The 20th
week of the legislative session:
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STATE BUDGET: The conference committee report on the $5.3 billion
state budget was scuttled by Senate rules Thursday after receiving
House approval. The sticking points in the Senate were items buried
deep in the budget that were incorrectly written, according to
precise rules. Senators sent the bill back to the conference
committee, which will meet again Monday. The budget conference
committee met throughout the night Wednesday in an attempt to get
the budget to the governor and address potential vetoes before the
General Assembly adjourns June 5. The discrepancies mean the General
Assembly likely will be forced to hold a special session.
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SECURITIES FRAUD: Legislation created after the collapse of
Carolina Investors Inc. is on its way to becoming law. On Wednesday,
the House and Senate adopted a joint conference committee report and
readied the bill for Gov. Mark Sanford's signature. The bill would
expand the powers of the state grand jury to investigate cases of
possible investment fraud. Sanford spokesman Will Folks said the
governor "is generally supportive of the protections that this
legislation affords to investors." Carolina Investors closed its
doors in late March, telling customers it did not have the money to
continue operations.
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DMV OVERHAUL: The House approved a final version of a bill to
restructure the Division of Motor Vehicles. The bill was hammered
out by House and Senate negotiators last week. If the Senate
approves the report, the bill will be sent to the governor for his
signature. The measure creates the Department of Motor Vehicles,
making it a stand-alone agency directly accountable to the governor
who would appoint the executive director. The bill would require the
Legislative Audit Council to review the DMV every three years,
require the agency to enter into contracts with public and private
entities to administer driver's license examinations and change the
renewal period for a driver's license change from five years to 10
years, except for those 65 years or older.
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GUIDE DOGS: A bill that would make it a crime to injure or kill a
guide dog or other service animals is awaiting Gov. Mark Sanford's
signature. The bill has a maximum punishment of three years in
prison and a fine of $5,000 for anyone convicted of interfering
with, maiming or killing service animals through carelessness or
neglect. The proposal also forces anyone responsible for the death
or injury of a service animal to pay for its medical care or a
replacement.
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HOG FARMS: The Senate Judiciary Committee agreed to amend a House
bill that would limit local government efforts to impose more
restrictive regulation of hog farms. The amendment basically allows
local governments to regulate hog farms after the House bill said
county ordinances can't be more restrictive than state standards for
livestock and poultry. The Senate Judiciary committee version drops
poultry operations from the restrictions. It says livestock
operations can't be subject to more restrictive operations, but that
doesn't include hog farms, said the amendment's author, Sen. Robert
Waldrep, R-Anderson. Supporters of the House bill said counties are
imposing tougher regulations than the state. Opponents say
prohibiting counties from making their own rules violates the
state's home-rule law.
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REDISTRICTING: The House approved a redistricting plan this week.
House members passed a Senate bill that makes changes in both House
and Senate election lines. While the House's 124 members ran for
election on a court-ordered plan in 2002, the state's 46 senators
weren't up for re-election until 2004. Senators approved changes to
those court-drawn lines last month, saying they eliminated split
precincts.
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DUI STANDARDS: A House bill creating tougher standards for
driving under the influence cleared the Senate Thursday. The bill
would lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for drunken driving
convictions to 0.08 percent from the current 0.10 percent. The
Senate's amendments to the bill include language that would make it
easier to throw out a DUI test if authorities failed to follow test
procedures. Senators also agreed to increase the current $300 fine
on DUIs by $100. Senate amendments mean the bill will have to be
worked out in a conference committee next week. Sen. Larry Martin,
R-Pickens, said the bill must clear the Legislature before
adjournment or the state will lose federal highway funds.
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CHARLESTON BRIDGE: The most expensive bridge ever built in South
Carolina is going up in Charleston and an Upstate lawmaker suggests
it be named simply the Charleston Bridge. The $632 million
cable-stayed span linking Charleston and Mount Pleasant has been
named the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. But Rep. Becky Martin,
R-Anderson, introduced a resolution Thursday to change the name of
the span across the Cooper River. Martin is mad at Ravenel, a
Republican state senator from Mount Pleasant, because for three
straight years he has blocked legislation requiring the state keep
grass mowed and trees trimmed along South Carolina's interstates.
Ravenel said he and other environmentalist lawmakers feel highways
are more scenic when vegetation is allowed to grow naturally. He
said any county delegation can introduce local legislation requiring
trimming along the interstates in their counties. Rep. John Graham
Altman, R-Charleston, objected to the resolution and it was sent
back to committee.
