The State Senate is in session for 2013 but will not meet again in Columbia until April 9. I hope that you find this update helpful and informative. If I can help you with an issue, please let me know.
SRS – Workforce Impacts: This issue will affect 2,000 workers with reducedhours and a 20% reduction in pay and 150 workers with furloughs with no pay. Ourlocal legislative delegation continues to tell the members of our congressional delegationabout the importance of heading off the reductions in work hours and furloughs. Most families cannot sustain a twenty percent reduction in pay for an extended period oftime with little advance notice. The Department of Energy has advised us that budget committees in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate have to provide approval to allow the transfer of funds at SRS which is expected to alleviate the need for the coming furloughs. Consideration of such approval cannot occur until sometime in April because of the federal budget timelines.
Experian Credit Monitoring Deadline: This coming Sunday, March 31, 2013 is the deadline for taxpayers to sign up for protection and unlimited fraud resolution. 1.4 Million taxpayers have done so as of last week. Individuals should enroll with ProtectMyID by visiting www.protectmyid.com/scdor and entering the code “SCDOR123” or by calling 1-866-578-5422. If you have problems or questions, call the Department of Revenue’s Data Breach Assistance Team at (803) 898-7638.
Other Important Cyber Attack Information
Deadline to Enroll Dependents: The deadline to enroll minor dependents, whose social security numbers may have been compromised, in Experian’s Family Secure plan is May 31, 2013. Individuals must enroll with ProtectMyID by March 31 to be eligible to enroll any minor dependents with Family Secure by the May 31 deadline.
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.
Last Week’s Senate Session
Extended Credit Protection: Last Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee unanimously passed a bill that will offer credit-fraud protection for 10 years to S.C. taxpayers. The bill also includes the following:
- Creation of a department of information security that reports to the governor
- A tax credit of $300 for individual filers and $1,000 for joint filers to buy credit protection
- An identity-theft unit at the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs
- A pair of committees to recommend statewide technology and cyber-security policies
The full Senate will consider the bill when the Senate returns the week of April 9.
Early Voting: The Senate gave third reading to the early voting bill on Wednesday. The bill now heads to the House where changes are expected.
Concealed Weapons Permit: Last week, the Senate set for special order the legislation (S.308) allowing concealed weapons permit (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. Restaurants have the option to post a sign not allowing concealable weapons on the premises; if that is done, then CWP holders cannot carry legally into such restaurants. The bill has stiff penalties for violating including revocation of the concealed weapons permit and a zero tolerance threshold for alcohol consumption. The full Senate will consider the bill when the Senate returns to session on April 9.
Streamlining DHEC Permit Process: Last week, the S.C. Department of Health andEnvironmental Control unveiled Permit Central — a new initiative that simplifies the process for obtaining health and environmental permits. Permit Central consists of a series of customer service tools that provide applicants with information about permits in plain, helpful language. To learn more about Permit Central or to use its interactive features, visit here.
“Read to Succeed” Legislation Filed: Several constituents asked about this bill after I wrote about it last week. The legislation is modeled after an initiative implemented in Florida. The program would screen children for readiness in 4K and 5K to identify potential learning barriers; provide intensive in-class and supplemental reading instruction; revise in-service requirements concerning teaching reading skills; and, beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, retain 3rd graders who cannot read on grade level unless they meet an exemption. The bill calls for moving a portion of the $6 million earmarked for reading improvement under the Education Improvement Act to the “Read to Succeed” program.
Other Local News
Volunteers Needed – Prevent High School Dropouts: The “Choices” program is a local program being used in Aiken County middle schools with eighth graders to encourage more children to finish high school. Several local businesses and individuals have volunteered their time. The program needs more volunteers. If you are willing to volunteer, please email Debbie Hubbard at dhubbard@aiken.k12.sc.us or call her at 593-7300. To learn more, go here.
Remember to Vote Today: If you live in County Council District 6, please remember to vote today in the special election for Aiken County Council.
Meeting with Students: Last Friday, I visited with 9th graders from all of the area’s public high schools. The students are part of Junior Leadership Aiken County. Yesterday, I joined Senator Shane Massey and Representatives Bill Taylor and Don Wells in meeting with student leaders from USC Aiken. Notably, both sets of students recognized the connection between high school dropout prevention and improving our state.
Congratulations to John Stewart of Bridgestone!: Last week, the SC Department of Commerce and Governor Haley recognized John Stewart, the plant manager for Bridgestone’s PSR facility, as Aiken county’s economic development ambassador of the year. He is Chair elect of the Aiken Technical College Foundation Board as well as a member of the Aiken County Manufacturers Council.
Tax Workshop Offered: The Aiken Area Small Business Development Center will offer a free “Startup Business Tax Workshop” on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. For more information, go here.
Congratulations to USC Aiken Men’s Basketball!: Last week, the USCA Men’s Basketball team won the Southeast Regional Championship to qualify for the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division II basketball tournament. They play again this Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky.
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:
- Rep. Bill Hixon (Dist. 83): bill@billhixon.com
- Rep. Bill Taylor (Dist. 86): bill@taylorschouse.com
- Rep. Don Wells (Dist. 81): dwells29801@gmail.com
Congressman Joe Wilson Contact Information: Congressman Wilson now represents all of Aiken County. He has staff in Aiken County with office hours in Aiken and in North Augusta. His office number is 608-9747.
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 here.
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 here.
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, 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.
Sincerely,
Tom Young
649-0000 (o)
215-3631 (cell)
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