Month: January 2015

H.3419 would make the offense of unlawfully carrying a handgun a felony with a potential penalty of a $10,000 fine and 10 years in prison. Under current law unlawful carrying…

Companion bills H.3413 and S.409 are an attempt to allow ridesharing companies (Uber and other similar services) to operate legally without having to obtain class c certificates from the public service commission as is…

H.3404 would create new felonies and accompanying sentences for offenses against a person (think murder, assault, etc.), or destroying or defacing property, if the offense was committed with the intent…

Companion bills H.3396 and S.16 would amend state law to stipulate that worker’s compensation laws in South Carolina do not apply to any employees for which there is jurisdiction under either the…

Oh, the danger that lurks beneath H.3410. This amendment seeks to establish the Commission on General Assembly Compensation. With the recent attention on ethics reform and rebuilding public trust, citizens…

It would appear that S.333 seeks to limit prison sentences for public officials who commit felonies or misdemeanors. For felonies and misdemeanors alike, the amendment states that any official who…

THE HOUSE PLAN HAS THIS IN COMMON WITH THE GOVERNOR’S: IT ASSUMES WE HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM. Nearly a week after the governor released her plan to fix South Carolina roads,…

SOUTH CAROLINA’S REGULATORY REGIME DOESN’T PROTECT CONSUMERS, PLACES UNACCOUNTABLE POWER IN THE HANDS OF A FEW POLITICIANS, AND OUGHT TO BE ROLLED BACK – STARTING WITH THE TAXI INDUSTRY. HERE’S HOW TO…

H.3375 would prohibit the issuance of an alcohol retail dealer’s license if issuing the license would increase a county’s license ratio past one license per 7,500 residents. The bill would also…

H.3373 and H.3774 would require the Board of Technical and Comprehensive Education to collaborate with DEW, CHE, DOE, and other alphabet soup agencies to  establish a manufacturing career pathway for students within…

H.3370 would allow Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) decisions on the issuance, denial, renewal, suspension, or revocation of permits, licenses, or other actions to be appealed directly to the…

H.3360 would put in a place a moratorium on foreclosures of mortgages secured by residential real estate for a period of 180 days. In other words lending institutions will be…

H.3348 is yet another bill regulating pharmacies filed by pharmacist Kit Spires. The bill would require any pharmacy located outside of South Carolina that engages in the “manufacture, production, sale, distribution,…

H.3339 is a reintroduction of last session’s H.4624. If passed H.3339 would represent a significant step on the road to school choice for all South Carolina children and parents. The bill would allow…

THE GOVERNOR’S PLAN IS A SHELL GAME THAT WOULD DO LITTLE TO IMPROVE S.C.’S ROADS Gov. Nikki Haley’s plan to fix South Carolina’s decrepit roads and bridges and lower income taxes will…

As Amended by the House Judiciary Committee H.3184 combines a reorganizing of the ethics committees and commissions with an alteration of criminal penalties for select ethical violations. The first portion of…

H.3209 would require either a new state lottery game be created with all revenues going towards k-12 education, or the revenues of an existing state lottery be dedicated entirely to…

S.312 would amend tax law to allow the state income tax brackets to be adjusted for inflation at the same rate federal income tax brackets are adjusted by the IRS. Under…

H.3262 would impose two new “user fees” of 5 cents each to increase the overall state gas tax by 10 cents. The revenues generated by these new taxes would be credited…

S.128 would legally authorize the issuance of prepaid medical services, as a product that is distinct from health insurance. Prepaid medical services are defined as medical services provided by one or…

S.94 would prohibit the governing board of any school district from issuing general obligations bonds for the purpose of general operating expenses. The effect of a school district defaulting on obligations…

 S.51 would mandate the General Assembly appropriate funds to provide wifi (wireless internet) in all public schools. Once all public schools have access to wifi the bill would mandate funds be…

MEET THIS YEAR’S GIANT ‘ETHICS BILL’ The legislative session has only just begun, but somehow lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee are already poised to pass an omnibus ethics reform bill.…

THE GOVERNOR DOUBLES DOWN, PHONES IT IN Update* Budget documents prepared by the Executive Budget Office not available at the time of initial publication reveal an even larger executive budget. The…

H.3199 legally restricts the use of contributions accepted by candidates to retire campaign debt to the purpose for which they were intended. In other words, these contributions can be used only…

 H.3185 is an attempt to strengthen the penalties for various ethics violations. Under the proposed law, both offering a bribe to a public official or witness in order to influence testimony,…

 H. 3195 seems to ban using campaign funds to pay fines, fees, or other charges as a result of a criminal charges. The prohibition, however, would only apply once an elected…

H.3187  aims to rectify a constitutional issue in South Carolina’s code. Due to a 2010 court ruling which found South Carolina’s definition of “ committee” unconstitutional, the state is without a legal definition on…

 H.3176 would prohibit legislators and the governor from soliciting or accepting contributions any time the General Assembly is in session. There would still, however, be no limitations on the uses of…

H.3186 would require lawmakers to disclose their private income sources and require more disclosure on their Statement of Economic Interests (SEI). Unfortunately, the bill fails to require the reporting of all…