Legislative eNews-April 20, 2007
LOCAL
Hilton Head Town Council Proceeds on Airport Ordinance
The Hilton Head Town Council voted unanimously to instruct town staff to draft changes to the LMO that would limit the length of the runway of the Hilton Head Airport to its existing length (4300 linear feet). Also, staff was directed to establish rules on buffering new and exiting airport hangars. The original proposal was to require 150 foot buffers, but the Mayor and other council members asked that the language provide additional flexibility on the hangar ordinance rules.
STATE
Statewide Smoking Ban
A bill that bans smoking in restaurants statewide but allows it in bars with a special permit is headed to the Senate floor. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved the bill 13-3.
Under the bill, smoking in restaurants would be banned, but allowed in dedicated bar areas after applying for a special permit. Bars also could allow smoking with a $100 permit from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. Such bars could not allow patrons under the age of 18. There would be a $50 fine for both business owner and the person smoking in violation.
The legislation would pre-empt any local ordinances.
SCDOT Reform
Last week, the House struck all language in the Senate SCDOT reform bill and put in the House language and passed its version of the bill. If the Senate does not agree with this amendment, the two bodies will have to work out their differences in conference committee to determine what the final SCDOT reform bill will include. A conference committee is a group of three House members, appointed by the Speaker of the House, and three Senate members, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, tasked with working out differences.
SC Legislature Tackles Property Insurance
The House Labor, Commerce, and Industry (LCI) Insurance Subcommittee met this week to discuss H.3820. The bill contains provisions that would: create catastrophe savings accounts, require insurers to give mitigation credits, establish incentives for insurance companies to write additional policies in the wind and hail pool zone, clarify procedures for the Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, establish a mitigation grant program, and expand the cancellation notice period to 60 days. The subcommittee is expected to meet again next week where final amendments will be offered. Once the bill passes subcommittee, it will be sent to the full LCI committee for consideration and then to the House floor.
The Senate Banking and Insurance subcommittee studying homeowners insurance took testimony from Director of the S.C. Department of Insurance Scott Richardson. The subcommittee did not take any action and is expected to meet again next week to take votes on a number of bills.
Immigration Reform Bill Passed the Senate
The Senate on Thursday passed, S. 392, the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act by a vote of 40-3. S. 392 was read the third time, passed and ordered sent to the House of Representatives with amendments. The bill requires government agencies to verify the status of anyone over 18 seeking public assistance and provides a civil cause of action to a person who is terminated in the workplace and knowingly replaced by an illegal worker. It also creates a felony for harboring or transporting illegal immigrants, punishable by up to $5000.00 or up to five years in prison and directs jail officials to check prisoners’ status and report illegal immigrants to the Department of Homeland Security.The full text of the bill can be found at www.scstatehouse.net.
Jasper Port Update
H.3505, a bill that would move forward Jasper Port expansion under the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) was set for Special Order this week by the Senate and will be given third reading today. The bill will then be sent to the governor for his signature.
FEDERAL
US Senate Studies Coastal Insurance and National Disaster Policy
The US Senate has undertaken six weeks of hearings on coastal property insurance and natural disaster policy. On April 11, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held the hearing, "An Examination of the Availability and Affordability of Property and Casualty Insurance in the Gulf Coast and Other Coastal Regions," to examine insurance availability issues. On the same day, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held an oversight hearing on the health of the property and casualty insurance industry that was more limited in scope.
Coastal insurance and national disaster policy is getting a great deal of attention on Capitol Hill as evidenced by the Senate hearings and over a dozen introduced bills.
