Senate Summary
Filed Under Top News, Caucus, Verdin, Rankin, Martin, Campsen
Week of March 11 - 13, 2008
Quote of the Week: All I want is to leave enough water in the river for it to remain a river.
Senator Chip Campsen (R-Charleston) commenting on minimum flow standards discussed in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
Candidate Drug Testing Bill to be Screened on Senate Floor The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 1070, a.k.a the Candidate Drug Testing Bill, on Tuesday, March 11. The debate on the bill, while serious, certainly had its moments of levity, including an amendment by a senior Democrat senator to include IQ test results with candidate filing papers. The amendment was immediately voted down.
The bill is now on the Senate calendar awaiting debate.
Budget Hearings Continue
Senate Finance Subcommittee budget hearings continued this week. Subcommittees holding budget hearings included: Constitutional and Administrative, Health and Human Services, Higher Education, and Natural Resources and Economic Development. Senate subcommittee budget hearings are expected to continue over the next two weeks with full Senate Finance Committee budget hearings expected to begin April 15.
Common Law Marriage - To Be Or Not To Be The Senate continued its debate this week on a bill (H.3427) that would eliminate common law marriages. Senator Luke Rankin (R-Horry) debated the bill on Tuesday, March 11, and retained the floor for further debate on Wednesday, March 12. In a procedural move to end the debate, Senator Larry Martin made a cloture motion requesting a vote to end the debate. According to Senate Rules it takes a simply majority vote (24 of 46) to end a debate. The vote failed on Tuesday, March 11, and again on Wednesday, March 12, at which time debate was adjourned until Wednesday, March 19, with Senator Rankin retaining the floor.
Concealed Weapons Permit Reciprocity Expanded
The state Senate, lead by the Republican Caucus, gave key approval this week to a measure increasing reciprocity for concealed weapons permit holders. The bill (H.3212) increases the number of states that will recognize South Carolinas concealed weapons permit while allowing an additional 14 states permit holders to legally carry a concealed weapon in South Carolina. H. 3212 provides for the recognition of valid out-of-state permits by residents of a reciprocal state as long as the reciprocal state requires applicants to successfully pass a state and federal criminal background check and a firearms safety and training course. Residents from other states will be subject to the same concealed weapons permit laws as South Carolinians while in the state.
Immigration Reform Conference Committee Advances Efforts The Joint Legislative Conference Committee working on the Illegal Immigration Reform Bill (S.392), met for the second time on Tuesday, March 11. The committee is working toward a comprehensive and effective plan to combat illegal immigration.
The committee adopted language from both the House and Senate versions of the bill concerning a Memorandum of Understanding with federal officials under the 287-G program. The committee also adopted a change to the overall withholding from six-percent to seven-percent that businesses are charged when they engage in the hiring of people who are unlawfully in the United States.
Committee members briefly discussed the Senates proposed hotline, to be maintained by the Commission on Minority Affairs, which would gather information on possible illegal immigration violations and abuse. House members requested additional time to review the specifics of the hotline before moving to adopt final language.
The next meeting of the committee will be scheduled based on the availability of House members who were engaged in budget debates this week and will be on recess next week.
Judiciary Committee Meeting Produces List of Legislation Headed to Full Senate
S. 88 -Passed as amended -Prohibits municipal assessments on certain minor traffic violations.
S. 675 -Passed as amended- Authorizes utility police officers and a procedure of appointment.
S. 955 -Passed-Revises a portion of the boundaries between North and South Carolina.
S. 968 -Passed-Removes a knife with a blade less than two-inches long from the definition of a weapon, unless used to commit a crime.
S. 1033-Passed- Designates the color INDIGO BLUE as the official color of the State.
S. 1039-Passed as amended-Allows landowners, of 25 acres or more, to discharge a firearm to protect family, employees or the general public from a dangerous animal.
S. 1041-Passed as amended-Increases penalties for cockfighting to that of a felony.
S.1058- Passed-Establishes the South Carolina Childrens Fund S. 1070-Passed as amended-Requires those filing to be a candidate for elected office to submit testing results for illegal drugs to be submitted with filling papers.
H.3219- Passed-Moves contested OSHA violations to the Administrative Law Court
H.4364- Passed as amended- Allows persons less than 21 years of age to lawfully possess handguns if engaged in the business of dealing in firearms in the ordinary course of business.
All bills passed or passed as amended where given a favorable report by the Senate Judiciary Committee and were placed on the Senate calendar for consideration. On Thursday, March 13, Senate Bills 88, 675, 955, 968 and 1033 received Second Reading and are expected to receive a final vote next week; all other bills listed above are on the Senate calendar for consideration.
Monitoring Bracelet Bill Sent to House
A bill (S.333) allowing judges to require those convicted of a second DUI to wear a monitoring bracelet was given a third reading in the Senate on Wednesday, March 12. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bracelet monitors the alcohol content in trace amounts of sweat found on the skin. Those ordered to wear the bracelet would be required to abstain from alcohol consumption for a period of 30-60 days.
Water Withdrawal Permitting Bill Debate Spills Over to Next Week The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Senator Danny Verdin (R-Laurens), met on Thursday, March 13, to discuss the highly anticipated water withdrawal-permitting bill. Much of the discussion centered on the minimum flow standards currently in the bill and the methodology used to establish those standards. After more than an hour of debate, Senator Verdin requested the interested stakeholders be prepared to make presentations next week outlining their argument concerning minimum flow and withdrawal. The next full Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 19.
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