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REDUCED SALES
TAXES FOR GROCERIES. The State Senate passed a bill that will eliminate
state tax on all unprepared food. This bill now resides in the House, but
the Senate guaranteed it’s consideration this year by including it in
the resolution for adjournment. If the House will cooperate, this means
this tax reduction could pass before the General Assembly adjourns in
June.
CIGARETTE TAX. The State House of Representatives approved and sent to the
Senate legislation providing for a increase of thirty cents a pack on
taxes for cigarettes. The bill is pending in the State Senate and cannot
be taken up for consideration until January of next year.
PAYDAY LENDING. Both the Senate and the House are considering legislation
that, if passed, will tightly regulate the consumer finance loan products
known as “Payday Lending.” Many consumers who borrow money in these
lending categories find themselves “financially enslaved” by a cycle
of debt caused by these loans. The proposal being considered would limit a
borrower from receiving more than five of these loans in a year. Also, it
would require the borrower to pay off one loan before getting another. In
addition, the bill creates a database to track payday loans in South
Carolina.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. This year the General Assembly revised the State’s
Workers’ Compensation System. This included the “Second Injury Fund (SIF)”
and “Lost Cost Multiplier” procedures. Insurers must file “Low Cost
Multipliers” with the Dept. of Insurance, and must provide guides as to
what must be contained in these filings. The new law expands the
definition of “Fraud.” It exempts certain Motor Carriers from Workers
Compensation. Also, the responsibilities of the Workers’ Compensation
Commission is expanded in its scope of duties. The Law lowers SIF
assessments to 135%, and sets deadlines for SIF claims. Most
significantly, the law terminates the Second Injury Fund on July 1, 2013.
It also moves the Uninsured Employers Fund to the State Accident Fund on
July 1, 2013.
S. C. NATIONAL GUARD COLLEGE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. As the sponsor of
this bill, I was pleased to see this important benefit to our South
Carolina National Guard Members passed as law. Qualified members of the
Guard receive this important benefit as an enlistment or re-enlistment
benefit, and can receive college assistance grants for all tuition and
fees up to eighteen thousand dollars for each member.
S. C. VIRTUAL SCHOOL PROGRAM. This bill provides the opportunity for
students to enroll in internet credit courses approved by the State Board
of Education. This law will allow student to take courses online, which
are critical to college entrance or job training that may or may not be
offered by their home school districts. Even private school and home
schooled students living in South Carolina may enroll. (Student must be 21
yrs. old or younger.) As a member of the Education Oversite Committee and
the Chairman of the Senate Education Subcommittee that approved this bill,
I am pleased to see it become law with the Governor’s signature.
AMERICAN BOARD FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF TEACHER EXCELLENCE ACT. This
legislation creates an alternative method for qualified people to become
certified to teach in South Carolina as a method to address teacher
shortages. This law allows school districts to hire individuals who have a
“Passport Certificate” issued by the “American Board for the
Certification of Teacher Excellence.” Teachers with this alternate
certification must successfully complete the “South Carolina Pedagogy
Examination.” The important course areas sought are Biology, Chemistry,
English, Math, Physics, or Science.
SCHOOL BUS LAW. The School Bus Fleet in South Carolina is aging and a vast
number of our school buses are in deplorable condition. This prompted the
General Assembly to take action this year by revising the current law
governing the purchase, maintenance, and distribution of school buses in
the state. At the center of the new law is the requirement that the State
Dept. Of Education provide local school districts with the number of
school buses sufficient to accommodate students eligible to ride. To
insure this, the law insists that at least one-fifteenth of the school bus
fleet be replaced each year. The Governor vetoed this legislation, but his
veto was overridden by the General Assembly, and this bill now is law.
“OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Recommended by Superintendent of
Education Jim Rex, this bill allows children to be enrolled in any public
school in the state without paying tuition. The school district where the
school is located has the right to refuse this enrollment if it can show
it does not have the capacity to receive the child. An attempt was made to
include a tax voucher program, which would allow parents who are denied
enrollment in a public school of choice a tax credit if they decide to
place their child in a private school. This effort was defeated. Now in
conference committee, of which I am a member, attempts are being made to
gain a consensus.
PREVENTION OF UNDERAGE DRINKING & ACCESS TO ALCOHOL ACT. In recent
years, tragic deaths of teenagers in York County and across the State have
been caused as a result of alcohol consumption. I joined with Sen. Lourie
of Columbia to sponsor legislation that targets one root of the problem.
Adults that purchase alcoholic beverages for teenagers is a growing
problem. A significant part of this legislation makes purchasing alcoholic
beverages for underage consumption a criminal offense.
UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT. I sponsored this
bill to relieve the anxiety of parents and children as they change
locations across state lines. It establishes reciprocal agreements between
states regarding the custody of children in non-contested situations. This
relieve stress and makes lives easier for children and parents in separate
relationships. This bill signed by the Governor has become law.
UNIFORM INTERSTATE ENFORCEMENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION ORDERS ACT.
I sponsored this bill in order to give domestic violence victims greater
protection when they flee to South Carolina to escape potential violent
circumstances caused by estranged relationships. Forty-seven states now
recognize Orders of Protections from states with reciprocal agreements.
South Carolina was the Forty-seventh state. This bill became law with the
signature of the Governor this month.
UNIFORM FAMILY SUPPORT ACT. I sponsored this legislation to make South
Carolina current with other states regarding Child Support and Parental
Relationships between divorced individuals with children living in
different states. Through this reciprocal agreement with other states,
this law in South Carolina makes legal relationships with divorced parents
with children in different states easier to accommodate.
STATE IMMIGRATION LAWS. Several Bills attempting to deal with the presence
of citizens from other countries residing in South Carolina illegally are
presently being considered by the General Assembly. Because of the
complexities between State, Federal, and International Law, consensus in
the General Assembly has not yet been reached. The Senate passed a
resolution requesting that the Governor declare by “Executive Order”
that no “illegal aliens” are eligible to receive any service or
assistance provided by the Dept. Of Social Services or any other agency to
the extent allowed by Federal Law.
JASPER COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY. A joint resolution in the General Assembly
sets a timetable for the establishment of a new Seaport in Jasper County.
This resolution sets a timetable for completion of site acquisition,
engineering studies, and all plans needed for a Jasper County Port
Facility.
COASTAL PROPERTY INSURANCE. Because of recent hurricanes, there is a lack
of affordable insurance for coastal properties. The General Assembly
passed the Omnibus Coastal Property Insurance Reform Act. This law offers
tax breaks to resident who make their coastal homes hurricane resistant.
Other provisions include allowing homeowners to put money into tax
deductible hurricane savings accounts. The law specifies revisions to the
South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, and establishes the
“South Carolina Hurricane Loss Mitigation Grant Programs.”
SURFACE WATER PERMITTING ACT. I introduced this bill last year to cause
water users in South Carolina who withdraw more than 3,000,000gallons of
water a month to obtain a permit for that use. By regulating the use of
water, the state can insure that water level in our streams and rivers
will always be at levels to sustain adequate flows of water for the future
needs of our state. Rep. Carl Gullick joined me in introducing companion
legislation in the House. We hope to see approval of this legislation next
year.
ATTORNEY GENERAL SUES NORTH CAROLINA FOR INTERBASIN TRANSFER FROM THE
CATAWBA RIVER. North Carolina, against all efforts of municipalities along
the Catawba River in both North Carolina and South Carolina decided to
issues an InterBasin Transfer of 10,000,000 gallons a day to the City of
Concord, North Carolina. The Attorney General hopes that his law suit will
result in a Interstate Compact to regulate the use of the Catawba River’s
water between the two states.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sen. Wes Hayes, Dist. #15
Gressette Building Room 205
P.O. Box 142
Columbia, South Carolina 29202
Phone in Columbia 803-212-6410
Phone in Rock Hill 324-2400
email: set@scsenate.org |
