About two dozen bills were introduced in the past week in the Senate and another three dozen in the House. Of particular interest:
IN THE SENATE
999 (Wordversion) — Senator Sheheen: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 5-3-120 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF ANNEXATION FOR PROPERTY OWNED BY A CORPORATION, TO PROVIDE THAT BLIGHTED PROPERTY MAY BE ANNEXED BY A MUNICIPALITY BY ORDINANCE UPON CERTAIN FINDINGS PROVIDED THE MUNICIPALITY IS OF A CERTAIN SIZE AND LOCATED WITH A CERTAIN SIZED COUNTY.
1001 (Wordversion) — Senator Sheheen: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 41, TITLE 44 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATED TO ABORTIONS, TO PROVIDE THAT NO PERSON, ENTITY, OR ASSOCIATION SHALL OFFER OR ACCEPT MONEY OR ANYTHING OF VALUE FOR AN ABORTED FETUS OR ANY PORTION OF AN ABORTED FETUS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES.
1003(Wordversion) — Senator Young: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 17, TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THIS STATE MUST BE COMPRISED OF AT LEAST TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE DISTRICT TO RECEIVE STATE APPROPRIATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXCEPTION.
1005 (Wordversion) — Senators Young and Turner: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 11, TITLE 11 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET SYSTEM, TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET OFFICE MUST COMPILE INFORMATION FROM EACH STATE AGENCY AND INSTITUTION DETAILING THE CATEGORIES AND AMOUNTS OF “OTHER FUNDS” BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD FROM THE MOST RECENTLY ENDED FISCAL YEAR INTO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THOSE USES TO WHICH THESE BALANCES WILL BE APPLIED, TO REQUIRE THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET OFFICE TO REPORT ITS COMPILATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR, AND TO DEFINE “OTHER FUNDS”.
1006 (Wordversion) — Senator Hembree: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 48-39-130(D)(10) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO PERMITS REQUIRED FOR COASTAL ZONE CRITICAL AREAS, TO ALLOW FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DREDGE MANMADE, PREDOMINANTLY ARMORED, RECREATIONAL USE CANALS AND ESSENTIAL ACCESS CANALS IN EXISTING NAVIGATIONAL CANAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS WITHOUT HAVING TO OBTAIN A PERMIT.
1017 (Wordversion) — Senators Campsen, L. Martin, Peeler and Massey: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE VI OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS OF THIS STATE, BEGINNING UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION SERVING IN OFFICE ON JANUARY 10, 2019, AND AFTER THE RATIFICATION OF THIS PROVISION, TO DELETE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION FROM THE LIST OF STATE OFFICERS WHICH THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES TO BE ELECTED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, UPON THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, AND MUST SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR, AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROVIDE BY LAW FOR THE DUTIES, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE, AND THE PROCEDURES BY WHICH THE APPOINTMENT IS MADE.
IN THE HOUSE
4701 (Wordversion) — Reps. Pitts, White, G. M. Smith, Simrill, Willis, Hardee, Corley, Duckworth, Fry, Goldfinch, Jordan, Erickson, Delleney, Long, Lowe and Sandifer: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 31, TITLE 23 SO AS TO ENACT THE “SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT” AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE SHALL NOT ENFORCE CERTAIN LAWS, RULES, OR REGULATIONS THAT LIMIT THE RIGHT OF A PERSON TO OWN, POSSESS, OR USE A FIREARM, AMMUNITIONS, OR FIREARM ACCESSORIES, ACCEPT CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDS THAT REQUIRE FIREARMS TO BE REGISTERED OR CONFISCATED, OR EXPEND ANY STATE FUNDS TOWARD THE ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LAWS, RULES, OR REGULATIONS THAT REQUIRE FIREARMS TO BE REGISTERED OR CONFISCATED.
4702 (Wordversion) — Rep. Pitts: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 85 TO TITLE 40 TO ENACT THE “SOUTH CAROLINA RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM REGISTRY LAW” SO AS TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS BEFORE WORKING AS A JOURNALIST FOR A MEDIA OUTLET AND FOR MEDIA OUTLETS BEFORE HIRING A JOURNALIST; TO REQUIRE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF A RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM REGISTRY BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE; TO AUTHORIZE REGISTRY FEES; TO ESTABLISH FINES AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THE CHAPTER; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
4706(Wordversion) — Reps. McKnight, King, M. S. McLeod, Knight, Tinkler, Mitchell, Williams, Cobb-Hunter, Bamberg and Ridgeway: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 31, TITLE 23 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO SELL OR GIVE A FIREARM TO A PERSON WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS PROVISION.
4710 (Wordversion) — Reps. McKnight, Henegan and King: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 23-23-45 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS A CANDIDATE TO BECOME A CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THIS STATE MUST SUCCESSFULLY PASS A DRUG TEST THAT INCLUDES A TEST FOR THE UNLAWFUL USE OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS BEFORE HE MAY RECEIVE HIS CERTIFICATION, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MUST UNDERGO RANDOM DRUG TESTING THROUGHOUT THEIR PERIOD OF CERTIFICATION, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL DRUG TESTING MUST BE CONDUCTED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL, AND TO PROVIDE THAT LAWFUL USE OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS SHALL NOT PROHIBIT A CANDIDATE FROM RECEIVING OR MAINTAINING CERTIFICATION.
4716 (Wordversion) — Reps. Lowe, Clemmons, Duckworth, Johnson, Jordan, H. A. Crawford, Fry, Sandifer, Whitmire, Erickson, Long, Anderson, G. A. Brown, Herbkersman, Hosey, Pitts, Thayer, Weeks and White: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE “SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICER ACT”; BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 66, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR, THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAY DESIGNATE EMPLOYEES AS SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICERS, TO PROVIDE ARMED PROTECTION AND OTHER RELATED PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS, TO DEFINE RELATED TERMINOLOGY, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 23-23-112 SO AS TO CREATE A CATEGORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS KNOWN AS CLASS 4 FOR THE DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICERS, TO PROVIDE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COUNCIL MUST DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR RELATED TRAINING THAT MUST BE OFFERED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY, TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TRAINING, AND TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 16-23-420, RELATING TO THE EXEMPTIONS FROM THE PROHIBITION OF POSSESSING FIREARMS ON PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY, SO AS TO EXEMPT SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICERS; TO REDESIGNATE CHAPTER 66, TITLE 59 AS “SCHOOL SAFETY”, AND TO REDESIGNATE SECTIONS 59-66-20, 59-66-30 AND 59-66-40 AS “GENERAL PROVISIONS”.
4717 (Wordversion) — Reps. White, Lucas, Hiott, Simrill, G. M. Smith, Lowe, Whitmire, Taylor, George, V. S. Moss, J. E. Smith, M. S. McLeod, Bowers, Corley, Parks, McKnight, Douglas, Knight, Erickson, Merrill, Sandifer, Willis, Kirby, Clary, Cobb-Hunter, Hardee, Duckworth, Johnson, Limehouse, Clyburn, Bales, Horne, Stavrinakis, Hayes, Yow, Neal, Kennedy, Newton, Huggins, Tinkler, Riley, Howard, King, Henegan, Williams, Anthony, Clemmons, Crosby, Cole, Daning, Dillard, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, Herbkersman, Hixon, Hosey, Loftis, Long, Pitts, Rivers, Rutherford, Ryhal, G. R. Smith, Wells and W. J. McLeod: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 46-1-160 SO AS TO CREATE THE “SOUTH CAROLINA FARM AID FUND” TO ASSIST FARMERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED AT LEAST A FORTY PERCENT LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AS A RESULT OF A NATURAL DISASTER, TO CREATE THE FARM AID BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE FUND, AND TO SPECIFY ELIGIBILITY AND GRANT AMOUNTS.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!