Pursuant to an invitation the Honorable Speaker and House of Representatives appeared in the Senate Chamber on July 26, 2011, at 2:15 P.M. and the following Acts and Joint Resolutions were ratified:

(R109, S. 172 (Word version)) -- Senators Rose, Fair, Leatherman, Bright, Bryant, Campsen, Knotts, O'Dell, S. Martin, Ford and McGill: AN ACT TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION EFFICIENCY AND ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES ACT OF 2011", BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-670 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING MUST MAINTAIN A DETAILED TRANSACTION REGISTER OF ALL FUNDS EXPENDED EACH MONTH AND POST THAT REGISTER ONLINE; BY ADDING SECTION 1-1-1040 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL STATE AGENCIES MUST HAVE A LINK ON THEIR INTERNET WEBSITE TO THE STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR POSTING ON ITS INTERNET WEBSITE THE AGENCY'S, DEPARTMENT'S, OR INSTITUTION'S MONTHLY STATE PROCUREMENT CARD STATEMENTS, TO DIRECT THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD'S STATE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO PARTICIPATE WITH FIVE REPRESENTATIVES SELECTED BY THE RESPECTIVE PRESIDENTS OF THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES TO STUDY, DEVELOP, AND RECOMMEND A SEPARATE, COMPREHENSIVE HUMAN RESOURCES SYSTEM FOR THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES; TO AMEND SECTION 2-47-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, SO AS TO DEFINE 'PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT'; TO AMEND SECTION 11-35-1210, RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD'S REVIEW OF DOLLAR LIMITS FOR A GOVERNMENTAL BODY'S PROCUREMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE APPROPRIATE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, MAY APPROVE A CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF UP TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR TECHNICAL COLLEGES; TO AMEND SECTION 11-35-1550, RELATING TO BID PROCEDURES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE MAY MAKE SMALL PURCHASES NOT EXCEEDING TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS WITHOUT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE APPLYING; TO AMEND SECTION 11-35-3310, RELATING TO INDEFINITE DELIVERY CONTRACTS, SO AS TO INCREASE CERTAIN DOLLAR LIMITS FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES; TO AMEND SECTION 11-35-4810, RELATING TO COOPERATIVE PURCHASING, SO AS TO EXEMPT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF THIRTY DAYS' NOTICE OF A MULTISTATE SOLICITATION IF A COST SAVINGS IS DEMONSTRATED TO THE OFFICE OF STATE PROCUREMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 1-7-170, RELATING TO ENGAGING AN ATTORNEY ON A FEE BASIS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING SHALL ENGAGE AND COMPENSATE OUTSIDE COUNSEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ADOPTED BY THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD FOR MATTERS OF BONDED INDEBTEDNESS, PUBLIC FINANCE, BORROWING, AND RELATED FINANCIAL MATTERS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-55 SO AS TO PROHIBIT STATE APPROPRIATED FUNDS FROM BEING USED TO PROVIDE OUT-OF-STATE SUBSIDIES TO STUDENTS ATTENDING STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; BY ADDING SECTION 59-112-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN THE GOVERNING BOARD OF A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE ADOPTS A CHANGE TO THE TUITION OR FEES IMPOSED ON STUDENTS, THE CHANGE MAY BE IMPLEMENTED ONLY AFTER A PUBLIC VOTE WITH THE NUMBER OF TRUSTEES OR LOCAL AREA COMMISSIONERS VOTING FOR AND AGAINST THE CHANGE BEING COUNTED; BY ADDING SECTION 8-11-162 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TECHNICAL COLLEGE PRESIDENTS ARE COVERED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE AGENCY HEAD SALARY COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 1-11-55, RELATING TO THE LEASING OF REAL PROPERTY FOR GOVERNMENTAL BODIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A TECHNICAL COLLEGE, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE STATE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION, AND A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING, MAY ENTER INTO ANY LEASE AGREEMENT OR RENEW ANY LEASE AGREEMENT UP TO ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR EACH PROPERTY OR FACILITY WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF AVAILABLE SPACE; BY ADDING SECTION 59-53-168 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION TO EMPLOY AND ADMINISTER CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY PROVISIONS, AND TO ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY BOARD; BY ADDING SECTION 59-112-140 SO AS TO ALLOW THE AREA COMMISSION FOR THE FLORENCE-DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE TO WAIVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT PARTICIPANTS IN THE CATERPILLAR DEALER ACADEMY OPERATED BY FLORENCE-DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE; TO AMEND SECTION 2-77-20, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION EXCELLENCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT ALL THE FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE PROGRAM MUST BE ALLOCATED EQUALLY AMONG THE ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-142-40, RELATING TO STUDENTS FIRST FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION, SO AS TO UPDATE REFERENCES AND TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDS FOR THE NEED-BASED GRANT MUST BE ALLOCATED IN A GIVEN YEAR TO INSTITUTIONS USING A METHODOLOGY THAT CONSIDERS STATE RESIDENT PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS SO THAT EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION SHALL RECEIVE AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE A SIMILAR LEVEL OF SUPPORT PER STATE RESIDENT PELL RECIPIENT WHEN COMPARED TO TUITION AND REQUIRED FEES, BUT THAT NO INSTITUTION SHALL RECEIVE A SMALLER PROPORTION OF FUNDING THAN WOULD BE PROVIDED UNDER THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT METHODOLOGY USED IN YEARS PRIOR TO FISCAL YEAR 2008-2009.

(R110, H. 3792 (Word version)) -- Rep. Rutherford: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-21-85, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CONDITIONS UPON WHICH A PERSON MAY OPERATE A VESSEL DISPLAYING, REFLECTING, OR FLASHING A BLUE LIGHT, SO AS TO REVISE THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A PERSON MAY OPERATE A VESSEL WHILE DISPLAYING A BLUE LIGHT, AND TO REVISE THE PENALTY PROVISION.

Last Updated: July 26, 2011 at 5:20 PM