S.C. Legislature week in review

The 5th week of the legislative session:

State budget

The state lottery and higher-than-expected tax collections offer some hope as House members begin the final work of drafting a $5 billion budget.

The Board of Economic Advisors said Thursday the lottery will yield $38 million more than legislators expected.

Some of that will go to scholarships, but it's likely to touch off a scramble to spend the money on other education needs, including school buses and per-student spending.

The board also said the state's tax collections are running $57 million ahead of expectations.

But the board said that's not enough to increase forecasts for tax collections in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Government restructuring

A Senate panel handling state government restructuring nearly finished its work last week.

It approved plans to allow voters to decide if all but four of nine statewide elected offices should become appointed rather than elected. The panel also dealt with moving agencies around.

For instance, it agreed to move the Aeronautics Commission from Commerce Department to the Transportation Department.

PSC overhaul

After a two-year delay, the Legislature has scheduled Public Service Commission elections for March 3.

The election for the seven seats have been delayed because the Senate pushed for higher standards for commissioners and an overhaul of the regulatory role for the utility oversight agency. On Tuesday, the House and Senate reached a compromise on how that should be done.

Fire codes

Fire officials urged the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee to support an overhaul in the state's fire codes, complaining that inspectors have no authority to punish building owners whose structures do not meet the fire codes.

The officials said this bill is even more important in light of a Greenville motel fire that killed six people.

Budget prescriptions

A House budget panel approved a measure Wednesday that would require the state to maintain a database of prescription drugs bought and sold in the state.

The database would be operated by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. The proposal immediately raised privacy concerns among some lawmakers.

Tattoos

A bill that would legalize tattooing in South Carolina passed a House committee Tuesday, giving supporters hope the bill would soon become law.

Gov. Mark Sanford's spokesman said the governor is not opposed to tattooing as long as proper safeguards are in place.

Parents

State Rep. Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, introduced a bill that would include fines and, in the most extreme cases, jail time for parents who chronically ignore a school's request for a conference about their children's academic or behavioral problems. The fine would be up to $500.

Self defense

Rep. Fletcher Smith introduced a bill that would require school districts to teach students to protect themselves against potential kidnappers and sexual predators.

The bill requires schools teach "age appropriate" defenses.

Asthma inhalers

Students with asthma would be allowed to carry inhalers at school in a bill a Senate subcommittee approved Thursday.

Sen. Bill Mescher, R-Pinopolis and the bill's sponsor, said he has a grandson with asthma who has to keep his medication in a locked cabinet while at school.

Blue lights

A Senate panel approved a bill Thursday that would stop local governments and private companies from putting blue lights on cars that aren't being used by police officers.

Jeff Moore of the South Carolina Sheriff's Association told a Senate Transportation subcommittee that clerks of court, litter officers and at least one county park system improperly use blue lights.

It already is illegal for others to use blue lights, but the sheriff's association wants the law strengthened.

Gang bill

A bill that defines criminal street gangs has been sent to the Senate floor after several portions were scrapped because of concerns about how

the bill would affect blacks. The bill defines a street gang as a group of three or more people who go by a common name or use common identifying signs, symbols or colors and engage in violent and nonviolent crimes.

Left lane

People who drive too slowly in the left lanes of South Carolina interstate highways could be fined under a bill a Senate Transportation subcommittee approved Thursday.

People who impede the flow of traffic by staying in the so-called fast lane too long would face fines between $75 and $150, Sen. Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, said.

There would be no driver's license penalty points assessed for people convicted.

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LOU KRASKY
Angela Wilson, left and Kathy LaLima attempt to apply for a marriage license at the Richland County Courthouse Thursday in Columbia. They were, as expected, denied. It was the latest event in a gay rights movement that's forging ahead in South Carolina, despite public opposition and legislators' attempts to strengthen laws banning gay marriages.

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