THE MOSS REPORT

Many calendar items before the House are Senate bills that must now repeat the process of three readings on the House floor. This review provides an overview of several bills that were debated in committee and a few that were passed on the House floor.

DSS CENTRAL REGISTRY - H. 3547, This bill was introduced by myself and sponsored by several members, CLARIFIED THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A PERPETRATOR'S NAME MUST BE PLACED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CENTRAL REGISTRY. These circumstances include physical abuse, sexual abuse, severe neglect, and repeat neglect.

Passed and sent to the Senate.

EDUCATION -H.3254, ORIENTATION CLASSES FOR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE RECEIVED AN UNSATISFACTORY ABSOLUTE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RATING. Any year a school receives an unsatisfactory absolute academic performance rating, this bill provides that the school shall offer an orientation class for parents, focusing on the value of education academic assistance programs that are available at the school and in the community, student discipline, school policies; and other pertinent issues. A parent or guardian of each student registered to attend the school shall attend the orientation class each year it is offered. I supported this bill.

FIRE PROTECTION - H.3045, VOLUNTEER STRATEGIC ASSISTANCE AND FIRE EQUIPMENT ACT OF 2007 (V-SAFE). The legislation requires the General Assembly to appropriate not more than $3 million annually to offer grants of not more than $30,000 to eligible volunteer and combination fire departments for the purpose of protecting local communities and regional response areas from incidents of fire, hazardous materials and terrorism, and to provide for the safety of volunteer firefighters. The grant money must be used for specific purposes, including fire suppression equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus, training, protective clothing, decontamination equipment, and special operations vehicles. At least 3 percent of the funds of this legislation must be awarded to the South Carolina State Firefighters Association annually for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a recruitment and retention program for volunteer firefighters. I supported this bill.

CHILD SAFETY - S.518, The House amended and gave second reading approval to S.518. In an effort to educate parents and primary caregivers about the dangers of shaking infants and young children, the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) must approve and make available a video on the DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH SHAKING INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN. DHEC must make the video available at cost to every hospital, licensed childcare facility, and parent who adopts a child through the Department of Social Services. DHEC is instructed to request family practice and pediatric health care providers review the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children with parents and primary caregivers of children up to age one at each well-child visit. Hospitals must make the video available for viewing to parents of every newborn baby. I supported this bill.

PUBLIC SAFETY - H.3572, The House approved H.3572, "Traffic Education Program Act." This bill provides that circuit solicitors can establish a Pretrial Intervention Education Program for first time traffic offenses. Participation in this program will be fee based and will reduce the number of points accessed for violations. I supported 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 by e-mail at mossd@schouse.org or my home in Gaffney (864-487-2121); or write 306 Silver Circle, Gaffney, SC 29340. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the House of Representatives.