Bills of Interest to Veterans, Service Members and Families in SC (filed legislation)

H.3018-   A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 44-53-370, relating to controlled substance offenses and penalties, so as to legalize the possession of twenty-eight grams or one ounce or less of marijuana or ten grams or less of hashish by certain Veterans diagnosed with service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.

H.3027- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 43-35-25, relating to mandated reporters of vulnerable adult maltreatment, so as to exempt from the requirement to report the long-term care ombudsman program and its representatives in accordance with federal law.

H.3324- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 10-1-220 so as to provide for an African American Confederate Veterans monument; by adding Section 10-1-230 so as to establish an African American Confederate Veterans monument commission, to provide the composition of the commission, to provide the powers and duties of the commission, to establish a deadline for the submission of a proposed design and location of the monument, and to provide for the dissolution of the commission.

H.3333- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 31-12-30, relating to redevelopment of federal military installations definitions, so as to provide that a redevelopment project includes certain affordable housing projects; and by amending Section 31-12-210, relating to issuance of obligations for redevelopment project by municipality, so as to provide when certain obligations must be issued.

H.3340- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 51-3-65, relating to fee structure adjustments for state parks, so as to provide discounts to certain military members, retirees, and Veterans.

H.3428- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 11-35-1524, relating to resident vendor preference under the consolidated procurement code, so as to provide that for the purpose of making an award determination, a procurement officer is directed to decrease a bidder's price by two percent if the bid is submitted by a business owned by a service-disabled Veteran residing in this state, and to define "service-disabled Veteran" for this purpose.

H.3441- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 25-11-40, relating to County Veterans' Affairs Officers, so as to designate County Veterans' Affairs Officers as county employees and to provide that they may be removed by the county legislative delegation.

H.3463- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 12-37-220, relating to property tax exemptions, so as to provide that certain surviving spouses are eligible for the exemption.

H.3510- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 25-11-40, relating to County Veterans' Affairs Officers, so as to provide that the secretary of the South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs shall appoint one County Veterans' Affairs Officer for each county in the state and to provide that the general assembly shall appropriate the necessary funds for two full-time employees in each County Veterans' Affairs Office.

H.3446- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 51-3-60, relating to the use of facilities free of charge by aged, blind, or disabled Veterans, so as to provide for valid forms of identification.

H.3563- A bill to amend the South Carolina code of laws by amending Section 25-11-50, relating to County Veterans' Affairs Officers, so as to provide that the secretary shall evaluate each County Veterans' Affairs Office no less than once per year.

H.3564- A bill to amend the South Carolina code of laws by amending Section 25-11-100, relating to South Carolina military base task force, so as to rename the task force the South Carolina military affairs advisory council, to add Aiken as a military county, and to make conforming changes.

Passed Legislation

H.3116 (Similar to H.4219)- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 12-37-610, relating to persons liable for taxes and assessments on real property, so as to provide that certain disabled Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States are exempt from property taxes in the year in which the disability occurs.

H.4928- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 25-21-10, relating to the establishment of Veterans' Trust Fund, so as to provide for fundraising; and by amending Section 25-21-30, relating to the duties and functions of the Veterans' Trust Fund Board of Trustees, so as to provide for the ability to fundraise.

H.4953- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 25-11-80, relating to state Veterans' cemeteries, so as to remove residency requirement.

H.4673- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 56-1-50, relating to beginners' permits, hours and conditions of vehicle operation, renewal and fees, drivers' training courses, and eligibility for full licensure, so as to exempt additional persons from obtaining beginners' permits before operating motor vehicles, and to provide persons at least 18 years old may take the driving test after maintaining a beginners' permit for at least 30 days.

H.3934- An act to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 6-29-1625, relating to federal defense facilities definitions, so as to add certain installations to the definition of "Federal Military Installations".

Veteran/Military Legislation of Interest (Filed by SC General Assembly)

Congressional Veteran/Military Legislation of Interest

Passed Legislation

H.3797-  An act to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "Military Temporary Remote School Enrollment Act" by adding section 59-63-33 so as to provide public school pupils comply with school enrollment requirements if their parents are transferred to or are pending transfer to military installations in this state while on active military duty pursuant to official military orders, to provide school districts shall accept applications for enrollment and course registration from such pupils by electronic means, to provide parents of such students shall provide certain proof of residence after arrival, to provide the provisions of this act apply notwithstanding another provision of law, to provide ambiguities in construing the provisions of this act must be resolved in favor of enrollment, and to define necessary terminology. - ratified title

Bills of Interest to Veterans, Service Members and Families in SC (filed legislation)

S.0317, Similar to H.3802- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 25-21-20, relating to establishment of board of trustees, membership requirements, term and compensation, and annual reports, so as to reduce the number of board members from nineteen to eleven, to provide for appointment of those members by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, to provide requirements for the appointment of the members, and to establish a four-year term.

H.3726 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act" by adding Chapter 30 to Title 41 so as to create the office of statewide workforce development coordination in the department of employment and workforce, to centralize oversight of certain publicly funded workforce development services in the office, to provide for the management and functions of the office, to transfer the coordinating council for workforce development to the department and provide for the composition and functions of the council, to create an executive committee of the coordinating council and provide for the composition and functions of the committee, to provide for the oversight of regional education centers by the department, to provide regional education centers must conform to certain geographic configurations, and to provide a multiagency collaborative effort to promote certain offerings of regional education centers; and by repealing Article 13 of Chapter 1, Title 13 relating to oversight of regional education centers by the department of commerce, and Article 15 of Chapter 1, Title 13 relating to the coordinating council for workforce development.

S.0254 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 40-33-32(c), relating to credit from correspondence courses and work experience allowed for initial licensure by the Board of Nursing, so as to allow credit for relevant work experience and training in the United States Armed Forces and to require the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to promulgate regulations concerning the amount and type of credit allowed.

H.3310- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "Social Work Interstate Compact Act" by adding Article 3 to Chapter 63, Title 40 so as to provide the purpose, functions, operations, and definitions concerning the compact; and to designate the existing provisions of Chapter 63, Title 40 as Article 1, entitled "general provisions".

Potential Legislation

CVAO Staffing - A potential bill ensuring that all 46 offices are resourced and operating full time to ensure that there no Gaps in services for our Veterans.

South Carolina GI Bill - A potential bill to ensure employment opportunities commensurate with Veteran skills and experience for those seeking work in South Carolina.

Burial Equity for Guard and Reserve - Potential legislation to allow the burial of guard and reserves in our state cemeteries.

Veteran/Military Legislation of Interest (Filed by SC General Assembly)

S.0317, Similar to H.3802 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 25-21-20, relating to establishment of board of trustees, membership requirements, term and compensation, and annual reports, so as to reduce the number of board members from nineteen to eleven, to provide for appointment of those members by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, to provide requirements for the appointment of the members, and to establish a four-year term.

H.3280 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending section 25-11-40, relating to county Veterans' Affairs Officers, so as to designate County Veterans' Affairs Officers as county employees and to provide that they may be removed by the county legislative delegation.

H.3310 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "Social Work Interstate Compact Act" by adding Article 3 to Chapter 63, Title 40 so as to provide the purpose, functions, operations, and definitions concerning the compact; and to designate the existing provisions of Chapter 63, Title 40 as Article 1, entitled "general provisions".

H.3498, Similar to H.3499 - A joint resolution to require the Department of Health and Environmental Control to promulgate regulations to establish maximum contaminant levels for certain pollutants in public water systems.

S.0254 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 40-33-32(c), relating to credit from correspondence courses and work experience allowed for initial licensure by the Board of Nursing, so as to allow credit for relevant work experience and training in the United States Armed Forces and to require the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to promulgate regulations concerning the amount and type of credit allowed.

H.3115 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding section 12-6-3810 so as to provide for an income tax credit for disabled Veterans.

H. 3508 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Sections 3-1-150 and 63-3-510, relating to jurisdiction over certain lands relinquished by the United States and the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Family Court, respectively, so as to provide for concurrent jurisdiction with the United States in certain matters involving juveniles within a military installation.

H.3116 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 12-37-610, relating to persons liable for taxes and assessments on real property, so as to provide that certain disabled Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States are exempt from property taxes in the year in which the disability occurs.

H.3726 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "Statewide Education and Workforce Development Act" by adding Chapter 30 to Title 41 so as to create the office of statewide workforce development coordination in the department of employment and workforce, to centralize oversight of certain publicly funded workforce development services in the office, to provide for the management and functions of the office, to transfer the coordinating council for workforce development to the department and provide for the composition and functions of the council, to create an executive committee of the coordinating council and provide for the composition and functions of the committee, to provide for the oversight of regional education centers by the department, to provide regional education centers must conform to certain geographic configurations, and to provide a multiagency collaborative effort to promote certain offerings of regional education centers; and by repealing Article 13 of Chapter 1, Title 13 relating to oversight of regional education centers by the department of commerce, and Article 15 of Chapter 1, Title 13 relating to the coordinating council for workforce development.

S.0437- A concurrent resolution to recognize and honor Veterans for their service to the United States and to call for the creation of a new military base that would assist Veterans in their transition to civilian life.

H.3767- A concurrent resolution to commend the outstanding students and leaders of the United States Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps in South Carolina schools, and declare April 27, 2023, as JROTC Day at the South Carolina State House.

H.3784 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "Professional Counseling Compact Act" by adding Article 6 to Chapter 75, Title 40 so as to provide the purpose, functions, operations, and definitions for the compact.

H.3239, Similar to S.0399 - A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws of South Carolina, by amending Chapter 1 of Title 44, relating to the Department of Health and Environmental Control, so as to rename the chapter the "Department of Public Health" and to reorganize the chapter to abolish the Department and Board of Health and Environmental Control, to provide for the appointment of a director of the Department of Public Health by the governor, to eliminate provisions pertaining to the board and to environmental responsibilities of the department, and for other purposes; by adding Chapter 6 to Title 48 so as to create the Department of Environmental Control, to provide for the appointment of a director of the Department of Environmental Control by the governor, to transfer to the department the environmental divisions, office, and programs of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, and for other purposes; by amending Sections (see bill), relating to underground storage tanks, emergency health powers, hospitals, contagious and infectious diseases, controlled substances, drinking water, hazardous waste management, emergency medical services, vital statistics, home health agencies, hospice programs, athletic trainers, birthing centers, infectious waste management, solid waste policy and management, pollution control, environmental protection, water quality, stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, mining, prescribed fires, coastal tidelands and wetlands, beach restoration, oil and gas exploration, low-level radioactive waste, energy efficiency, environmental awareness and innovation, environmental audits, information technology equipment recovery, impoundment of navigable waters, water resources planning, surface water withdrawal, groundwater use, aquatic plant management, and dams, respectively, so as to make conforming changes; by amending Section 1-30-10, relating to departments of state government so as to add the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Control; by adding Section 1-30-140 so as to make conforming changes; and by repealing Section 1-30-45 relating to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

S. 0524, Similar to H. 3934- A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 6-29-1625, relating to Federal Defense Facilities definitions, so as to add Fort Gordon to the definition of  "Federal Military Installations".

Congressional Veteran/Military Legislation of Interest

S.326, Simliar to H.R.1003 - A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) to carry out a study and clinical trials on the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes.

H.R.473 - A bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds to close or realign the Marine Corps Recruit Depot located at Parris Island, South Carolina, and for other purposes.

S.2141 - This bill establishes a new criminal offense for knowingly engaging in any scheme to defraud an individual of veterans' benefits, or in connection with obtaining veteran's benefits for an individual. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.

H.R. 587 - A bill authorizing the President to award the Medal of Honor to Major James Capers, Jr. for acts of valor as a member of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.