A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR STAFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND MANY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY, TO CONGRATULATE THEM, AND TO DECLARE MAY 14, 2024, AS "USC STAFF DAY" IN THE PALMETTO STATE.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 58-3-140, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S POWERS TO REGULATE PUBLIC UTILITIES, SO AS TO ESTABLISH CONSIDERATIONS AND STATE POLICY FOR THE COMMISSION'S DECISION MAKING PROCESS, TO ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE FOR CERTAIN TESTIMONY AND DISCOVERY IN CONTESTED PROCEEDINGS, TO PERMIT ELECTRICAL UTILITY CUSTOMERS TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AS PUBLIC WITNESSES, AND TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANT HIRED BY THE COMMISSION; BY ADDING SECTION 58-4-150 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF TO PREPARE A COMPREHENSIVE STATE ENERGY ASSESSMENT AND ACTION PLAN AND TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS PLAN; BY ADDING SECTION 58-31-205 SO AS TO PERMIT THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY TO JOINTLY OWN ELECTRICAL FACILITIES WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-37-70 SO AS TO PERMIT A SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR PILOT PROGRAM AND TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 37, TITLE 58 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR STATE AGENCY REVIEW OF ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT APPLICATIONS AND TO PROVIDE A SUNSET; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-40-10, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "CUSTOMER GENERATOR", SO AS TO ESTABLISH CHARACTERISTICS FOR A "CUSTOMER GENERATOR"; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-41-30, RELATING TO VOLUNTARY RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR THESE PROGRAMS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-41-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE DEFINITION OF "ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES"; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-41-20, RELATING TO PROCEEDINGS FOR ELECTRICAL UTILITIES" AVOIDED COST METHODOLOGIES AND RELATED PROCESSES, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROGRAMS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, CAPACITY, AND STORAGE, TO PERMIT COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT OF NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY AND ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR NON COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROGRAMS, AND TO DELETE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE COMMISSION HIRING THIRD PARTY EXPERTS FOR THESE PROCEEDINGS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-41-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A PROCESS FOR COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-33-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE DEFINITION "LIKE FACILITY" AND "MAJOR UTILITY FACILITY" TO REQUIRE AN ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT AND ASSOCIATED FACILITIES MAY ALSO REQUIRE A FOOTPRINT OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE ACRES; BY AMENDING ARTICLE 3 OF CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58, RELATING TO CERTIFICATION OF MAJOR UTILITY FACILITIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A LIKE FACILITY, TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROPOSED FACILITIES, TO PROVIDE WHAT ACTIONS MAY BE TAKEN WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE COMMISSION, AND TECHNICAL CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-40, RELATING TO INTEGRATED RESOURCES PLANS, SO AS TO ADD CONSIDERATION OF A UTILITY'S TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION RESOURCE PLAN, TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION BY THE COMMISSION, AND REQUIRE PARTIES TO BEAR THEIR OWN COSTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-33-310, RELATING TO AN APPEAL FROM A FINAL ORDER OR DECISION OF THE COMMISSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE A FINAL ORDER ISSUED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 33, TITLE 58 BE IMMEDIATELY APPEALABLE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXPEDITED HEARING; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-33-320, RELATING TO JOINT HEARINGS AND JOINT INVESTIGATIONS, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; BY ADDING SECTION 58-4-160 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO EVALUATE ESTABLISHING A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD A REFERENCE TO "DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM" AND PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR "COST EFFECTIVE" AND "DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM"; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-20, RELATING TO COMMISSION PROCEDURES ENCOURAGING ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, SO AS TO EXPAND COMMISSION CONSIDERATIONS FOR COST EFFECTIVE, DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, AND REQUIRE EACH INVESTOR OWNED ELECTRICAL UTILITY TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMISSION REGARDING ITS DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-30, RELATING TO REPORTS ON DEMAND SIDE ACTIVITIES, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; BY ADDING SECTION 58-37-35 SO AS TO PERMIT PROGRAMS AND CUSTOMER INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE OR PROMOTE DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR CUSTOMER-SITED DISTRIBUTION RESOURCES, AND TO PROVIDE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THESE PROGRAMS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-37-50, RELATING TO AGREEMENTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION MEASURES, SO AS TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN TERMS AND RATE RECOVERY FOR AGREEMENTS FOR FINANCING AND INSTALLING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION MEASURES, AND FOR APPLICATION TO A RESIDENCE OCCUPIED BEFORE THE MEASURES ARE TAKEN; TO ESTABLISH THE "ENERGY INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND", AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-41-50, SO AS TO ENCOURAGE BULK POWER SOLUTIONS AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS; SO AS TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS RELATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REASONABLE AND PRUDENT COST DEFERRAL.
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING CHAPTER 19 OF TITLE 2, BY RENAMING THE CHAPTER THE "SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION, SCREENING AND ELECTION OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES", SO AS TO CREATE THE NEW SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION AND RESTRUCTURE THE PROCESS BY WHICH JUSTICES AND JUDGES ARE SCREENED AND ELECTED, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION AND ITS LIMITED TERMS, TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OTHER NECESSARY STAFF, TO REQUIRE THE RELEASE OF ALL QUALIFIED JUDICIAL CANDIDATES, TO CREATE A COMBINED BAR AND CITIZENS' JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMITTEE, TO CREATE A MIDTERM JUDICIAL BALLOT BOX REVIEW, TO GIVE DELEGATIONS THE AUTHORITY TO REJECT A MASTER-IN-EQUITY CANDIDATE IN ADDITION TO THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY TO DO SO, TO CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMISSION TO SCREEN MAGISTRATE CANDIDATES BEFORE THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS AND TO MAKE OTHER CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-1-10, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MAGISTRATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A MAGISTRATE MAY SERVE IN HOLDOVER STATUS FOR NO MORE THAN FOURTEEN DAYS AT THE END OF HIS TERM, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY APPOINT A TEMPORARY MAGISTRATE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ANY MAGISTRATE OR MAGISTRATE CANDIDATE WHO HAS BEEN REPRIMANDED BY THE SUPREME COURT OR ANY OTHER DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY MAY NOT BE APPOINTED OR REAPPOINTED UNLESS APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE SENATE AFTER THE SENATE IS INFORMED OF THE REPRIMAND OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-10, RELATING TO THE CIVIL JURISDICTION OF THE MAGISTRATES COURT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CIVIL JURISDICTION FROM SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 22-3-550, RELATING TO MAGISTRATES COURT CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OVER MINOR OFFENSES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTY TO ONE YEAR AND INCREASE THE FINE OR FORFEITURE JURISDICTION FROM FIVE HUNDRED TO TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS; AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF OFFICE SPACE AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION AND REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THE COSTS OF THE TRANSFER OF THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION TO INDEPENDENT OFFICE SPACE WHEN IT CONVERTS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE STANDALONE, INDEPENDENT AGENCY MUST BE CREATED AND FUNCTIONAL BY JULY 1, 2025.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS PROFOUND SORROW UPON THE PASSING OF ASHLEY MICHELLE BROWN AND HER SON, PRINCE TION, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CLINTON CHAPEL AME ZION CHURCH IN UNION COUNTY TO FOSTER UNITY AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS IN THE GREATER UNION AREA.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES FOR THEIR SUPERB LEADERSHIP AND FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTION AND TO CONGRATULATE THE ORGANIZATION ON ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY IN 2025.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE WANDO HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND, BAND DIRECTORS, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON A STELLAR SEASON AND TO CELEBRATE THEM FOR WINNING THE SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA MARCHING BAND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE HONORABLE BEULAH G. ROBERTS, CLERK OF COURT FOR CLARENDON COUNTY, AND TO CONGRATULATE HER FOR BEING NAMED COURTS OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR FOR HER MORE THAN THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE WANDO HIGH SCHOOL BOYS LACROSSE TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR A STELLAR SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LARRY MARK, THE OWNER AND FOUNDER OF FURNITURE WAREHOUSE DESIGN GALLERY, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER FIFTY-TWO YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE BEAUFORT COMMUNITY, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
