Sen. Wes Climer

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 9 TO TITLE 41 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CONTRACT PROVISIONS THAT INTERFERE WITH THE PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP OR ALLOW FOR THE CORPORATE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE ARE DECLARED TO BE AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY OF THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CONTRAVENING CONTRACT PROVISIONS ARE UNENFORCEABLE, TO SPECIFY CERTAIN RELATED CONTRACT PROVISIONS WHICH ARE ENFORCEABLE, AND TO PROVIDE REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4, ARTICLE II OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, RELATING TO VOTER QUALIFICATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE OF THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN AND UPWARDS WHO IS PROPERLY REGISTERED IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AS PROVIDED BY LAW. - RATIFIED TITLE

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING CHAPTER 19 OF TITLE 2, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION MEMBERS, INITIAL TERMS, AND SUBSEQUENT TERMS; TO AMEND THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP TO TWELVE MEMBERS, INCLUDING FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; TO PROVIDE A QUORUM IS SEVEN MEMBERS, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; TO PROVIDE FOR TWO-YEAR TERMS AND TERM LIMITS OF MEMBERS; TO REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS BE LIVE STREAMED EXCEPT WHEN THE COMMISSION IS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION; TO ESTABLISH SET TIMES FOR THE RELEASE OF REPORTS AND THE SEEKING OF PLEDGES AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE FORMAL RELEASE OF THE REPORT OF QUALIFICATIONS SHALL OCCUR NO EARLIER THAN TWELVE DAYS AFTER NOMINEES HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NOMINEES RELEASED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THREE TO SIX; TO REQUIRE MIDTERM REVIEWS OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES AND PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR THE COMMISSION AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR TO CONDUCT THE REVIEW; TO REQUIRE THE RETENTION OF INVESTIGATIVE MATERIALS; TO PROHIBIT VOTE COUNTING BEFORE THE FORMAL RELEASE OF THE REPORT; TO REQUIRE THE REPORT TO INCLUDE THE PARTICULAR REASONS WHEN CANDIDATES WERE FOUND NOT QUALIFIED; TO PROVIDE TWENTY-TWO DAYS MUST ELAPSE BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE COMMISSION'S NOMINATIONS AND THE ELECTIONS FOR THESE JUDGESHIPS; AND TO PROVIDE THAT NOTHING SHALL PREVENT A LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FROM REJECTING A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF MASTER-IN-EQUITY AND DIRECTING THE COMMISSION TO REOPEN THE SCREENING PROCESS. - RATIFIED TITLE

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS PROFOUND SORROW UPON THE PASSING OF KENNETH ARTHUR "K.C." CAMPBELL, JR. AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE SHERIFF MICHAEL E. HUNT, SR. UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MAYOR RICK OSBON FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AIKEN AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE IN AIKEN COUNTY.

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE CHIEF JUSTICE DONALD W. BEATTY UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-3477, RELATING TO THE APPRENTICE INCOME TAX CREDIT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT AND THE NUMBER OF YEARS IN WHICH IT MAY BE CLAIMED. - RATIFIED TITLE

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING COMPACT ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE, FUNCTIONS, OPERATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS FOR THE COMPACT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 40-75-220, RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS. - RATIFIED TITLE

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-15, RELATING TO ADDITIONAL LIFE SCHOLARSHIP STIPENDS FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS MAJORS, SO AS TO EXTEND STIPEND AVAILABILITY TO EDUCATION MAJORS, TO DEFINE EDUCATION MAJORS AND REDEFINE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS MAJORS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES AND OTHER REVISIONS, TO PROVIDE EDUCATION MAJOR STIPEND RECIPIENTS MUST CONTRACTUALLY AGREE TO TEACH IN SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME, AND TO PROVIDE GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS FOR CERTAIN EXISTING STIPEND RECIPIENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-25, RELATING TO ADDITIONAL PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP STIPENDS FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS MAJORS, SO AS TO EXTEND STIPEND AVAILABILITY TO EDUCATION MAJORS, TO DEFINE EDUCATION MAJORS AND REDEFINE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS MAJORS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES AND OTHER REVISIONS, TO PROVIDE EDUCATION MAJOR STIPEND RECIPIENTS MUST CONTRACTUALLY AGREE TO TEACH IN SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME, AND TO PROVIDE GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS FOR CERTAIN EXISTING STIPEND RECIPIENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-50, RELATING TO LIFE SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE ACT TEST AS AN OPTION FOR ELIGIBILITY, TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL DETERMINE THE MINIMUM QUALIFYING ACT SCORE, TO PROVIDE THIS MINIMUM QUALIFYING SCORE MUST BE THE EQUIVALENT OF THE MINIMUM QUALIFYING SAT SCORE, TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSION PERIODICALLY SHALL ADJUST THESE MINIMUM QUALIFYING SCORES COMMENSURATE WITH SCORING SCALE ADJUSTMENTS MADE BY THE TESTING PROVIDER, AND TO PROVIDE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES MUST CONSIDER THE MINIMUM SCORING REQUIREMENT IN EFFECT AT THE TIME A TEST IS TAKEN WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL SATISFIES THE MINIMUM SCORING REQUIREMENT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WHO USE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND ELIGIBLE TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING SHALL RECEIVE A MAXIMUM OF FOUR CONTINUOUS SEMESTERS AND MAY CONTINUE TO USE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND AN ELIGIBLE FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION, SUBJECT TO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SEMESTERS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP. - RATIFIED TITLE