The State House Report

Follow our legislature and become involved.  View details at:  www.scstatehouse.gov

Below is a list of legislative items being pursued by The SC State Firefighters’ Association and its Legislative Committee.  These items are not prioritized. 

Workers Compensation.  The Association would like to include volunteers with the SC USAR teams in the Workers Compensation portion of the South Carolina Code of Laws 42-7-65.  The Association would like to achieve a compensation rate commensurate with National Guard volunteers.  Additionally, the Association would like all fire service volunteers to receive at least a 66% rate as opposed to the current 37.5% rate.  However, with the economic downturn, the Association would agree to get enabling legislation which would allow volunteers to be covered once funding is available.
(H 3306) was introduced by Rep. Alexander and referred to the House LCI committee on 1/15/09.

Firefighters' National Fingerprint Background Checks. (S. 373) Legislation provides for the allowance of and requirement for firefighters to receive a National Criminal History Background Check from the FBI prior to employment as a firefighter.    The Association is currently working through numerous administrative issues in this bill before proceeding.

Residential Sprinklers.
On May 13th, H 4663 was passed after a lengthy fire service stance to enusre residential sprinklers would be retained in the International Residential Code in South Carolina.  H 4663 requires all one and two family dwellings to be sprinklered starting January 1, 2014.  This bill was passed by the Senate and, per agreement of all parties, will be confirmed by the House and offered for gubernatorial approval.  The Association expresses appreciation to all those persons who spent countless hours in the process to ensure that this bill would proceed with fire service input and support.

Presumptive Health Bill.
Is now law and will offer fire departments a window of until July 1, 2012 to perform physicals on all personnel to establish a baseline of determination of firefighting fitness for future line of duty presumed coverage of these type incidents.  Contact the Association for contents of the law.  
 

Novelty Lighters.  (s. 766) The Association would like to see novelty lighters banned.  These lighters cause concern due to their attractiveness to children as toys.   The bill was introduced by Sen Alexander on 04-29-09, received first reading, was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and into Sub-Committee which is Chaired by Sen. Knotts on 04-30-09, and was on the agenda for hearing on 05-12-09 at 3pm in Gresstte room 308.The bill was reported out with an amendment making it unlawful to sell, furnish, give, distribute, purchase for, or provide a novelty lighter to a person under the age of 18 years.  The bill received second reading on May 14, 2009 and was sent to the House and assigned to the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee. The Association is working to have the bill returned to its original language and is working to have the bill placed on the subcommittee agenda.

A great article about Novelty Lighters can be found, downloaded , and printed at this link.

Special Purpose District Information.  (H 3006) was pre-filed by Reps. Harrison, Kirsh, Daning, and Brady on 12-09-08, introduced in the House, and referred to Judiciary on 01-13-09.

Junior Firefighter Program (S 1097)  The bill requires LLR, in conjunction with the Association, to establish a Junior Firefighter Program.  The bill was ratified on May 6, 2010 and was signed into law by the Governor on May 13, 2010.

Appropriations Bill
The Association testified on behalf of funding for the USAR Team to the House Ways and Means subcommittee: Rep. Bingham, Rice, and Kennedy on January 13, 2010.  The Ways and Means adopted the carry over proviso which requires LLR to fund the USAR program out of the agency carry forward.  The House of Representatives adopted the proviso (65.12) as offered by Rep. Bingham and forwarded the bill to the Senate.  The Senate Finance Proviso Sub-Committee adopted the proviso with an amendment that offers LLR a prioritization of carry over items to be financed.  According to research, enough carry over is present to fund the activity.
The Appropriation bill also included proviso (89.110) as offered by Rep. Gambrell that would allow, in this appropriation cycle's budget year, for Fire Departments to utilize off road diesel fuel in fire apparatus and forwarded this portion also to the Senate.  This portion was not adopted by the Senate Finance Committee and ruled out of order.

First Responder Billing (H.4193)
The bill was introduced on 1-12-10 by Reps. Cooper, Bales, Kirsh, Wylie, and Cato.  This bill prohibits a municipality or county, or a unit or agency of it, from imposing a fee or seeking reimbursement of costs or expenses incurred as a result of responding to a motor vehicle accident with some exceptions.  The Association is working with staff to ensure that language is in place that would protect local fire department billing capabilities within parameters.