Here’s the major proposals on the ESC reform bill, S. 391.

commissioners: The commissioners’ salaries must be approved by the Agency Head Salary Commission. New commissioners must be 2 years removed from the General Assembly Commissioners must be accountable to the Ethics Commission

at will: Executive Director appointed by governor with advice and consent of Senate; serve at-will The Executive Director, Assistant Directors and Area Directors are at-will employees Tech schools, Commerce and Workforce must have compatible computers;

temp workers: Workers placed by a temp service must return to the temp service for possible further assignment prior to filing for unemployment

fraud: The department must increase investigations of fraud and misrepresentations by claimants, keep detailed records of all commission hearings and make them available to the General Assembly, improve interagency integration and data sharing, and refer all cases of significant claimant and/or employer fraud to the Attorney General to determine whether to prosecute the offender (ESC can do all of this now. This is the resolution adapted to the statute.)
They must promulgate regs on the hearing and appeals procedures.

fired employees: Addition of “gross misconduct” as a list of items for which all benefits are denied and employee must re-establish their wage base with a new employer in order to draw future benefits. The list includes: wilful or reckless employee damage to employer property of more than fifty dollars; alcohol possession or use; theft of more than fifty dollars; criminal assault or battery; criminal abuse of patient or child in his professional care; willful failure to comply with a lawful, reasonable order; willful neglect of duty. All other “fired for cause” remains at the discretion of the ESC to disqualify from 5-26 weeks.

Midlands Biofuels has made an interesting proposal:

From Gov. Sanford’s regular newsletter:

We also had an interesting presentation from Midlands Biofuels about a proposal they have to produce fuel from cooking oil, which they would take from school cafeterias at no charge – saving schools thousands of dollars in disposal fees. This is the sort of public-private partnership that can really make a difference when it comes to looking out for the taxpayer.

Midlands Biofuels is a locally owned and operated recycling company in Winnsboro, SC. We produce Biodiesel using Waste Vegetable Oils (WVO) generated from the food service industry. Our mission is to increase the availability of alternative fuels in South Carolina and create sustainable jobs in the biofuels industry.

We specialize in custom blends of biodiesel designed to meet the specific needs of our eco-friendly clients. Our products are created using multiple feedstocks from both virgin and recycled sources. Our fuels and additives meet or exceed ASTM standards.

Midlands Biofuels is not only in the business of selling products but we also provide our clients with a multitude of value added fuel services such as: Engine Efficiency Testing, Fuel Consumption Reports, Fuel Blend Consulting, Fuel Additive Consulting and Demos, Bulk and JIT Fuel Delivery, and BioFuel Training.

Don’t let union bosses take control of your small business!
Tell the Senate to vote YES on House Bill 3305!
H.3305 would have a big impact on your employees – and on your ability to run your small business.
Union bosses want to change the rules to make it easier for them to unionize your small business. Today, workers cast secret ballots on whether to organize, but unions want their friends in Congress to skip secret ballots in favor of a process known as card check.
Organizers could pressure workers into signing union authorization cards. Once a majority of workers sign, a workplace would be unionized, and you’d have 120 days to sign a contract.
H.3305 would give the voters of South Carolina the chance to decide whether to change the state Constitution to ban card check and protect workers’ right to secret-ballot union votes.
Guaranteeing this protection in our Constitution would be a tremendous asset to employers who want to run their own businesses and to workers who would face intimidation by union organizers used to getting their way.
Tell your senator to support small business and vote YES on H. 3305.