Greg Duckworth | Preparing for Crossover, Body Cameras, Supporting Our Military & Teacher of the Year
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24 Apr Preparing for Crossover, Body Cameras, Supporting Our Military & Teacher of the Year

Preparing for Crossover, Body Cameras, Supporting Our Military & Teacher of the YearThe South Carolina House of Representatives finished up an extensive amount of committee work in preparation for Crossover Week. Each year, lawmakers spend roughly 4-months hearing testimony and crafting legislation. The end of that 4-month period concludes with the beginning of the crossover period which lands on May 1st for this year. The crossover period simply demands that no more legislation can be considered by House or Senate, forcing each body to act on the legislation passed by the other body instead of new items in the remaining days of the session. In short, if a bill is going to be passed this year, it has to make it out of at least one chamber prior to this deadline.

Bills head to the House Floor next week where a whirlwind of debate will occur, I’ve highlighted two of these below:

Body Cameras for Law Enforcement H3997
Recent events have prompted many to look at the viability of body cameras for law enforcement officers. This week the House Judiciary Committee approved a measure developing a pilot program administered by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council to study the use of body cameras on law enforcement officers. The program would span 3 counties and 6 municipalities on an opt-in basis. The Training Council will report their findings to the General Assembly after a 6 month period. Both civil liberties organizations and the law enforcement community support this pilot program and the bill moves to the House floor for debate next week.

In-State Tuition Rates for Military Personnel H3037
This bill grants in-state tuition rates to active duty military and their dependents. Currently, active duty military personnel who have been stationed in South Carolina do not receive in-state tuition rates. This bill grants them that privilege and allows them and their dependents to continue receiving an in-state tuition rate as long as they remain continuously enrolled. I’m look forward to supporting this measure on the House floor next week.

Each year we recognize a Teacher of the Year. I’d like to give my congratulations to Kayla Maxwell – 6th Grade Math Teacher at Forestbrook Middle School – this year’s Horry School District Teacher of the Year, along with my sincere appreciation for each of our educators in Horry!