Current and Accurate as of 06/06/2017
The following is a summary of various bills that have come before the House this year. This summary was prepared by the SC House Republican caucus.
Ways and Means Committee:
Infrastructure Reform and Funding Act:
Status: Governor’s Veto Overridden by House and Senate
Governance and Reform
- Provides real accountability and transparency at the Department of Transportation (public records, mandated meetings, ethical requirements for commissioners)
- Gives Governor complete control of the Commission with a clear line of authority and at-will removal
- Requires General Assembly to approve all 9 Highway Commission appointees
- Highway Commission organized to reflect regional representation with 7 Congressional districts and 2 statewide at-large members appointed by the Governor (adds 1 member to current structure)
- Strengthens DOT’s control over project authorization and financial decisions by the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank
Funding
- Creates a long-term and sustainable funding stream by increasing the motor fuel user fee by 2 cents/gallon over the next 6 years, not exceeding 12 cents/gallon
- Safeguards taxpayers from future automatic tax increases by not indexing for inflation
- Protects SC taxpayers from continuing to solely foot the bill for infrastructure repair by not using General Fund dollars and captures 30% of the motor fuel user fee revenue from out-of-state motorists
- Creates an Infrastructure Maintenance Trust Fund to ensure all new revenue collected from the motor fuel user fee is used only for existing infrastructure needs
- Does not increase or change fees for South Carolina driver’s license applications or renewals
- Increases funding for County Transportation Committees targeted to repair rural and secondary roads
- Captures revenue from alternative energy motorists by creating a biennial registration fee for all hybrid and electric vehicles
- Established a road use fee to capture revenue from out of state truckers
- Raises the cap on motor vehicle sales tax to $500 and creates a $250 out of state maintenance fee
- Incentivizes road construction industry to return to SC with responsible infrastructure investment
- Provides $640 million in new annual revenue for infrastructure maintenance needs when fully implemented
Tax Relief
- Includes responsible tax relief to offset the user fee increase for South Carolina motorists
- Offers a refundable income tax credit equal to the motor fuel user fee increase that must be reauthorized prior to 2023
- Enhances already existing College Tuition Tax Credit for every South Carolina tuition-payer to enhance workforce development
- Contains a non-refundable Low Income Tax Credit for working families (not federal model)
- Increases the maximum income tax credit from $210 to $350 for dual income household joint filers
- Reduces SC manufacturers’ property tax burden by $35 million using a phased-in approach over 6 years
Retirement System Reform Act:
Status: Signed by Governor
- Increase to the employer contribution rate of 2% in year one
- State budget pays 1% of increased costs for the first year
- Place a cap on the employee contribution rate of 9% (9.75% for LEO’s)
- Reduce the assumed rate of return on investments and put protections in place to oversee changes in future rate adjustments
- Modify the amortization rate period to reduce unfunded liabilities
- Implement governance recommendations from the Funston Advisory Services and Legislative Audit Council
- Require a four-year rotation schedule for fiduciary audits of PEBA and the RSIC (Retirement System Investment Commission
House Agriculture Committee:
- 3218 Dams and Reservoirs Safety Act
Status: Passed House, In Senate
A bill to require dam or reservoir owners be responsible for the safe maintenance of their dams or reservoirs.
- 3517 Hunting and Fishing License Reform
Status: Signed by Governor
A bill waiving all DNR fees, granting terminally ill children free hunting and fishing licenses.
- 3619 Updating Animal Cruelty Laws
Status: Passed House, In Senate
A bill to protect animals by prohibiting the tattooing or piercing of residential pets.
- 3719 Fire Safety Act
Status: Signed by Governor
A bill allowing the state forester to direct at any time, when deemed necessary in the interest of public safety, that certain recreational fires be prohibited.
3M Committee:
- 3438 Expanding Access to Generic Drugs
Status: Signed by Governor
A bill allowing doctors and pharmacists to prescribe additional forms of affordable generic drugs, such as pharmaceutical biologics, to patients. This new law expands access to affordable healthcare throughout our state.
- 3824 Prescription Drug Monitoring Act
Status: Signed by Governor
Legislation requiring physicians to review a patient’s medical history prior to prescribing a Schedule II controlled substance. The bill is just one more step in the right direction toward curbing prescription drug abuse.
House Education and Public Works Committee
- 3220 S.C. Education and Economic Development Coordinating Council Act
Status: Signed by Governor
A bill to create a council comprised of educators, school administrators, and business community members for the purpose of advising the department of Education and the Department of Commerce on best practices to strengthen progress toward career pathways and provide for a better prepared workforce and student success in post-secondary education.
- 3221 Department of Education Fiscal Accountability Act
Status: Signed by Governor
A bill to require the South Carolina Department of Education establish a program for identifying fiscal practices and budgetary conditions that could compromise the fiscal integrity of a school district.
- 3508 School Year Start Date
Status: Signed by Governor
Grants local school boards increased flexibility by allowing them the option to start school on Thursday, August 17 instead of the third Monday in August as previously mandated.
- 3969 Uniform School Report Card Act
Status: Passed House, On Governor’s Desk
A bill to simplify the annual performance ratings of individual schools by creating one report card with one overall rating system.
- 3427 South Carolina Computer Science Education Initiative
Status: Passed House, In Senate
A bill preventing a long-term shortage of needed workers in high-paying skilled jobs requiring technical training. This initiative increases access to computer science experiences for all K-12 students.
- 3591 First Steps Reauthorization Act
Status: Passed House, In Senate
Permanently authorizes the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Program and adds significant new accountability measures within the program
- 3034 G.I. Bill
Status: Signed by Governor
A bill to meet the updated minimum federal requirements by entitling qualifying veterans and their dependents who use the G.I. Bill and certain other benefits to pay in-state tuition at SC public institutions of higher learning.
- 3035 Increasing Access to Higher Education for Veterans Act
Status: Passed House, In Senate
This bill waives the 12-month waiting period for honorably discharged veterans to establish residency in order to obtain in-state tuition rates at colleges and universities.
- 3821 Opioid Prescription Education Act
Status: Passed House, In Senate
A bill to require institutions of higher learning offering healthcare degrees to require coursework programs on the prescription and monitoring of Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances. This bill serves as part of a package of bills aimed at reducing the sad increase of opioid addiction in our state.
- 3247 Moped Safety Act
Status: Signed by Governor
A bill closing loopholes thereby subjecting moped operators to the same violations, including DUI, as other motorists. This law increases roadway safety for both vehicle motorists and moped drivers alike.
- 3358 South Carolina REAL I.D. Act
Status: Signed by Governor
A law to bring South Carolina into compliance with federal REAL I.D. requirements, while also allowing citizens to opt out of REAL I.D. By ensuring compliance with REAL I.D. no activity requiring a REAL I.D. for participation will be interrupted in South Carolina.
- 4033 Work Zone Safety Act
Status: Signed by Governor
This law strengthens penalties for those who endanger the life of a highway worker. Those working on our roadways must be protected while performing their daily duties.
Oversight Committee:
- 3440 South Carolina Commission for the Blind Qualifications Update Act
Status: Passed House, In Senate
A bill requiring the governance board of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind to contain at least three members who meet the legal definition of blindness. The bill also allows the commission to employ qualified counselors to assist teachers who are responsible for the teaching of visually handicapped students.
- 3271 DMV Accounting Practices Reform
Status: Passed House, In Senate
This bill contains 55 various statutory updates and revisions recommended by the House Legislative Oversight Committee as a result of its study of the Comptroller General’s Office, the state’s top accountant. This legislation addresses accounting responsibilities related to the DMV and updates the law in accordance with current accounting practices.
- 3318 Transfer Illegal Immigration Enforcement Unit
Status: Passed House, In Senate
A bill transferring the illegal immigration enforcement unit from the Department of Public Safety to the State Law Enforcement Division. This bill increases the effectiveness of the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Unit by placing it under the direction of an agency that more closely aligns to its mission.
Judiciary Committee:
- 3930 Constitutional Carry Act
Status: Passed House, In Senate
A bill providing authorization to carry a handgun in public without a permit. This bill also protects the rights and provisions for those with a Concealed Weapons Permit.
- 3352 Updating the Freedom of Information Act
Status: Signed by the Governor
This law provides enhancements to our existing Freedom of Information Act.
- 107 Joint Election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Status: Signed by Governor
A bill implementing changes providing for the joint election of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor.
- 3209 Record Expungement Act
Status: Passed House, In Senate
Legislation allowing the expungement of previous offenses that are no longer considered crimes. This measure allows low-level offenders to re-enter the workforce and gives them a second chance in life.
- 3548 South Carolina Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act
Status: Passed in House, In Senate
This legislation outlaws and creates criminal penalties for the performance of a dismemberment abortion in South Carolina. This bill further protects the right to life for the unborn while banning a gruesome act.
LCI Committee:
- 3041 Real Estate Agent Background Checks
Status: Signed by Governor
A law mandating that fingerprint background checks are required for all new real estate agents and all agents renewing their licenses. This law ensures dangerous criminals do not have access to the homes of unsuspecting citizens of our state.
- 3488 Paperless Insurance Act
Status: Signed by Governor
A new law allowing an insurer to deliver, store, or present evidence of insurance coverage electronically if the insured entity so desires. This law allows insurance companies to modernize their record keeping and pass savings on to consumers.
- 3647 Time Share Industry Regulation Act
Status: Signed by Governor
A law prohibiting an individual from creating a fraudulent company for the purpose of purchasing time shares.
- 3886 HOA Reform Act
Status: Passed House, In Senate
This bill increases the rights of homeowners and allows homeowners to submit complaints about their HOA to a regulatory authority.