Tax bill debate later today

Tax credits for private school tuition and a higher levy on cigarettes will be offered as amendments on a wide-ranging tax bill the House is set to debate later this afternoon.

If the amendments make it, they’ll have life in the Senate, which is bound to accept this mega bill when it comes over. At the very least, the push is likely to force on-the-record votes on some high-profile issues that have otherwise been buried this session.

The underlying bill is designed to clean up the state tax code. House leaders say debate is likely to take the remainder of the Wednesday session, which could run late.

The underlying bill is designed to clean up the state tax code. House leaders say debate is likely to take the remainder of the Wednesday session, which could run late.

Harrell: Bill push ahead

The S.C. House of Representatives is likely hold brief floor sessions this week, giving committees an opportunity to advance bills ahead of the May 1 cross-over deadline, House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said this morning.

May 1 is the deadline for bills to cross over from one chamber to the other without the requirement of a two-thirds vote just to be heard.

Among the issues the full House is set to take up this week is a bill allowing Lexington County Medical Center to open a heart surgery center.

Also, Harrell said he expects a House-Senate conference committee to agree on a final version of a charter school bill on Wednesday.

House education committee chairman won’t seek re-election

Rep. Ronny Townsend, chairman of the House education committee for the past 12 years, announced today he will not seek re-election to his seat representing southern Anderson County and a part of neighboring Abbeville County.

Townsend, a 58-year-old Republican elected to the House in 1984 as a Democrat, made the announcement through a spokesman for House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston.

"I feel that it is time for me to step down and allow someone else to experience being the House member for our wonderful district," his statement said. "I have been blessed in this experience far beyond my initial expectations of entering this office and will always be grateful to the many friends who have helped me."

As House education committee chairman, Townsend has presided over a panel where many of the initial discussions about public schools — especially the school reform movement in the late 1990s — took place.

He helped craft the legislation in 1998 commonly known in education circles as the Education Accountability Act, a law that established uniform teaching standards, mandatory standardized testing and the school report card system. He also was among the charter members of the Education Oversight Committee, a panel created in 1998 to monitor school reform.

Townsend thanked his wife, family, friends and supporters.

"Without their love, encouragement and support I could not have been elected and continued to serve in this position. I will continue working for my community, county and state in any capacity I can," Townsend said.

4-K plan introduced

Wider offerings of four-year-old kindergarten programs could be created by next school year under a bill introduced in the state Senate.

School districts across the state would be directed to provide at least half-day programs by 2007-08 and full-day programs by 2009-10 under the bill. The state Board of Education could waive participation if space cannot be obtained.

The measure also creates the "Prekindergarten Investment and Expansion Act," which directs the state First Steps program and state Education Department to provide more opportunities for early childhood education programs in 2006-07. Grants to private sector providers could be made under the bill.

The bill does not direct money to pay for the program. It was referred to the Senate Education Committee for review.

School calendar bill advances

The grassroots campaign to force public school systems to start the academic year closer to Labor Day was endorsed this morning by a key panel of state senators.

The Senate's K-12 subcommittee approved bills requiring school districts to begin instruction no earlier than the third Monday of August.

The proposal already has the backing of the House and now goes to the full Senate Education Committee, which is likely to consider the matter next month.

Proponents of the bills complain school systems require students to begin class in the first two weeks of August, which they contend is too early.

If either of the companion bills passes as currently written, school districts would be required to comply starting in August 2007.

Sen. Wes Hayes, R-York, the subcommittee chairman, was the only "no vote." He said setting school calendars "is a local decision."

Charter to conference

The state Senate this afternoon did not agree to House amendments on a bill creating a first-in-the-nation statewide charter school district.

The move sends the measure to a House-Senate conference committee. Members of that group should be appointed later this week.

Charter back to Senate

The House of Representatives this morning stuck with its original version of a bill creating a first-in-the-nation charter school district. The move sends the measure back to the Senate.

The Senate as soon as today could decide whether to approve of the House version or insist upon their own, sending the bill to conference committee.

Charter schools are alternative public schools, not home-based or affiliated with with a religion, that are authorized by local school districts. Among other changes, the bill would create a statewide district that could also approve charter schools.

House may hold on charter schools

Republican House leaders urged their members this morning to insist upon their version of charter school reform legislation. (For history of H3010)

The House is expected to consider the Senate's version of the bill early this afternoon.

The Senate version moves oversight of the proposed statewide charter governing board from the governor's office to the Department of Education. It also gives the governor an overwhelming majority of the appointments to the board.

Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, said the House should insist on their version of the bill and negotiate with the Senate in conference committee.

School calendar change advances

All S.C. public schools would begin the year on the third Monday in August under a bill approved by the House this morning.

The bill now heads to the Senate

Charter school bill approved

The Senate just before 1 p.m. gave final approval to a measure designed to make it easier to create charter public schools.

In a voice vote, the Senate sent the bill back to the House, which must decide whether to sign off on the changes the Senate made, or insist on their own version.

If the House does not concur with the Senate amendments, the bill will head to a conference committee.

Sens. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, and Robert Ford, D-Charleston, recorded voting against the bill.

Tuition tax credits return

Rep. Tracy Edge's bill that some have called a slimmed down version of last year’s "Put Parents In Charge" plan was introduced in the House this morning.

The Horry County Republican's bill would give parents of students at failing schools scholarships of up to $4,500 per child to send their children to better schools.

The bill, which has about 40 co-sponsors, would also give $1,000 in tax credits to all parents with school-age children.

The bill was sent to the Ways and Means Committee for review.

Education review set

The state Education Oversight Committee will prepare an inventory of all existing programs for 4 year olds and devise a plan to create a statewide kindergarten program for 4 year olds, under a resolution that gained final approval in the Senate late this morning.

The resolution was originally sponsored in the House by Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston.

The study is in response to the recent court ruling on school funding in South Carolina. Judge Thomas Cooper found the state fails to provide young children the opportunity for a minimally adequate education, a constitutional requirement.

Lawmakers want to know what the state is already doing before deciding how to proceed in addressing Cooper's order.

Lending stream offered

A new pool of money that could be used by state school districts to build and improve facilities would be created under a bill introduced in the House this morning.

The South Carolina School Facilities Infrastructure Authority would provide loans and other financial assistance to districts across the state. It would use existing dollars and could lend to districts money borrowed by the state.

Money repaid to the fund could be made available to other districts.

The measure was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for review.

Test plan advances

The House this morning gave second reading to a bill that would explore the creation of a new statewide computerized testing system for school.

The bill by Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, would accept bids for the system.

Education Committee Chairman Ronny Townsend, R-Anderson, said the bill would make school testing more efficient and make it easier to get results.

The bill would not affect the PACT test.

School choice on tap

Rep. Tracy Edge, R-Horry, this morning was gathering signatures for this year's version of the Put Parent's In Charge Act.

Edge's bill is considered a scaled back version of last year's tuition tax credit proposal that dominated the 2005 session.

The Senate meets at 2 p.m. this afternoon. It is expected to give final approval to the charter school bill.

Charter debate starts

State senators this afternoon began debate on a bill to create a new, first-in-the-nation statewide district to foster the growth of charter schools in South Carolina.

The state House of Representatives passed a similar charter schools bill last year.

Charter schools are public schools, not home-based or affiliated with a religion. They are authorized by local school districts to offer new and creative methods of educating students.

House to focus on public education this week

House lawmakers said this morning they will focus on public education this week. A handful of bills will be introduced to change the way schools operate.

One measure would create a commission to study the number of school districts statewide. The bill has support among members in both parties.

A second proposal would set a statewide school year start date of August 15, allowing for later vacations.

A third bill would ask the state Education Oversight Committee to study 4-year-old kindergarten programs and make a recommendation about which are most effective. A recent decision in the years-long school funding suit found the state needs to do more in early childhood education to ensure children have the opportunity for a "minimally adequate" education.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, asked for a quick decision so the General Assembly could work on legislation this year.

Ringmaster shows up Senate

Columbia native and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus ringmaster Tyron McFarlan lent a little levity to the Senate this morning when he was honored with a resolution.

Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington, introduced the former Army National Guard captain, who sat in the Senate balcony. Upon cajoling from Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, McFarlan closed the day's session with a booming rendition of the circus' signature opening: "The one, the only, the greatest show on earth!"

Malloy added that it would be nice if McFarlan was in the State House all the time, to help with "this multi-ring circus up here."

In other news:

• Wilkins portrait unveiled. Former House Speaker David Wilkins was honored by representatives this morning with a painting that will be displayed in the House chamber. The ceremony for the Greenville Republican lasted more than 20 minutes. Legislators gave him multiple standing ovations.
• Assessment concerns raised. County assessors around the state would likely not be able to figure new property tax bills on time if a Senate plan is approved, Pickens County assessor David Day told a Senate subcommittee this morning.
  
  The problem stems from the Senate proposal to revalue property to 2004 levels. The plan, among the efforts to change property taxation in the state, would require countywide adjustments as well as allowing residents to appeal the county's decision. It would also allow counties to choose how they would calculate future tax values, freezing values until the property is sold, allowing small annual increases or keeping the system as is.
  
  The proposal hits especially hard in counties that just completed a reassessment, Day said, such as Pickens. About 20 counties statewide completed reassessment this year. Counties would have until about April of next year to complete the roll-back of property values, under the plan.
• Charters next week. The Senate failed this morning to take up a bill creating a new statewide district to boost the number of charter schools in South Carolina. Leaders said the measure is likely to be debated next week.