Few new bills introduced, but ethics reform moves ahead

With the House and Senate out on Thursday due to inclement weather, lawmakers introduced just 37 bills over the past week.  Most of the key policy introductions were in the House, which saw bills related to mug shots, concealed weapons, ethics reform and a single-payer health plan for the state.

IN THE SENATE

Boxing.   S. 480  (Davis) seeks to amend the state’s boxing commission and law to, among other things, allow boxers up to 40 years of age to get licenses and other requirements related to street boxing, kickboxing, female boxers and more.

IN THE HOUSE

Mug shot sites.   H. 3700 (McCoy)  would require mug shot websites to remove arrest and booking records of people whose charges have been discharged, dismissed of been found not guilty within 30 days at no cost, or face a penalty.

Diversity training.  H. 3705 (M.S. McLeod) would require diversity awareness training in K-12 classes, with several provisions.

Parking surcharge.  H. 3708 (Crosby) seeks a 50-cent surcharge on all parking violations with the revenue directed to repair bridges and roads and for mass transit.   H. 3709 (Crosby) is related; it seeks a similar surcharge on off-street parking facilities owned by local governments.

Concealed weapons. H. 3716 (Hill) seeks to enact the S.C. Constitutional Carry Act that essentially would allow gun owners to carry weapons without having to have a concealed weapons permit, with several provisions.

Early voting.  H. 3720 (Clyburn) seeks to have early voting start 30 days before an election, with several provisions.

Ethics. H. 3722 (Lucas), a bill co-signed by a majority of the House, seeks to reform the state Ethics Commission as a board with representatives elected or appointed by the three branches of government, and make sweeping ethics rule changes related to matters involving legislators, campaign donations and more.

Health care.  H. 3726 (Mack) seeks to enact the Palmetto Comprehensive Health Care Act to create a publicly-financed single-payer health care program available to all, with many provisions.