H*2681(Rat #0266, Act #0199 of 1979)  General Bill, By  House Ways and Means
 A Bill to make appropriations to meet the ordinary expenses of the State
 Government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1979 and for other purposes;
 to regulate the expenditure of such funds; to further provide for the
 operation of the State Government during the fiscal year; to appropriate funds
 allotted to the State Government under the provisions of the State and Local
 Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 and 1976 (Revenue Sharing) and the Public Works
 Employment Act of 1976 (Federal); to appropriate funds from 1978-79 surplus of
 the General Fund for non-recurring equipment; to amend the Code of Laws of
 South Carolina, 1976, as amended, as follows: (1) by adding Section 51-11-15
 so as to provide that the State Parks, Recreation and Tourism Commission may
 make grants from the recreation land trust fund to local governments for the
 acquisition of recreational lands; (2) to amend Section 52-15-210, as amended,
 relating to license taxes on coin-operated devices, so as to increase the tax
 on certain machines from two hundred dollars to two hundred thirty-seven
 dollars and fifty cents from July 1, 1979, to June 30, 1980, and to two
 hundred fifty dollars effective July 1, 1980; (3) to amend Section 61-5-150 of
 the 1976 Code, as amended, relating to disposition of revenue derived from the
 alcoholic liquor tax on alcoholic beverages sold in containers of two ounces
 or less, so as to delete the provision basing the allocations on total
 proceeds collected in the previous fiscal year so that they shall be based on
 collections in the current fiscal year; (4) to amend the Code of Laws of South
 Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 58-19-180, so as to provide that the Public
 Railways Commission shall hold title to, disburse and account for assets and
 revenues received by it in accordance with federal laws unless such laws are
 waived and to provide that funds shall be deposited in separate accounts by
 the State Treasurer; (5) to amend Section 12-27-390, Code of Laws of South
 Carolina, 1976, as amended, relating to distribution of a portion of the
 gasoline tax to counties in proportion to the number of registered watercraft,
 so as to provide that the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources
 Department shall be reimbursed for engineering and design costs from funds
 received from such distributions; (6) to amend Section 12-37-250 of the 1976
 Code, as amended, relating to the homestead exemption, so as to increase the
 exemption from the first twelve thousand dollars of the fair market value of
 the dwelling place to the first fifteen thousand dollars, beginning with the
 1980 tax year, and provide that county auditors shall notify municipalities of
 all exemption applications within the municipalities and furnish information
 necessary to calculate the amount of the municipal tax exemption; (7) to amend
 Section 12-7-90, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, relating to
 income tax, so as to adopt the provisions of Public Law 94-267 of 1976 and the
 Federal Revenue Act of 1978, as related to employee retirement income, for
 State Income Tax purposes; (8) to amend Section 12-21-1840, Code of Laws of
 South Carolina, 1976, relating to the tax on certain powders and bases used in
 soft drinks, so as to add to the exceptions powders and bases used in
 preparing frozen concentrates or freeze-dried concentrates to which only water
 is added to produce a pure vegetable or fruit juice; (9) to amend Section
 12-37-270, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, relating to
 losses incurred because of homestead exemptions, so as to provide that the
 Comptroller General shall purchase and distribute the applications for
 homestead exemptions and the cost shall be paid from appropriations for
 reimbursement for the exemption; (10) to amend Section 12-43-220, Code of Laws
 of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, relating to property classifications and
 assessment ratios for property tax purposes, so as to further define the terms
 "Fair Market Value" and "Locality" as the terms relate to agricultural
 property and timberlands; (11) to amend Sections 9-1-1790 and 9-11-90, Code of
 Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, relating to the South Carolina
 Retirement System and the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System, so
 as to increase the amount a retired member who returns to covered employment
 may earn without affecting his benefits; (12) to amend Section 59-65-10, Code
 of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to parental responsibility for
 school attendance, so as to reduce the miminum age requirement for children
 required to attend school from seven to six; and to require school districts
 to provide transportation for kindergarten age children of the expanded
 availability of kindergarten classes; (13) to repeal Section 12-37-680,
 12-37-690 and 12-37-700, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to
 taxation of the value of timber deeds, leases and contracts; (14) to amend
 Section 58-3-20, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the
 establishment of the Public Service Commission and the election of
 Commissioners, so as to provide that the terms of Commissioners shall be for
 four years and until successors are elected and qualified; and to amend
 Section 58-3-30, relating to the oaths of Commissioners and filling of
 vacancies, so as to modify the provisions of the Section relating to filling
 of vacancies; (15) to amend Section 40-9-20, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, as amended, relating to chiropractic licensing, so as to extend the
 exemption of accredited status for certain colleges until July 1, 1980; to
 amend Acts and Resolutions as follows: (1) to amend Section 5 of Part II of
 Act 644 of 1978, relating to the allocation of a portion of the admissions tax
 revenue to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, so as to remove a
 limitation on the maximum amount which may be allocated; (2) to amend Joint
 Resolution 651 of 1978 relating to a revised structure and content of the
 General Appropriation Act, so as to delete certain time limitations within
 which the Joint Appropriations Review Committee must furnish the Budget and
 Control Board with a statement of concurrence or nonconcurrence with certain
 recommendations of the Board; (3) to amend Act 163 of 1977, as amended,
 relating to the South Carolina Education Finance Program, so as to provide
 that the time for submitting reports of schools within a school district to
 the school district board of trustees shall be made no later than March 1 of
 each year instead of June 30 of each year; (4) to amend Section 31 of Part II
 of Act 644 of 1978, relating to the Division of Consumer Advocacy, so as to
 provide that the Secretary of State instead of the State Treasurer shall serve
 as an Ex Officio member and chairman of the Commission on Consumer Affairs;
 (5) to amend Act 163 of 1977, as amended, relating to the South Carolina
 Education Finance Program, so as to provide that Class 1 Certificates instead
 of Masters Degrees shall be used in providing incentive moneys to school
 districts; (6) to amend Section 1A of Act 631 of 1978, relating to the South
 Carolina Basic Skills Advisory Commission, so as to increase the membership,
 provide for the appointment of additional members and change the composition
 of the Commission; to enact new Statutes providing: (1) to exempt the gross
 proceeds of the sale of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, LP gas, coal or
 any other such combustible heating material or substance used for residential
 purposes from the sales tax on a phase-out basis; (2) to enact "The South
 Carolina National Guard Tuition Assistance Act" providing for tuition
 assistance to qualifying members of the South Carolina National Guard;
 granting authority to the State Adjutant General to administer the program and
 promulgate necessary regulations; identifying institutions eligible to receive
 tuition funds; and providing for an accounting for such funds to the State
 Auditor and the State Budget and Control Board; (3) agencies, departments or
 institutions to justify amount of money requested to be appropriated; (4)
 state agencies and institutions directed to expend state appropriated funds,
 and federal and other funds in accordance with line item appropriations; (5)
 State Budget and Control Board may employ special agent to examine insurance
 risks carried by the Board; (6) fees and licenses received by the State Law
 Enforcement Division from private detective and security companies, gun
 dealers, gun permits, and massage parlors to be remitted to the State
 Treasurer; (7) to establish a Nuclear Advisory Council; (8) to establish the
 South Carolina Emergency Preparedness Division as a division in the Office of
 the Adjutant General and provide for its functions and the powers of the
 Adjutant General relative thereto; to prescribe policies and procedures
 relating to emergency preparedness; and repeal Act 138 of 1977, relating to
 the South Carolina Disaster Preparedness Agency; (9) to provide for a two
 percent cost of living increase for employees retired under the South Carolina
 Retirement System; (10) to provide that the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine
 Resources Department may borrow funds and purchase a helicopter and to provide
 for repayment of the funds borrowed; (11) to provide that the Department of
 Parks Recreation and Tourism may use funds appropriated to the recreation land
 trust fund for the acquisition of Harbor Island; (12) to provide for the
 withholding of State funds from counties or municipalities for payments due to
 the State of South Carolina; (13) to provide for payment of health insurance
 premiums for retired state employess and public employees; (14) to provide for
 funding of colleges and universities based on student population and for the
 Budget and Control Board to make recommendations to the General Assembly; (15)
 to extend chiropractor's licenses for one year; (16) to provide that buildings
 constructed with state funds to include windows which can be opened; (17) to
 provide budget format for additional employee positions; (18) to permit a
 taxpayer to designate one dollar of his State Income Tax return to be
 distributed to a State-recognized political party of his choice and to provide
 procedures for distribution of and accounting for such funds.-at (Amended
 Title as passed by the Senate)
   04/03/79  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-1118
   04/03/79  House  Special order, set for TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1979,
                     at 2:30 P. M. HJ-1125
   04/10/79  House  Amended HJ-1322
   04/10/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1340
   04/11/79  House  Amended HJ-1353
   04/11/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1370
   04/12/79  House  Amended HJ-1384
   04/12/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1408
   04/17/79  House  Amended HJ-1423
   04/17/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1441
   04/18/79  House  Amended HJ-1466
   04/18/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1495
   04/19/79  House  Amended HJ-1508
   04/19/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1562
   04/20/79  House  Amended HJ-1593
   04/20/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1615
   04/24/79  House  Amended HJ-1625
   04/24/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1687
   04/25/79  House  Amended HJ-1691
   04/25/79  House  Debate interrupted HJ-1721
   04/26/79  House  Amended HJ-1724
   04/26/79  House  Read second time HJ-1739
   04/27/79  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1744
   05/01/79  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-10
   05/01/79  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance SJ-10
   06/06/79  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Finance SJ-14
   06/12/79  Senate Amended SJ-16
   06/12/79  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-16
   06/13/79  Senate Amended SJ-19
   06/13/79  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-19
   06/14/79  Senate Amended SJ-20
   06/14/79  Senate Read second time SJ-20
   06/14/79  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-20
   06/14/79  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-20
   06/15/79  Senate Amended SJ-28
   06/15/79  Senate  READ THIRD TIME SJ-28
   06/15/79  Senate Returned SJ-28
   06/19/79  House  Non-concurrence in Senate amendment HJ-2669
   06/20/79  Senate  Senate insist upon amendment and conference
                     committee appointed SJ-7
   06/21/79  House   Conference committee appointed HJ-2753
   07/17/79  House  Free conference powers granted HJ-3081
   07/17/79  House   Free conference committee appointed HJ-3082
   07/18/79  Senate Free conference powers granted SJ-4
   07/18/79  Senate  Free conference committee appointed SJ-4
   07/19/79  House  Free conference report received HJ-3192
   07/19/79  House  Free conference report adopted HJ-3192
   07/19/79  Senate Free conference report received SJ-32
   07/19/79  Senate Free conference report adopted SJ-76
   07/24/79  House  Ordered enrolled for ratification HJ-3264
   07/24/79  House  Ratified R 266 HJ-3270
   07/30/79         Signed By Governor
   07/30/79         Effective date FISCAL YEAR 1979
   07/30/79         Act No. 199
   09/05/79         Copies available