Senator Sean Bennett shared an update to constituents, highlighting the significant pieces of legislation passed by the South Carolina Senate in the initial weeks of the 2023-24 legislative session.
One of the legislative pieces involves the Education Scholarship Trust Funds, providing up to $6,000 in scholarship funding for eligible disadvantaged students to attend a school of their choice, including public, private, parochial, and alternative education delivery systems. Eligible students come from household incomes of no more than 200% of the federal poverty line.
The Senate also passed legislation repealing the Certificate of Need process, allowing healthcare providers to develop and expand healthcare services and facilities without bureaucratic interference. Additionally, the Senate passed an updated regulation banning abortions once a heartbeat has been detected, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or fatal fetal anomalies, as well as when the life of the mother is at risk.
To combat fentanyl trafficking, the Senate passed two pieces of legislation, providing law enforcement with the necessary tools to combat the problem, ensuring that those trafficking in fentanyl or causing the death of someone by fentanyl will be held accountable.
In addition to the legislative pieces, Senator Bennett also talked about various events and meetings he attended, including the South Carolina Alliance to Fix Our Roads annual meeting, FFA Day at the State House, and the Trident Technical College Foundation's "A Night In the Valley" fundraiser.
Senator Bennett also shared that he had participated in a public comment forum at Summerville Town Hall to discuss Single Member Districts legislation for DD2's School Board. Currently the legislation to change the maps for DD2's School Board elections has passed on the floor of the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Senator Bennett is also thinking about workforce development, fiscal management, and the low rate of workforce participation in South Carolina.
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