Capitol Report: Lawmakers address school district financing – Berkeley Independent

The House of Representatives concurred in Senate amendments to H.3221 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation establishes a statewide program for ADDRESSING UNSOUND SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCES which affords the State Department of Education authority that extends beyond academic matters to include fiscal affairs. Under the legislation, the State Department of Education is to work with district superintendents and finance officers to develop and adopt a statewide program with guidelines for: (1) identifying fiscal practices and budgetary conditions that, if uncorrected, could compromise the fiscal integrity of a school district; and (2) advising districts that demonstrate these financial problems on the corrective actions that should be taken. The department must establish three escalating levels of fiscal and budgetary concern so that the State Superintendent of Education can declare a fiscal watch, a fiscal caution, and a fiscal emergency with regard to school district finances. The succeeding levels of budgetary concern carry increasingly stringent requirements for school district recovery plans, audits, and inspections as well as more intensive technical support from the state department. Should a school districts finances warrant the most severe level of concern prompting the State Superintendent of Education to declare a fiscal emergency, the State Department of Education is authorized to take intensive steps including assuming control over the districts financial operations to preclude a default on any type of debt and prevent further decline in the districts finances. These provisions also apply to the statewide charter school district and a variation of these fiscal accountability measures applies to special schools where a state agency operates as a Local Education Agency, such as the educational programs of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, and the Governors Schools.

The House approved S.617 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation provides authorization for the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA 2017 WOMENS BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.

The House approved S.415 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation provides for comprehensive PROBATE COURT REVISIONS to bring greater statewide uniformity to the probate process, reduce costs for filing probate actions, and enhance protections for the disabled, such as allowing for the appointment of a limited guardian when an incapacitated individual is capable of managing most of their affairs.

The House approved S.342, relating to LEGAL IMMUNITY FOR SURVEYORS VOLUNTEERING DURING EMERGENCIES, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation establishes conditions for affording surveyors immunity from legal liability while volunteering their services during natural disasters and other declared state or national emergencies.

The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3790, a bill enacting RYANS LAW to provide for MORE EXPANSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF AUTISM. The legislation expands requirements for health insurers to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorder treatments so that these requirements apply not only to the State Health Plan and larger group health insurance plans, but also to health insurance policies for small employers and individuals. Coverage requirements are also revised to eliminate the maximum yearly dollar amount imposed on coverage benefits for behavioral therapy and to remove eligibility restrictions that limit required coverage to individuals who are under sixteen years of age who have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder at age eight or younger. The definition autism spectrum disorder within these insurance provisions is revised so that it means autism spectrum disorder as defined by the most recent publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or a pervasive developmental disorder as defined in any previous edition of the DSM. This definition of autism spectrum disorder is also included in the "South Carolina Intellectual Disability, Related Disabilities, Head Injuries, and Spinal Cord Injuries Act" which governs treatment services offered through the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

The House returned S.344 to the Senate with amendments. The legislation allows for the option of including an AUTISM DESIGNATION ON DRIVERS LICENSES and special identification cards by establishing a process for someone to voluntarily disclose a medical diagnosis of autism to the Department of Motor Vehicles and provide documentation from a licensed physician in order to have a symbol included on these identification cards. These provisions allowing an autism symbol to be included on I.D. cards are offered to reduce the likelihood of law enforcement officers misinterpreting movements and behavior during traffic stops and other interactions.

The House amended Senate amendments to H.3720, the General Appropriation Bill, and H.3721, the joint resolution making appropriations from the Capital Reserve Fund, which together comprise the $26.9 billion FISCAL YEAR 2017-2018 STATE GOVERNMENT BUDGET. The version of the budget approved by the Senate differs from the House-approved version in certain notable areas, such as: a base student cost for K-12 public education set $35 higher; an alternate mechanism for providing some of the funding offered as the first phase in an effort to make the states pension systems financially sound; funding for an additional class of troopers; appropriations for the position of Director at the Department of Public Safety; funding for South Carolinas compliance with federal REAL I.D. requirements; and, more expansive funding for the Conservation Bank. The budget legislation was amended, in large part, to return it to the version approved by the House earlier this year. The General Appropriation Bill was also amended to include the comprehensive INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND GOVERNANCE measures approved by the House earlier this year in H.3516. The budget legislation was returned to the Senate with amendments.

The House approved and sent the Senate H.3818, a bill establishing certain LEGAL IMMUNITY WHILE SEEKING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A DRUG OR ALCOHOL OVERDOSE as a means of encouraging individuals to obtain life-saving treatment. The legislation establishes conditions under which someone is exempt from prosecution for certain drug and alcohol-related offenses while seeking medical attention for a drug or alcohol-related overdose or assisting someone else to obtain medical treatment for an overdose. The legislation establishes civil and criminal immunity for law enforcement officers who arrest anyone who is later found to be qualified for the limited immunity provisions of this legislation.

The House returned S.480, a bill addressing DENMARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE GOVERNANCE, to the Senate with amendments. The legislation makes provisions for all powers, duties, and obligations vested in the Denmark Technical College Area Commission to be devolved upon the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, during the time period beginning May 1, 2017 and ending November 1, 2018. During this eighteen month period, the state board is required to provide quarterly status reports to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee concerning its actions to stabilize Denmark Technical College, including its operations, financial standing, and the recruitment and retention of students. The state board is also charged with studying the most effective, efficient delivery of technical college educational opportunities to Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell Counties and reporting its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the legislative budget-writing committees by February 1, 2018.

The House returned S.200 to the Senate with amendments. The legislation establishes a process for billboard owners to follow that allows for the RESTORATION OF AN OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN DAMAGED BY VANDALISM.

Contact Rep. Crosby at 803-212-6879. Contact Rep. Jefferson at843-567-4386.

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Capitol Report: Lawmakers address school district financing - Berkeley Independent