Category Archives: Legislation

Lawmaker Aims to Strengthen State’s Open Government Law

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Amit Kumar

South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act may soon be getting more enforcement teeth. A bill that passed through a House subcommittee Wednesday allows state and local entities to charge only copy fees for an FOIA request, disallows search fees for … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Legislation, Transparency | Tagged Alberta Wasden, Kim Murphy, Rep. Bill Taylor, Rep. Seth Whipper, S.C. Freedom of Information Act | 3 Comments

Bill Could Give Arts Commission Secure Source of Funding

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Kevin Dietrich

The head of the S.C. Arts Commission is taking a cautious approach regarding a recently introduced bill that could give his agency a steady source of revenue. Ken May, executive director of the commission, said one of the key components … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, General Assembly, Legislation, State Agencies, Transparency | Tagged Gov. Nikki Haley, Rep. James Smith, S.C. Arts Commission | 4 Comments

No End in Sight for Court Fees

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Rick Brundrett

If users of the state’s court system are hoping to see lower court fees any time soon, they likely won’t find an ally in S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal. During a hearing last week before a Senate Judiciary … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Judiciary, Legislation, Other Funds | Tagged S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal, Sen. Creighton Coleman, Sen. Gerald Malloy, Sen. Larry Martin, Sen. Tom Davis | 1 Comment

S.C. House Bill Proposes Major Child Custody Law Changes

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Rick Brundrett

South Carolina’s child custody law would see its biggest overhaul in decades under a bill that has sailed through the S.C. House. The bill (H. 4614), sponsored by Rep. Mike Pitts, R-Laurens, spells out definitions of joint and sole custody … Continue reading →

Posted in General Assembly, Legislation | Tagged child custody, Jay Elliott, John McDougall, Monet Pincus, Rep. Mike Pitts, S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal | 2 Comments

The Search for a Joint Open Session on the Budget

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Kevin Dietrich

State law requires that House and Senate appropriation committees meet in joint open session to consider the governor’s proposed budget within five days of it being released. On Jan. 23, the fifth and final day such sessions could be held, … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Budget, General Assembly, Legislation, Transparency | Tagged General Assembly, State Budget | 3 Comments

Lawmaker: Budget and Control Board Does ‘Jam-Up’ Job

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Kevin Dietrich

On Jan. 26 the S.C. Senate debated a bill that would abolish the Budget and Control Board – the powerful five-member board that runs state government. Although observers of both parties have usually agreed that the Board system has not … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Budget and Control Board, General Assembly, Legislation, Restructuring, State Agencies, Transparency | Tagged Budget and Control Board, Department of Administration, Restructuring, Sen. Robert Ford | 1 Comment

Senate Bill Seeks to Make Top Insurance Post an Elected Position

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Kevin Dietrich

Five years after Grand Strand legislators failed in a bid to change the S.C. Department of Insurance director’s office to an elected position from an appointed post, one of the lawmakers involved in that effort is back at it. Sen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, General Assembly, Legislation, Restructuring, State Agencies, Transparency | Tagged Restructuring, S.C. Department of Insurance, Sen. Dick Elliott, Sen. Glenn McConnell, Sen. Jake Knotts, Sen. Luke Rankin, Sen. Ray Cleary, Sen. Robert Ford | Leave a comment

House Bill Could Give Accused Criminals Multiple Breaks

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Rick Brundrett

Offenders charged with certain crimes could have their records wiped clean multiple times under a bill introduced this month by a state House member who is a criminal defense attorney. Under the bill (H. 4603) by Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, … Continue reading →

Posted in General Assembly, Legislation | Tagged criminal domestic violence, David Ross, Laura Hudson, pre-trial intervention, Rep. Todd Rutherford, S.C. Commission on Prosecution Coordination, S.C. Solicitors Association, South Carolina Crime Victims' Council | Leave a comment

Clemson Sustainability Program in Line for $445,000 in State Funds

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Kevin Dietrich

A Clemson University program that at least one legislator thought would be better suited for state government was recommended to receive nearly $450,000 in state funding last week. The S.C. Commission on Higher Education got approval from the Joint Other … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Higher Education, Legislation, Other Funds, SmartState, Transparency | Tagged 'Other Funds', Clemson, Endowed Chairs, Joint Other Funds Oversight Committee, SmartState | 13 Comments

DEW Director: Unemployed Can’t be Forced to Volunteer

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Kevin Dietrich

S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Abraham Turner says federal law prohibits the state from devising a plan where individuals receiving unemployment would have to take on community service in return. The U.S. Department of Labor doesn’t allow … Continue reading →

Posted in Legislation, State Agencies, Transparency | Tagged Abraham Turner, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce | Leave a comment