The South Carolina Senate passed its version of the $7.7 billion state budget this past week.
The budget was initially crafted by the House and then amended by the Senate.
A conference committee will undoubtedly work out the differences before it goes to the Governor.
Sen. Lee Bright (R-Spartanburg) proposed an amendment in the budget to limit how local jurisdictions could set transgender bathroom policies (somewhat similar to North Carolina’s HB2 law), but Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster ruled it out of order saying it wasn’t not germane to the budget, so it’s dead.
To read the budget bill as it stands now, click here.
A battle looms at the Statehouse on a bill for farmers hit hard by last October’s floods.
The battle isn’t between the Senate and the House. It’s between the General Assembly and the Governor.
The bill, which you can read here, would allow farmers who lost at least 40 percent of their crops, to get state grants to cover up to 20 percent of that loss, up to a maximum of $100,000.
The Governor says she supports state farmers but says they shouldn’t be treated any differently than small businesses, which would not have any kind of grant program.
Gov. Haley says there also federal crop insurance that covers 50 to 85 percent of expected revenue losses, as well as other programs to help farmers.
However, if the Governor does go through with the veto threat, there’s a good chance legislators have the votes to override the veto.
The bill passed 33-3 in the Senate and 85-2 in the House.
The House last week passed a Senate bill that would raise the definition of a “child” or “juvenile” in South Carolina law from a person “less than 17” years old to a person “less than 18.”
This wouldn’t, however, automatically allow a person who is 16 or 17 and who is charged with a violent crime to have their case sent to family court.
If the Senate agrees with a House amendment, which basically makes the bill contingent on the Department of Juvenile Justice having received any funds that may be necessary for implementation, it goes to the Governor.
One of the sponsors of the bill is Sen. Gerald Malloy (D-Hartsville).
The Senate passed a House bill that, with some exceptions, limits the number of foster children who get full-time care in a foster home to five. Those exceptions are:
(1) to keep a sibling group together;
(2) to keep a child in the child’s home community;
(3) to return a child to a home in which the child was previously placed;
(4) to comply with an order of the court; or
(5) if it is in the best interest of the children as determined by the court.
The bill has already passed in the House. If the House agrees with Senate amendments, the bill goes to Gov. Haley’s desk.
To read the bill, click here.
After little movement for more than a year, the House approved a bill last week that would allow someone who was on the juvenile sex offender registry to not have to continue to register as a sex offender after his/her 21st birthday.
That could happen if the family court determines the person doesn’t pose a threat to the public and if it doesn’t file a petition for them to register as a adult.
The bill was pre-filed in late 2014 and just got key approval in one of the chambers (the House) last week.
And that “key approval” was a vote of 67-30, which is not overwhelming.
After an obligatory third reading, the bill goes to the Senate.
However, since that would come after May 1, there is virtually no chance the bill will become law this year.
One of the bill’s sponsors is Rep. Terry Alexander (D-Florence).
A Senate committee approved a resolution to commission a painting of longtime Sen. Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence) to be hung in the Senate chamber.
Sen. Leatherman is the Senate President Pro-Tem, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee and has served District 31 for 35 years.
The full senate will now debate the resolution.
Sen. Leatherman is running for a tenth term in the Senate this year.
And a House committee on Thursday (5/5) approved a resolution that would name the portion of Pine Street in Florence between South Church Street and South Jeffords Street “Ed Robinson Way” after the long-time Florence City Councilman who passed away on March 23.
The sponsors are Representatives Robert Williams (D-Darlington) and the Rev. Terry Alexander (D-Florence).
The full House will now debate the measure.
The Senate is in session this week. The House is off.
