Sen. Larry Grooms

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-280, RELATING TO WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND THE ADOPTION OF POLICIES ADDRESSING STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE POSSESSION, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF A PERSONAL WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE IN CLASSROOMS DURING PERIODS OF ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-605 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT, TO DEFINE TERMS PERTAINING TO THIS OFFENSE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-610, RELATING TO CERTAIN OFFENSES COMMITTED WITH A CARRIED OR CONCEALED DEADLY WEAPON, SO AS TO INCLUDE RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 17-15-55, RELATING TO RECONSIDERATION BY CIRCUIT COURT OF BOND SET BY SUMMARY COURT AND SUBSEQUENT VIOLENT OFFENDERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE BOND FOR THE OFFENSE OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT TO BE HELD IN CIRCUIT COURT IF THE OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED BY A PERSON ALREADY OUT ON BOND FOR A PREVIOUS VIOLENT OFFENSE, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OFFENSE, OR ANY FELONY OFFENSE INVOLVING A FIREARM.

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN JOHN MCKEE SPRATT JR. OF YORK COUNTY AND TO HONOR HIS REMARKABLE COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-110, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT PERSONS MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO VOTE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT VOTE IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION OR A PARTISAN ADVISORY REFERENDUM UNLESS REGISTERED AS A MEMBER OF THAT POLITICAL PARTY; BY ADDING SECTION 7-5-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY AN ELECTOR REGISTERED AS A MEMBER OF A CERTIFIED POLITICAL PARTY MAY VOTE IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION OR A PARTISAN ADVISORY REFERENDUM, AND TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-170, RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SELECTION OF A POLITICAL PARTY ON A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-9-20, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTY MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING IN PRIMARY ELECTION, SO AS TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP IN A CERTIFIED POLITICAL PARTY; AND TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE DATES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "GUARDIANS OF OUR SCHOOLS ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 66, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS MAY DESIGNATE EMPLOYEES AS SCHOOL GUARDIANS TO PROVIDE ARMED PROTECTION AND OTHER RELATED PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS ON THEIR CAMPUSES, TO DEFINE RELATED TERMINOLOGY, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 23-23-112 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COUNCIL MUST DEVELOP A TRAINING PROGRAM AND GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL GUARDIANS THAT MUST BE OFFERED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-23-420, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE PROHIBITION ON POSSESSION OF FIREARM ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, SO AS TO EXEMPT SCHOOL GUARDIANS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE AND RACKETEERING SUPPRESSION ACT"; BY AMENDING ARTICLE 3 OF CHAPTER 8, TITLE 16, RELATING TO THE CRIMINAL GANG PREVENTION ACT, SO AS TO RETITLE THE ARTICLE, REVISE THE DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE ARTICLE, AND RESTRUCTURE THE ARTICLE AND THE OFFENSES AND PENALTIES CONTAINED WITHIN IT; AND BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 8, TITLE 16 SO AS TO CREATE ANTI-RACKETEERING PROVISIONS TO COMPLIMENT THE REVISED CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE SUPPRESSION ARTICLE, DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND CREATE VARIOUS RACKETEERING OFFENSES AND ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

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.