Senate Overrides Majority of Governor’s Vetoes
June 26th, 2008Columbia, SC - As the South Carolina Senate adjourned from a one-day wrap-up session, several significant pieces of legislation will now become law. In all, the General Assembly overrode 15 of the 20 bills vetoed by Governor Sanford since the end of the regular session.
“Today was a very productive day,” says Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston). “We got the sprinkler bill through and we got the DNA bill through today, two important pieces of legislation. We also took care of the school bus fuel, the cost of the elections and made sure that we handled any contingences in a prudent way, which means the lowest possible price to the taxpayer.”
Included in the overrides were eight Senate bills and twelve House bills. The final result of the action taken on the bills is listed below. (O = overridden, S = sustained)
Senate originating bills
S H
O S S.181 Sentence reduction
O O S.577 Increased penalty for assaulting coaches and sports officials
O S S.799 Relating to Acupuncture licensure
O O S.968 Definition of weapons and allowing concealable weapons on Statehouse grounds
O S S.970 Eliminates requirement for DHEC to notify schools when students test positive for HIV/AIDS
O O S.1141 Energy efficient manufactured homes income tax credits
O O S.1143 Energy efficient appliance tax holiday, gun tax holiday, Splash blending for gas
O O S.1252 Centers of Excellence Matching Endowment Funding
House originating bills
S H
O O H.3812 Allows increase in property millage for development around military bases
O O H.3912 Medical Practices Act, Medical Necessity bill
- S H.3993 Historic Baseball Leagues Day - MLB Opening Day
O O H.4339 National Guard retirement benefits
O O H.4470 Fire sprinkler system optional tax credits, limitation of tap fees
O O H.4554 Real estate licenses and fees
O O H.4743 Affordable housing to be included in tax increment financing, allows rural water districts to provide sewer service
O O H.4773 Federal Money for Employment Security Commission building in Spartanburg County
O O H.4815 Film Office moves from Commerce to PRT
S O H.4950 Textiles Revitalization Act
O O H.4982 Dillion County millage increase
O O H.5012 Nurses subject to criminal background checks, must wear name badges
The House and Senate also adopted conference committee reports on two additional bills, which will send them to the Governor’s desk. The bills include:
S. 429 - DNA database and post-conviction relief
H. 4355 - Amends the General Appropriations bill to cover the cost of school bus fuel and the general elections.
In an effort to provide responsible management of state revenue, the Senate and the House passed a new Sine Die resolution (S.1469). The resolution was a proactive move allowing the General Assembly to return if state revenue fall by more than four percent of projected estimates during the first quarter of the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, or if the Governor vetoes amendments to the General Appropriations Bill.
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