Senator Shane Martin - Session almost over!

Senator Shane Martin received the "Friend of the Taxpayer" Award at the SC Association of Taxpayers Annual Legislative Luncheon!

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2013 Major Issues

Important 2012 Bills passed & signed by the Governor

 Prescribed Burns H.3631

• H.3631, which has to do with forestry management via controlled burns in South Carolina. Forestry has a $17 billion annual impact in our state.
• By certifying more South Carolinians in controlled burn practices and protecting landowners from frivolous lawsuits, we can preserve a valuable natural resource and an important source of jobs and economic activity in our state.
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 139 – Effective date 4/2/2012.

•  S.102 is a bill to restrict abortion coverage under ObamaCare. 
• ObamaCare mandates threaten South Carolina and the country at large.
• This bill makes sure that as these new insurance plans are set up under ObamaCare, they may not be used to provide “abortion on demand.”
• ObamaCare is bad enough, and we want to make sure its mandates don’t expand abortion in South Carolina.
• Status – Signed by the Governor. Act 202 – Effective date 6/7/2012.

• Charter schools are public schools that give educators the flexibility to create schools that best fit the needs of the local community. The bill streamlines many aspects of charter school creation and admissions processes.
• We believe it will stimulate the growth of charter schools in South Carolina and remove roadblocks for those already operating.
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 164 – Effective date 5/14/2012.

Unemployment Benefits S.1125

• Prohibits someone from receiving unemployment benefits if they were fired for misconduct.
• Last year DEW gave $50 million in unemployment benefits for people fired for misconduct.
• Status – signed by the Governor.

• Allows SC to enter into a compact with other states to opt out of ObamaCare.
• The compact must be approved by 15-20 states then approved by the US Congress for South Carolina to be able to opt out of ObamaCare. 
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 221 – Effective date 6/7/2012.

• It extends legal protection to an infant born alive after a failed attempt at induced abortion.
• This bill conforms South Carolina’s law to mirror federal law.
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 174 – Effective date 5/25/12.

• The bill allows a home school student, charter school student, or Governor’s School student the opportunity to play high school sports. 
• A child is only eligible to play for the school in the attendance zone which they reside in.
• Called the “Tim Tebow” bill to acknowledge his accomplishments.
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 203 – Effective date 6/7/2012.

• The bill prohibits local governments from entering the telecommunications business to compete against private industry except in the areas designated “unserved” by the Public Service Commission. 
• Will require a new Sine Die Resolution to become law.

• The measure allows the voters to decide if they would like the Governor and Lt. Governor run on the same ballot starting in 2018. 
• Voters will decide this November.
• Did not require the Governor’s signature and will be on your ballot as a question in November.

• Eligibility for retirement of current employees is not affected. 28 and 25 years (SCRS and PORS) remains as does 3-year average final compensation (AFC) and the use of annual and sick leave for final compensation. New employees (hired after implementation) will work for 30 and 27 years respectively, AFC will become a 5-year equation and leave will not count.
• Employee contributions will be set in law until the Systems are 90% funded; that, of course, ensures that they become 90% funded.
• Any current employee that retires after implementation may return to work with a $10k earnings limit on their retirement annuity. Their salary has no limit. Any current employee who is already retired or retires before this Act takes effect will NOT be subject to the earnings cap. This means before January 2^nd, 2013.
• New employees in SCRS must attain the Rule of 90 (age plus years of service) for full retirement. New employees in PORS must work until age 57 for full retirement.
• Phases out TERI over the next 5 years.
• Implementation of Return to Work and service purchase cost increases occurs on January 2^nd, 2013.
• If the General Assembly had decided to take NO action, the retirement system would be broke in roughly 10 years. We must ensure the system stays solvent.
• Status – ratified and awaiting signature.

• This bill reestablishes the balance of interest between property owners and the environment, offering equal protection to both.
• The line was blurred last year after the SC Supreme Court ruled against a developer, deciding they needed a permit because the US Pollution Control Act required one.
• The court also ruled that any SC citizen has the right to sue another person or entity on the grounds of discharging pollutants into the environment.
• Prior to that, the law was interpreted to mean that a plaintiff had to be directly impacted by another in order to sue.
• Included in the bill is the establishment of a study committee to determine how best to permit and protect Carolina Bays. 
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 198 – Effective date 6/6/2012.

• The bill creates the South Carolina Medal of Valor to be awarded to a South Carolinian, or an individual with certain ties to South Carolina, who was killed either while serving in or deploying to a combat zone.
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 175 – Effective date 5/25/2012.

Veteran Status on Driver’s License S.710

• The bill creates allows Veterans to have a sticker on their Driver’s License to recognize their service to our country.
• This will make them eligible for many discounts at businesses, etc.
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 147 – Effective date 4/23/2012.

• The bill strengthens our state’s right to work laws by authorizing that notifications may be posted in workplaces in order to inform employees of South Carolina’s laws guaranteeing that a person’s right to work must not be denied because of membership or non-membership in a labor union or labor organization.
• State and local government contracts are prohibited from including project labor agreements which require that unionized labor comprise a percentage of the workforce on a project.
• Penalties are increased for those that violate our right to work laws.
• Status – signed by the Governor. Act 197 – Applies to any actions filed with a court after 6/7/12.

• The bill encourages full, candid review of patient care while promoting the safety and quality of that care. Doctors, patient advocates, and trial lawyers all agreed on this one!
• It also protects hospital staff in the event of catastrophic injury occurring in the hospital.
• Ratified.

• The bill allows for the night hunting of coyotes, feral hogs, and armadillo year around. 
• These animals are invasive species that are killing and harming our native animal species, as well as damaging thousands of dollars of property each year. 
• I am the sole sponsor of this bill and had to wait over a year and 2 months to see it passed!
• Status – signed by the Governor. Effective date 6/18/2012.

• Requires the court to consider joint custody if one parent requests it, making sure both parents have an equal chance by eliminating potential bias.
• I had to work extremely hard by taking the lead in the Senate to ensure this bill passed.
• Status – signed by the Governor. Effective date 6/18/2012.

Human Trafficking Bill H.3757

• Provides for human trafficking offenses and establishes penalties.
• I was extremely shocked that we have this problem in our country!
• Status – signed by the Governor. Effective date 6/18/2012.

Forestry Firefighting equipment H.4082

• Allows the Forestry Commission to use a portion of the insurance premium tax to provide much needed equipment and fire fighters to protect our state.
• Our forestry fire-fighting equipment is out of date and this will ensure the protection of our $3 million investment last year by having a method of steady funding for this effort.
• Not a new tax – just a better use of the current system.
• Status – vetoed by the Governor. Overridden by House and Senate. Effective 6/21/2012. 

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