Non-profit Raffles & Third Grade Reading — Weekly Update from Sen. Tom Young – February 12, 2013 to February 18, 2013

The Senate is in session for 2013.  I hope that you find this update helpful and informative.  If I can help you with an issue, please let me know.
BEA Estimate and Roads:  The State Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) announced Friday that state tax collections for the upcoming fiscal year are ahead of schedule by over $100 Million.  Governor Haley held a press conference with business leaders calling on the General Assembly to invest these non-recurring funds in our road and bridge infrastructure.  The budget process is ongoing with the budget currently in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Non-Profit Raffles: The State Constitution prohibits raffles. Nevertheless, many non-profits wish to hold raffles as a way to raise funds.  After several years of work, representatives from non-profits, religious groups, law enforcement, and the Palmetto Family Council finally came to a consensus on legislation to change current South Carolina law that will allow schools, churches and other nonprofits to hold raffles. The full Senate gave second reading to legislation on Thursday.   Because the legislation involves a constitutional change, there are two bills.  S.213 establishes the qualifications for a nonprofit to conduct a raffle for charitable purposes, while S.239 is a constitutional amendment that allows South Carolina voters to decide if they would like charitable raffles to be available to nonprofits. The constitutional question would be on the ballot in 2014, and ratified by the General Assembly in 2015.  If approved by the House of Representatives and the voting public in 2014, the first raffles will be legally held in 2015.
DUI – Ignition Interlock Device:  The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that will toughen the state’s DUI laws for repeat offenders and allow the use of Ignition Interlock Devices in vehicles in certain circumstances.  The bill now goes to the full Senate.
Unemployment and Misconduct:  Last year, the General Assembly passed eliminating payouts to workers fired for misconduct. Last week, the Department of Employment and Workforce reported that as a result of the legislation and its own internal policy changes, payouts related to misconduct decreased from $19 million a quarter in 2010 to $1.7 million quarterly in the latter half of 2012.
Education Oversight – Annual Report & Third Grade Reading:  Last week, the State’s Education Oversight Committee released its annual report.  South Carolina has a 2020 Vision to reach certain milestones with educating students for success in the global economy.  The annual report is troubling as acknowledged by the Committee.  For example, the state’s progress in reading proficiency is flat with little gains over the past 4 years.  Also, only 74.9% of high school students statewide are graduating in four years.  Further, the state still has 61 public schools rated At Risk based on poor student achievement.  In a very detailed analysis, the Committee recommends that state law should require third graders to read at grade level or not be promoted unless certain exceptions are met. Retained third graders would be placed in a reading intensive program.  Such a change would fall in line with other states including North Carolina which passed a similar law last year.  To see the full report and information, go to page 6 of this link.
Regulatory Review Task Force:  Last week, Governor Haley signed an executive order creating a task force to review government regulations on business and to recommended ways to reduce, improve, and simplify regulatory burdens.  The group’s report is due November 15, 2013.
Restructuring – State Superintendent of Education: Last Thursday, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee unanimously approved a bill to allow the Governor to appoint the State Superintendent of Education (S.53) as a cabinet appointee rather than be popularly elected. All six restructuring studies of state government since 1920 have recommended that the Superintendent of Education be appointed by the Governor to increase accountability, efficiency, and coordination in public education in South Carolina.
Concealed Weapons Permit: Tomorrow afternoon, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation as to concealed weapons permits (CWP).  S.308 will allow CWP holders to carry their handgun into a restaurant which serves alcohol as long as the permit holder does not consume any alcohol while there.  If the restaurant posts a sign not allowing concealable weapons on the premises, that has to be honored. I voted for a similar bill in the House of Representatives last March.
High School Dropout/Driving Bill:  The Senate Education K-12 subcommittee will consider the “high school dropout/no drive until 18” bill at 9 am on Thursday, February 28.  I am the primary sponsor.  The bill prohibits possession of a driver’s license until age 18 unless the young person is enrolled in, or has completed, high school.  The bill contains a hardship provision for some limited exceptions including (1) where the young person has to go to work to support himself or his immediate family; (2) where the young person has a medical condition which requires the ability to drive to and from the doctor; (3) and where the young person is 17 and joins the military or national guard.  Although this bill is not the “silver bullet” to the high school dropout problem, it is part of the solution in our effort to combat the high school dropout rate in the short term. In fact, South Carolina first recognized the need for this legislation in 1989 in the Governor’s Commission on the Future Report.  Since then, a generation of children have passed through our schools.
Chukker Creek School Traffic Update:  The Aiken City Council gave final approval last Monday to the project developed jointly by Aiken County School District, SCDOT, and the Aiken County Transportation Committee to address traffic congestion. The proposal is to lengthen the car pick up and drop off line. The 1,800-foot-long extension to the existing car line allows for two more lanes as well as 40 additional parking spaces.
Resurfacing:  Gregg Avenue will be resurfaced before August 31, 2013 and Park Avenue between Hayne Avenue and Chesterfield will be resurfaced before March 31, 2013.  Efforts are ongoing to get Pine Log Road from Centre South out past Howlandville Road in line to be resurfaced.
Sandy Rogers and Scotty Richardson Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser:  On February 27, USCA will have a scholarship fundraiser in memory of Aiken Public Safety officers Sandy Rogers and Scotty Richardson.  To learn more, go here.
Important Cyber Attack Information
Experian Credit Monitoring Deadline Extended:  Taxpayers now have until March 31, 2013 to sign up for protection and unlimited fraud resolution.
Notification Letters:  The Governor’s office says that about 100,000 letters are being sent every day to affected taxpayers.  Approximately 3.8 million letters will be sent (includes both in-state and out-of-state affected taxpayers) by late January.  Some letters are being sent by email if a taxpayer has already enrolled in identity theft protection services (ProtectMyID) and provided an email address to Experian. The deadline to enroll in ProtectMyID was extended to March 31, 2013.  The deadline to enroll minor dependents, whose social security numbers may have been compromised, in Experian’s Family Secure plan is May 31, 2013.  To see a sample notification letter, go here.
Consumer Affairs Recommendations:  To see the SC Department of Consumer Affairs’ recommendations for what to do when there is a security breach impacting your personal identity information, go here.
Frequently Asked Questions:  The Governor’s office has prepared several groups of questions and answers as indicated below by category:
  • Experian Family Secure – To see those, go here.
  • Cyber Attack – To see those, go here and here.
  • Senior Citizens — To see those, go here.
  • How to Place a Security Freeze:  To see how to place a security freeze, go here.
Constituent Information
Legislative Email Updates:  Locally, three members of the House of Representatives, who represent portions of Aiken County within Senate District 24, send regular email updates.  Their respective contact information to get on their email lists to receive their email updates are as follows:
Speaking with Groups Around the District: If you are involved with a local group that would like for me to attend a meeting to provide a legislative update, please let me know.
Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government:  To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.
Facebook:  I have a Facebook page for Senator Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.
Tom Young’s Website: My website can be reached at www.senatortomyoung.com. There are links to a variety of constituent services; the status of sponsored bills; and roll call votes. Please add my web site as a bookmark on your computer.
Small Business Help – SC Dept. of Commerce: The South Carolina Department of Commerce has helpful information for small business owners and employees.  To learn more, go to http://sccommerce.com/sc-business-network.
Save for College – Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan:  South Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan Future Scholar offers special tax benefits for South Carolina residents. To learn more or to enroll, go to www.FutureScholar.com/parents.
Request a Flag:  If you would like to request a state or U.S. flag flown over the State Capitol in Columbia, please let me know at tom@senatortomyoung.com.   Flags vary in cost according to their size and their material from which they are made.
State House Tours:  Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.  If you set a tour between January and June and it is on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, please let me know so I can do my best to see you.
Thoroughbred Country– South Carolina Regional Tourism Organization:  To learn more about tourism in the four county region of Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell, visit www.tbredcountry.org.
Email Updates:  If you know of people in or around District 24 who do not receive my updates but they would like to get them, please email their names and email addresses to me.
Road Issues:  If you see a road problem such as a pothole needing repair, call the SCDOT at 641-7665 or Aiken County at 642-1532 to report the problem.  If you do not get a prompt response, please let me know at tom@senatortomyoung.com or call me. Generally, most paved roads in the County are maintained by SCDOT and are identified on the road sign poles by a small black and white sign listing the road number, such as S-2-1669. Most unpaved roads in the County are maintained by the County.
Thank you for the opportunity and the honor to represent you.  Please let me know if I can help you in any way or if you have questions about these or other issues. Your feedback is meaningful and appreciated.

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