Municipal Association of South Carolina

 

House and Senate members continued their work in Columbia this week to debate the budget conference report, finalize the illegal immigration bill and complete redistricting plans. This special session is governed by a resolution adopted by the General Assembly that allows legislators to be in session until July 1 to handle specific issues related to the state budget and redistricting. 

 

 

State budget update
The House of Representatives approved the budget conference committee report on Wednesday, June 22, by a close vote of 57 to 54. Later in the day, the Senate approved the budget conference committee report by a vote of 24 to 17. Governor Haley has until Tuesday, June 28, at midnight to issue vetoes. The House of Representatives plans to reconvene on Wednesday, June 29, to handle those vetoes. 

 

Included in the budget conference committee report is a 10 percent cut to the current year distribution of the Local Government Fund. This equals an $8.9 million loss to cities and towns for FY 2011-2012. There are also several provisos in the budget that affect cities and towns. Provisos are temporary changes to state law that are only effective for one fiscal year.

 

Methamphetamine labs – This proviso establishes a study committee through SLED and local governments to review problems associated with cleaning up meth labs and appropriates $1 million of non-recurring funds to assist in the cleanup.

Rural Infrastructure Authority – This proviso transferred $13 million from the Rural Infrastructure Bank fund to the authority to fund local government revolving loans for improving local infrastructure.

 

Speed camera restrictions – This proviso requires local governments to remit back to the state an amount equal to two times any Local Government Fund money received during that fiscal year if they are using speed cameras. However, if the local government does not refund the money, the Treasurer’s office can withhold all state distributed funds to the local government.

Transparency – This proviso requires grants to non-profits be included in local government budgets as a line item and requires recipients of the grants to send an annual report to the local government detailing how the grant money was spent.

 

Crime Victims’ Fund – This proviso provides guidelines on how the Crime Victims’ Funds may be expended.

 

Contact Melissa Carter (mcarter@masc.sc) at 803.933.1251 with questions about the budget or Local Government Fund.

 

Illegal immigration bill
The House of Representatives concurred with the Senate amendments to S20, the illegal immigration reform bill that originated in the Senate. The bill is now with the governor for her signature or veto. This bill will increase costs to local governments for enforcement and will increase the potential for lawsuits against local governments. The bill requires local law enforcement officers to verify immigration status of individuals who are stopped or detained. The bill also allows lawsuits against local governments that inten­tionally do not enforce the law, and it requires cities and towns to revoke the business license of a business that violates the immigration law. Contact Warren Harley (wharley@masc.sc) at 803.933.1270 if you have questions about the immigration bill.

 

Redistricting update
The House of Representatives completed its redistricting work on H3991, the House redistricting plan, and H3992, the congressional redistricting plan. The Senate completed its work on S815, the Senate redistricting plan. Senators began debating the House version of the congressional redistricting plans on Thursday offering several amendments to the bill. The Senate plans to reconvene on Monday, June 27, at 11 a.m. to continue its debate on those amendments to the congressional plan. Contact Ed Schafer (eschafer@masc.sc) at 803.933.1203 with questions about redistricting.

 

Governor signs legislation
Governor Nikki Haley signed several bills into law on Friday, June 17, that impact cities and towns. S336, the traffic camera bill that requires a copy of a traffic citation to be handed directly to the offender by the law enforcement officer issuing the ticket, was signed into law. Also H3295, the bill that permanently corrects a bill that passed last session that unintentionally disqualified cities and towns from applying for temporary alcohol permits, was signed. Contact Warren Harley (wharley@masc.sc) at 803.933.1270 with questions about these two new laws.

 

Passed Bills
The Municipal Association’s legislative tracking system has all of the bills that have passed the House and Senate this year.

Committee Action This Week
There were no subcommittee or committee meetings this week. All of the debate took place on the floor of the House and Senate.

 

An updated wrap-up of the 2011 legislative session will be available online on July 1 following the conclusion of the legislative session.