Legislative update from Senator Kevin L. Johnson
Columbia, SC—Our major legislative priorities continue to be highway infrastructure, public education funding, the state retirement system and the state budget. Much work is being done on these initiatives in committees. The House and Senate met in Joint Session to elect a new Supreme Court Justice, as well as Court of Appeals, circuit court, family court and administrative Jaw court judges. Below is a list of some of the bills that were passed in the Senate during the month of February.
Bills approved by the Senate in February include:
S. 27 – Makes the Superintendent of Education a cabinet position appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. It also provides for the terms,qualifications and filling of a vacancy in the office of superintendent.
S. 58- This bill creates Port Enhancement Zones to serve as distribution hubs for cargo shipped to and from the Port of Charleston. It provides for sales tax,corporate income tax and other financial incentives to increase economic growth in these zones. It’s sponsored by Senators John Matthews, Brad Hutto, Kevin Johnson, Gerald Malloy, Margie Bright Matthews and Kent Williams.
S. 197 -This bill relates to the terms and conditions of operating a moped, including allowing drunken moped drivers to be charged with DUI.
S. 198 -This bill makes changes as to who may sign the application for a beginner’s permit or driver’s license of an un-emancipated minor.
S. 263 -This bill allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue Clemson University 2016 Football National Champions special license plates.
S. 44- This bill creates two property tax exemptions for alternative energy generating projects, including solar, hydro, geothermal, wind, and landfill gas energy.
S. 61- This bill provides that employees, retirees and their eligible dependents of political subdivisions of the state, or a governmental agency or instrumentality of such political subdivision, are eligible for coverage under the state health and dental plan.
S. 75 -This bill allows a person to maintain the special four percent assessment ratio on their owner-occupied home if they reside in a nursing home.
S. 176- This bill prohibits drones from flying within 500 feet of a state prison.
S. 218 -This bill ensures that a political subdivision – such as a municipality, county or school district – may not establish, mandate or otherwise require an employee benefit, which includes, but isn’t limited to health benefits, disability benefits, holidays, vacation leave and retirement benefits.
s. 18 -Allows victims and members of their immediate family to write statements to the Board of Probation;
. Parole and Pardon Services that must be considered by the Board in making its determination of parole.
S. 6- This bill increases penalties for injuring or killing a dog or horse used by law enforcement.
S. 214- This bill would require remote retailers – most commonly remote Internet retailers without a physical presence in the state- with gross sales in South Carolina of at least $10,000 to collect and remit sales and use tax.
S.338 -This is a joint resolution to provide that the opening at the 2017-2018 school year may be as early as Thursday, August 17, in the discretion of the school district board of trustees.
S. 365 -Allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue “Coastal Carolina University 2016 College World Series Champions” special license plates.
S. 90- This bills the range that a magistrate eligibility exam will be valid from six months before and after the initial time a magistrate is appointed to one year before and two years after the time of appointment.
S. 107 – Establishes the procedure by which a person nominated as governor selects a lieutenant governor as a joint ticket running mate and requires the State Election Commission to ensure they are elected jointly beginning with the 2018 general election.
s. 168 – Increases the penalties for solicitation of prostitution, establishing or keeping a brothel or house of prostitution, or causing or inducing another to participate in prostitution.
S.118- Increases the civil jurisdiction of the magistrate’s court from $7,500 to $10,000 and requires that, except for landlord and tenant cases, any case with an amount in controversy equaling or exceeding $5,000 must be ordered for mandatory mediation.