NEWS BRIEFS: Session reconvenes Jan. 14, private budget meeting, more

Staff reports  | When the second year of session convenes Jan. 14, the S.C. House of Representatives will have a few Senate-passed bills awaiting third reading, while the S.C. Senate could head straight into debate on the House-passed large education package. 

In the House

On the House’s calendar, up for third reading next week, is Senate-passed bill 11 that expresses the General Assembly’s desire to make Daylight Saving Time be the year-round standard should Congress amend a federal law to allow states to make that change.

Here are some items up for second reading in the House: 

• Bans.  House Bill 3087 seeks to probit approval of an action supporting seismic testing for oil or natural gas on land or in water of the state of South Carolina; and its rival bill 3471: A ban on state agencies or local governments from impeding plans to deter or prohibit seismic testing infrastructure; and,
• Servers.  The House will take up Senate Bill 342, the proposed Responsible Alcohol Server Training Act that requires training for those serving alcoholic beverages.
• See the House calendar here. 

In the Senate

Senate Education Chair Greg Hembree of Horry County on Thursday said the large bill that does everything from teacher pay raises to allowing the state to remove chronically failing school boards will be “the first major debate” of the session.

Meanwhile,  the Senate could get a different bill to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk before that debate results in final votes as it looks at third reading of a House-passed Bill 3576 that would establish the South Carolina Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship, which would offer scholarships for students attending technical college in certain industry-focused programs. 

Here are some items up for second reading in the Senate: 

• Higher education.  Senate Bill 298 seeks to fund higher education at the same percentage as the general fund revenues increase. 
• Guns.  Senate Bill 640 would mandate every clerk of court to report to the state Law Enforcement Division within 10 days of issuance of a restraining order, order of protection or another order that would prevent the possession of a firearm. 
• See the Senate calendar here. — reported by Lindsay Street

In other news:

S.C. budget writers hold private meeting in Charleston. House Ways and Means Chair Murrell Smith of Sumter told Statehouse Report this week that he and six subcommittee chairs would meet on budget priorities in Charleston for two days. S.C. Press Association attorney Jay Bender said, under state law and legal precedent, such a meeting requires public notice and being open to the public. But when asked for meeting details, Smith said it was not a public meeting. Statehouse Report sent an email to Smith and his staff asking for minutes from the meeting, but has not received a response as of deadline. The private meeting, not open to the public, came out the same week Smith vowed transparency in the budget process in an article with The State. — LS

2019-2020 could have $507 million surplus. In a meeting with journalists Thursday, state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office staff offered data showing the current fiscal year is on track to have a $507 million surplus from lowball revenue projections.  Add to that another $350 million in surplus funds from the 2018-19 budget. That leaves state legislators with a pot of more than $850 million in surplus funds to be used for non-recurring expenses. Executive Director Frank Rainwater told Statehouse Report said the agency missed the revenue forecast largely due to “volatile” revenue sources difficult to predict, such as  corporate income tax, and due to the state’s new revenue source from online sales. This is in addition to the projected $1 billion in extra revenues predicted for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Other notes from Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, via Rainwater:

• • FY 2019 revenue growth more than doubled estimates (projected: $288.7 million, actual: $696.1 million), and is expected to grow further to make up the $863 million 2020-21 general fund surplus.
  • The 20-21 general fund surplus will be about 9 percent higher than expected due to strong economic factors and increased collections, including corporate income tax growth of about $100 million.

Asked how lawmakers could effectively utilize the surplus, State Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, said as much as $240 million could be devoted to teacher pay raises, with $50 million more going to state colleges and universities. The state Bureau of Economic Advisers meets on Feb. 15 to formally consider the newest fiscal estimates. — Lindsay Street and Sam Spence

Senate Ed chair vows reform package early on. S.C. Senate Education Chair Greg Hembree of Horry County told reporters Thursday that the House-passed education package will hit the Senate floor in the first few days of session. On Friday, teacher group SCforEd — which has opposed the measure, along with S.C. Education Association — tweeted a statement opposing the bill coming to the floor. Read it here. Also during the meeting with journalists, S.C. House Education and Public Works Chair Rita Allison, R-Spartanburg, said she was unaware of SCforEd’s March 17 deadline for lawmakers to comply with their agenda, which includes a teacher bill of rights. — LS

Massey reiterates not enough votes for ‘fetal heartbeat’ bill. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey of Edgefield told reporters Thursday something he told Statehouse Report last week: The Senate GOP may lack the votes to bring H. 3020 to the floor. Read our coverage from last week. — LS

McMaster proposes statewide 4K for state’s poorest students. Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to make a $53 million proposal that would expand the 4K program to the remaining 17 school districts without the full-day pre-kindergarten for low-income 4-year-olds. Read more. — LS

PURC seeks more time to evaluate PSC commissioner candidates. The Public Utilities Review Committee evaluated this week 17 candidates for four open positions on the Public Service Commission, winnowing the list down to six qualified candidates and rejecting the commission’s current chair Swain Whitfield. Lawmakers on the committee say they want more time to find more qualified candidates. Read more. — LS

2020 candidate calendar

Throughout the campaign season, we are working to keep South Carolina informed of candidate events in the state. Have an event you want us to know about? Email us at 2020news@statehousereport.com. 

Bennet swings through South Carolina. Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet will return to South Carolina this weekend in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Here are the events:

• Bully Pulpit Series: 12:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at College of Charleston;
• Wings for Kids Afterschool Program: 2:15 p.m. Jan. 10 at Bay Street Biergarten in Charleston;
• Meet and greet: 5:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at Bay Street Biergarten in Charleston;
• Flood tour with Charleston Chief Resilience Officer Mark Wilbert: 9 a.m. Jan. 11. Location not yet announced;
• Charleston House Party: 10:30 a.m. Jan. 11 at 100 Queen St., Charleston; and,
• James E. Clyburn Political Fellowship Turn it Blue BBQ: 12:33 p.m. Jan. 11 at 1505 King St., Charleston.

Debate to be held in Charleston.  Democratic candidates will convene in Charleston on Feb. 25 for a nationally-televised debate that is four days before the state’s primary.  No word yet on tickets, but we’re told that the national party will be in charge.

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