More than 180 bills prefiled this week in House, Senate
Staff reports | House members and senators prefiled more than 180 new bills on Wednesday and Thursday on topics ranging from refugees and judicial selection to term limits and shorter legislative sessions. Each chamber will have another day next week to prefile bills before the start of the session in January.
By far, however, the most bills filed related to guns, which is not surprising to many still upset by recent mass shootings, including the June shooting that killed nine in a Charleston church.
Seven Senate bills — two by Sen. Gerald Malloy (D-Darlington) and five by Sen. Marlon Kimpson (D-Charleston) sought everything from waiting periods for gun purchases to reporting of handgun losses, background checks and firearms registration. House Democrats filed eight different bills which focused on similar topics. Here’s a look at major new bills filed this week:
IN THE SENATE
Custodial interrogations. S. 906 (Hayes) would require uniform rules for electronic recordings of custodial interrogation, with some exceptions.
Digital assets. S. 908 (Hayes) seeks to create a law that will help personal representatives or others manage and dispose of the digital assets of people who have died or are incapacitated.
Cop car audio, video. S. 913 (L. Martin) calls from audio and video from law enforcement vehicles to be subject to freedom of information laws, but also allow authorities to seek injunctions if they believe releasing the information can cause harm.
Guns. S. 917 (Malloy) calls for a 28-day waiting period for a gun purchase following the start of a criminal background check, which must be passed before the sale can be completed, with several provisions. S. 918 (Malloy) is similar. S. 939 (Kimpson) would make it unlawful to have an assault weapon, with exceptions. S. 940 (Kimpson) would require handgun owners or dealers to immediately report loss or theft of any handgun. S. 941 (Kimpson) would require completion of a background check before sale or exchange of a firearm, with several provisions. S. 942 (Kimpson) would require a permit to be purchased before a weapon is purchased, with several provisions. S. 943 (Kimpson) would require registration of firearms with the state, with several provisions.
Refugees. S. 928 (Bryant) seeks to keep state agencies from accepting new refugees until new federal security measures are adopted, with several provisions.
Cell-free schools. S. 934 (Shealy) would require school districts to prohibit student use of wireless devices during school hours, with other provisions.
Minimum wage. S. 938 (Kimpson) calls for a gradual increase in the state’s minimum wage, with several provisions.
IN THE HOUSE
Voter registration. H. 4382 (Alexander) would require the state Department of Education, State Election commission and county boards of voter registration and election to ensure high school students who are 17 completed a voter registration form and received education about voting, with other provisions.
Ticket quotas. H. 4387 (Bamberg) would keep law enforcement agencies from having “ticket quotas,” with several provisions.
Guns. H. 4388 (Bernstein) would require a 14-day waiting period for purchasers or transferees of firearms, with certain conditions. H. 4399 (Cobb-Hunter) would require completion of a national instant criminal background check before delivery or transfer of a gun, with several provisions. H. 4480 (McLeod) is similar. H. 4419 (Gilliard) would make illegal to deceive or use false information in getting a firearm, with several provisions. H. 4431 (Gilliard) would require manufacturers of toy guns to paint them bright colors. H. 4440 (Gilliard) calls for banning assault weapons, with several provisions. H. 4441 (Gilliard) would add to penalties for unlawful carrying of handguns. H. 4444 (Gilliard) is similar but adds a 10-day waiting period.
Lobbyist cards. H. 4392 (Burns) would require the State Ethics Commission to issue photo identification cards for lobbyists, with several provisions.
Refugees. H. 4396 (Clemmons) calls for a state Office for Refugees and a moratorium on new refugee settlement activities in some instances. H. 4408 (Corley) would keep the state from using money to assist refugees. H. 4477 (Limehouse) is similar but focuses on “Middle Eastern refugees.” H. 4488 (Pitts) is similar to the first two bills.
Judges. H. 4402 (Corley) calls for the partisan election of family court judges, with many provisions. H. 4404 (Corley) would prohibit members of the General Assembly or their families from seeking a judgeship for five years. H. 4406 (Corley) seeks a referendum for popular election of justices of the state Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and state circuit courts.
Confederate flag. H. 4403 (Corley) seeks a statewide advisory referendum on whether to return the Confederate flag to fly on the Statehouse grounds.
Emanuel 9. H. 4418 (Gilliard) seeks a state study committee to look at costs and other considerations of erecting a permanent monument in Marion Square in Charleston to victims of the Emanuel 9 shooting.
Drone registration. H. 4421 (Gilliard) would make it illegal to operate a drone without it being registered with the state. H. 4425 (Gilliard) would make it illegal to operate a drone armed with a weapon. H. 4426 (Gilliard) would create a study commission on use of drones as a law enforcement tool.
Metal detectors. H. 4430 (Gilliard) would require metal detectors at movie theaters, sporting arenas and concert venues.
Shorter session. H. 4479 (M.S. McLeod) seeks to end the session in May, rather than June.
School dress codes. H. 4482 (McKnight) would require a statewide mandatory dress code for schools.
Transportation Commission. H. 4484 (McCoy) would make the State Transportation Department accountable to the governor, who would appoint commissioners, with many provisions.
Term limits. H. 4487 (Pitts) would establish 12-year term limits for the House and Senate, with several provisions.
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