The State House Report

The Annual Legislative Event will be held March 24th, 2010.   Please mark your calendars.

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.  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 fiscal impact would be borne by LLR with funds the agency is currently receiving for this purpose.  Further, language is written so that only finalists would receive this  background check from LLR.
(S. 373) Introduced Sen. Alexander 02-03-09, referred to Senate LCI.  Sen. Ryberg has offered that the bill will be placed on the agenda soon.

International Fire Code Compliance.    Sprinkler Initiative.  The Association would like to see a mandatory requirement for fire protection sprinklers in residential occupancies.  Like smoke detectors, this movement is being met with robust resistance.   (H 3680) A sprinkler tax exemption bill was introduced by Reps. Limehouse, Scottile, Whipper, Gilliard, Gambrell, and Kelly and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee on 03-09-09.  The bill provides that certain items are exempted from taxes imposed on their gross proceeds of sales or sales price.         (S 1057)  Sen. Alexander introduced legislation on 01-21-10 that would enhance and increase functions of the incentive program yet would prevent the mandate of sprinkler applications in residential structures.  The Association is diligently working with this bill to stop passge or revise its contents.  02-01-10 the bill is in Senate Finance Sales and Income Taxation sub committee, was heard in committee on 01-28-10 and 02-02-10 and was passed out that same day to the full Senate Finance and passed in this forum as well on 0202-10.  The bill is on the Senate calendar but Senators Leventis and Thomas desire to be present.

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 is 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 was introduced on 01-26-10 by Sen Alexander and referred to Senate LCI .  S 1097 requires LLR, in conjunction with the Association, to establish a Junior Firefighter Program.  The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the LCI committee.  The bill was reported favorably out of the LCI sub committee on 03-03-10.