Advocacy

The American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina works to present issues, items and legislation of interest to and related to the field of engineering. As an advocate for your profession, we strive to promote the ethical, competent and licensed practice of engineering.

Click here to get the contact information for your Legislator.

Current Issues

2010 Legislative Issues

Positive Legislation Engineers are For

Tort Reform – S.350/H.3489.  Establishes reasonable limits on non-economic and punitive damages, strengthens the 8-year statute of repose. Other additional important business issues are included. Currently in House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Engineers support these bills. These bills do not require additional state funds. (See the SC Civil Justice Coalition Brochure.)

Disaster Assistance Trust Fund – H. 3501. Among other issues, this bill is the vehicle to address professional liability and workers’ compensation coverage for volunteers. Currently in the House Ways and Means Committee. Amendments must be made to reach the volunteer engineers’ goals. Engineers support this legislation. This legislation has additional cost to the state; consequently, it may remain in committee this session.

Vehicle Sales Taxes to be Directed to SC Highway Fund and SC Transportation Infrastructure Bank – S.101/H.3414. This legislation if passed moves revenue collected by vehicle sales taxes from the State’s General Fund to the SC Highway Fund and the SC Transportation Infrastructure Bank and would provide additional funding for roads and bridges. These bills are currently in the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee.  Engineers support this legislation. The State’s General Fund is severely lacking, legislators are not going to consider reallocating existing funds to the SC Highway Fund, but highway funding is still important to engineers.

Qualification Based Selection – ACEC-SC and SCSPE are working on having bills introduced to strengthen qualification based selection in South Carolina at all political subdivision levels. Currently, the State Procurement Code established QBS for state agencies and school districts and local governments of a certain size. This legislation, if passed should help curb bidding from local governments. 

Workers’ Compensation Reform – Currently there is no pending legislation on workers’ compensation reform; nevertheless, engineers want to see reasonable guidelines placed on workers’ compensation claims that are fair to both employee and employer.

 Negative Legislation Engineers are Against

Standard Public School Plans – H.3462. This bill, if passed, requires three standard architectural plans for elementary, middle and high schools to which all construction must comply. These standard plans would be the property of the State Department of Education. Currently in the House Education and Public Works Committee. Engineers do not support this legislation.

False Claims Act – S.320.  This bill, if passed, is potentially harmful to businesses; it creates an incentive for lawsuits to target companies that do business with the government. Currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Engineers do not support this legislation.