Published Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:09 AM
Updated Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:09 AM

 

Legislative Happenings

The May 1 crossover date came and went and now each body has until June 5 to deliberate the proposals and pass or not pass them.  

A bill passed after May 1 can still be taken up by each body with a 2/3 vote by both.

I was extremely disappointed that a bill that I was interested in and we were to discuss during the past week was sent back to committee. The bill would have prohibited beginning drivers from using cell phones when behind the wheel.  

I was going to go a little further with an amendment that would have prohibited the use of a cell phone or handheld device when the car was in motion. The amendment would have further made it illegal to text-message while operating a motor vehicle, which was in motion.  

To me it is a situation of safety for these young drivers who need to get a little experience under their belts. There is still a chance of addressing the subject if a bill that the Senate has passed, which would have teenage drivers complete a special driver safety course before getting a conditional license, can get some traction in the House..

The House amended the broadband bill and returned it to the Senate.  This would take state-owned broadcast licenses to create a wireless Internet cloud across South Carolina.  

The bill creates a study committee that would explore leasing the licenses, owned by ETV, to a telecommunications company that can create a statewide Wi-Max network.

Another bill that I cosponsored has passed the House and is on its way to the Senate.  This measure creates the offense of trespassing upon the grounds or structure of a domestic violence shelter.  It amends current law relating to a warrant-less arrest or search when a person is believed to have committed a criminal domestic violence offense allowing a warrant-less arrest or search can only be undertaken by law enforcement when there is probable cause to believe a violation has occurred.

    

       Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.  Please feel free to contact me at my home address, 1145 Highway 402, Moncks Corner, S. C. 29455, (843) 899-1744; or at my legislative office in Columbia, PO Box 11867, Columbia, SC 29211, (803) 734-2946, or at umphlettd@scstatehouse.net.