H 3286 General Bill, By Crawford and M.A. Pitts
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 23-3-70 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE COMMUNICATIONS BY EACH
 STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY, FIRE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

   01/17/07  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-13
   01/17/07  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-13
   01/23/07  House  Recalled from Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-13
   01/23/07  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-13
   04/11/07  House  Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-6
   04/12/07  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.A.Pitts
   04/12/07         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/17/07  House  Read second time HJ-31
   04/18/07  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-40
   04/19/07  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-9
   04/19/07  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-9
   04/19/07  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Hutto (ch), Jackson,
                     Knotts, Bryant

COMMITTEE REPORT

April 11, 2007

H. 3286

S. Printed 4/11/07--H.    [SEC 4/12/07 3:59 PM]

Read the first time January 17, 2007.

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3286) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 23-3-70 so as to provide for the use of plain language communications by each, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

LEON HOWARD for Committee.

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

State Law Enforcement Division

A review of this bill by the agency indicates there will be no impact on the General Fund of the State or on federal and/or other funds.

Department of Public Safety

The department indicates enactment would result in some additional costs related to training, printing materials, and procedures modifications. However, these costs could be absorbed within existing resources.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPACT:

Seven of the eight local governments contacted indicated enactment would have little or no impact on expenditures. One indicated it would incur additional costs of approximately $10,000 for training and manual revisions.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 23-3-70 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE COMMUNICATIONS BY EACH STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY, FIRE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 3 of Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 23-3-70. Notwithstanding another provision of law, each local and state emergency, fire, and law enforcement agency shall either: (1) adopt plain language communications as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security as its agency's standard; or (2) implement and submit for review by the State Law Enforcement Division a plan for the use of plain language communication during periods of a declared emergency."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect on August 1, 2008.