- Students tour the Statehouse Thursday
The latest headlines from the State Capitol:
–A bill that would ban texting while driving is moving quickly through the House– passing the Education & Public Works Committee Thursday. Even the legislator who introduced it, State Rep. Don Bowen (R-Anderson), is surprised that no opposition has emerged against it.
–The House passed on a pair of bills to Gov. Nikki Haley for her signature. One by Rep. Eddie Tallon (R-Spartanburg) would create a new alert system to warn the public about an at-large suspect who has shot a police officer. Known as “Blue Alerts,” the system would be similar to “Amber Alerts” used for abducted children.
The other is a bill by Rep. Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville) that would extend job tax credits to biotechnology research firms, as well as companies that do “infrastructure improvements.” Having passed both House and Senate, the bill now heads to Haley for her signature.
–Haley on Thursday announced the state would partner with a company that offers standardized tests in order to better match unemployed skilled workers with companies. South Carolina was one of four states to win a grant from ACT. The state workforce agency will partner with counties, schools, agencies and technical colleges to put into place the ”Certified Work Ready Communities Academy.”
–The state Board of Education has approved new reading and math tests for the 2014-15 school year. The tests would likely replace the PASS and the current end-of-course exit exams… Meanwhile, several Democratic legislators criticized Education Superintendent Mick Zais (a Republican) for taking nearly 30 days of personal time last year. Zais accused the legislators of a partisan attack, saying his Democratic predecessors had also taken large amounts of time off.
–A Senate panel advanced the nomination of new Department of Health & Environmental Control director Catherine Templeton to the full Senate. The Medical Affairs Committee voted 13-0 to confirm the current Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation director to her new position. However, legislators questioned Templeton’s lack of experience in public health or environmental issues– as well as her intentions to work out of a branch office in Charleston instead of the agency’s headquarters in Columbia.
–A Senate subcommittee advanced a bill that would require high school students to stay in school in order to keep their driver’s license. The bill by Rep. Tom Young would make an exception for students who drop out to join the military or support their families. However, there were concerns about the additional cost to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill now heads to the full Senate Education Committee.
–The Senate approved a bill that would end state regulation of “inpatient chiropractic facilities.” DHEC officials say there has only ever been one license granted by the regulation– and it expired in 2000.
–Senate President pro tempore Glenn McConnell remains home recovering from a severe illness caused by a tick bite. McConnell told Charleston affiliate WTMA that asthma medication he takes caused the virus to spread throughout his system faster than it normally would.
–As candidates continue to declare for legislative elections later this year, one of the shortest runs may have come in Senate District 23. Former WIS-TV news anchor Kara Gormley Meadors announced that she planned to run as a Republican against incumbent Sen. Jake Knotts (R-Lexington). However, she was informed later in the day that a new redistricting plan approved last year had actually moved her residence into Senate District 18 (held by fellow Republican Ronnie Cromer). Meadors said she was not sure if she wanted to run against Cromer.
