January 27, 2006
Late School Start Bill Amended, Headed to House for Final Vote
After unanimous support from the subcommittee on Tuesday, the late school start bill (H. 4429)passed the full Education and Public Works committee in an 11-4 vote on Wednesday after it was amended to require all schools in South Carolina (except year-round schools and private schools) to start no earlier than the 3rd Monday in August. This would force 65 of the state's 76 school districts to start later than they have been accustomed to. The committee’s meeting room was packed with parents who took time away from their families and jobs to show their support for a later school start. The bill now moves onto the full House for debate and a final vote in early February. Work must now begin in the S.C. Senate, which has yet to pass a late school start bill.
More State Legislative Updates
Restaurant Smoking Bill Still Smoldering in House Subcommittee
Bill H. 3795, which proposes a ban on smoking in restaurants, is currently with the House Judiciary committee. Proponents of the bill have asked the committee to postpone it until next week because representatives from the American Cancer Society will be coming to the committee meeting. Even with support from the ACS, we anticipate members of the committee will listen carefully to the debate made by businesses to stop this bill.
Senate Committee Looks at Credit Block Bill
Bill S. 1001 requires hotels and other lodging properties to remove a credit block after the guest has checked out. Plus, the initial block may be only for 10 percent more than the rate charged. Car rental agencies and convenience stores must remove credit blocks almost immediately. There is evidence that a group opposing the bill is quickly organizing and will be lobbying against it. The bill is currently with the Senate Banking and Insurance committee but is not on the schedule yet. The chamber is not supporting this bill and we will be watching its progress closely.Workers Compensation Reform Bills Continue to be Studied
Bills have been filed in both the S.C. House and Senate that would provide for dissolution of the second injury fund, adoption of AMA guidelines, stricter punishment for fraud and establishment of a two-tiered commission, among other changes. Bill
H. 4427 is currently in the House Labor, Commerce and Industry committee and is moving forward while the Senate has not taken action yet on bill S. 1035.
Federal Update
Looking For a "Friend of Henry" to be U.S. House Majority Leader
The U.S. House of Representatives will elect its majority leader on Thursday, Feb. 2. Rep. Hal Blount (R-MS) is considered to be the front runner, but John Boehner (R-OH) is running a close second. The majority leader will have great influence over who gets added to the House Appropriations committee, a post we are hoping Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC) can win. Let’s hope whoever wins the majority leader post is an “FOH” - "Friend of Henry."
THUMBS UP / THUMBS DOWN
Thumbs up to the parents of Save South Carolina Summers (www.SaveSCsummers.com) who showed up in full force on Tuesday, wearing red t-shirts and lobbying legislators for a later school start. The parents' effort was instrumental in getting this bill passed in committee.
Thumbs down to Rep. Bob Walker (R-Landrum), chairman of the Education and Public Works subcommittee, for voting against the late school start bill requiring schools to start no earlier than the 3rd Monday in August. Rep. Walker was originally a sponsor of the bill but after hearing from the paid lobbyists who oppose this bill, Rep. Walker is now expressing concern about whether or not children will get a good education if they start school after August 15. Uh, excuse us for asking, Mr. Walker, but when you were a child, when did you start school? Answer that question and you’ll understand why four out of five parents in South Carolina say schools are starting way too early!
Did you know?
You can track bills that interest you at SCStateHouse.net? Once you register for free, you can enter the bills you want to watch and even choose to have updates and reports on those bills sent to your email. To check it out, look for the link on the left side of the Web site that says Bill Tracking & Reports. It will be under the heading Legislative Resources.
