Felons, peeping toms would have to submit DNA

South Carolinians arrested on felony charges as well as stalking and peeping charges would have to submit a DNA sample to SLED. That's according to a bill that a House committee approved Tuesday.

The DNA would be entered into a national database and used to solve crime cases. "There's enough unsolved crimes out there that (law enforcement) has some DNA evidence that hopefully (this bill) would help solve crimes," said Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter.

The bill was vetoed by Gov. Mark Sanford last year and the veto was sustained by the House. Committee members amended the bill Tuesday, prohibiting DNA sampling of juveniles without a court order and limiting the sharing of DNA information to U.S. law enforcement. The bill now heads to the House.

Parole would be banned in S.C. under House bill

A House committee has approved a bill to banish parole and create an alternative court called Middle Court for drug offenders.

House gives nod to copper theft bill

The House approved a bill Wednesday requiring purchasers of copper to get a copy of the seller's ID and license plate. Also, the bill makes it a criminal offense to cut or deface property for the purpose of obtaining copper and other metals.

Sanford to announce DPS chief at 1 p.m.

Gov. Mark Sanford will announce his nominee to lead the state Department of Public Safety today at 1 p.m. Sanford forced the resignation of James Schweitzer after a video surfaced of a trooper threatening to kill a suspect and using a racial slur in March. Sanford said the trooper should have been fired.The trooper was disciplined by being sent to sensitivity training.

The new nominee will replace Schweitzer if he wins confirmation by the S.C. Senate. The new DPS chief will also hire a new Highway Patrol colonel, who also was forced to resign over the trooper videos. Sanford's nominee will be under great scrutiny by the General Assembly, which is investigating the Patrol and has said it will not consider Sanford's nominee until its probe of Highway Patrol is complete.

Limits on where sex offenders live moves forward

A Senate panel agreed Thursday on a bill that would make it tougher for sex offenders to find places to live.
Under the bill, approved by the Judiciary subcommittee and sent on to full committee, sex offenders convicted of certain crimes such as first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct, or committing or attempting a lewd act upon a child under 16, could not live within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, parks and other public facilities. 

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Joan Brady, R-Richland, who spoke before the subcommittee. "The premise of the bill is protection," she said.

Strippers would have to keep their distance

A House subcommittee today passed a bill that would put some distance between strip club patrons and exotic dancers. Dancers could not come within 6 feet of customers under a bill that will now go to the full House Judicial Committee.

Strip clubs and other sexually oriented businesses would not be able to operate between midnight and 6 a.m., according to the bill.

Rep. Scott Talley, R-Spartanburg, who introduced the bill, said restricting when sexually oriented businesses can operate would cut down on early morning crime -- drugs, assaults, property crimes -- he said is common at strip clubs. 

House could make concealed weapons list secret

Members of the House are expected today to debate whether the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) should restrict access to its list of concealed weapon permit holders.

Currently, there are about 60,000 South Carolinians who have undergone background checks and at least eight hours of training to receive a permit from SLED.

Fire sprinklers bill stalled

A key Senate committee could not reach agreement Wednesday on a high-profile bill designed to give state income tax credits to cover a portion of the expenses it would cost to install or improve fire protection sprinkler systems.

Schweitzer touts Highway Patrol's improvements

Department of Public Safety director James Schweitzer praised his agency's improvement Tuesday, but did not apologize for an incident involving a trooper using a racial slur that led him to step down two weeks ago.

Concealed weapons list to be sealed, Senate votes

A bill to make secret the list of South Carolinians who have concealed weapons permits was amended by the Senate today.

Sprinklers an option under a Senate panel bill

A Senate labor panel Thursay approved legislation offering an 80 percent tax credit for commercial and residential installation of fire sprinkler systems.

The measure makes the safety feature a voluntary option rather than a statewide mandate, which the panel had previously considered.

The tax credit is available to taxpayers who choose to retroactively install the systems, but is not available for construction that already requires sprinkler installation under existing state law.

The bill, which now goes on to full committee, also prohibits utilities from charging tap fees for sprinkler installation except those associated with actual cost.

School gang bill approved in committee

School officials would get greater authority to report to law enforcement suspected gang-related activity among students, under a bill approved Wednesday by a Senate subcommittee.

Lawmakers said privacy laws covering student records may  dissuade school personnel such as teachers from reporting certain student behavior to school resource officers.

"There's concern that there are circumstances where gang activity might not rise to the level of criminal activity," said Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, who sponsored the bill.

School resource officers are prohibited under federal law, in certain instances, from sharing student information with outside law enforcement agencies, state education officials said.

The Senate panel plans to modify the proposed bill, S.965, before it reaches a full Education Committee vote next week.

Senate approves Lloyd for SLED chief

The Senate approved U.S. Attorney Reginald Lloyd to be SLED chief Thursday.

His appointment was announced along with a long list of other statewide appointments,  after the Senate went into a lengthy executive session.

Lloyd succeeds longtime Chief Robert Stewart, who retired from the agency to go into private business.

Lloyd nomination for SLED chief moves forward

U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd's nomination to become the next SLED chief received unanimous support from the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, clearing the way for consideration by the full Senate.

Senators, both Republican and Democrats, had glowing compliments for Gov. Mark Sanford's nominee, and voted unanimously to send Lloyd's name forward.

"He has a tremendous mind, exceeded only by his integrity and character," observed Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston. "He will make a great SLED chief."

Lloyd would replace venerable SLED Chief Robert Stewart, who left the agency to pursue a consulting business.

Lloyd told the committee he understands there are serious public safety problems facing the state, and promised to maintain an open door to the General Assembly and the people of the state, if approved by the Senate later.

"It's a real tribute to you, the words that have been spoken here about you today," said Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, who chairs the Judiciary Committee.

Sprinkler debate continues; firefighters weigh in

A Senate subcommittee continued debate Tuesday on legislation designed to offer tax breaks for installing fire sprinkler systems in commercial and residential buildings not currently required to feature them in South Carolina.

"I believe this subcommittee can deliver a bill back to the full committee," said Sen. Danny Verdin, chair of the committee.

Dozens filled a hearing room where testimony was taken for the second consecutive week on the measure, which has strong support among fire officials, but concerns some business interests, primarily due to costs.

Family members of victims of recent fire fatalities in Charleston and Ocean Isle, N.C. again attended the hearings, though they added no additional testimony to the emotional stories they told the committee last week.

Most of the information the committee heard Tuesday was from fire officials.

"Gentlemen, if there's a fire at your house tonight, there's a one thousand-to-one chance that we will be paying our last respects to you at the State House in the next few days," Ed Roper, superintendent of the S.C. Fire Academy, which trains fire fighters.

Roper, who said three sprinklers could have doused the flames at the Charleston Sofa Store before firefighters even arrived on the scene, urged the Senate panel to include single-family residences in any new requirements it passes.

Verdin said he hopes the Senate committee will be able to debate the proposal next week.

Sanford pans State House security plan

Gov. Mark Sanford has criticized $5.3 million in planned State House security improvements, even joking that he wished the complex were the target of a terrorist attack.
The money, Sanford said, could be better spent fighting violent crime elsewhere in the state.
“I have yet to read about any terrorist attack on a state capitol,” Sanford said at his monthly cabinet meeting. “I just don’t think it’s a high priority - though sometimes I would like it to be.”
Sanford quickly added “That’s a joke,” and the quip drew laughs from cabinet members.
State law enforcement officials are planning the security changes at buildings and the complex's 1,700-space underground parking garage.
Under the plan, the public will have to go through a security screening — already required to get into the State House — to enter State House complex office buildings.
Security checkpoints will be installed at all garage entrances, requiring a special transmitter to enter. Should someone try to run the checkpoint, a security "wedge" would pop up to block the entrance.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said the measures will deter all crime, not just the threat of terrorism.

-- John O’Connor

Senators say they'll bring back DNA bill next year

Senate supporters say they will try again next year to pass DNA legislation, after the House yesterday sustained Gov. Mark Sanford's veto.

"This is a slap in the face to law enforcement in this state," said Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia, one of the key sponsors of the DNA bill.

The measure would have allowed law enforcement to collect DNA from those convicted of felonies and deposit the information in a statewide data base.

"I'm gonna be like a hunter on a baby dove field -- I'm going to load (the House) up over there on DNA bills," Knotts said

Sanford vetoes DNA bill

Gov. Mark Sanford has vetoed a bill (H. 3304) requiring law enforcement to collect DNA samples from anyone arrested or indicted for any crime that is punishable by a sentence of five years or more in prison.

Sanford said in his veto message that "there is always a balance between the civil liberties unique to our culture and enhancements that would allow them greater odds in catching those who perpetrate crimes on the populace at large. While certainly enhancing law enforcement's ability to do their noble work, I believe this bill takes too big a bite from the foundation of civil liberty and privacy that are the hallmark of the American way of life."

Rep. Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort, is one of the bill's top sponsors and is working to secure support for the House to override the governor's veto.

Ceips said that 10 other states and the federal government now have some type of DNA collection required at arrest. The legislation, she said, requires that any sample be destroyed if the person is found not guilty or if the charges are dismissed.