Legislative eNews-MAY 18, 2007
LOCAL
State Senate Race
Representative Catherine Ceips (R-Beaufort) won the Senate District 46 Republican primary election run-off. Representative Ceips will face Democrat Terry Thomas and Libertarian Greg Graziani in the June 19th special general election. Saturday, May 19 is the final day to register to vote in the June 19 special election. Go to www.bcgov.net for information on registering to vote.
Town of Hilton Head Island and County Join Together to Preserve 52.8 acres in Bluffton
The Town of Hilton Head Island partnered with Beaufort County and the Trust for Public Land to purchase the development rights for a 52.8 acre tract of land in Bluffton. The zoning on the land would preclude further development of the property and reduce traffic and congestion on area roadways. The Beaufort County Council must approve the purchase.
STATE
SCDOT Bill Passed by Senate
After weeks of debate, the Senate reached a compromise Wednesday on reforming the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). The plan provides authority to the governor in appointing the department's executive director and creates a seven-member SCDOT Commission, with the governor appointing one member and congressional districts electing the other six members. The legislation establishes criteria for the completion of highway projects and creates a legislative oversight committee. The SCDOT Commission also would hire a chief highway engineer charged with approving projects costing less than $10 million. The bill now moves back to the House for concurrence.
Cigarette Tax Advances
The Senate Finance Committee has amended and released a bill to raise the state's cigarette tax by 45-cents per pack, bringing the total tax to 52-cents per pack, beginning July 1. Portions of the proceeds from the cigarette tax, combined with additional growth in revenue, would eliminate the 2.5 percent individual income tax bracket. An additional $5 million would be applied toward smoking prevention programs for teenagers. The remaining $90 million would be held in a health savings trust fund to be allocated at a later date. The legislation now moves to the Senate floor for debate.
The House passed a 30-cent increase in April, with revenue to be spent on decreasing the food tax on groceries. An additional $1 million was provided for the Department of Agriculture to promote healthy eating.
House Passes Workers’ Compensation Bill
This week, the House of Representatives passed S.332, a bill designed to reform the state's workers' compensation system. The original plan passed by the House Labor, Commerce, and Industry (LCI) Committee last week was amended on the House floor Wednesday. The legislation now travels back to the Senate for concurrence.
Senate Committee Passes Coastal Insurance Bill
The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance this week amended and favorably reported H.3820, the Omnibus Coastal Property Insurance Reform Act. The bill includes incentives to incentives for storm damage mitigation and to attract insurers to the SC market. The Senate amendments were largely technical. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. The House passed the bill several weeks ago.
FEDERAL
Major Compromise on Federal Immigration Legislation
After months of difficult negotiations, a bipartisan group of US Senators unveiled a plan to address the comprehensive immigration bill. The White House applauded the compromise. The draft bill, which totals 308 pages, goes to the Senate floor next week.
Much will be learned in the coming days about the contents of the bill and significant debate will occur on many of the provisions. Early reports are that the bill contains the following provisions:
All illegal immigrants who arrived before Jan. 1, 2007, could stay and work after paying a $1,500 fee, passing a criminal background check, and showing a strong work record.
The immigrant would also have to pay a fine of $5,000.
After eight years, the immigrant could apply for a green card.
A new visa category would be created for parents of U.S. citizens, allowing them to visit for up to 100 days per year.
A temporary-worker program would allow 400,000 immigrant workers to enter on two-year visas, after which they would have to return home for a year before reapplying. The visas could be renewed up to three times.
A new point system would add factors for green-card eligibility to lessen the "chain migration" of family members.
The Border Patrol and interior enforcement would be expanded, and a new security perimeter would be created. Such border enforcement provisions would have to be implemented before immigrant-rights measures take effect.
Employers will be required to verify the work eligibility of all employees using an employment eligibility verification system, while all workers will be required to present stronger and more verifiable identification documents. Tough new anti-fraud measures will be implemented and stiff penalties imposed on employers who break the law.
The House has not passed a bill, but bipartisan legislation in the House is waiting for action.
