What Happened: Weekly Legislative Review- April 26th to April 30th

Budget Highlights:

• The Senate gave final reading to the budget Thursday.  Amendments in the Senate budget include a less encompassing college/university transaction register than proposed by S. 789.  The amendment only requires the institutions to post annual and periodic financial statements.  The Senate voted down multiple amendments that would have required college/universities to keep a detailed online check register before adopting the weaker requirement. 
• The Senate adopted an amendment that would allow $3 million from the Healthcare Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund to be allocated to the South Carolina Research Authority for purposes of funding a grant program to promote health related issues along the I-95 Corridor.  The amendment passed on a division vote (members do not have to attach their name to the vote) of 26-10.

Highlights:

·         A House subcommittee met late Tuesday night to discuss several bills.  Among them was S. 1054 - a bill allowing counties that create multicounty business parks to designate all or a portion of the park as a designated economic development site.  The Senate passed an amended version of the bill last month, eliminating the provision allowing the retail mall to receive state tax credits.  The House subcommittee amended the bill.  A full committee meeting on the bill has not been scheduled.

Best of the Week

• A judiciary subcommittee meeting is scheduled for H.3047 - a bill requiring roll call votes on certain bills and joint resolutions at various stages of passage - for Wednesday, May 5^th at 9:30 a.m. in room 308 of the Gressette Building.   

Worst of the Week

• S. 1323 - I-95 Corridor Authority Act
  • A bill creating the I-95 Corridor Authority - an agency that would have the power to enter into contracts, and carry out economic development and educational improvement activities in counties within 30 miles of I-95 - was swiftly given a second reading Thursday on a voice vote.  The bill was contested by three senators, which should have required the bill to be given a roll call vote in order to be taken up and voted on.  Additionally, no senators requested a roll call vote, and no senators objected to a request that the bill be given its 3^rd (final passage) reading Friday - a day when lawmakers are not required to be in the chamber.   
  • Status: 2^nd reading, and 3^rd reading Friday

House

·         H. 3161 - Raising the filing fee within the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings from $150 to $250

•o   Status: Returned to the Senate with amendment

·         S. 191 - Reduction of Recidivism Act (Warrantless search)

Status: Governor's veto overridden 74-37