This review provides an overview of several bills that were debated in committee and a few that were passed on the House floor.

EDUCATION

H.3833 received first reading. However, debate on this bill to amend Act 587 of 1992, as amended, relating to the Board of Trustees of Cherokee County School District One, to revise the date of elections for trustees, the filing period, and the manner in which the results of the elections are determined was adjourned without debate. This motion was made so that the language of the bill could be corrected to say the same as the amendments. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Dennis Moss and co sponsored by Rep. Lanny Littlejohn and Rep. Olin Phillips.

Paying for school infrastructure improvement has been an issue across the state. Members of the Ways and Means Committee defeated Bill 3168, which would have provided school districts with two new options for obtaining funding for the construction or renovation of school facilities. The first option allows eligible school districts to tap into $300,000,000 that is left over from an approved 1999 bond bill.

The second option would establish a School Infrastructure Bank, modeled after the state's Highway Infrastructure Bank that would provide low interest bonds. Priority for these bonds would be given to school districts most in need of financial assistance. I support both options.

CIGARETTE TAX

Ways and Means committee meeting members approved an increase in the state's cigarette tax rate. The 30-cent increase will generate revenue for several different programs.

Approximately $70 million will go towards providing health care for lowincome adults who are currently without health insurance. As a way to prevent young people from smoking, a portion of the money will go towards a youth smoking cessation program. One cent from the tax on each pack of cigarettes must go towards the SUPER fund which helps pay for the replacement of old underground gasoline storage tanks that can contaminate drinking water. Money will also go towards the State Department of Agriculture for research and development of locally grown food products.

In addition to the tax increase on cigarettes, Bill 3567 also includes a reduction of the sales tax on groceries. I support this bill.

HEALTH CARE

The 3M Committee voted unanimously to pass Bill 3317, which will establish an organ donor registry that can be used to track people who are willing to donate organs. I voted in support of this bill.

The committee passed Bill 3136, the "Cervical Cancer Prevention Act" which will offer a vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The bill would provide the vaccine to students prior to entering seventh grade. This bill will give parents the choice to opt out of receiving the vaccine. This vaccine to prevent cancer, could save thousands of lives each year. I voted in support of this bill.

TAX DEDUCTION

Bill 3791 would allow property owners to deduct permit and license fees from their state income taxes if the permits are going towards the repair, maintenance or improvement of property. This bill has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee. I support this bill.

If you would like any additional information on these bills, or any other legislation under consideration by the General Assembly, feel free to visit our Web site at www.scstatehouse.net.

If you have a comment or opinion concerning the matters discussed in this report, or if I may be of assistance to you at any time, please feel free to call your legislative office in Columbia (803-734- 3073), Office 422A Blatt Building, Columbia, SC 29211; or contact me by email at mossd@scstatehouse.net or at my home in Gaffney (864-487-2121); Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the House of Representatives.