South Carolina Bills

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 10, 2018

H 3243: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT "FARGO'S AND HYCO'S LAW"; TO AMEND ARTICLE 11, TITLE 47, RELATING TO THE TEASING, MALTREATING, AND INJURING OF POLICE DOGS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH WILFULLY OR MALICIOUSLY TORTURING, MUTILATING, INJURING, DISABLING, POISONING, OR KILLING A POLICE DOG OR HORSE, AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CHANGE; TO AMEND SECTION 47-3-940, RELATING TO A PERSON WITH RECKLESS DISREGARD TO INJURING, DISABLING, OR CAUSING THE DEATH OF A GUIDE DOG OR SERVICE ANIMAL, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 47-3-960, RELATING TO A PERSON INTENTIONALLY INJURING, DISABLING, OR CAUSING THE DEATH OF A GUIDE DOG OR SERVICE ANIMAL, SO AS TO MAKE THIS OFFENSE A FELONY RATHER THAN A MISDEMEANOR AND INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION.

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Huggins, Ballentine

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 9, 2018

H 4409: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 23-31-215, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF CONCEALED WEAPON PERMITS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CHURCH OR RELIGIOUS SANCTUARY THAT ALLOWS A PERMIT HOLDER TO CARRY A WEAPON UPON ITS PREMISES IS NOT CIVILLY OR CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR THE ACT OF GRANTING SUCH PERMISSION IN THE EVENT OF AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A HOLDER OF A PERMIT.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 9, 2018

S 801: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 22-8-10(1) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO MAGISTRATES' COMPENSATION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF MAGISTRATES BY SENATORIAL DELEGATION.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 9, 2018

H 4508: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE COUNTY BOARDS OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION OF A COUNTY TO REMOVE FOR CAUSE A MEMBER OF A COUNTY BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS WHOSE APPOINTMENT THE DELEGATION RECOMMENDED PURSUANT TO LAW AFTER THE MEMBER IS GIVEN A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF REASONS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 9, 2018

H 4419: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2018, THE TERMS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ARE FOR FOUR YEARS, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SERVING IN OFFICE ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2018, MAY NOT SERVE IN A HOLDOVER CAPACITY FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF THEIR TERMS.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 9, 2018

H 4415: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION, AS PREVIOUSLY CONSTITUTED, IS RECONSTITUTED TO CONTINUE IN EXISTENCE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-20, RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP, ELECTION, AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2018 GENERAL ELECTION, SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MUST BE PUBLICLY ELECTED BY THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE RESPECTIVE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN WHICH THE MEMBERS RESIDE, TO PROVIDE FOR FOUR-YEAR TERMS, TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM AGE AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE EACH SHALL APPOINT ONE COMMISSIONER TO SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE RESPECTIVE APPOINTING AUTHORITY.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 9, 2018

S 804: A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 3, TITLE 24 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS INVOLVING THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM, BY ADDING SECTION 24-3-975, TO PROVIDE THAT, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS WITHIN OR INTRODUCE UPON THE GROUNDS OF A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY A TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE, TO DEFINE THE TERM "TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE," TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE COURTS IN WHICH A VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION MUST BE ADJUDICATED.

Referred to Committee on Corrections and Penology

in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 9, 2018

S 754: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 58-33-300 TO DISALLOW RECOVERY OF COSTS FOR A BASE LOAD REVIEW PLANT NOT CURRENTLY GENERATING POWER; TO AMEND SECTION 58-31-30(A)(13) TO PROHIBIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY FROM INCLUDING COSTS FOR A JOINTLY OWNED PROJECT THAT IS SUBJECT TO AN EXISTING BASE LOAD REVIEW ORDER; TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO REDUCE ELECTRIC RATES FOR SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS BY EIGHTEEN PERCENT FOR THE PORTION ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ABANDONED NUCLEAR UNITS; TO PROHIBIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY FROM CHARGING IN ITS RATES THE FOUR AND THREE-TENTHS PERCENT ATTRIBUTED TO THE ABANDONED NUCLEAR UNITS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-220(20) TO INCLUDE THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY IN THE DEFINITION OF "UTILITY" IN THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-225 TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS RELATED TO ABANDONMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-275(A) TO REQUIRE THAT THE UTILITY PROVIDE ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR A BASE LOAD REVIEW ORDER TO BE A FINAL AND BINDING DETERMINATION AND TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PARTY MAY CHALLENGE A BASE LOAD REVIEW ORDER IF A UTILITY FAILS TO SATISFY THE ESTABLISHED PARAMETERS IN THIS SECTION, WITH THE UTILITY BEARING THE BURDEN OF PROOF; TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-277(A) TO REQUIRE A UTILITY TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING THE ISSUANCE OF A BASE LOAD REVIEW ORDER, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY REQUIRE; TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-280(K) and (L) TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS RELATED TO ABANDONMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-5(1) TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "BUSINESS WITH WHICH HE IS ASSOCIATED;" TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-20 TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONERS TO FIVE MEMBERS, AND TO REMOVE QUALIFICATION EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 OF TITLE 58 TO ADD SECTION 58-3-21 TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO BALANCE CONCERNS OF THE CONSUMER, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB ATTRACTION AND RETENTION, AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE FINANCIAL INTEGRITY OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC UTILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-60 TO REMOVE THE PROHIBITION ON THE COMMISSION'S ABILITY TO INSPECT, AUDIT, OR EXAMINE PUBLIC UTILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-70 TO PROVIDE THAT THE SALARY FOR EACH COMMISSIONER MUST BE THE SAME AMOUNT AS ESTABLISHED FOR A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-130 TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION MAY DEMAND CERTAIN INFORMATION, AND THAT THE INFORMATION MUST BE FURNISHED TO THE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-140 TO ADD A SUBSECTION REQUIRING THE COMMISSION TO SUPERVISE AND REGULATE ANY JOINT OWNERSHIP PROJECT AND FACILITY, IN ITS ENTIRETY, BETWEEN A PUBLIC UTILITY AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 58-3-190 AND 58-3-200 RELATED TO THE COMMISSION'S ABILITY TO INSPECT, AUDIT, OR EXAMINE ENTITIES SUBJECT TO THE COMMISSION'S JURISDICTION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-225 TO REQUIRE EACH PARTY TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMISSION ALL INFORMATION RELEVANT TO A MATTER PENDING BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A WILFUL AND INTENTIONAL FAILURE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-5(1) TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "BUSINESS WITH WHICH HE IS ASSOCIATED;" TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-10 TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF TO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC INTEREST BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-20 TO ADD A CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-30(A) TO AMEND QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; TO AMEND SUBSECTION 58-4-50(A) TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF HAS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE INSPECTIONS, AUDITS, OR EXAMINATIONS OF PUBLIC UTILITIES AS REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-55 TO GIVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF THE ABILITY TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS AND SUBPOENAS DUCES TECUM, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A WILFULL AND INTENTIONAL FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION; TO AMEND SUBSECTION 58-31-20(A) TO PROVIDE QUALIFICATIONS AND REVISE THE LENGTH OF TERMS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY; TO AMEND SECTION 58-31-30(A)(14) TO REQUIRE A REVIEW BY THE JOINT BOND REVIEW COMMITTEE AND AN APPROVAL BY THE STATE FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AUTHORITY FOR ALL BONDS ISSUED IN EXCESS OF FIFTY PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY'S BONDING CAPACITY, AND TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY TO NOTIFY THE JOINT BOND REVIEW COMMITTEE OF BONDS LESS THAN THIS AMOUNT; TO AMEND SECTION 58-31-30(B) TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTION ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A SALE, LEASE, TRANSFER, DISPOSAL, OR CONVEYANCE; TO AMEND 58-31-60 TO PROHIBIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY FROM OFFERING RETIREMENT OR DEFERRED COMPENSATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT ADMINISTERED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT AUTHORITY; TO AMEND CHAPTER 31, ARTICLE 1 OF TITLE 58 BY ADDING SECTION 58-31-205 TO REQUIRE JOINTLY OWNED PROJECTS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY AND A PRIVATELY OWNED ELECTRIC UTILITY TO BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND REGULATION BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO AMEND CHAPTER 1 OF TITLE 2 BY ADDING SECTION 2-1-260 TO REQUIRE DEPARTMENTS, BUREAUS, OFFICERS, COMMISSIONS, INSTITUTIONS, AND OTHER AGENCIES OR UNDERTAKINGS OF THE STATE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE OR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON REQUEST, TO EXEMPT CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM DISCLOSURE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-520 TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR TWELVE MEMBERS AND FOR QUALIFICATIONS REGARDING ITS MEMBERSHIP; TO REPEAL SECTION 58-3-10; TO PROHIBIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FROM RECEIVING OR REVIEWING A BASE LOAD REVIEW APPLICATION FILED ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 21, 2017; TO PLACE THE BURDEN OF PROOF ON A UTILITY REQUESTING RATE RECOVERY UNDER THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT IN A PROCEEDING BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO DIRECT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE STATE ENERGY ACTION PLAN IN ITS REVIEW OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2019; AND TO PROVIDE FOR STAGGERED ELECTIONS FOR THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

Referred to Subcommittee: Rankin (ch), Hutto, Massey, McElveen, Sabb, Gambrell, Climer

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 9, 2018

H 4477: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 23-6-187, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WITNESS FEES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE WITNESS FEE MAY BE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY FOR INFLATION AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 9, 2018

H 3141: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT TERM LIMITATIONS FOR ITS MEMBERS BY LAW.

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Davis

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 9, 2018

H 4526: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 17-23-60, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL BY DEFENDANTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL DEFENDANTS IN THE SUMMARY COURTS OF THIS STATE FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPRISONMENT MUST BE INFORMED OF THEIR RIGHT TO COUNSEL, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR ENSURING DEFENDANTS ARE INFORMED OF THEIR RIGHT TO COUNSEL.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 9, 2018

H 4472: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-850 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "FUNERAL PROCESSION", TO PROVIDE DUTIES OF OPERATORS OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN AND OUTSIDE A FUNERAL PROCESSION, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS DIRECTING OR ESCORTING A FUNERAL PROCESSION IS IMMUNE FROM LIABILITY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

Bill results