Policy News and Information for South Carolina's Children
Policy Post
Feb. 6, 2018
On the South Carolina Legislative Radar
The S.C. House passed what's expected to be the most important piece of legislation in 2018 -- temporarily halting SCE&G from charging customers for the abandoned V.C. Summer Nuclear Project. The Senate  approved  a bill protecting existing South Carolina manufacturers from being sued as a nuisance when subdivisions spring up around them.


Bills to Watch

S.805 : Creation of a Department of Children’s Advocacy was amended by the Children’s Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate General Committee. Technical clean-ups and a less partisan appointment process for the director were approved, while concerns voiced by DSS were carried over. The department carefully insisted it does not oppose oversight and accountability and won’t take a position on the bill.

H.3701 : Educating kinship care families about foster care was referred to the Senate’s General Committee. Endorsed by the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, it passed the House unanimously in late January.

A School Readiness Tax Credit (SRTC) pilot project, in the form of a First Steps proviso request, was withdrawn. First Steps cited “several remaining details that need to be explored further.” Based on portions of a  proven program  in Louisiana of credits for child care workers and centers, the SRTCs have been championed by South Carolina’s Early Childhood Common Agenda partnership.

Be There

Tuesday, Feb. 6: Public Education Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee will  meet  in Blatt Building, Room 521, 90 minutes after House adjournment.

Thursday, Feb. 8: Social Services, Mental Health and Children's Affairs subcommittee of the House 3-M Committee will  meet  at 9 a.m. in Blatt Building, Room 427.

Monday, Feb. 12: Education Oversight Committee will  meet  at 1 p.m. in Blatt Building, Room 433.
Feds Investigate S.C. Juvenile Justice
The U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation of the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice (DOJ). It will review conditions at the state’s long-term juvenile commitment facility, including whether DJJ fails to protect youth from physical abuse by other youth and staff, as well as the use of prolonged solitary confinement. DOJ will also consider possible violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the use of pre-sentencing residential evaluation centers. Information is being solicited through 844-380-6166 and  SCJuvenile.Justice@usdoj.gov .
Federal Roundup
Offsetting State Tax Implications of New Federal Tax Regime
Changes to federal tax law will result in higher individual state tax bills for many working families. Enacting, or expanding, state-level tax credits for families such as earned income, child care, and school readiness credits,  can help  struggling workers keep more of their earnings. South Carolina  passed  a nonrefundable Earned Income Tax Credit for working families as part of the roads bill in 2017. Nonrefundability makes that credit regressive, providing less relief to the lowest earners.

Additional CHIP Extension Discussed

CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) was extended for six years as part of a short-term spending package, delivering an estimated $1 billion in savings to federal taxpayers. U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is  advocating  a further four-year extension, which could raise savings to $6 billion. CHIP serves 82,000 low-income children in South Carolina.

Bill Passes Requiring Reporting of Sex Abuse by Athletics Bodies

The U.S. Senate  passed  legislation requiring amateur athletics governing bodies to report sex abuse allegations to local or federal law enforcement, or a child welfare agency within 24 hours. The bill makes it safe and easy for victims to report abuse, mandates oversight to ensure strong sexual abuse prevention policies are implemented, and it extends the statute of limitations allowing victims more time to sue sex crime perpetrators.
Child Welfare News Across the Nation
Home Visiting Programs Remain in Limbo
Research  suggests  that engaging families in home visiting services is essential for achieving positive outcomes. In South Carolina, 18,000 home visits a year for 2,800 families are made possible through the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, which has yet to be reauthorized.

MIECHV and its family home visits enjoy tremendous support among policy experts on the  left  and the  right , celebrity  activists , state and  local   officials , as well as  practitioners  and  advocates. B ut reauthorization has stalled, in part due to differences between House and Senate plans.
Policy Post is published by Children's Trust of South Carolina.
Children's Trust of South Carolina is the only statewide organization focused on the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injury. The organization trains and educates professionals who work directly with families and also funds, supports and monitors proven prevention programs. Children's Trust is the voice for South Carolina's children and advocates for strong, well-founded policies that positively impact child well-being. Children's Trust is home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, KIDS COUNT South Carolina and Safe Kids South Carolina.