Is there a chance for S.C. health agency restructuring plan to move forward?

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Wednesday, South Carolina lawmakers will return to Columbia for the day to elect the state’s new Supreme Court justice.

But while they’re in session at the State House, we could see a push to finalize a major bill that would impact millions of South Carolinians – and their access to health services.

On the final day of South Carolina’s legislative session last month, a bill to restructure South Carolina’s health agencies died on a procedural maneuver – despite passing both the Senate and the House with overwhelming support.

Now some at the State House, including the governor – are calling on lawmakers to revive it – but that might be easier said than done.

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The South Carolina General Assembly last month wrapped up its regular legislative session for the year.

But lawmakers will sporadically be back in Columbia over the next month to take up matters outlined in an agreement called the sine die resolution.

It lists the reasons for which lawmakers can be called back into session – like finalizing the budget.

Not included in it is a bill to merge six state health agencies into one – but some want to see that changed.

“Often people who need help go from one place to the other to the other, and they feel like they’re on a merry-go-round or a revolving door. They never get anywhere,” Gov. Henry McMaster said.

He’s asked lawmakers multiple times over the last few weeks to amend the resolution to include the restructuring bill.

If lawmakers don’t, they won’t be able to take it up again until next January, at the earliest.

“We cannot wait another day,” McMaster said.

But Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey says despite the overwhelming support for the bill – tacking it onto the resolution is not easy.

“I agree with the governor that it’s very important. … Very candidly, it’s going to be a big lift.” Massey said.

And in the Senate, the Republican majority is likely to need some Democrats’ support to clear the threshold necessary to amend the resolution.

That opens up the potential for Democrats to try to leverage that into forcing Republicans to add on and take up another bill many of them don’t want to debate: the hate crimes bill.

Lawmakers can make this attempt to amend the resolution as soon as Wednesday.

But they can also try later in the month – when they’re scheduled to be back in session for other matters.

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