Rep. Fawn Pedalino

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGH THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION PLAN AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFERS AT LEAST ONE COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE THAT MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "ENDING ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION AND RESTORING MERIT-BASED OPPORTUNITY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 29 TO TITLE 1, CHAPTER 1 SO AS TO PROHIBIT EVERY OFFICE, DIVISION, OR OTHER UNIT BY ANY NAME OF EVERY OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT OF THIS STATE, AND ALL OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, INCLUDING ALL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FROM PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; AND TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE, EXCELLENCE, AND HARD WORK; AND TO SPECIFY APPLICABILITY.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE MARY ELIZABETH "MARIBETH" ROLLINGS WERTS UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HER FOR HER MORE THAN FORTY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COUNCIL, AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE SADIE GAMBLE, ELLAFAIR DURANT, RAILYN JOYNER, AND KAYDEN CRISANTI, FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AT LAURENCE MANNING ACADEMY, ON WINNING THE 2025 CHILDREN'S BOOK CHALLENGE SPONSORED BY BLACK WATER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AND THE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF DIMITRIOS KONSTANTINOS KAKOURAS OF SPARTANBURG AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE MEMBERS OF THE SIGMA PI CHAPTER OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND TO WISH THEM CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ALL OF THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO PROCLAIM JUNE 2025 AS "SOUTH CAROLINA TRAILS MONTH" AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ABUNDANCE OF TRAILS IN THIS STATE AND ENJOY THE COUNTLESS HEALTH, LEARNING, AND SOCIAL BENEFITS THAT CAN BE DERIVED FROM THEIR USE.

Maddy summaryH 3948 increases the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) for Medicaid-eligible nursing home residents in South Carolina, which covers personal expenses like clothing, toiletries, and small purchases. Starting January 1, 2025, the allowance will adjust annually based on the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (capped at federal limits) and must be at least $100 per month. The bill also clarifies that accrued PNA amounts for residents as of June 1, 2024, will not count as assets during their stay, and prohibits using the allowance for Medicaid-covered items like incontinence supplies or food. This directly affects nursing home residents qualifying for Medicaid and ensures the allowance remains accessible for non-medical personal needs.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-29-15, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT CURSIVE WRITING BE TAUGHT IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, SO AS TO SPECIFY THAT THE CURSIVE WRITING INSTRUCTION MUST BEGIN IN SECOND GRADE AND CONTINUE IN EACH GRADE THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, TO RECOGNIZE THAT PARENTS HAVE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR CHILDREN, TO PROHIBIT THE STATE FROM SUBSTANTIALLY BURDENING THOSE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE TO OBTAIN PARENTAL CONSENT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO CREATE A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR VIOLATION OF THE CHAPTER, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND TO DESIGNATE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59, AS ARTICLE 1 ENTITLED "GENERAL PROVISIONS."