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Spring 2003 |
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Wes Hayes Announces Initial Legislative Agenda for 115th Session of the General Assembly Campaign Reform Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Wes Hayes, the Speaker of the House, David Wilkins, President Pro-tem of the Senate, Glenn McConnell have each introduced campaign reform legislation this year. All target the collection and spending of "Soft Money." Additionally, Senator Hayes' Bill provides Internet access to all Campaign Disclosure Reports and Statements of Economic Interest. It also restricts lobbyists and lobbyist principals from resigning their registration to raise money for candidates, only to re-register when the fund-raising is over. Finally, the Hayes Bill further defines a candidate to be anyone considering the possibility of running for office. This insures anyone raising or spending a minimum of $500.00 must open a campaign account and report this to the respective supervisory authority. In conjunction with his campaign reform legislation, Senator Hayes introduced additional legislation giving the House and Senate Ethics Committees the same authority to initiate investigations of alleged "Ethics Law" violations as has the South Carolina Ethics Commission. Presently, a formal complaint must be filed before these committees can investigate even if they are aware of potential violations.
Minibottle and Driving Under the Influence Reform During the 1998 Session Senator Hayes supported legislation requiring all licensed drivers to submit to a sobriety test for blood alcohol content if suspicion of distorted judgement exist due to alcohol consumption. This bill was passed into law with a part of that law stipulating that the legal blood alcohol content while driving would be reduced from .10 to .08 percent if the State Constitution were changed to allow restaurants to serve liquor by the drink. This year Senator Hayes again has introduced legislation calling for a referendum to change the Constitution and establish the rules by which liquor is allowed to be measured by the drink rather than contained within a minibottle. Senator Hayes supports this legislation on health and safety grounds. The average content of alcohol in a minibottle is 1.7 ounces. The average alcoholic content of a beverage mixed using restaurant measurements is 1.25 ounces therefore less alcohol is consumed per drink. Also, if the bill passes intact, the legal blood alcohol content for driving will be reduced from .10 percent to no more than .08 percent as prescribed by the law passed in 1998.
Joint Agency Act for Natural Gas Authorities Senator Hayes introduced this legislation on behalf of the York County Natural Gas Authority and other Natural gas authorities. This legislation will allow them, with local government approval to merge in such a way as to allow mutual cooperation in the joint administration of functions and related cost of operations. This legislation is intended to specifically benefit the citizens they serve with better and more cost-effective services.
Reduction of Aircraft Assessment Ratios Presently, all aircraft housed in the State of South Carolina must be taxed at a rate of 10 ½ % of their fair market value. This is a particular problem for York County because North Carolina taxes aircraft at a much lower rate. In the Charlotte metropolitan area there are several airports that can serve aircraft that normally would be based at the Airport in Rock Hill. Aircraft owners are basing their planes in North Carolina to avoid high taxes leaving York County's airport underutilized. Legislation being developed
by Senator Hayes will allow local governing bodies the option to reduce
assessment ratios to a level not less than 4% when it is determined that
the local economy will benefit by this action. Special Property Tax
Assessment to Historic Properties Under current law, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History has broad authority in regulating and determining which local property is considered "historical" as well as dictating the method by which these properties can be improved in order to receive special economic incentives. Recognizing that many of our older neighborhoods have properties that are historical but may not meet the standards of the State Department of Archives and History, Senator Hayes feels local government should have the ability to determine if certain properties are historical. This bill will limit the authority of the Department of Archives and History to renovation projects greater than $250,000 and gives the local government, who is giving the economic incentive, authority over all others.
Methods Pertaining to School Districts Rated Unsatisfactory When a School District is determined to be unsatisfactory, it has the right and the responsibility to appear before the State Board of Education to outline reasons why a state of emergency should not be declared. Through this bill, Senator Hayes wants to expand the options given to the local school district, the State Superintendent of Education, and the State Board of Education in dealing with the unsatisfactory circumstance. One of the new options is a training program provided by the State Board of Education. The training would guide the district board and the district superintendent to focus on roles and action in support of increasing student achievement. Also, if the district board is considering dismissal of the district superintendent, the State Board will have the ability to mediate this process if the parties agree. Additionally, to aid in the recovery process, the district Board should have the ability to appoint at least two nonvoting members to the board from a pool nominated by the Education Oversight Committee. These new members shall represent the interests of the State Board of Education on the district board.
Next Public Meeting with Wes Hayes March 3, 2003 7:00 PM Fewell
Park Community Center School Building Standards, Specifications, and Codes According to the State Department of Education, present methods of determining school compliance with safety and health standards in buildings are out of date. Senator Hayes is following their recommendations in setting forth new criteria for approving the certificate of occupancy of school buildings. These requirements include: "Model Energy Code" as published by the Council of American building Officials; "National Electrical Code" as published by the National Fire Protection Association; and the Department of Education's "South Carolina School Facilities Planning and Construction Guide." The Arts Commission and The Tourism Expenditure Review Committee Senator Hayes co-chairs the Senate Arts Caucus with Senator Land. Last year, they were instrumental in pressing legislation through the General Assembly giving local arts commissions access to a portion of Accommodation Tax Funds for the promotion of the Arts. This year Senator Hayes goes one step further by sponsoring legislation that gives the State Arts Commission a place on the oversight committee that reviews how Accommodation taxes are being spent.
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Wes Hayes My Website
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