Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008 9:42 AM
Updated Tuesday, April 29, 2008 9:43 AM
The State Capitol Report
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.” Consider the actions taken by the Legislature this week and know that lawmakers draft legislation in reaction to requests from constituents, special interest groups, and their own personal life experiences and biases. Bills that become law reflect the views of the majority in leadership. Your vote helps determine who is in the majority. Does the majority focus on what is important to you?
The House approved and sent to the Senate or enrolled for ratification the following bills of interest:
The House approved S.1039, pertaining to prohibitions on the regulation of firearms, and enrolled the bill for ratification. This bill provides that counties and municipalities may not enact regulations to prohibit a landowner from discharging a firearm on his property to protect family members, employees, or the general public from animals posing a direct threat or danger on a parcel of land comprised of at least 25 contiguous acres. Any ordinance regulating the discharge of firearms that does not specifically provide for exclusion pursuant to this item is unenforceable as it pertains to an incident described in this item; otherwise, the ordinance is enforceable.
The House approved and sent to the Senate, H.5003, a joint resolution directing the State Treasurer in fiscal year 2008 2009 to transfer from the homestead exemption fund to the education finance act reserve fund sufficient monies, as determined by the Department of Education after consultation with the Department of Revenue, to provide each school district of this state with state funding under the Education Finance Act for fiscal year 2008 2009, at least equal to what the school district received in state funding under the Education Finance Act for fiscal year 2007 2008.
The House amended, approved and sent to the Senate, H.4737, the "behavioral health services act of 2008." This bill establishes the Department of Behavioral Health Services comprised of the Division of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and Division of Mental Health. Among other things, the department is required to develop a State Plan for Behavioral Health Services, which must include the delivery of coordinated, client-centered behavioral health services. The legislation also establishes a Department of Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee to study the organizational structure of the department to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of the department and to make recommendations for organizational and service delivery changes. This bill provides for a South Carolina Mental Health Advisory Board, as well as a Division of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services Advisory Board.
The House approved and sent to the Senate, H.4578, a proposed constitutional amendment pertaining to special purpose districts. This joint resolution proposing to amend the State Constitution would be submitted to the voters at the next General Election. This joint resolution proposes to amend the State Constitution to authorize the General Assembly, by special or local law, to abolish a special or public service district created by the General Assembly and transfer its assets and liabilities to an assuming service provider.
If you have a comment or opinion concerning the matters discussed in this report, or if I may be of assistance to you at any time, please feel free to call your legislative office in Columbia (734 2936); or my office in Pineville (843-567-4386). Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the House of Representatives.