House Approves Measure Shortening Legislative Session

 

 

If SC House leaders have their say, the General Assembly will spend less time in Columbia.

For the 10th time in 20 years, the South Carolina House of Representatives has approved legislation providing for a constitutional amendment that would shorten the state’s legislative session.

“It is no secret that we have one of the longest legislative sessions in the country, and it is extraordinarily long given the size of our state,” said House Majority Leader Bruce Bannister (R-Greenville). “As it has nine times before, this goes to the state Senate, where we hope it will be approved quickly.”

The joint resolution was approved 91-9. If approved by two-thirds of the Senate, the question would go before the voters in November 2014.

The proposal shortens the legislative session by one month at the end – closing the session on the first Thursday in May rather than the first Thursday in June. In addition, it would keep the General Assembly from meeting in statewide session during the month of January, but still allows legislative committees to meet during that time to debate legislation.

“We do important work in Columbia, and there are great needs to address the issues important to the state,” said Assistant Majority Leader Gary Simrill (R-York). “That said, the General Assembly can, and should, be more efficient with our time. That’s a win-win for taxpayers and the part-time legislature.”