Update from the House: Legislators discuss infrastructure

Along with several other colleagues of the House of Representatives, I have co-sponsored legislation that will change how members of the Board of Visitors of the Citadel are elected by the General Assembly.

One member of the board of visitors must be elected from each congressional district of this State and in addition to all other qualifications must be a resident of that congressional district.

One member of the board of visitors must be elected from the State at large. All members shall serve terms of six years each and until their successors are elected and qualified; provided that of the members first elected as provided in this subsection, the members elected from the first and sixth congressional districts shall serve initial terms of two years each, the members elected from the second and fifth congressional districts shall serve initial terms of four years each, and the members elected from the third and fourth congressional districts and the at large member shall serve initial terms of six years each.

Vacancies in these offices elected by the General Assembly shall be filled in the manner of original election for the remainder of the unexpired term.

I have also signed on as a co-sponsor on legislation that will enact the “South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Act” that will establish the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority. This bill would be extremely meaningful to Marion County as it provides for the Authority’s governance, powers, and duties and authorizes the Authority to provide loans and other financial assistance to a municipality, county, special purpose or public service district. It also requires loans and other financial assistance to a municipality, county, special purpose or public service district and a public works commission to finance rural infrastructure facilities also allowing state appropriations, grants, loan repayments, and other available amount to be credited to the fund of the Authority as well as lending and borrowing by eligible entities.

The House has passed a Senate bill and it has been sent for ratification relating to workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters heart and respiratory diseases. This bill revises provisions relating to firefighters covered under South Carolina Workers’ Compensation law and the presumption regarding impairment or injury from heart disease and/or respiratory disease, provides that the impairment or injury is considered to have arisen out of and in the course of employment if they have successfully passed a physical exam within the last two years.

The Ways and Means Economic Development and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee continues to meet on budget provisos. We also heard testimony from several legislators and citizens with their budget requests.

The House of Representatives will be taking a furlough week next week saving the citizens of South Carolina $50,000.

We will be doing this three times during the session due to budgetary conditions.