Legislative eNews-JULY 6, 2007
LOCAL
Chamber Holds Forum for Hospitality Business on Pressing Legislative Issues
The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, The Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association and the Hospitality Association of South Carolina have invited area restaurant and lodging operators to a legislative forum at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 9 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bluffton.
This forum is intended to inform area restaurant and lodging businesses on the current federal, state and local laws impacting their operations. More specifically, the laws connected to human relations in the workplace, alcohol sales and the general operation of a hospitality business. Discussion will also include the federal minimum wage that goes into affect on July 24 and the various tax credits that apply to the hospitality industry. To reserve a space at this forum please contact the Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association at 843-686-4944.
STATE
State Immigration Reform Likely to Be Considered in 2008
With the demise of immigration reform on the Senate floor, it is likely that state-level reforms will be pursued aggressively by the SC State Legislature in the 2008 session. The SC Chamber of Commerce and your chamber plan to be very active in crafting this legislation.
The goal is to put together a comprehensive bill that will not unfairly burden businesses with enforcement responsibility of federal and state law and will not penalize businesses that are following current verification rules. Much work will need to be done on this important issue.
The General Assembly's 2007 session closed out last week without passage of widespread changes to the state's immigration laws and just days after the U.S. Senate defeated a federal immigration proposal. The State of Georgia passed a comprehensive law in 2007 that went into effect last week on July 1, 2008. Some suggest the Georgia law as a basis for action in our state.
Workers' Comp Forum
Now that the General Assembly has passed legislation that significantly reforms the state's archaic workers' compensation system, it is important that businesses are prepared for the new changes. In response, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a one-day seminar in two locations, July 25 in Greenville and July 26 in Columbia, to address the many statutory modifications that will affect South Carolina employers. The seminar, titled The New Workers' Compensation Legislation, will address all issues that the legislation covers. Please call 803-799-4601 for more information.
FEDERAL
Senate Commerce Committee passes S. 1661, Travel Promotion Act of 2007
Last week, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over most federal travel programs, reported out S. 1662, the Travel Promotion Act of 2007.
Introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chairman Inouye (D-HI) and Vice Chairman Stevens (R-AK), the Travel Promotion Act of 2007 would establish a non-profit Corporation for Travel Promotion (Corporation) and establish the Office of Travel Promotion within the Department of Commerce headed by the Under Secretary for Travel Promotion, to promote international travel to the United States.
The Corporation would be comprised of a 15-member board consisting of representatives of states, the federal government, higher education, and the travel industry, who would use advertising, among other means, to encourage travel to all regions within the United States, and correct misperceptions overseas regarding U.S. travel policies. The bill would authorize the Corporation to borrow $10 million from the Treasury in 2008 to cover its initial expenses but require the Corporation to pay the funds back by 2012. Starting in 2009, the Corporation would be required to raise non-federal funds, including in-kind contributions. Based on the amount raised by the Corporation, up to $100 million in federal matching funds would be made available annually from the Travel Promotion Fund established in the Treasury. The Travel Promotion Fund would be financed by a $10 user fee, which would be imposed on international travelers to the U.S. under the visa waiver program. United States taxpayers will not bear the cost of supporting the Corporation.
The Under Secretary would serve as liaison to the corporation, work with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State Department to improve the entry and departure experience for international visitors, and promote travel into and within the country.
As amended, the bill also would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a model port of entry program at the 20 airports with the highest number of foreign travelers arriving annually. The Secretary is further directed to hire 200 additional Customs and Border Protection officers to address staffing shortages at the 20 airports, subject to appropriations.
The bill must now be approved by the full Senate.
