A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE VIVIAN CONSTANCE DOUGLAS OF AIKEN COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY AND TO WISH HER A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND MANY YEARS OF CONTINUED HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO HONOR MRS. FANNIE PRIOLEAU JOHNSON ON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF HER ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY ON APRIL 10, 2019, AND TO WISH HER MUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CELEBRATE THE THIRTY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA POULTRY FESTIVAL, TO BE HELD MAY 9-11, 2019, IN BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, AND TO HONOR THOSE PLANNING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE FESTIVAL.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO PROCLAIM THE FIRST TUESDAY OF MAY 2019 AS "PALMETTO GIVING DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 58-31-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MAJOR UTILITY FACILITIES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL IN THE MANNER DETERMINED BY LAW; BY ADDING ARTICLE 7 TO CHAPTER 31, TITLE 58 SO AS TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN MANDATORY PROCEDURES THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY MUST FOLLOW PRIOR TO REVISING ANY OF ITS BOARD-APPROVED RETAIL RATE SCHEDULES FOR RESIDENTIAL, LIGHTING, COMMERCIAL, OR INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS IN A MANNER THAT RESULTS IN A RATE INCREASE; BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 31, TITLE 58 SO AS TO CREATE THE "SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT COMMISSION", AND TO DEFINE THE COMMISSION'S COMPOSITION, POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-31-20, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS ADVISORY BOARD, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY TO SUBMIT ANNUAL AUDITS TO THE ADVISORY BOARD AND TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT COMMISSION, AND TO REQUIRE THE LIVE STREAMING OF BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-31-30, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY'S CONSTRUCTION OF ANY MAJOR UTILITY FACILITY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS OF "MAJOR UTILITY FACILITY" AND "PERSON".
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR EDWARD JOHN RATLIFF III OF CLEMSON FOR HIS NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON ACHIEVING THE PRESTIGIOUS RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT, THE HIGHEST AWARD IN SCOUTING.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR CAMDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL OF KERSHAW COUNTY AND TO CONGRATULATE THE ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS ON THE SCHOOL'S BEING CHOSEN AS A NATIONAL 2019 SCHOOL TO WATCH.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LUGOFF-ELGIN MIDDLE SCHOOL OF KERSHAW COUNTY AND TO CONGRATULATE THE ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS FOR BEING CHOSEN AS A 2019 NATIONAL "SCHOOL TO WATCH."
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS DEEP APPRECIATION TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM ON "SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM DAY" ON APRIL 3, 2019, FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN EDUCATING AND TRAINING SOUTH CAROLINA'S WORKFORCE FOR COMPETITIVE, HIGH-DEMAND JOBS IN OUR STATE.
A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA RATEPAYER PROTECTION ACT OF 2019" BY ADDING SECTIONS 8-27-70, 8-27-80, AND 8-27-90 ALL SO AS TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A PUBLIC UTILITY WHO REPORT WRONGDOING BY THE UTILITY AND TO PROVIDE REMEDIES FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE DISMISSED OR SUFFER ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS BECAUSE OF A REPORT OF WRONGDOING; BY ADDING SECTIONS 37-6-610, 37-6-611, AND 37-6-612 ALL SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO PERSON MAY SERVE AS THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE IF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION REGULATES A BUSINESS WITH WHICH THAT PERSON IS ASSOCIATED, AND TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON FUTURE EMPLOYMENT AND SPECIFIED ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS ON THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-20, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO DELETE PROVISIONS WHICH PERMIT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE TO FIND A CANDIDATE QUALIFIED IF HE DOES NOT HAVE THE BACKGROUND OR EXPERTISE REQUIRED BY LAW AND PROVISIONS WHICH PERMIT CERTAIN INCUMBENT COMMISSIONERS TO BE REELECTED WHO DO NOT MEET THESE QUALIFICATIONS; BY ADDING SECTIONS 58-3-21 AND 58-3-22 BOTH SO AS TO AUTHORIZE MILEAGE AND SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONERS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE NOT PROHIBITED FROM CONSULTING WITH RETAINED EXPERTS AND ATTORNEYS IN CLOSED SESSION IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE APPELLATE COURTS OF THIS STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-25, RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMISSION SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED CONFLICTS, AND TO DELETE A REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN FILINGS BY EMPLOYEES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-30, RELATING TO CODES OF CONDUCT OF COMMISSIONERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMISSION, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND PERMISSIBLE ACTIONS AND PRACTICES OF COMMISSIONERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMISSION, AND TO REQUIRE ANNUAL CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR COMMISSIONERS AND EMPLOYEES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 58-3-60, 58-3-190, AND 58-3-200, ALL RELATING TO AUDITS AND EXAMINATIONS OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, SO AS TO DELETE A PROVISION WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE INSPECTION, AUDIT, AND EXAMINATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND NOT THE COMMISSION, AND TO PERMIT THE COMMISSION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF TO AUDIT OR EXAMINE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION TO UNDERTAKE THESE ACTIONS ON ITS OWN; BY ADDING SECTION 58-3-65 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MAY EMPLOY, THROUGH CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE, THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANTS AND EXPERTS IN CARRYING OUT ITS DUTIES IF THE COMMISSION DETERMINES IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF RATEPAYERS AND IT IS APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-225, RELATING TO CONDUCT OF HEARINGS BY THE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEFORE MAKING A DETERMINATION, THE COMMISSION SHALL QUESTION THE PARTIES THOROUGHLY DURING HEARINGS OF CONTESTED CASES WHEN APPROPRIATE; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-260, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION AGAINST COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND PARTIES TO A PROCEEDING, SO AS TO PERMIT CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHARGED WITH REVIEW OF THE COMMISSION; BY ADDING SECTIONS 58-3-281, 58-3-282, 58-3-283, 58-3-284, 58-3-285, 58-3-286, AND 58-3-287, ALL SO AS TO IMPOSE CERTAIN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS AGAINST A PUBLIC UTILITY WHICH VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 58 OR REFUSES TO OBEY A RULE, ORDER, OR REGULATION OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF OR THE COMMISSION, OR WHICH FILES OR SUBMITS FALSE INFORMATION, INCLUDING A REQUIREMENT THAT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER OF A UTILITY CERTIFY THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-520, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE, SO AS TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE AND PREVENT A PERSON FROM BEING APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE WHO HAS MADE CERTAIN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-530, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMITTEE SHALL NOMINATE ALL CANDIDATES IT FINDS QUALIFIED FOR EACH SEAT ON THE COMMISSION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMITTEE SHALL APPOINT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-560, RELATING TO ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 58-3-24 PROHIBITING THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR MEMBERS OF THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO THE COMMISSION, NO LONGER PROHIBITS THEIR ELECTION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2020 ELECTIONS, THE ELECTIONS MUST BE HELD AT LEAST FORTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER THE SCREENING AND NOMINATION PROCESS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-3-565 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE ARE PROHIBITED FROM CERTAIN ACTIONS OR HAVING CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-40, RELATING TO THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, SO AS TO REVISE CERTAIN DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS ON THE PART OF EMPLOYEES AND TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN OTHER ACTIONS BY THESE EMPLOYEES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-31-20, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN ACTIONS BY BOARD MEMBERS AND TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS BY BOARD MEMBERS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 58-4-30 RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS AND APPOINTMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF.
