H*3699(Rat #0310, Act #0406 of 2000)  General Bill, By  House Ways and Means
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF
 STATE GOVERNMENT OF SURPLUS FISCAL YEAR 1998-99 GENERAL FUND REVENUES, TO
 INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE ATTAINED
 THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OR WHO ARE BLIND OR PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY
 DISABLED, FROM TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THE FAIR
 MARKET VALUE OF THE HOMESTEAD, AND PROVIDE THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDS TO
 REIMBURSE LOCAL PROPERTY TAXING ENTITIES FOR THE REVENUES NOT COLLECTED
 BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED EXEMPTION, TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH
 CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-640, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF
 MONIES GRANTED TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTAGE AND PROVIDE THAT THESE GRANT
 FUNDS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO STATE INCOME TAX; BY ADDING CHAPTER 130 IN TITLE 44,
 RELATING TO HEALTH, ENACTING THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENIORS' PRESCRIPTION DRUG
 ACT, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE
 SERVICES OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
 IN PURCHASING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE WHO HAVE ATTAINED
 AGE SIXTY-FIVE WHO ARE INELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID OR ANY OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUG
 BENEFITS AND WHOSE ANNUAL INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE
 FEDERAL PROVERTY LEVEL, TO DEFINE "PRESCRIPTION DRUG" FOR PURPOSES OF THE
 PROGRAM, AND TO REQUIRE SEMIANNUAL REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM.-AMENDED TITLE

   03/11/99  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-6
   03/15/99  House  Special order, set for following 3rd reading of H
                     3698 (Supplemental Bill)
   03/23/99  House  Amended HJ-28
   03/23/99  House  Read second time HJ-38
   03/24/99  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-13
   03/24/99  Senate Introduced and read first time
   03/24/99  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance
   06/01/99  Senate Recalled from Committee on Finance SJ-122
   06/01/99  Senate Read second time SJ-122
   06/01/99  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-122
   01/12/00  Senate Recommitted to Committee on Finance SJ-20
   03/02/00  Senate Recalled from Committee on Finance SJ-16
   03/02/00  Senate Amended SJ-16
   03/02/00  Senate Read second time SJ-16
   03/02/00  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-16
   03/22/00  Senate Special order SJ-24
   03/22/00  Senate Amended SJ-26
   03/22/00  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-26
   03/29/00  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, April 5, 2000 HJ-24
   03/30/00  House  Reconsidered HJ-30
   03/30/00  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, May 9, 2000 HJ-30
   05/09/00  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-45
   05/09/00  House  Roll call Yeas-96  Nays-13 HJ-47
   05/16/00         Ratified R 310
   05/19/00         Certain items vetoed by Governor
   05/24/00  House  Debate adjourned on veto consideration HJ-46
   05/25/00  House  Debate adjourned on veto consideration HJ-33
   05/30/00  House   Veto Number 1 continued HJ-47
   05/30/00  House  Roll call Yeas-58  Nays-52 HJ-49
   05/30/00  House   Veto Number 2 continued HJ-49
   05/30/00  House  Roll call Yeas-55  Nays-48 HJ-51
   10/20/00         See act for exception to or explanation of
                     effective date
   10/20/00         Copies available
   10/20/00         Act No. 406

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT OF SURPLUS FISCAL YEAR 1998-99 GENERAL FUND REVENUES, TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE ATTAINED THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OR WHO ARE BLIND OR PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED, FROM TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE HOMESTEAD, AND PROVIDE THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDS TO REIMBURSE LOCAL PROPERTY TAXING ENTITIES FOR THE REVENUES NOT COLLECTED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED EXEMPTION, TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-640, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF MONIES GRANTED TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTAGE AND PROVIDE THAT THESE GRANT FUNDS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO STATE INCOME TAX; BY ADDING CHAPTER 130 IN TITLE 44, RELATING TO HEALTH, ENACTING THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENIORS' PRESCRIPTION DRUG ACT, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE SERVICES OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN PURCHASING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE WHO HAVE ATTAINED AGE SIXTY-FIVE YEARS WHO ARE INELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID OR ANY OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS AND WHOSE ANNUAL INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, TO DEFINE "PRESCRIPTION DRUG" FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM, AND TO REQUIRE SEMIANNUAL REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM.

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

Appropriations, Homestead Exemption

SECTION 1. (A) The following sums are appropriated from 1998-99 surplus general fund revenues for the purpose stated:

(1) Adjutant General-Emergency

Preparedness Division

FEMA Match for Hurricane Floyd $11,467,088

FEMA Match for Winter Storm 3,589,969

(2) Department of Health and Human Services

Medicaid (deficit) 25,849,000

(3) Budget and Control Board

800 Mhz Communication System 3,000,000

(4) Department of Transportation

Emergency Evacuation

Message Boards and Advisory Radios 2,000,000

(5) Trust Fund for Tax Relief 37,520,531

(6) Department of Health and Human Services

Reimbursements Shortage to Rural

Health Clinics 1,200,000

TOTAL $84,626,588

(B) The exemption amount of the homestead exemption allowed pursuant to Section 12-37-250 of the 1976 Code is raised from twenty to fifty thousand dollars for property tax year 2000 and thereafter, to be funded as provided herein. The amount appropriated to the Trust Fund for Tax Relief must be used to reimburse counties, municipalities, school districts, and special purpose districts, as applicable, for this increased exemption amount in the manner provided in Section 12-37-270 of the 1976 Code. *For tax years after 2000, an amount sufficient to fund the exemption provided herein must be appropriated from the Tobacco Settlement Fund, before any reductions or withdrawals as may be provided by law, to the Trust Fund for Tax Relief and must be used to reimburse counties, municipalities, school districts, and special purpose districts, as applicable, for this increased exemption amount in the manner provided in Section 12-37-270 of the 1976 Code.

* See note at end of act.

Funds carried forward

SECTION 2. Unexpended funds appropriated pursuant to this joint resolution may be carried forward to succeeding fiscal years and used for the same purposes.

Funds to Commissioners of Pilotage

SECTION 3. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-6-640. Monies appropriated to the Commissioners of Pilotage must be used as a grant to the Maritime Association of the Port of Charleston for the purpose of supporting the establishment of a maritime exchange system to provide vessel information services and is not taxable income for purposes of this chapter."

Seniors' Prescription Drug Program

SECTION 4. Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 44-130-10. This chapter may be cited as the 'South Carolina Seniors' Prescription Drug Program Act'.

Section 44-130-20. There is created within the Office of Insurance Services of the State Budget and Control Board the South Carolina Seniors' Prescription Drug Program. Beginning January 1, 2001, this program must provide financial assistance to senior citizens in purchasing prescription drugs who are ineligible for or do not have insurance coverage or other assistance through federal, state, or private programs for these purchases. Prescription drugs are defined as outpatient prescription drugs, including insulin syringes and insulin needles, and insulin. Only prescription drugs that have been approved as safe and effective by the United States Food and Drug Administration are covered under this program. Experimental drugs and over the counter pharmaceutical products are specifically not covered under this program.

The Office of Insurance Services shall maintain data to allow evaluation of the cost effectiveness of the program and submit semiannual reports to the Governor and General Assembly summarizing beneficiary demographics, utilization, provider dispensing experience, and any other information needed to evaluate the costs and benefits of the prescription drug program.

Section 44-130-30. This program must be administered by the State Budget and Control Board through its Office of Insurance Services. The office may designate or enter into contracts with other entities to assist in this administration. The program may include:

(1) co-payments and deductibles based on income;

(2) incentives for the use of generic drugs; and

(3) prospective and retrospective utilization review, clinical management, and other administrative techniques used in the management of the State Health Insurance Plan in order to reduce drug interactions, overutilizations, therapeutic duplications, or early refills.

When requested by the office, other state agencies shall provide assistance or information necessary in the administration of this program.

Section 44-130-40. A person eligible to participate for this program must:

(1) be a South Carolina resident who has attained the age of sixty-five years;

(2) have resided in South Carolina at least six consecutive months before participation in the program;

(3) be ineligible for Medicaid prescription benefits;

(4) not have any pharmacy benefits or coverage from any governmental or private insurance program providing such benefits;

(5) have an annual income that does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.

Priority must be given to applicants without Medicare supplements or other third party benefits or coverage during the six months before application. If federal programs provide significant similar benefits to seniors eligible under this program, the office may reassess the program and provide similar or other pharmacy benefits to seniors if the program's costs remain substantially similar."

Time effective

*SECTION 5. Sections 1 through 3 take effect upon approval by the Governor and Section 4 takes effect June 1, 2001.

* See note at end of act.

Ratified the 16th day of May, 2000.

*Text printed in italic, boldface mark sections vetoed by the Governor May 19, 2000.

Provisions not vetoed by the Governor took effect pursuant to Section 2-7-10 of the 1976 Code of Laws.