Last week we finished up our 8th week of the legislative session in the SC House by passing a new ethics reform package and a bill that shortens the legislative session. My colleagues and I worked diligently to clear the House calendar as we focus on the annual budget debate this week. Unlike Washington, we take time to balance our budget each year. I take a conservative approach to allocating state funds, and I value your input. 

 

Several small business owners in our district have stated that Government red tape and over-regulation burden job creators and stifle small business start-ups. We passed a regulatory reform law in the House placing a sunset provision on all future regulations. Many regulations are outdated, and this new measure would give an automatic expiration to regulations five years after implementation. This ensures an ongoing review of our regulations and provides the business community's opportunity to have input. The bill now heads to the Senate, and I hope they will join us in lending a hand to the businesses and innovators that drive our state's economy.

 

Concealed Weapon Permits

I authored a bill last week with over 60 co-sponsors to give us concealed weapon reciprocity with Georgia. Bill H.3799 calls for South Carolina to automatically recognize the concealed weapons permits issued by Georgia and North Carolina. This bill will remove the difficulties of legally carrying firearms while traveling between South Carolina and Georgia.

Preventing Hot Car Deaths 

Last week the House of Representatives amended, approved, and sent to the Senate H.3145, a bill Shielding from legal liability those who take actions to prevent hot car deaths of children as well as the elderly and other vulnerable adults who are left unattended in locked motor vehicles. The legislation provides circumstances in which individuals are immune from civil liability from damage resulting from their forcible entry into a locked motor vehicle to remove a minor

or vulnerable adult whom they reasonably believe is in imminent danger of suffering harm if not removed.  Conditions for this legal immunity include contacting law enforcement or emergency medical services about the forcible entry into the vehicle and waiting nearby with the rescued individual until emergency responders arrive
 

Two Road Plans

Representative Tommy Stringer introduced H.3580, which is Governor Haley's Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act. This legislation pairs an increase in the gas tax from of 10 cents per gallon with a decrease in the state's income tax from 7% to 5%. These measures are followed by additional reforms at the SC Department of Transportation. This would include the appointment of a Secretary of DOT and the elimination of the current seven member board. Governor Haley would appoint the Secretary with the advice and consent of the Senate.Representative Gary Simrill introduced H.3579 which is the culmination of months of work by the House Ad Hoc Committee on Infrastructure. This bill would transfer a portion of roads maintained by SC Department of Transportation (the fourth largest system in the country) to local governments. It would also include replacing the current user fee on gasoline with an excise tax of 6%. Additionally, the bill would increase the automobile sales tax cap from $300 to $500.

With both plans filed late this week, it is to early to tell which bill might move first; however, House Speaker Jay Lucus indicated he expects the House to work on crafting a plan that combines pieces of both plans.

Revising Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements

The House also approved and sent to the Senate H.3193, a bill revising campaign finance requirements relating to primary elections. The legislation revises the manner in which campaign contributions are attributed to a primary election and to a primary election runoff by providing that, if there is a primary runoff, a contribution made after the date of the primary and through the date of the primary runoff is attributed to the primary runoff.

Palmetto Pride  The House amended, approved and sent to the Senate H.3035, the "Take Palmetto Pride in Where You Live Act". The legislation establishes the twelve-member Take Palmetto Pride in Where You Live Commission under the Department of Natural Resources to serve as the lead agency for statewide litter removal, litter reduction and prevention, and litter law enforcement through facilitating communication, cooperation and coordination of the efforts and resources of state agencies, local governments, the private profit and nonprofit sectors, business, and industry.  Comprised of the directors and presidents of various departments, agencies, and associations, the members of the commission all serve in an ex officio capacity, and payment of any mileage, per diem, or subsistence is the responsibility of the department or organization the member represents.  Charged with forming and maintaining a Strategic State Plan for Litter, the commission is to be staffed by the Department of Natural Resources and must meet at least twice a year.  

 

Hunting and Taking of Wild Turkey

The House amended, approved, and sent to the Senate H.3118, legislation relating to the hunting and taking of wild turkey, including conservation measures that may be needed to address observed declines in the state's wild turkey population.  This bill restructures the provisions for the hunting and taking of male wild turkeys so that they are, temporarily, the same across the state, providing for an expanded season for most of the state.   The bill reduces the season bag limit from five to three for male wild turkeys which may be taken with archery equipment or any lawful firearm and ammunition, and provides for an additional turkey taken during open season with an archery only tag.  The legislation establishes the Saturday preceding March 20 of each year as "South Carolina Youth Turkey Hunting Day" and provides for certain waivers during this special hunting day that apply to a youth hunter under the age of eighteen who is accompanied in the field by a licensed hunter who is at least twenty-one years old.  After the third turkey season conducted under the legislation's statewide unified provisions, the Department of Natural Resources must conduct an analysis of the wild turkey resources in South Carolina and draft a report recommending any changes to the wild turkey season and bag limits.  This report must be submitted to the General Assembly and DNR is required to produce an annual report on wild turkey resources which must be submitted to the chairman of the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee, and the chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.  The legislation's provisions for the statewide unified turkey seasons and related revisions are to remain in effect until November 7, 2018, and at such time will revert back to the original law.  DNR is authorized to promulgate emergency regulations considered necessary and expedient for the proper control of the harvesting of wild turkeys in the state's game zones.  The legislation enhances penalties for violations and provides for required tags to be validated before a turkey is moved from the point of kill.