impact.

The 2019 SCAC Mid-Year Conference & Institute of Government, discussed next, is the perfect time to both learn and to meet with your members of the General Assembly.

Please let SCAC staff know what legislators tell you when you meet with them.

SCAC staff will keep you up to date through the Friday Report and use Legislative Alerts and email blasts for issues which need quick action. SCAC staff is available to answer any questions you may have on legislative issues. Please utilize your SCAC staff!

2019 SCAC Mid-Year Conference & Institute of Government - February 20 and 21

The SCAC Mid-Year Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbia on Wednesday, February 20. Copies of the registration material and conference agenda are available on the SCAC website where you can also register online. The program will include a legislative panel and other timely topics. Following lunch, buses will provide transportation to the State House for visits with legislators. The legislative reception will be Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In an effort to increase the legislators' participation in the Legislative Reception, it will be held at the Palmetto Club in downtown Columbia.

**DRESS CODE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION: The Palmetto Club has a strict dress code policy for all guests. Gentlemen are expected to wear coat and tie, coat and turtleneck, coat and collared shirt, or sweater and collared shirt. Hats and caps are not allowed unless required for religious purposes. Ladies are expected to wear dresses, appropriate suits, slacks, or evening wear. Athletic wear, shorts, tattered jeans, or sport shoes are not allowed.

Now is the time to start lining up appointments to see your Senators and Representatives or arranging a joint meal, function, or meeting.

Institute of Government classes are being offered on Thursday, February 21, and include: Building an Effective County Team, Public Speaking, Economic Development, and the Property Taxation Process.

The Council Chairperson's Workshop will be offered free-of-charge on Thursday, February 21, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. This workshop is open to all council chairmen and vice chairmen and registration is required. You may register for the Institute classes and the Council Chairperson's Workshop on the SCAC website.

Local Government Fund (LGF) and the State Budget

The Ways and Means subcommittee that initially considers funding of the LGF is the Constitutional subcommittee. This subcommittee is comprised of Reps. Bruce Bannister, Chair; Nathan Ballentine; and Mike Sotille.

SCAC staff testified before the subcommittee on Tuesday to discuss the LGF and our current position to reformulate it. The subcommittee was receptive to staff's testimony and there are indications that this is a good year to achieve success on SCAC's policy position regarding the LGF. Representatives Murrell Smith, Lucas, Ott, Stavrinakis, Simrill, Rutherford, Pope, Clyburn, and S. Williams have filed H. 3137 to adopt SCAC's position.

SCAC's policy position is as follows:

"Support amending the Local Government Fund Formula to set the base funding level at $223.2 million with a yearly increase in the fund that corresponds with the growth in the State General Fund up to 5 percent. Also, standardize a list of state mandates that all counties are responsible for in order to quantify the need for the LGF."

Please thank the sponsors of H. 3137 for supporting SCAC's position on the LGF and ask your House members to cosponsor this bill and support its movement through the House.

Newly-Introduced Legislation

View/Download Full Text for Newly-Introduced Legislation

Note: If you would like to offer comments to the SCAC staff, please call us toll-free at 1-800-922-6081, fax to (803) 252-0379, or send an email. You can also go to www.scstatehouse.gov and click on "Legislation," then "Introduced Legislation."

Senate Bills

S. 3 - Amends the provisions of the law pertaining to campaign practices by providing for disclosures and disclaimers by an independent expenditure committee related to the independent committee's election communications.

S. 5 - Establishes the interstate lane expansion fund to increase the number of lanes on existing mainland interstates and to provide the manner in which the South Carolina Infrastructure Bank selects eligible projects.

S. 6 - Amends the Constitution to provide for an independent reapportionment commission.

S. 7 - Increases the cap limits under the Tort Claims Act from $300,000 to $1 million for one person arising from a single occurrence, and from $600,000 to $2 million from a loss arising out of a single occurrence regardless of the number of agencies or political subdivisions involved, and to adjust the limits annually based on the Consumer Price Index.

S. 11 - Provides that daylight savings time would be the year round standard for the state should the federal government allow states to observe daylight savings time year round.

S. 17 - Provides that each county board of registration and elections is responsible for certifying that county's candidates for coroner and sheriff.

S. 18 - Allows a person under the age of 21 who is serving a suspension or denial of driver's license for driving under the influence alcohol to enroll in the ignition interlock device program.

S. 19 - Reduces the maximum fee that the Election Commission may charge each candidate certified by a political party for the conduct of a presidential preference primary.

S. 20 - Requires the state Medicaid health insurance program beginning January 1, 2020, to be available to adults under 65 years old whose income does not exceed 133 percent of the federal poverty level, with a 5 percent income disregard.

S. 22 - Eliminates the exception that would allow a juvenile being tried as an adult to be confined in an adult jail.

S. 36 - Provides for a statewide advisory referendum to be held at the same time as the 2020 General Election to determine whether the voters of this state favor Medicaid expansion.

S. 37 - Provides that when a person appears to vote and does not have a valid ID, they may complete a written statement at the polling place affirming that they meet the necessary qualifications to vote and will be given a provisional ballot to vote.

S. 38 - Provides SLED with exclusive jurisdiction and authority to conduct investigations in all officer-involved shootings that result or could have resulted in bodily injury or death.

S. 40 - Enacts the "South Carolina False Claims Act."

S. 45 - Provides that a person who hinders a law enforcement officer is guilty of a misdemeanor, but that a person is allowed to photograph or record a law enforcement officer performing their duties in a public place or in a place where the person has the right to be.

S. 46 - Changes the age of separate confinement for juvenile offenders from under the age of 17 to under the age of 18.

S. 47 - Prohibits a death sentence or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for a person who commits an offense when they were less than 18 years of age.

S. 48 - Reestablishes the Sentencing Reform Committee.

S. 50 - Directs each circuit solicitor to establish a drug court program for adults and juveniles.

S. 51 - Authorizes a first responder to make a workers' compensation claim for personal injury caused by post traumatic stress disorder arising from the first responder's direct involvement in a significant traumatic experience.

S. 54 - Requires at least 28 days to pass from the initiation of a criminal background check in order for a gun sale to proceed, unless the background check has concluded that the sale may proceed.

S. 55 - Requires at least 28 days to pass from the initiation of a criminal background check in order for a gun sale to proceed, unless the background check has concluded that the sale may proceed.

S. 57 - Authorizes pari-mutuel betting in specified areas of the state.

S. 59 - Requires workers' compensation commission hearings to be held in the districts in which the injuries occurred instead of the counties in which the injuries occurred.

S. 60 - Requires certain questioning or interrogation by law enforcement to be audio or video recorded.

S. 69 - Increases the civil jurisdictional limits of magistrate from $7,500 to $15,000.

S. 71 - Creates a gambling study committee.

S. 72 - Requires each law enforcement agency to have a written policy regarding the investigation of officer-involved deaths.

S. 73 - Provides a pay schedule for full-time and part-time magistrates based on the salary paid to a circuit judge for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

S. 76 - Extends the Energy Efficient Manufactured Homes Incentive Program for an additional five years.

S. 81 - Establishes a procedure for an owner of a dam to determine if the dam fails under the authority of the "Dams and Reservoirs Safety Act", and authorizes DHEC to issue an order to maintain, alter, repair, or remove a dam when it becomes a danger to human life or property to someone other than the dam owner.

S. 84 - Authorizes the family court to establish a recovery court program in each judicial circuit.

S. 89 - Prohibits the state or counties from approving a plan or permit application to construct or otherwise use infrastructure to facilitate the transportation of offshore oil into the land and waters of this state.

S. 92 - Enacts the "Surface Water Stewardship Act."

S. 93 - Enacts the "Wetlands Restoration Act."

S. 94 - Allows victims or their immediate family members to submit film, videotape, or other electronic information that may be considered by the Board of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services to be considered in parole determination.

S. 98 - Increase the civil jurisdiction in magistrates' court from $7,500 to $10,000.

S. 99 - Allows a voter to have their address, telephone number, and email address submitted to the voter registration office declared confidential upon the presentation of a certified copy of an injunction or a restraining order.

S. 101 - For purposes of the eligibility exam for magistrates, extends the time period for the validity of an examination score from six months before and six months after the time the appointment is made, to one year before and two years after the time the appointment is made.

S. 102 - Imposes an annual cap on the state general fund revenues available for appropriation by restricting any increase to a percentage that is equal to the average annual percentage change from the previous 10 completed state fiscal years.

S. 103 - Eliminates the requirement that 4.5 percent of the General Fund be appropriated to the Local Government Fund, and to provide that the appropriations must be no less than the greater of the allocation ratio of the latest fiscal year or the average of the allocation ratio of the last five fiscal years.

S. 105 - Provides that among other things, magistrates and municipal court judges must receive at least two hours of instruction on issues concerning animal cruelty.

S. 107 - Redefines the definition of a dam to include the erection of an artificial barrier for the purpose of creating a reservoir, and to clarify the failure of a dam must cause danger to human life or the property of others.

S. 111 - For purposes of statements of economic interest, requires a filer to disclose payment or reimbursement by an organization to the filer or government entity with which the filer serves for the filer speaking before a public or private group as well as actual expenses incurred by the filer for attendance or participation at an event based on the filer's office or position.

S. 113 - Authorizes municipalities without an operating millage on January 1, 2018, or that incorporate after January 1, 2018, to impose an operating millage.

S. 119 - Provides that the property tax exemption for vehicles afforded to former prisoners of war applies to all former prisoners of war.

S. 122 - Applies roll-back taxes to a certain property that is no longer used as an agricultural property.

S. 133 - Expands the South Carolina Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program to include flood damage.

S. 134 - For purposes of the State Retirement System, closes the defined benefit plan to new employees immediately following an actuarial determination that the retirement system is fully funded.

S. 135 - Amends the Constitution to create an independent reapportionment commission.

S. 139 - Enacts the "South Carolina Constitutional Carry Act of 2017."

S. 140 - Creates a joint resolution to require the Election Commission to submit a plan and process for the purchase of new voting machines by December 31, 2019.

S. 141 - Allows absentee ballots to be tabulated beginning at 9:00 a.m. on the day immediately preceding election day.

S. 142 - Establishes an early voting period to begin 10 days before an election and ending three days prior to an election.

S. 144 - Creates a joint resolution to direct DHEC to establish a revolving fund to operate a financial assistance program to provide grants to dam owners to conduct engineering and safety studies on the dams.

S. 145 - Exempts the sales tax on all sales made to military veterans on Veterans Day.

S. 147 - Imposes a mandatory minimum wage in this state for people who are eligible for the minimum wage provided by federal law.

S. 149 - Enacts the "South Carolina Minimum Wage Act."

S. 150 - Requires a state employee earning annual leave at the rate of 30 days a year to receive a lump sum payment for days of annual leave fewer than 30 days not used or donated by the employee in a calendar year.

S. 151 - Repeals § 10-1-165 relating to the prohibition on the relocation, removal, or renaming of certain monuments and memorials erected on public property.

S. 152 - Exempts counties from the provisions of § 10-1-165.

S. 154 - Requires the clerks of court and magistrates to report to SLED within 10 days the disposition of certain types of cases and orders within specified periods of time.

S. 155 - Provides parole eligibility for an inmate convicted of a "no parole offense" if the inmate has completed 65 percent of his sentence under certain circumstances.

S. 156 - Prohibits the possession of telecommunication devices to include, but not limited to, cell phones, pagers, and laptops computers, upon the grounds of a county jail or detention center.

S. 160 - Authorizes the Department of Revenue to implement a system of filing and indexing tax liens which is accessible to the public over the internet or through other means.

S. 161 - Provides parole eligibility for an inmate convicted of a "no parole offense" if the inmate has completed 65 percent of his sentence under certain circumstances.

S. 167 - Closes the South Carolina Retirement System and establishes a defined benefit retirement plan and a defined contribution retirement plan.

S. 171 - Enacts the "Municipal Tax Relief Act'" which authorizes a municipal capital project sales tax.

S. 172 - Enacts the "Local Option Motor Fuel User Fee Act," which allows a county to impose a user fee of $.01/gallon on retail sales of motor fuel for the sole purpose of beach renourishment within the county

S. 174 - Makes it unlawful to sell or offer a handgun to person under the age of 18.

S. 179 - Enacts the "Workforce Enhancement and Military Recognition Act" which allows the deduction of retirement benefits attributable to service on active duty in the Armed Force of the United States.

S. 180 - Makes it unlawful to operate a drone within a certain distance of a federal military installation.

S. 182 - Requires that by the 2020 Presidential Preference Primaries the voting machines used in this state will provide a voter-verified paper audit trail.

S. 183 - Authorizes supplemental appropriations for the Department of Administration to purchase electronic voting machines that produce a paper audit trail.

S. 184 - Provides that all contributions received by a candidate must be deposited into an interest on campaign account known as an "IOCA," that benefits the Ethics Commission.

S. 185 - Extends the sunset provision of the Angel Investor Act from December 31, 2019, to December 31, 2025.

S. 190 - Enacts the "Sign Language Interpreters Act."

S. 193 - Establishes a criminal domestic violence address confidentiality program whereby criminal domestic violence victims may use a designated address rather than their residence address to conceal their place of residence from their assailants.

S. 196 - Repeals § 20-1-300 which allows a marriage license to be issued to an unmarried female and male under the age of 18 when the female is pregnant or has a child.

S. 201 - Requires every public school to prepare a school safety plan.

S. 202 - Requires county election commissions and boards of registration to perform post-election audits before certification of an election.

S. 203 - Provides criteria for school district consolidation.

S. 207 - Provides that a homeowner that is receiving the 4 percent assessment ratio but is currently residing in a nursing home may retain the assessment as long as they remain in the nursing home.

S. 210 - For purposes of campaign reports filed by candidates, requires candidates and committees to contemporaneously file campaign bank account statements for the previous quarter's campaign report.

S. 212 - For purposes of in-state tuition and fees for children and spouses of veterans and active duty personnel, redefines "covered individual" to include a child or spouse enrolling within three years of a veteran's discharge.

S. 213 - Amends the provisions pertaining to income tax credits by providing limitations on the amount an individual or corporation can claim as credits, and to provide for the award of certain tax credits.

S. 214 - Amends the provisions pertaining to sales tax definitions by defining "marketplace facilitator" and to inform marketplace facilitators of their requirements.

S. 217 - Authorizes state accommodations taxes, local hospitality taxes and local accommodations taxes to be used for the control and repair of flooding and drainage at tourism-related lands or areas.

S. 218 - Provides that probation officers, county personnel, public officials, and private volunteers who participate in certain community service programs in which a probationer is completing community service as a condition of probation are not liable for civil damages unless the injury or damage is the result of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.

S. 220 - Prohibits an employer from inquiring, considering, or requiring the disclosure of the criminal record or criminal history of an employment applicant until after the applicant is selected for an interview, or before a conditional offer of employment is made to the applicant.

S. 221 - Enacts the "Savannah River Port Enhancement Zone Act."

S. 226 - Establishes requirements for emergency service system billing and insurance coverage practices applicable to out-of-network emergency medical service providers.

S. 227 - Authorizes a municipality without an operating millage on January 1, 2019, or that incorporates after January 1, 2019, to impose an operating millage.

S. 230 - Creates an independent redistricting commission.

S. 231 - Prohibits a person who has made a campaign contribution to a popularly elected public official within the previous four years from being appointed to a public office by that public official.

S. 237 - Allows the holder of a conservation easement to contest an action to condemn property encumbered by a conservation easement under certain circumstances.

S. 239 - Requires all public and charter schools to conduct one fire drill, one active shooter/intruder drill, and one severe weather/earthquake drill each semester.

S. 248 - Implements a three-year pilot program in certain counties to determine the effectiveness of operating a year-round modified school calendar.

S. 249 - Amends the Constitution to authorize the creation of an independent citizens redistricting commission.

S. 250 - Requires a local public official whose office is declared vacant due to a criminal conviction during the official's term of office to reimburse the county elections authority for the costs of holding a primary, runoff primary, or special election to fill the office.

S. 253 - Requires the Ethics Commission to establish a new online campaign account monitoring and auditing department, and to require all candidates and elected public officials to provide the Commission with access to the online banking information for their campaign account.

S. 254 - Establishes the "South Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission."

S. 255 - Restores the property tax provisions that were repealed by Act 388.

S. 256 - Exempts retired certified educators from the earnings limitations upon returning to covered employment under the state retirement system, and removes the earnings limitations for those returning to covered employment under the police officers retirement system.

S. 257 - Allows certain certified retired teachers to be hired without a loss of retirement benefits, and to provide that the teacher meets the unique qualifications required by the hiring school district.

S. 258 - Allows part-time cafeteria workers to opt out of becoming members of the state retirement system.

S. 259 - Establishes the "South Carolina Resilience Revolving Fund Act."

S. 261 - Changes the filing period for candidates to qualify to run in the general election, changes the primary date to the second Tuesday of May in each general election year, changes the date of the party primary to the second Tuesday of May in each general election year, and makes the primary and general election dates legal holidays.

S. 272 - Provides that a business that serves food and beverages, and pays sales tax at the time the food and beverages are purchased at retail, is not considered to be in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail.

S. 273 - For purposes of probate proceedings, prohibits creditors from communicating with the decedent's personal representative concerning outstanding debts unless otherwise directed to do so by the personal representative.

S. 274 - Requires SLED to provide criminal background checks to the legal representative of a state law enforcement agency free of charge.

S. 276 - Provides that it is unlawful to threaten, or conspire to threaten to damage or destroy a public school, church, or any public building or recreational park. Any person charged with violating this provision must undergo a mental evaluation and or treatment.

S. 281 - Makes it a misdemeanor crime to intentionally misrepresent an animal as a service animal.

S. 287 - For purposes of the major project facility exemptions, adds to the exemption building projects within certain use and occupancy classification codes from the 2015 International Building Codes.

S. 288 - Enacts the "Taxpayer Transparency Act."

S. 289 - Requires counties to post certain information on their websites, requires the websites to be maintained, and requires that the information on the websites be easily accessible.

S. 292 - Allows a real estate licensee to represent a taxpayer during an administrative process.

S. 293 - Allows a concealed weapons permit holder to carry on school property leased by a church for church services or church activities if the governing body of the church provides express permission to the permit holder.

S. 295 - Provides a felony conviction for a person found guilty of using their official position or office for financial gain and precludes a person convicted from serving as a public official or public member or being employed as a public employee.

S. 296 - Prohibits DHEC from entering into leases that allow for the installation of infrastructure related to the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas located in the South Atlantic Planning Area.

S. 302 - Provides for the eligibility for expungement even when a person has had a prior offense expunged pursuant to § 34-11-90.

S. 303 - Requires a local law enforcement officer responsible for transporting a person in custody who is believed to have a mental illness and is requiring immediate care to be part of a therapeutic transport unit and have undergone mental health and crisis intervention training.

S. 306 - Provides that a licensed veterinarian may administer a rabies antibody titer to determine whether to administer a rabies booster vaccine to a pet.

S. 307 - Establishes general election day as a state holiday.

S. 309 - Increases the aggregate annual tax credit for the industry partnership fund tax credit.

S. 311 - Limits the liability of certain individuals who provide volunteer transportation to a senior citizen for injuries and losses to the senior citizen and to the senior citizen's spouse.

S. 317 - Enacts the "South Carolina Service Members Civil Relief Act."

S. 319 - Provides that a person commits the crime of assault and battery of a high an aggravated nature if he unlawfully injures a health care professional, including, but not limited to: an EMS provider, a firefighter, an ER physician, an ER nurse, on an allied health care worker.

S. 321 - Provides that any child of a nonresident military personnel may enroll in a school district in which the child's parent or legal guardian is relocating as a result of military service.

S. 326 - A Joint Resolution to direct SLED to distribute $250,000 to the S.C. State Firefighters Association to provide for post-traumatic stress disorder insurance and programs.

S. 328 - Requires a county auditor to provide a certified statement to the Secretary of State on behalf of a special purpose district in the event that the special purpose district does not have the available funds to perform an audit.

S. 329 - Provides that the tax credits for the purchase of geothermal machinery and equipment shall be repealed on January 1, 2022.

S. 331 - Prohibits a person from knowingly collecting voted or un-voted absentee ballots and provides a penalty.

S. 333 - Provides that probation officers, court personnel, county personnel, public officials, and private volunteers who participate in certain community service programs in which a probationer is completing community service as a condition of probation are not liable for civil damages unless the injury or damage is the result of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.

S. 336 - Creates the offense of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature on a law enforcement officer with degrees of the offense.

S. 338 - Requires a water or sewer utility that is subject to the Public Service Commission's supervision and regulation must establish customer classes based on geographic location.

S. 340 - Increases the amount of a lien that may be enforced by a petition to a magistrate.

S. 341 - Requires the clerks of court and magistrates to report to SLED within 10 days the disposition of certain types of cases and orders within specified periods of time.

S. 362 - Provides for an income tax credit to an individual or business that constructs, purchases, or leases certain solar energy property and that places it in service in this state.

House Bills

H. 3009 - A House Resolution encouraging the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to update the 2009 study of feasibility of and potential impact of a flood reduction diversion canal in Horry County following Hurricane Florence.

H. 3029 - Requires the state executive committee to hear and decide protests and contests that may arise in the case of county officers and repeals § § 7-17-530, 7-17-540, and 7-17-550 relating to hearings by county executive committees.

H. 3030 - Allows county employees who are authorized to issue parking violation tickets to also issue handicapped parking violation tickets.

H. 3031 - Changes the deadline for voter registration from 30 days to 20 days before an election.

H. 3032 - Requires the election of clerks of court be nonpartisan, provides for nonpartisan special elections when a vacancy occurs, and provides procedures for the nomination of candidates and the conduct of the nonpartisan elections.

H. 3033 - Deletes straight party ticket voting for general election ballots after July 1, 2019, generally.

H. 3034 - Requires the election of probate judges be nonpartisan and provides procedures for the nomination of candidates and the conduct of the nonpartisan elections.

H. 3035 - Provides that poll workers must be residents and registered electors of this state.

H. 3038 - Creates the "Poll Workers Compensation Study Committee."

H. 3040 - Provides that the authority charged by law with conducting an election shall provide qualified electors with same day registration and voting procedures, provides that a qualified elector may cast a ballot during the seven day period before an election, and provides for the establishment of early voting locations in each county.

H. 3041 - Provides that state identification card applications or motor vehicle driver's license applications, including renewals, serve as voter registration applications.

H. 3042 - Requires county councils to provide office space and appropriations for the operation of the county legislative delegation office.

H. 3043 - Requires voting machines have paper trails in service no later than the 2020 presidential primaries.

H. 3045 - Defines "independent expenditure committee" and "election communication."

H. 3050 - Provides that the DMV will collect property taxes owed to counties when a person registers a vehicle.

H. 3052 - Provides that jury duty is not required on primary and general election dates.

H. 3062 - Names Chapter 27, Title 8 the "S.C. Whistleblower and Public Employee Protection Act," and removes the one-year protection limitation.

H. 3065 - Increases civil jurisdiction from $7,500 to $15,000 (magistrates).

H. 3066 - Provides that a LEO or Prosecution agency may not charge or collect a fee for the destruction of arrest records for persons arrested as a result of mistaken identity.

H. 3073 - Allows clerks of court to carry a concealed weapon on duty.

H. 3076 - Increases the number of judges elected from the 1st and 8th Circuits.

H. 3078 - Adds that assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature occurs when a person injures a local law enforcement or correctional officer.

H. 3081 - Allows certified patients to use marijuana for medical purposes.

H. 3082 - Provides that certain local governing bodies may authorize the sale of liquor on Sundays under certain circumstances

H. 3087 - Provides that a county may not approve a plan, license, application, or permit of any kind to construct or use property or infrastructure to facilitate offshore seismic testing or the transportation or storage of offshore oil or gas.

H. 3091 - Allows counties to adopt and use voluntary inclusionary housing strategies to increase the availability of affordable housing.

H. 3097 - Prohibits a popularly elected public official from appointing a person who made a campaign contribution to them within the previous four years

H. 3101 - Enacts the "Interstate Medical Licensure Compact."

H. 3103 - Provides procedures for law enforcement treatment of junk acquired by junk dealers that is believed to be stolen.

H. 3104 - Revises recordkeeping requirement of previous metals dealers.

H. 3106 - Provides that certain additional medical conditions must be presumed to be occupational diseases for workers' compensation purposes for firefighters and modifies the definition of "injury" and "personal injury."

H. 3108 - Requires that before taking office, public officials shall agree to forfeit retirement benefits if the official is convicted of certain crimes.

H. 3109 - Deposits a 7 percent fee from the sale of handguns in the "School Safety Fund" to fund school resource officers.  

H. 3111 - Makes a conforming change relating to DOT, and repeals sections relating to the creation and functions of DOT.

H. 3112 - Provides that the surviving spouse exemption for a subsequently acquired house applies to the surviving spouse regardless of the location of the original house.

H. 3114 - Sets the state's minimum wage and provides that Sunday work must be compensated at a rate no less than minimum wage.

H. 3117 - Repeals Chapter 56 of Title 12 relating to Setoff Debt Collection and Repeals § 12-4-580 relating to DOR collecting debts on behalf of the counties.

H. 3122 - Allows a property tax exemption of 100 percent of the value subject to tax of an owner-occupied residence if the resident is 80 years old.

H. 3123 - Prohibits a county treasurer from refusing to accept full payment of property taxes on a motor vehicle.

H. 3126 - Creates the "South Carolina Flood Insurance Study Committee."

H. 3127 - Establishes the Mold Abatement and Remediation Study Committee.

H. 3128 - Provides that the State Auditor will approve any auditor or auditing firm engaged by a county.

H. 3129 - Prohibits a candidate's name from appearing on the ballot more than once.

H. 3130 - Increases the amount of the pension for certain members of the National Guard.

H. 3132 - Allows revenues to be expended for the control and repair of flooding and drainage at tourism areas.

H. 3137 - Sets the base of the LGF with a yearly increase that corresponds with the growth in the State General Fund up to 5 percent.

H. 3138 - Further defines who is a candidate and clarifies the types of prohibited expenses.

H. 3139 - Enacts the "South Carolina Equal Pay for Equal Work Act."

H. 3143 - Provides that, for the purposes of making an award determination, a procurement officer will decrease a bidder's price by 2 percent if the bid is submitted by a service-disabled Veteran's business when the Veteran is a resident of this State.

H. 3147 - Enacts the" South Carolina State Employee Equal Pay for Equal Work Act."

H. 3152 - Provides for county clerk of court and county register of deeds qualifications going forward and exempts current officer holders from the requirements.

H. 3161 - Provides that workers' compensation commissioners must receive salaries equal to 85 percent of the salaries paid to circuit court judges.

H. 3162 - Provides that criminal cases in which the penalty does not exceed three years, rather than one year, may be transferred from General Sessions Court; keeps the $5,000 cap.

H. 3163 - Enacts the "Ban the Box Act," by providing a job application cannot ask questions related to convictions of a crime, unless the crime directly relates to the position or license sought.

H. 3168 - Allows a municipality without an operating millage on January 1, 2019, or a municipality that incorporates after January 1, 2019, to impose an operating millage.

H. 3171 - Deletes the provision that restricts a qualified law enforcement officer from carrying a concealed weapon onto certain premises.

H. 3178 - Revises the cost and process of obtaining certain individual firefighter records and repeals sections relating to the duties of the State Fire Marshal.

H. 3179 - Establishes procedures for conducting elections by mail.

H. 3180 - Enacts the "South Carolina Servicemembers Civil Relief Act."

H. 3185 - Deletes earnings limitation for retired members of the police officers retirement system returning to employment.

H. 3187 - Provides that a county may not prohibit vacation rentals or short-terms rentals.

H. 3188 - Provides that accommodations tax is not to be imposed on travel agents and intermediary online travel companies.

H. 3190 - Provides that a county may not impose a fine or penalty for late local hospitality tax payments received within seven days of the due date that exceeds 5 percent of the delinquent tax.

H. 3191 - Exempts certain school resource officers from the earnings limitation.

H. 3200 - Enacts the "South Carolina Lactation Support Act."

H. 3201 - Provides that counties and school districts shall post certain information on their websites.

H. 3207 - Allows a property tax exemption of 100 percent of the value subject to tax of an owner-occupied residence if the resident is 70 years old and has an income of less than $50,000.

H. 3216 - Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2010, each county will have only one school district based on the area of each county.

H. 3217 - Sets the state's base minimum wage and implements an adjusted minimum wage to $10.10 per hour over a three year period.

H. 3226 - Allows proceedings to be held in magistrates court if the value of property seized does not exceed $7,500.

H. 3230 - Requires a county grand jury to maintain a record of all proceedings except when the grand jury is deliberating or voting, and prohibits the use of third party summary, hearsay evidence as the only evidence presented to a county grand jury for indictment.

H. 3232 - Provides that criminal cases in which the penalty does not exceed three years, rather than one year, may be transferred from General Sessions Court; removes the $5,000 cap. Similar: 3162

H. 3236 - Provides that the sale of alcoholic liquors may be authorized by referendum.

H. 3238 - Provides for qualification requirements for a person elected as coroner.

H. 3240 - Prohibits the possession, distribution, or manufacture of a device or component that accelerates the rate of fire of a semiautomatic weapon.

H. 3243 - Provides for a flat fee of $25 for certain documents filed or recorded with the register of deeds or clerks of court, and a flat fee of $10 for certain other documents filed or recorded in those offices.

H. 3246 - Advances the Eastern Standard Time by one hour beginning at 2:00 a.m. beginning on the second Tuesday of March 2019 and thereafter making this the permanent standard time for the state.

H. 3248 - Requires the clerks of court and magistrates to report to SLED within 10 days the disposition of certain types of cases and orders within specified periods of time.

H. 3254 - Allows the spouses and widowed spouses of wartime veterans to receive free tuition at public institutions of learning in this state.

H. 3258 - Enacts the "South Carolina School Safe Space Act."

H. 3259 - Removes the Freedom of Information Act exemption for members of the General Assembly and their immediate staff with some exceptions.

H. 3260 - Provides qualifications for the offices of clerk of court and register of deeds and exempts those currently serving in those offices from these requirements.

H. 3261 - Enacts the "Safe and Supportive School Environment Act."

H. 3263 - Enacts the "Armed Service Members and Spouses Professional and Occupational Licensing Act."

H. 3264 - Authorizes all elected public officials to conduct unannounced visits to any public schools located within the boundaries of the districts where they were elected.

H. 3265 - Enacts the "South Carolina Public Utility Employee Whistleblower Protection Act."

H. 3266 - Establishes an early voting period beginning 30 days before an election and ending three days before the election.

H. 3268 - Allows a marriage license to be issued to minors not younger than 16 years of age in the case of a pregnancy or birth of a child.

H. 3272 - Enacts the "Put Patients First Act," authorizing registered patients to use marijuana for medical purposes.

H. 3274 - Prohibits counties from enacting any laws, ordinances, or rules pertaining to ingredients, flavors, or licensing of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.

H. 3275 - Authorizes law enforcement officers to seize a person's firearms and ammunition if the person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or other individuals.

H. 3290 - Prohibits a law enforcement agency from purchasing cell-site simulator technology from a company that requires the purchaser to enter into a nondisclosure agreement.

H. 3292 - Enacts the "South Carolina Access to Healthcare Act."

H. 3297 - Among other things, eliminates the exception that allows a child to be placed in adult jail if they are being tried as an adult, and decreases the length of time a child may be held in a juvenile detention center for committing a status offense or violating a related court order.  

H. 3300 - Allows a person under the age of 21 who is serving a driver's license suspension for a DUI to enroll in the ignition interlock device program.

H. 3302 - Provides for supplemental appropriations for the Department of Administration to purchase electronic voting machines that produce a paper audit trail.

H. 3303 - Provides that certain persons who have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned may recover the monetary value of the loss sustained through their wrongful conviction and imprisonment.

H. 3304 - Provides that beginning with the 2022 general election cycle, all voting machines will use a nonproprietary, publicly owned, paper-based system that uses the paper ballot as the ballot of record and produces an individual voter-verified permanent paper record for each vote casted.

H. 3305 - Prohibits a member of or a candidate for a board or commission elected or appointed by the General Assembly from making a contribution to a member of the General Assembly.

H. 3307 - Requires SLED to establish and maintain a case tracking system and searchable website that includes certain information about property seized by law enforcement agencies.

H. 3308 - Makes it unlawful to smoke a tobacco product while driving a motor vehicle with a child that is five years old or younger.

H. 3309 - Requires SLED to create and operate a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system.

H. 3311 - Requires drivers and passengers in a motor vehicle to disclose to a law enforcement officer the existence of all firearms located in the vehicle during a traffic stop.

H. 3312 - Provides for various changes to provisions of the law regarding the suspension or revocation of a person's driver's license as result of a DUI conviction.

H. 3314 - Repeals § 56-5-2570 regarding the parking of an unattended motor vehicle.

H. 3315 - Prohibits the smoking of a tobacco product while operating a motor vehicle in which a minor is a passenger.

H. 3316 - Requires all law enforcement officers to undergo mental health evaluation before they can become certified or recertified.

H. 3317 - Requires certified law enforcement officers to annually obtain education credits in diversity training.

H. 3318 - Allows a person registered as a sex offender to petition the court after 10 years to terminate the registration requirement under certain circumstances.

H. 3319 - Requires the Department of Corrections and the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to inform a person convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws, who has served their sentence including any probation and parole requirements, that they are eligible to register to vote.

H. 3321 - Provides that an individual who fails to pay a civil fine for not filing the ethics report or statement with the Ethics Commission, or who fails to file a report, is ineligible to become a candidate for local office  until the penalty has been paid or the report has been filed.

H. 3322 - Enacts a comprehensive crime bill.

H. 3323 - Requires public school districts to ensure the continuous presence of a resource officer in public schools during regular operating hours.

H. 3326 - Makes it an unlawful employment practice to refuse to hire someone because of their credit history.

H. 3332 - Increases the amount of the Homestead Exemption from the first $50,000 to the first $75,000 of the fair market value of the homestead.

H. 3333 - Provides for certain disclaimers on public communications disseminated by an agency funded in whole or part by federal or state funds.

H. 3335 - Provides that daylight savings time should be the year-round standard of time for the entire state should the federal laws be amended to allow states to observe daylight savings time year round.

H. 3336 - Provides an income tax credit to an individual or business that constructs, purchases, or leases certain solar energy property and places it in service in this state.

H. 3339 - Prohibits a telecommunications or internet provider that has entered in a franchise agreement, right of way agreement, or other contract with a county from collecting personal information from a customer using the telecommunications or internet provider without the express written approval from the customer.

H. 3341 - Revises the definitions of lobbying, lobbyist, public body, public employee, and public official.

H. 3342 - Enacts the "South Carolina Net Neutrality Preservation Act."

H. 3345 - Provides that a public utility may not expand, adjust, or modify its use of an existing easement or right of way to conform to a future need without the written agreement of the property owner.

H. 3352 - Provides that workers' compensation settlement agreements are unenforceable to the extent they are conditioned upon the release of certain legal claims by the injured employee or his dependents.

H. 3355 - Creates  the offense of driving while using an electronic device.

H. 3356 - Requires a bystander to remain at least 12 feet away from a law enforcement officer when the officer is apprehending, arresting, searching, or consulting an individual when the bystander is recording the actions of the officer.

H. 3360 - Makes it unlawful for a sex offender to work or perform volunteer work with or around minor children under certain circumstances unless approved by a circuit court order that requires the offender's employment or volunteer service be recorded in the offender's sex offender registry file.

H. 3363 - Allows a concealed weapons permit holder to carry a weapon openly on their person.

H. 3366 - Provides that only certain governmental entities may use an automatic license plate reader system and how the information obtained through the system may be used.

H. 3367 - Prohibits a law enforcement officer from using excessive restraint when detaining a person or unreasonable force while making an arrest.

H. 3368 - Prohibits law enforcement agencies from using or purchasing cell-site simulator technology or devices.

H. 3369 - Repeals § 20-1-300 relating to the issuance of a marriage license to minors when the female is pregnant or has given birth to a child.

H. 3370 - Prohibits employees, agents, and volunteers of nonprofit victim assistance organizations from testifying in actions or proceedings about communications made by victim clients or records kept during the course of providing services to clients.

H. 3371 - Prohibits all stores in this state from providing single use plastic bags to customers.

H. 3372 - Requires a private or public utility or municipality operating a public water system to provide the average purification levels on the customers water bill.

H. 3373 - Provides immunity from civil liability to a first responder for damage resulting from providing first aid services to a domestic animal in the course of responding to an emergency.

H. 3375 - Authorizes a homeowner or tenant to display a political sign within a certain time frame.

H. 3376 - Prohibits a homeowners association from enforcing a lien or imposing a penalty for regime fees not paid while a homeowner who is a service member is deployed or mobilized outside of this state.

H. 3378 - Authorizes a sheriff or local government to enforce the provisions of the law pertaining to abandoned watercraft and outdoor motors.

H. 3380 - Requires all mortgages executed after June 1, 2019, to include a clause setting forth the name of the party who prepared the mortgage or the attorney licensed in SC who assisted in the closing.

H. 3382 - Enacts the "Environmental Bill of Rights."

H. 3383 - For purposes of the provisions relating to sharing the state forest land revenues with the counties, excludes the proceeds from land rentals and wildlife management area payments from the proceeds to be shared with the counties.

H. 3384 - Authorizes a circuit solicitor to designate a summary court judge to oversee a pretrial intervention program for persons who commit summary court offenses.

H. 3385 - Authorizes each circuit solicitor to establish a deferred prosecution programs for persons who commit summary court offenses.

H. 3387 - Provides that a violation of any provision of Chapter 13, Title 8 is sufficient cause for the removal of a public official, public member, or public employee from his office, position, or employment.

H. 3390 - Amends the Constitution to create an independent citizen's redistricting commission to be known as the "South Carolina Citizen's Redistricting Commission."

H. 3395 - Provides a base state minimum wage and schedule to gradually implement and adjust the minimum wage to $12 an hour over a three year period.

H. 3401 - Creates the "Freedom of Employment Contract Act."

H. 3404 - Allows people who are lawfully in this state and not precluded from establishing residency under the Federal Immigration law may establish domicile in this state for the purpose of receiving in-state tuition rates and fees and state supported scholarships and grants.

H. 3407 - Authorizes the director of the Department of Insurance to promulgate an emergency regulation concerning the payment of a claim after the Governor declares a state of emergency.

H. 3409 - Amends the Constitution to allow for the establishment of pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, sports betting on professional sports, and casino activities in specified areas of the state.

H. 3410 - Authorizes a county to impose a community charge on nonprofit hospitals and institutions of higher learning.

H. 3411 - Allows the Department of Revenue to implement a system of filing and indexing liens which is accessible to the public over the internet or through other means.

H. 3412 - Enacts the "Sales and Use Tax Collection Protection Act."

H. 3414 - Provides for a zero base budget process beginning with fiscal year 2020-2021.

H. 3415 - Provides that the gross proceeds of sales or the sales price of any device, equipment, or machinery actually used in the production of electric or hybrid motor vehicles is exempt from the state sales tax.

H. 3416 - Provides that the gross proceeds of sales or the sales price of machinery, machine tools, and parts of them, used in the production of electricity from a renewable energy source is exempt from the state sales tax.

H. 3417 - Establishes the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Unit within the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

H. 3419 - Changes the definition of "alternative nicotine product."

H. 3420 - Prohibits minors from entering retail establishments that primarily sell tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or both.

H. 3421 - Provides that the measures to strengthen age verification to prohibit internet sales of alternative nicotine products to minors also applies to the internet sale of tobacco products.

H. 3423 - Allows the Department of Corrections to conditionally release an inmate who is serving a sentence for the possession, manufacture, sale, or distribution of a controlled substance, and offer the inmate the opportunity to enroll in a chemical dependency treatment program.

H. 3424 - Prohibits a detention facility from denying access to legal counsel to an inmate when requested under certain circumstances.

H. 3425 - Provides that all testimony at a parole hearing must be taken under oath, and that potential parolees being considered for parole have the right to confront any witness that appears before the Probation, Pardon and Parole Board.

H. 3426 - Allows a person applying for a pardon for certain offenses to request the Probation, Pardon and Parole Board recommend the expungement of criminal records related to the offenses.

H. 3427 - Prohibits a person from being placed under custodial arrest when they are charged with certain traffic offenses for which a Uniform Traffic Ticket is issued.

H. 3429 - Prohibits a detention facility from intercepting, recording, monitoring, or divulging any communication between an inmate and his attorney.

H. 3430 - Provides a procedure for juvenile sex offenders to have their name removed from the sex offender registry.

H. 3432 - Establishes the "South Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission."

H. 3434 - Requires a local public official whose office is declared vacant due to a criminal conviction during the official's term of office to reimburse the county elections authority for the costs of holding a primary, runoff primary, or special election to fill the office.

H. 3435 - Requires the Ethics Commission to establish a new online campaign account and monitoring and auditing department.

H. 3438 - Makes the Division of Veterans Affairs a division of the Executive Branch.

H. 3439 - Enacts the "Local Government Efficiency Act."

H. 3440 - Enacts the "South Carolina Net Neutrality Protection and Maintenance Act."

H. 3442 - Increases the penalties for the obstruction of a highway by a railroad car, locomotive, or other object.

H. 3448 - Creates the Office of Freedom of Information Act Review within the Administrative Law Court.

H. 3450 - Changes the age of separate confinement for juvenile offenders from under the age of 17 to under the age of 18.

H. 3451 - Prohibits the sale, furnishing, or provision of cigarettes or alternative nicotine products to a person under the age of 21.

H. 3454 - Provides that failure of emergency medical responder agencies and emergency medical technicians to maintain proper amounts of pediatric supplies and oxygen for use in emergency transport may be considered gross negligence and certain financial award limitations do not apply in a civil action.

H. 3456 - Enacts the "South Carolina Constitutional Carry Act of 2019."

H. 3457 - Authorizes a municipality without an operating millage on January 1, 2019, or that incorporates after January 1, 2019, to impose an operating millage.

H. 3459 - Provides that intentional misrepresentation of a service animal is a misdemeanor.

H. 3460 - Authorizes a county to impose a one-time impact fee on a private developer for each new residential or commercial unit constructed by the developer within the county.

H. 3463 - Provides that no job application may include questions related to conviction of a crime unless the crime for which the person was convicted directly relates to the position of employment sought.
 
H. 3465 - Enacts the "Stop the School House to Jail House Pipeline Act."

H. 3467 - Provides that the minimum wage for this state is the greater value of either $13 or the minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

H. 3468 - Creates the address confidentiality program in the Attorney General's Office to protect the addresses and telephone numbers of victims of domestic violence, sexual offenses, stalking, or human trafficking.

H. 3470 - Prohibits counties from approving plans or ordinances that would deter, prohibit, or impede the construction or use of infrastructure used to facilitate Atlantic Ocean marine seismic testing to locate reserves of oil and natural gas.

H. 3471 - Prohibits counties from approving plans or ordinances that would deter, prohibit, or impede the construction or use of infrastructure used to facilitate Atlantic Ocean marine seismic testing to locate reserves of oil and natural gas or facilitate the transportation or storage of offshore oil or gas onto land or waters of this state.

H. 3472 - Authorizes the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney Generals to carry concealed weapons while on duty.

H. 3483 - Repeals § 3 of Act 138 of 2016, which would have automatically repealed the statutory provisions requiring certain coal combustion residuals be placed in a Class 3 landfill.