Happy Easter Monday. Here’s my brief legislative report.
It was a privilege to meet former Florida Governor Jeb Bush on Tuesday at the State House. He spoke to the House Republican Caucus advocating much needed school choice.
Last week with the looming Thursday deadline for bills to “crossover” to the Senate, the House worked to push important legislation over the finish line.
The House passed five adoption-related bills I cosponsored that make the process of adopting children in our state less burdensome, while ensuring safety and integrity.
These bills facilitate family members to become legal guardians when adoption is not an option for minors, eliminate the 90-day waiting time to finalize an adoption, allow family court judges to waive pre- and post-adoption report requirements, and allow permanency planning hearings to include termination of parental rights determinations.
On Wednesday, the House passed another bill I cosponsored, the ESG Pension Protection Act. This bill ensures the $39 billion in SC's pension system will be invested to maximize the returns for state and local government employees and not be compromised by Environmental-Social-Governance objectives being pushed on us by the far left.
Allowing new parents to take time off to care for their children without sacrificing their income or job security is critical in retaining and recruiting teachers. I voted in support of H. 3908, which would allow teachers who become new parents -- either upon the birth or adoption of a child -- six weeks paid leave, which is the same leave available to other state employees.
It’s imperative that we make life saving medication available in our schools to respond quickly to an overdose emergency and potentially save the life of a student or staff member. On Thursday, I voted to pass H. 4122, which will allow school nurses, in addition to School Resource Officers, to stock and administer Narcan.
Additionally, the House unanimously passed H.3691, which I cosponsored, that allows coroners to stock and administer life-saving medication such as Narcan in the event they encounter overdose victims.
On Wednesday, I met with Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District Assistant Chief Jeff Kosto, who was at the State House with members of the SC State Firefighters Association. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our MIGCFD firefighters and EMS personnel.
Next week the House is on furlough, and will reconvene Tuesday, April 18th. From there we have just four weeks left of the legislative session.
I hope you have a good week. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt