Small Business Advocacy Blog

Last 5 Weeks of Legislative Year Legislature on Track for Outstanding Small Business Session   The Small Business Chamber started out 2005 with what could have easily been described as an “overly ambitious” legislative agenda. But the S.C. General Assembly made small business issues a priority and has delivered some amazing results.   In our […]

The following issues are addressed in this third edition of our newsletter in 2005.   LEGISLATIVE & ISSUE UPDATE: -Universal Service Fund Wasting Millions But Telephone Customers Still Paying -Ways & Means Adopts Half of Workers Comp Reform Request -Bi-Partisan Senate Bill Targets Small Business Income Tax Reduction -Tort Reform Passes House and Progresses in

The following issues are covered in this first newsletter of 2005:   SCE&G Rate Hike Request Cut By About 50% Supreme Court Ruling On Small Business Employment Discrimination Revisited Pilot Project On Affordable Health Care Moving Forward Columbia Establishes A Small Business Regulatory Review Committee 2005 Legislative Agenda     SCE&G Rate Hike Request Cut

Affordable Health Care/Insurance While others just talk about the health insurance crisis in which over 60% of the small businesses in the state can’t afford to offer health insurance to their employees, the Small Business Chamber is working toward solutions. Several public/private hybrid proposals will be strongly pursued in 2006. Two of these will seek

WARNING Small Businesses Now Liable for Employment Discrimination Due to Court Ruling   The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce is issuing a warning today to small businesses with 14 or fewer employees to be extremely careful in all employment decisions. Employment decisions of these small businesses have traditionally been protected from discrimination lawsuits regarding

2006 LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS Priority Issues Enacted or Show Progress The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce started in January with 6 top legislative priority issues. On June 14th, the S.C. General Assembly finished for this year. Below is a brief description of the outcome on each of these issues. 1. Affordable Health Care/Insurance SUCCESS: The

Hearing On WC Rate Increase–Final Day Four long days of hearings in an Administrative Law Court ended yesterday bringing to an end to the combative process that will determine how large a workers’ comp rate increase will go into effect this year. The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce and the S.C. Consumer Advocate put

Votes Needed to Override Veto Small Business Job Tax Credits in Jeopardy Governor Sanford has vetoed Senate Bill 1175. This bill is vital to small businesses for two reasons: 1. It enables small businesses to create at least 2 new jobs anytime during their fiscal year and still qualify for job tax credits. The existing

Workers’ Comp Costs Drop in 2005 Governor Still Supports 32.9% Rate Hike The 2005 Loss Ratio for workers’ compensation dropped dramatically from the previous years according to data provided by the S.C. Department of Insurance. The Loss Ratio financial data shows the percentage of premiums that are paid by insurance carriers for workers’ compensation claims.

Wednesday was the third day of the hearing on the National Council of Compensation Insurance’s (NCCI) proposed 32.9% increase in workers’ comp loss cost rates in South Carolina. The parties supporting the increase are NCCI, Companion Property & Casualty, the S.C. Department of Insurance and the S.C. Chamber of Commerce. Opposing the increase is the