HOT LIST
2011 - 2012 Legislative Session

These are the bills we would like to see passed during the 2011-2012 legislative session.

Healthcare Right of Conscience (H.3408)
Protects the civil right of healthcare professionals to refuse to participate in procedures or experiments that violate their consciences.
Status: House. Merged into H.3406. Passed Judiciary Committee.
Sponsors: Reps. Delleney, Lucas, Simrill, Hiott, Limehouse, Bowen, Bedingfield, Pinson, J.R. Smith, G.M. Smith, Bingham, Thayer, V.S. Moss, Brannon, Bikas, Cooper, Allison, Toole, Parker, G.R. Smith, Frye, Atwater, Henderson, McCoy, Ballentine, Clemmons, Hixon, D.C. Moss, Pitts, Young, Quinn, Willis, Viers, Sandifer, Stringer, Nanney, Hamilton and Owens.

Health Exchange Abortion Opt Out (S.102) (H.3406)
The federal healthcare reform act invited states that did not want their new “health exchanges” (2014) to cover abortion to opt out of coverage. Five (5) states have done so already.
Status: House. Passed Judiciary Committee.
Status: Senate. Passed Banking & Insurance Committee.
Sponsors: Senators Grooms and Fair; Reps. Delleney, Simrill, Lucas, Hiott, Limehouse, Bowen, Bedingfield, Pinson, G.R. Smith, J.R. Smith, G.M. Smith, Toole, Hixon, Brannon, Bikas, Cooper, Frye, Bingham, Parker, Allison, Sottile, Henderson, McCoy, Atwater, Ballentine, Clemmons, Cole, D.C. Moss, Pitts, Young and Quinn.

Protect All Infants Born Alive (S.164) (H.3403)
Any infant born alive, regardless of the circumstances, even if surviving an abortion, should be treated as human.
Status: House. Passed and sent to the Senate.
Status: Senate. Given first reading and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Sponsors: Senators Shoopman, Verdin and Fair, Reps. Delleney, Simrill, Lucas, Hiott, Limehouse, Bowen, Bedingfield, Pinson, G.M. Smith, J.R. Smith, Bingham, Frye, V.S. Moss, Corbin, Bikas, Cooper, Allison, Parker, Toole, G.R. Smith, Henderson, Atwater, McCoy, Ballentine, Brannon, Clemmons, D.C. Moss, Hixon, Pitts, Young, Sandifer, Quinn, Willis, Viers, Pope, Stringer, Nanney, Hamilton, Owens and Huggins.

SC Education Opportunity Act (School Choice Tax Credit) (S.414) (H.3407)
Taxpayers who choose private, Christian or home schools should have a tax credit to cover a portion of their expenses.
Status: Senate. Awaiting hearing in Education Committee
Status: House. Tabled (blocked from further consideration) after after losing a 60 to 59 roll call vote. Click here to see the vote,
Sponsors: Senators Grooms, McConnell, Ford, Ryberg, Bryant, Campsen, Davis, Fair, Rose, Shoopman, Verdin, Thomas and Bright; Reps. Herbkersman, Owens, Quinn, Simrill, Stringer, Bedingfield, Barfield, Bowen, Clemmons, Corbin, Delleney, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrison, Henderson, Hixon, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, McCoy, D.C. Moss, Murphy, Nanney, Patrick, Pitts, Ryan, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.R. Smith, Sottile, Taylor, Viers, Willis, Crawford, Spires and Tribble.

ABC Store Closing (H.3385)
The restriction on selling alcohol on Sundays and election day would be extended to include Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. Was amended to remove the restriction on election day.
Status: Awaiting debate on the House floor.
Sponsor: D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Harrison, Delleney, Gambrell, Harrell, Hiott, Hixon, Lucas and Norman

Healthcare Sharing Ministries (H.3345, S.742)
Clarifying that healthcare sharing ministries are a permissible option in South Carolina as an alternative to medical insurance.
Status: House: Referred to the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.
Status: Senate: Referred Medical Affairs Committee.
Sponsors: Senators Campsen and Rose

Make Animal Fighting a Felony (H.3564)
South Carolina is one of the few states that hasn’t made cockfighting a felony. Cockfighting is associated with illegal gambling and drug trafficking.
Status: House. Awaiting a hearing in Judiciary Committee.
Sponsor: Reps. Murrell Smith, Long

Transparency in Education Act (S.311)
Require school districts to post their curricula on a state website for parents and taxpayers to review. This is especially important for sexuality education.
Status: Awaiting a hearing in Education Committee
Sponsors: Senators Davis, Campsen, Shoopman, Bright, Grooms, Verdin, S. Martin, Rose and McConnell.

Common Core Education Standards (S.604)
Core curriculum standards for K-12 education were developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative. These standards were adopted in SC in 2010. This bill advocates local control over educational standards and disallows South Carolina from implementing the Common Core Standards which are set to take effect for the 2013 - 2014 school year.
Status: Awaiting a hearing in Education Committee
Sponsors: Senator Fair

Allow Homeschooled Students to Play Public School Sports (S.149) (S.171)
Tim Tebow was homeschooled in Florida but played public school sports. Enough said.
Status: Senate. Awaiting a hearing in Education Committee.
Sponsors: Senators Campsen, Shoopman, Rose, McConnell, Ryberg, Fair, Massey and Leventis.

Ban Synthetic Cannabis (Marijuana) (S.78), (H.3144), (H.3212), (H.3137)
Synthetic marijuana has become a huge problem among youth, particularly in the military. It is dangerous to health and has been banned by the Army. ts components have been banned by the FDA.
Status: Senate. Passed and sent to the House.
Status: House. Awaiting a hearing in Judiciary Committee.
Sponsors: Senators Hayes and Lourie and Representatives Gilliard, Barfield, Clemmons and Loftis, Simrill, Norman, Pope, Parker, Allison, Mitchell, Alexander, Huggins, Bingham, and Long.

For the wrap up of the 2009-2010 legislature, please visit these pages: Hot List, Watch List, Wish List.

Palmetto Family Alliance, the legislative action arm of Palmetto Family, also supports: a) efforts to save taxpaying families money by restructuring government and b) transparency reforms that will allow citizens to better understand the voting records of their elected representatives.