H 5262 General Bill, By Rutherford
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 2-1-180, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DATE FOR
 THE MANDATORY ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THE SECOND THURSDAY IN
 MAY, TO THE FIRST THURSDAY IN JUNE, BEGINNING WITH THE 2020 REGULAR SESSION,
 TO DELETE CERTAIN LANGUAGE PERMITTING A TWO-WEEK EXTENSION UPON THE AGREEMENT
 OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND
 TO MAKE CORRESPONDING CHANGES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 11-9-880, RELATING TO THE
 BOARD OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS' FORECAST OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, SO AS TO REVISE
 THE DATES OF THE FORECASTS.

   04/18/18  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 10)
   04/18/18  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 10)

TO AMEND SECTION 2-1-180, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DATE FOR THE MANDATORY ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THE SECOND THURSDAY IN MAY, TO THE FIRST THURSDAY IN JUNE, BEGINNING WITH THE 2020 REGULAR SESSION, TO DELETE CERTAIN LANGUAGE PERMITTING A TWO-WEEK EXTENSION UPON THE AGREEMENT OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND TO MAKE CORRESPONDING CHANGES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 11-9-880, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS' FORECAST OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DATES OF THE FORECASTS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 2-1-180 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 2-1-180.    The regular annual session of the General Assembly shall adjourn sine die each year not later than five o'clock p.m. on the second first Thursday in May June, beginning with the 2020 regular session. The regular annual session of the General Assembly can be extended:

(a)    if the House of Representatives fails to give a third reading to the annual general appropriations bill by March thirty-first, the date of sine die adjournment is extended by one statewide day for each statewide day after March thirty-first that the House of Representatives fails to give the bill third reading; or

(b)    if a forecast reduction is submitted by the Board of Economic Advisors pursuant to Section 11-9-880 after April tenth for the next fiscal year, the adjournment date for the General Assembly may be extended up to two weeks with the agreement of the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; or

(c)    if a concurrent resolution is adopted by a two-thirds vote of both the Senate and House of Representatives not later than five o'clock p.m. on the second first Thursday in May June. During the time between five o'clock p.m. on the second first Thursday in May June and the extended sine die adjournment date, as set forth herein, no legislation or other business may be considered except the general appropriations bill and any matters approved for consideration by a concurrent resolution adopted by two-thirds vote in both houses."

SECTION    2.    Section 11-9-880(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A)    The Board of Economic Advisors shall make an initial forecast of economic conditions in the State and state revenues for the next fiscal year no later than November tenth of each year. Adjustments to the forecast must be considered on December tenth and February fifteenth January tenth. A final forecast for the next fiscal year must be made on April tenth February fifteenth. However, prior to June thirtieth, the board may reduce forecasts for the next fiscal year as it considers necessary. The February fifteenth forecast may be adjusted monthly if the board determines that changing economic conditions have affected the February fifteenth forecast. Before making or adjusting any forecast, the board must consult with outside economic experts with respect to national and South Carolina economic business conditions. All forecasts and adjusted forecasts must contain:

(1)    a brief description of the economic model and all assumptions and basic decisions underlying the forecasts;

(2)    a projection of state revenues on a quarterly basis;

(3)    separate discussions of any industry which employs more than twenty percent of the state's total nonagricultural employment and separate projections for these industries."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon the approval by the Governor.