Legislature Finishes Week with Budget, Crime Victims Bill

Special to the Observer

The South Carolina General Assembly returned to Columbia last week to approve the final budget, which included additional funding for replacing many of our state’s aging school buses. The $28.9 million approved will allow the State to buy 298 new school buses and lease another 116 new buses.

This will still leave more than 1,000 school buses that are more than 20 years old operating in our South Carolina.  S.C. Sen. Mike Gambrell said the issue will be an ongoing item in future budgets.  To review the State Budget, visit here.

Two other bills that had been in Conference Committees also passed. One creates the S.C. Crime Victim Services Act to consolidate the majority of victim’s services programs under one office, making it a more straightforward process for both victims of crime and those who work to assist those victims.

The other bill gives limited immunity to someone who seeks medical assistance for an individual experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose. In light of the growing addiction problem across S.C. and the nation, it is hoped that this will save lives when an individual who may themselves be using drugs or alcohol can call 9-1-1 without fear of prosecution. The ‘good Samaritan’ may still be open to charges, but cannot be charged simply because they may be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and are with the person needing medical attention.

Work on the state's roads will be going on thanks to the Infrastructure Bill that was passed in May. You can check on the projects scheduled for our area or across the state on the Department of Transportation website at www.dot.state.sc.us.    

The lawmkers will return in January of 2018 if there are no major budget vetoes from the governor.