Sen. John W. Matthews, Jr.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 57-25-150, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERMITS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ERECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGNS, SO AS TO REVISE PROVISIONS THAT VOID PERMITS FOR CONFORMING AND NONCONFORMING SIGNS REMOVED IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE PERMITS MUST BE MAINTAINED FOR NONCONFORMING SIGNS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED BY VANDALISM, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR RESTORING NONCONFORMING SIGNS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED BY VANDALISM. - ratified title

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-59-175 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL, TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISION OF SECTION 59-59-175 EXPIRE FIVE YEARS AFTER ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNLESS OTHERWISE EXTENDED. - ratified title

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES RIGHT TO PARENT ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 21 TO TITLE 63 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE FAMILY AND PROBATE COURTS, AMONG OTHERS, TO PROTECT THE PARENTING RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY BY ESTABLISHING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND SAFEGUARDS APPLICABLE IN CHILD CUSTODY, CHILD PROTECTION, AND PROBATE GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDINGS TO ENSURE THAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT DENIED THE RIGHT TO PARENT OR TO HAVE CUSTODY OF OR VISITATION WITH A CHILD BECAUSE OF THE DISABILITY; AND TO PROHIBIT CHILD PLACING AGENCIES AND ADOPTION SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM DENYING PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY THE RIGHT TO ACCESS SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE PERSON'S DISABILITY, WITH EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-720, RELATING TO REASONABLE EFFORTS REQUIREMENTS FOR PROBABLE CAUSE HEARINGS, SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN EFFORTS IF A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN HAS A DISABILITY, TO INCLUDE REFERRALS FOR SERVICES PROVIDING INSTRUCTION ON ADAPTIVE PARENTING TECHNIQUES AND OTHER REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS WITH REGARD TO ACCESSING SERVICES; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-1640, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO FAMILY COURT DETERMINATIONS WHETHER TO REQUIRE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE OR REUNIFY A FAMILY WHEN THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN HAS A DISABILITY, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COURT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE DISABILITY AND WAYS IN WHICH TO ACCOMMODATE THE DISABILITY TO PRESERVE OR REUNIFY THE FAMILY; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-2570, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A DISABILITY. - ratified title

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-57-120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSION TO RECOGNIZE NONRESIDENT REAL ESTATE LICENSES ON ACTIVE STATUS FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHICH RECIPROCATE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSION MAY ENTER INTO RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS WITH REAL ESTATE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT PROVIDE WAIVERS OF EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS OR EXAMINATIONS IF THE COMMISSION CONSIDERS THE EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE OTHER JURISDICTION TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMMISSION. - ratified title

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 2 TO TITLE 47 SO AS TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS, TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN PERSONS FROM OWNING, POSSESSING, IMPORTING, PURCHASING, OR SELLING A LARGE WILD CAT, NON-NATIVE BEAR, OR GREAT APE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS CHAPTER AND EXEMPTIONS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, TO AUTHORIZE CONFISCATION OF THESE ANIMALS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL BODIES MAY ADOPT ORDINANCES THAT REGULATE THE POSSESSION OF THESE ANIMALS, TO REGULATE THE TREATMENT OF THESE ANIMALS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-50, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF THE SALE OF WILD CARNIVORES AS PETS AND THE SALE OF DOMESTICATED FERRETS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF THE PUBLIC DISPLAY, SHOWING, OR EXHIBITION OF CERTAIN WILD CARNIVORES, PRIMATES, OR OTHER ANIMALS. - ratified title

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 42-9-450 SO AS TO PROVIDE WORKERS' COMPENSATION PAYMENTS BY EMPLOYERS' REPRESENTATIVES MUST BE MADE BY CHECKS OR ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEMS. - ratified title

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 42-9-290, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BURIAL EXPENSES PAYABLE UNDER WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS FOR ACCIDENTAL DEATH, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PAYABLE AMOUNT TO TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. - ratified title

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 55, TITLE 46, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CULTIVATION OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS OF TERMS CONTAINED IN THIS CHAPTER, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR ADDITIONAL TERMS, TO CREATE THE SOUTH CAROLINA INDUSTRIAL HEMP PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE THAT INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS AN AGRICULTURAL CROP UPON WHICH CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAY CONDUCT RESEARCH, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MAY ISSUE PERMITS TO RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE TO GROW INDUSTRIAL HEMP UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO APPLY AND BE ISSUED A PERMIT, TO PROVIDE THAT INDUSTRIAL HEMP OR HEMP PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED AN ADULTERANT, TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS THAT REGULATE THE GROWING, SELLING, AND IMPORTATION OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP AND HEMP SEED, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT EXCLUDES INDUSTRIAL HEMP FROM THE DEFINITION OF MARIJUANA, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES COVERED BY THE INDUSTRIAL HEMP PROGRAM ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY STATE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL ACTIONS, TO REVISE THE PROVISION THAT SPECIFIES THAT CERTAIN CONDUCT REGARDING THE MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, PURCHASE, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATING TO DISGUISING MARIJUANA TO MAKE IT APPEAR TO BE INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS ILLEGAL, TO PROVIDE FOR LABORATORY TESTING OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR DISGUISING MARIJUANA TO APPEAR TO BE INDUSTRIAL HEMP. - ratified title

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-190, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES IN OFFICES, SO AS TO ADJUST THE DATES ON WHICH PRIMARIES, RUNOFF PRIMARIES, AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS MUST BE HELD, AND TO REMOVE THE EXEMPTION FROM HOLDING CERTAIN SPECIAL AND GENERAL ELECTIONS; AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO PROVIDE RANK CHOICE BALLOTS FOR A FEDERAL SPECIAL ELECTION FOR WHICH THE PRIMARY IS HELD ON MAY 2, 2017, TO INDIVIDUALS CASTING BALLOTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT. - ratified title

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE "SEIZURE SAFETY IN SCHOOLS STUDY COMMITTEE" TO EXAMINE ISSUES RELATED TO EPILEPSY AND SEIZURE SAFETY AWARENESS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES, STAFFING, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE, AND TO PROVIDE ITS MEMBERS SHALL SERVE WITHOUT MILEAGE, PER DIEM, SUBSISTENCE, OR OTHER COMPENSATION. - ratified title