Sen. Ross Turner

A BILL TO ENACT THE "EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT ACT"; TO AMEND TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO EDUCATION, BY ADDING CHAPTER 8, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNDING OF ACCOUNTS FOR USE IN MEETING CERTAIN EDUCATION EXPENSES OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS, TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS AND PENALTIES FOR MISUSE, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN RELATED POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, TO CREATE A PARENTAL REVIEW PANEL TO ASSIST IN DETERMINING WHETHER CERTAIN EXPENSES CONSTITUTE QUALIFIED EDUCATION EXPENSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 7 TO CHAPTER 11, TITLE 11 SO AS TO PROVIDE INCREASED FUNDING TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS GENERAL FUND REVENUES INCREASE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CERTAIN SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE FUNDING, AND TO ESTABLISH THE HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES REPAIR AND RENOVATION FUND TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; BY ADDING SECTIONS 59-149-170, 59-149-180, 59-104-50, AND 59-104-60 SO AS TO NORMALIZE THE TEN-POINT GRADING SCALE FOR PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN SCHOLARSHIPS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-150-370, RELATING TO THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO NORMALIZE THE TEN-POINT GRADING SCALE FOR PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY; BY ADDING SECTIONS 59-142-80 AND 59-143-40 SO AS TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE NEED-BASED GRANT PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FUTURE FUNDING; TO AMEND SECTIONS 59-104-25 AND 59-149-15, RELATING TO CERTAIN STEM STIPENDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STIPEND IS AVAILABLE WHEN THE STUDENT BECOMES A JUNIOR INSTEAD OF A SOPHOMORE; BY ADDING SECTION 59-142-90 SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT THE FUNDING TO THE NEED-BASED TUITION GRANTS PROGRAM MUST BE THE SAME AS THE FUNDING TO THE NEED-BASED GRANTS; TO AMEND SECTION 2-47-40, RELATING TO THE JOINT BOND REVIEW COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN INFORMATION BE GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET OFFICE; BY ADDING SECTION 2-47-65 SO AS TO INDEX FOR INFLATION PROJECT COSTS FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING IF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS; TO AMEND SECTION 2-47-55, RELATING TO A COMPREHENSIVE PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT PLAN, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-103-110, RELATING TO APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-103-175 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SUBMIT POLICY STATEMENTS AND RULES AS REGULATIONS.

A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 63-11-310(B)(3) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS, TO PROVIDE THAT RECORDS RELEASED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSES OF INVESTIGATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ORDER OF PROTECTION ISSUED BY A MAGISTRATE OR FAMILY COURT JUDGE TO ENSURE THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF SUCH RECORDS, AND TO PROVIDE WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN SUCH AN ORDER OF PROTECTION.

A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 15, TITLE 42 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO NOTICES OF ACCIDENTS IN THE WORKPLACE, THE FILING OF CLAIMS, AND MEDICAL ATTENTION AND EXAMINATION, BY ADDING SECTION 42-15-75, TO PROVIDE THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AN EMPLOYER MAY PAY UP TO TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR AN EMPLOYEE INJURED ON THE JOB WITHOUT HAVING TO REPORT THE INJURY.

A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-1-1085 AND 9-11-225, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BOTH RELATING TO EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATES UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM RESPECTIVELY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN EMPLOYER, UP TO CERTAIN LIMITS, MAY ELECT TO PAY ALL OR A PORTION OF REQUIRED EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS DURING A FISCAL YEAR.

A BILL TO ENACT THE "EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT ACT"; TO AMEND TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO EDUCATION, BY ADDING CHAPTER 8, TO PROVIDE THAT PARENTS OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS MAY ESTABLISH AND FUND ACCOUNTS FOR USE IN MEETING CERTAIN EDUCATION EXPENSES, TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS AND PENALTIES FOR MISUSE, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN RELATED POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, TO CREATE A PARENTAL REVIEW PANEL TO ASSIST IN DETERMINING WHETHER CERTAIN EXPENSES CONSTITUTE QUALIFIED EDUCATION EXPENSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-600 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMAN REMAINS OR REPOSITORIES AND THE DESECRATION OF BURIAL GROUNDS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DEFACE, VANDALIZE, INJURE, OR REMOVE A HISTORICAL MONUMENT OR HISTORICAL MARKER ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR CORRECTION TO THE PUBLIC PROPERTY, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE RECOVERY OF CERTAIN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CORRECTIONS

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND DARLA MOORE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS UPON THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE INITIAL STATE FUNDING THAT LAUNCHED THE SCHOOL OF COMMERCE IN 1919 AND TO CELEBRATE THE IMPACT THIS INSTITUTION HAS HAD THROUGH THE YEARS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND BEYOND.

A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-600 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO VARIOUS ASSAULT AND BATTERY OFFENSES, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO UNLAWFULLY INJURES A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL DURING THE COURSE OF HIS DUTIES OR INJURES A PERSON IN A HEALTH CARE FACILITY COMMITS THE OFFENSE OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY OF A HIGH AND AGGRAVATED NATURE AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

A BILL TO ENACT THE "TRANSPARENCY IN PRIVATE ATTORNEY CONTRACTS ACT", TO AMEND CHAPTER 7, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SOLICITORS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 2, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE MAY NOT ENTER INTO CONTINGENCY FEE CONTRACTS WITHOUT A WRITTEN DETERMINATION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO SET THE MAXIMUM FOR CONTINGENCY FEE CONTRACTS, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET DURING THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL ANNUALLY SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBING THE USE OF CONTINGENCY FEE CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE ATTORNEYS IN THE PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THAT REPORT, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.