Legislative eNews-MARCH 30, 2007
LOCAL
Southern Regional Plan Implementation Committee
The Southern Regional Plan Implementation Committee met for the first time Tuesday. Former Bluffton Mayor Emmett McCracken was elected Chair and current Bluffton Mayor Hank Johnston as vice chair.
The group is tasked with the implementing a sweeping plan that will determine the future infrastructure needs of county residents, including a joint land use plan for undeveloped land in the southern part of Beaufort County.
The group meets again on April 24 at 9:00 am at the Bluffton Library to decide what recommendation to address first. The plan can be viewed at www.bcgov.net.
Bluffton Stormwater Ordinance
After much concern raised by the public and community leaders over the future of the May River, a new Town of Bluffton stormwater ordinance will require more from developers and will charge higher daily fines in what some say is one of the most stringent stormwater ordinances ever considered. The new ordinance likely will be considered by Town Council in April at its regularly scheduled meeting and would go into effect after a new manual of development requirements is completed.
The new ordinance will include monthly testing requirements after a project is completed; requirements that rain more thoroughly soak into the soil before being routed into retention ponds (with new rules for retention ponds); new buffering, surfacing, silt fencing, and spill requirements.
Town of Hilton Head Committee Proceed on Airport Changes
After extensive public comment period, the Hilton Head Planning and Development Standards Committee voted 3-0 in favor of a motion to recommend changes to the Town’s Land Management Ordinance that would limit the length of the runway to its current length of 4,300 feet andto include a 150 foot roadway buffer for future hangars on the airport property. The Chamber spoke is support of the continued vitality of the Hilton Head Island airport, as well as its future safety and efficiency.
Jasper County Port Update
Jasper County has agreed to allow the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) control of the proposed Savannah River terminal after SSA Marine Inc. stopped funding the county's legal challenge.
H.3505, a bill that would move forward Jasper Port expansion under the South Carolina State Ports Authority by blocking Jasper County from condemning the port site, has passed the full House and now has moved to the Senate floor.
STATE
Department of Transportation Reform
The Senate on Thursday approved a bill to reform the state Department of Transportation, which immediately drew the disapproval of Gov. Mark Sanford who has been pushing to have the transportation position as a cabinet-level post with more executive oversight. The House passed a far different version this week as well. House and Senate negotiators will meet next week to see if an agreement can reached between the two versions.
The Senate bill creates a seven-member board appointed by the governor but screened by a legislative review committee and confirmed by the Senate. The board would then pick an executive director. The 10-member review committee would evaluate board members and the executive director, and review the agency's state transportation plan. Amendments added to the bill increase board members' terms to six years, require the governor to take race into account when selecting them, prevent more than one board member from a single county serving at one time and allow the current board members to serve out their terms.
The House passed bill includes some similar provisions, but creates a seven-member commission and allowing the governor to hire and fire the director.
State Insurance Director Joins Chamber on Coastal Insurance
Scott Richardson, a Hilton Head Island native and former local state senator, held a public meeting on Thursday to discuss the coastal insurance crisis with a concerned, but polite group of residents. Director Richardson gave an informative history about the insurance market of the region and the challenges facing coastal residents. He explained why the state wind pool lines were not changed for Beaufort County and possible consideration of tiering rates for policies within the wind pool to reflect proximity to the coast.
Most importantly, he mentioned a series of changes that will be put into legislative form including pro-consumer provisions that would require companies canceling insurance to proved greater transparency and time to acquire a new policy. Also, he discussed a series of tax incentives to assist in affordable coverage and encourage damage mitigation. Finally, he discussed market-based reforms that would attract more insurers to the SC coastal market that could help stabilize price and availability.
Education Update
The House voted 69-53 vote on the House bill to allow students to attend the public school of their choice. The bill has much significant support in the Senate.
The bill supported and pushed by School Superintendent Jim Rex would phase in a variety of school choice options for parents over a three year period. A voluntary pilot program would begin next fall, with broader implementation statewide the following two years. One of the requirements is that no student residing within an attendance area would be displaced by a transferring student. Thus, with the full capacity of schools in Southern Beaufort County, the limits on capacity will limit the application of the bill to local school students.
In related news, The Beaufort County Board of Education will complete interviews for the superintendent position next week, and make an announcement by April 9. The new Beaufort County School Superintendent will begin July 1.
Nuclear Waste Bill
The House Agriculture Committee this week overwhelming defeated a bill that would have allowed Barnwell County’s low-level nuclear waste facility to remain open to all states until 2023. The site will remain open, but only accept waste from South Carolina, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Immigration Update
S.392, which requires businesses to verify an employee’s legal immigration status through a variety of measures, has moved to the state Senate floor.
In related news, the leaders in Congress and the Administration continue to discuss how to proceed on a yet-to-be introduced comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform bill.
