Senate Closes Session on Successful Note
Filed Under Caucus, Hayes, Martin, Peeler, Ritchie, Thomas, Top News | Leave a Comment
Columbia, SC - The South Carolina Senate closed the regular session today still debating tough issues. In the waning moments of the session the Senate brokered an agreement on the concealed weapons reciprocity bill (H.3212), which expands the number of states recognizing South Carolina’s concealed weapons permits to at least 27. The Senate was also able to build consensus on several DNA bills that were added as amendments to S.429, the final details of a conference committee report will be considered when the General Assembly reconvenes later this month for a final wrap-up session.
Overall this session was highlighted by reform measures being passed on several high profile issues: illegal immigration, DUI, education, and small business health care.
“Immigration reform was the bright and shining star of this session, because it took everyone working together to come up with a viable solution,” says Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee). “I would consider this a correction session. The Senate made significant changes to DUI, education and illegal immigration. I am most pleased that despite a lean budget, we were able to put almost $100 million of new general fund money into K-12 education.”
The biggest topic of the year, immigration reform, came to a final resolution this week when Governor Mark Sanford signed the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act into law. The nation’s strongest and most comprehensive immigration reform law was the result of two years of work by Senate leaders, particularly Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg).
“After two years of hard work, South Carolina now has the strongest, most comprehensive illegal immigration reform law in the country. In addition to a strong E-Verify requirement for all employers, this law addresses all of the key issues in the fight against illegal immigration,” says Senator Ritchie.
The Senate passed a new DUI law this year that significantly increases penalties for those convicted of DUI. The bill established a tiered system of offenses and penalties. Those convicted of DUI for the first time face the possibility of increased jail time and fines. The new reform bill also removed many of the legal loopholes that have been exploited in the past by defense attorneys. Senator Larry Martin (R-Pickens) Chaired the Joint Legislative Conference Committee that hammered out the final agreement on the bill.
“The Senate took two major steps in strengthening the state’s DUI laws,” says Senator Martin. “First, the Senate removed the cumbersome requirement that officers provide multiple roadside warnings to those suspected of DUI. Second, the Senate created a tiered system for first-time offenders that increases penalties for people whose blood alcohol content is above .16.”
The Education Accountability Act became a big issue this session as legislators discussed the elimination of the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT). The ten-year-old test was scheduled to expire and educators wanted to replace the test, which they claim does not provide the individual assessments needed to benefit students. Senator Wes Hayes (R-York) shepherded the bill through the Senate.
“This is possibly the most important education bill that passed the General Assembly this session,” says Senator Hayes. “This bill makes some significant changes to the accountability system. Testing will not only measure how our schools and students are performing, but will provide teachers the diagnostic feedback needed to help individual students improve.”
Small businesses are now able to join together to form “Healthcare Cooperatives,” thanks in large part to the Senate Republican Caucus. The law allows a group of 10 or more industry-related, small businesses to join together for the purpose of purchasing group insurance, which often provides cheaper rates than can be negotiated by an individual business. Senator David Thomas (R-Greenville), Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, was one of the top advocates for the bill during the last two legislative sessions.
“This law will increase the affordability of health insurance for small business throughout South Carolina,” says Senator Thomas. “We need to do all we can to help small business be as competitive as possible, and this bill is a key step in that direction.”
The General Assembly is expected to return for no more than three legislative days between June 17 and 27, to consider gubernatorial vetoes, conference committee reports and a limited number of other items outlined in the Sine Die resolution.
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Senate Approves Education Accountability Reform Bill Removes PACT
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Columbia, SC - The South Carolina Senate today gave key approval to the Education Accountability Act Reform Bill (H.4662). The bill specifically stipulates, “the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) no longer meets the requirements” for a statewide assessment test. The bill does not make any changes to the grades to be tested (3-8) or the four core-subjects currently tested. The State Board of Education, the Department of Education and the Education Oversight Committee must now establish a new assessment test for the 2008-09 school year.
“This is possibly the most important education bill that we will pass in the General Assembly this session,” says Senator Wes Hayes (R-York). “This bill makes some significant changes to the accountability system. Testing will not only measures how our schools and students are performing, but provide teachers the diagnostic feedback needed to help individual students improve.” Senator Hayes served as the chairman of the subcommittee that worked on the Education Accountability Act Reform Bill.
In addition to improving testing accountability the bill also makes changes to school accountability requirements. Currently, schools are required to produce an annual report card on their performance which is typically about ten-pages in length. The bill now requires that only a two-page synopsis be printed with the balance of the report card to be made available online. This change will provide parents with the information needed to evaluate their child’s school and save approximately $500,000 annually.
The Accountability Reform bill also streamlines teacher paperwork by removing the requirement for an individual academic plan, aligns student performance evaluations with other states, and ensures a five-year review process. The bill changes the designation given to under performing schools from “unsatisfactory” to “schools at-risk.”
The bill will receive a routine third reading before being returned to the House. Senator Hayes says he does not anticipate any major obstacles preventing the bill from making it to the Governor’s desk before the end of this legislative session.
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Senate Summary | Week of March 31 - April 3, 2008
Filed Under Alexander, Caucus, Cleary, Hayes, Knotts, Leatherman, Martin, McConnell, Peeler, Ritchie, Top News | Leave a Comment
Quote of the Week: “After looking at this year’s budget I think the Governor should change the name of Pork and Barrel to Olive Oyl and Twiggy.”
Senate Finance Committee Vice-Chairman Senator Harvey Peeler, referencing the piglets Governor Mark Sanford brought into the State House during the 2004 budget process and the elimination of
special project spending in the budget approved by the Senate Finance Committee this week.
Pork-free Budget Passes Senate Finance Committee
The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence), approved an appropriations bill that clearly demonstrates education is a top priority for the Senate. The $7 billion budget fully funds the Education Finance Act, maintains the school bus replacement program, and continues four-year-old kindergarten among other educational priorities.
Based on warning signals from the Board of Economic Advisors the Senate started its budget process assuming available revenue would be $50 million less than the House budget. In order to address this deficiency the Senate eliminated $30 million in special projects included in the House version of the budget.
Details of the budget include funding the Education Finance Act with $2,578 per student, replacing 551 school buses this year as part of the 15-year cycle program, funding teacher salaries at $300 above the Southeastern average, and providing a 2% pay raise for other state employees.
Money from the SC Education Lottery was used to fully fund Life, Hope and Palmetto Fellows Scholarships eliminating the need to use money from the general fund. The Senate version of the budget also provides continued funding to four-year-old kindergarten programs in 35 school districts.
On average state agencies will receive a 3.6% cut in funding under the Senate plan. Senate floor debate on the appropriations bill is expected to begin April 15.
Broadband Plan Moves to Senate Floor
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved an amendment to H.4735 creating the South Carolina Educational Broadband Service Commission. The seven-member commission would be charged with obtaining and evaluating proposals from private broadband providers seeking to lease South Carolina Educational Television’s excess broadcasting bandwidth.
Beginning in 2009, ETV will begin a process of opening much of its licensed spectrum for other uses, including wireless broadband Internet availability. The bill was placed on the Senate calendar on Thursday, April 3 and is expected to receive a key second reading next week.
Candidate Drug Testing Caught-up in Filibuster
The Democrat filibuster of the Candidate Drug Testing bill continued this week on the Senate floor. The Senate Republican Caucus hopes to bring the debate to a close and move the bill to the House prior to budget discussions that are expected to begin April 15.
Cigarette Tax Increase Narrowly Passes Senate Finance Committee
The Senate Finance Committee narrowly agreed, on Wednesday, April 2, to a proposal that would increase taxes on cigarettes by fifty cents a pack. The proposed increase was the product of more than six-months of work by a Special Senate Finance Subcommittee, led by Senator Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee).
The initial proposal submitted by the subcommittee was voted down; however the Finance committee did accept an amendment to the proposal by a 12-11 vote. The measure now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Debate on the bill could begin as early as Tuesday, April 8.
DUI Conference Committee Reaches Agreement
The Joint Legislative Conference Committee on DUI Reform, chaired by Senator Larry Martin (R-Pickens), finalized work on a stronger DUI law for South Carolina on Thursday, April 3. The agreement provides for a tiered structure of penalties tied to the blood-alcohol concentration of the driver and removes some of the roadblocks to prosecuting drunk drivers.
Both the House and Senate must approve the conference committee report before it heads to the Governor’s Office. Governor Sanford has indicated his desire for a strong DUI bill and is expected to sign the bill once approved by the General Assembly.
Education Subcommittee Reviews Accountability Act
A Senate K-12 Education Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Wes Hayes (R-York), met on Tuesday, April 1, and reported-out, with amendment, the Education Accountability Act (H.4662). The amendment passed by the committee moves forward the first testing date of the Elementary and Middle School Assessment Program (EMSAP) to the 2008-2009 school-term. The amendment also revised the school Education Oversight Committee’s School Report Card methodology, changing the “unsatisfactory” classification to “priority.” The full Education Committee will consider the bill on Wednesday, April 9.
Immigration Conference Committee Nears Agreement
Senate and House conference committee members working on the Illegal Immigration Reform Act (S.392) are close to a final agreement. Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg), following the Wednesday, April 2, meeting, announced his intention to finalize the committee’s work in hopes of sending a comprehensive illegal immigration reform bill to the Governor in the next two weeks.
The joint conference committee is expected to meet again next week for a final review of the bill prior to taking the bill back to the General Assembly for final approval.
Judiciary Subcommittee Prepares for DPS Director Confirmation Hearings
Even before a Department of Public Safety Director nominee has been presented, Senate Judiciary Chairman Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) assembled a subcommittee to determine what questions should be asked of a prospective candidate. The subcommittee, being chaired by Senator McConnell, also includes Senators Robert Ford (D-Charleston), Jake Knotts (R-Lexington), Vincent Sheheen (D-Kershaw) and Ray Cleary (R-Georgetown).
“We are interested in understanding what a new director will be confronted with in terms of challenges, and we want to know how that person plans on dealing with those challenges,” says Senator McConnell.
The subcommittee hopes to focus the information requested and needed by the full Senate Judiciary Committee prior to the beginning of confirmation hearings. After the meeting, Senator McConnell issued a memo to Senate Judiciary staff outlining the scope of the research to be conducted.
Post Conviction DNA Testing
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee working on an amendment to S.429, the Post-Conviction DNA Procedures Act, completed its mission this week. The amendment will be on the Senate Judiciary agenda when the full committee meets Tuesday, April 8.
Sprinkler Tax-Credit Plan Heads to Senate Floor
The Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, chaired by Senator Greg Ryberg (R-Aiken), met on Thursday, April 3, concerning the “Sprinkler Bill” (S.860). The committee approved an amendment to the bill that would provide a property tax credit of up to 25% of the direct expenses related to the voluntary installation of sprinklers in a commercial or residential structure. The bill now heads to the full Senate and is expected to be on the calendar Wednesday, April 9.
Water -Withdrawal Permitting on Senate Calendar
The water-withdrawal permitting bill (S.428) was placed on the Senate calendar this week; however, the bill is being contested, which prevents the bill moving forward without being set for Special Order.
Senate Summary | Week of March 31 - April 3, 2008
Filed Under Alexander, Caucus, Cleary, Hayes, Knotts, Leatherman, Martin, McConnell, Peeler, Ritchie | 1 Comment
Quote of the Week: “After looking at this year¹s budget I think the
Governor should change the name of Pork and Barrel to Olive Oyl and
Twiggy.”
