LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBIA - South Carolina will begin expanding its full-day 4-year-old kindergarten program next year under legislation approved Thursday.

Currently, the program is for poor children in school districts that sued the Legislature over education funding. Legislators will extend that pilot program for the 2008-09 school year and determine next year how big of an expansion the state can afford.

''We can do what we make up our mind to do,'' the bill's sponsor, Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-West Columbia, told a Senate panel.

The Legislature created a full-day pilot program in June 2006, six months after a judge found the state fails to help children overcome the effects of poverty and ordered an increase in early childhood education. The public-private pilot was launched for 37 districts.

About 4,200 children attend classes in the pilot program, an increase of nearly 1,100 the first year.

The bill was passed to the Senate Education Committee.

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COLUMBIA - The Senate approved a bill Thursday requiring local and state governments to print documents only in English.

The bill provides exceptions for schools and colleges, South Carolina Educational Television, health care, communicating with crime victims and business recruiting and promotion.

''It sends a strong signal that we're a compassionate people, but the day-to-day operations of government ought to be done'' in English, said Sen. Jim Ritchie, RSpartanburg, who noted he's the grandson of immigrants. ''This bill is about embracing the tradition in this state and nation of assimilation.''

The bill stems from Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell wanting to stop the Department of Motor Vehicles from giving tests in other languages. It now heads to the House.

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COLUMBIA - Saying a lack of affordable health insurance causes minorities to die from diseases and cancers at higher rates, black state representatives said Thursday that elected officials and presidential candidates should work on universal health care.

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus signed a resolution that says South Carolina and the rest of the nation suffers from a health care crisis, and that limited access disproportionately hurts minorities.

''Every American deserves quality health care,'' said Rep. Leon Howard, caucus chairman.

There was no immediate cost estimate given.

- - - COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Young adults could remain on their parents' health insurance coverage longer under legislation announced Thursday.

The bill, dubbed the ''Health Care Accessibility for Young Americans Act,'' would require insurance companies to extend families' coverage to single adults until they turn 24, and to active duty military personnel who have served at least six months.

Currently, family coverage is dropped when a child is no longer a full-time student.

''Regardless if you're a full-time student, a part-time student, or in the work force, you should not be penalized for making decisions that are best for you,'' said the bill sponsor, Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Columbia.

About 42 percent of young adults ages 18 to 24 are uninsured in South Carolina, according to the latest numbers from the state Insurance Department.