Latest news with #BethBernstein
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill would double paid parental leave time for South Carolina employees
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – State representatives passed a bill that could double the amount of paid parental leave for teachers and state employees. If H. 3490 is ratified, a parent who gives birth up would have up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave, compared to the current six-week leave period. But, with only three days left in the year's current legislative session, the bill's future is uncertain. A parent who did not give birth to a child would also see a two-week increase in leave time. 'Whether or not I'm the birthing parent or not, the bond that you have with your child, particularly at birth, is something that is special,' said Rep. Beth Bernstein (D – Richland). The bipartisan bill was passed with a vote of 86 to 18, sparking controversy among some House members. Rep. Josiah Magnuson (R – Spartanburg) voted against this bill, despite having voted for the bill years ago. He said the language is unvetted. 'Now, I don't know about you, but I believe that our government should acknowledge mothers and should acknowledge fathers,' Magnuson remarked. 'You're saying, let's tax the people of South Carolina, most of whom don't get paid parental leave, and give them to state employees who already have six weeks of paid parental leave. ' But Rep. Neal Collins (R – Pickens) said Pickens County has budgeted $115,000 for paid parental leave and found no negative impact on taxpayers. 'The costs are relatively minimal, and I think they can be absorbed, and this is just a great opportunity to say we respect, and we support, teachers and, state employees as a whole,' Collins said. Patrick Kelly works as a public school teacher and is the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Palmetto State Teachers Association. He also has two daughters and said the bill would have helped him spend more time with family after his wife gave birth. 'I took a week off when our daughters were born, but that was coming out of my balance,' Kelly recalled. 'To see this focus on both parents, to see a recognition of the importance of dad having time with the new baby [is important]. ' Kelly said he is happy with the state government's support for educators, because two years ago, South Carolina became the first state in the southeast to offer six weeks of paid parental leave to state employees. Though there is probably not enough time for the bill to make it through the Senate, the legislation will be enter the chamber in January 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SC House tries again with 12 weeks of paid parental leave for state workers
Rep. Beth Bernstein, D-Columbia, talks about a bill that would double state employees' paid parental leave Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Screenshot of SCETV legislative livestream) COLUMBIA — State employees in South Carolina who newly become parents could get twice as much paid leave under a bill the House passed this week. The bipartisan bill sent to the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 86-18 would give employees of K-12 schools, state agencies, and public colleges 12 weeks of paid leave after giving birth instead of six. Non-birthing parents, including fathers and adoptive parents, would qualify for four weeks instead of two. With four working days left in the 2025 session and no movement on an identical bill in the Senate, passage this year is highly unlikely. But the bill remains alive for 2026. It does not need to be reintroduced. The House passed an identical bill three years ago. But only half the time made it into law due to senators' concerns about cost. Sponsors in both chambers celebrated passage while vowing to try again. Six weeks is not enough, said Rep. Beth Bernstein, again the bill's primary House sponsor. Not only are the first weeks of a child's life vital for parents to bond with their new child, but increasing the state's leave to 12 weeks could make it more competitive in the job market, Bernstein said. 'Whether I'm the birthing parent or not, the bond you have with your child, particularly at birth, is something that is special and something that should be preserved,' the Columbia Democrat said. Cost remained a concern for the bill's opponents. The cost for state agencies and school districts is unclear, since it will depend on how many employees use the leave and what job they're performing. Some departments might need to offer incentives to other workers to take over for that worker while they're gone or hire temporary workers, according to a financial analysis of the bill. One particular point of contention was the cost to school districts, which would have to offer the same benefit to teachers and other full-time employees. That cost would also vary, since the cost of hiring a substitute teacher fluctuates based on their experience and location, according to the analysis. Still, some legislators, especially in the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, questioned whether the bill could cause school districts to raise property taxes in an effort to recoup the costs of paying for the extra six weeks of leave. 'You're voting to take more money away from people who don't have benefits and give it to people who do have benefits,' said Rep. Josiah Magnuson, a Campobello Republican and vice-chairman of the Freedom Caucus. Rep. Neal Collins pointed to his own school district as evidence more money's not necessary. Pickens County adopted a policy earlier this week providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The district estimates the cost at $115,000 per year, an amount that won't require a tax increase, the Easley Republican said. Magnuson, a father of two young children, also characterized the bill as government overreach in telling parents how long they could stay home. And he criticized the bill's wording for referring to eligible employees as those who 'give birth' versus a 'co-parent' instead of mother and father. 'I don't know about you, but I think that our government should acknowledge mothers and should acknowledge fathers,' said Magnuson, who's also a charter member of the Family Caucus. Bernstein called Magnuson's arguments disingenuous, particularly considering he voted in favor of the House's previous attempt to approve 12 weeks of paid leave. Most legislators who voted against the bill are in the Freedom Caucus, which has some overlap with the Family Caucus. They promote themselves as advocates for families yet voted against a bill that would keep families together longer, she said. 'For those of you in this chamber who talk about family and family preservation and the family bonding and vote against this bill, that does not make sense,' Bernstein said. Those first weeks were vital for Rep. Travis Moore's wife when she gave birth to the couple's first child 15 years ago, the Roebuck Republican said. 'I think there are so many things that happen developmentally and relationally in those first few weeks and months,' Moore said. To allow his wife to stay home longer, coworkers in the solicitor's office where she worked donated some of their time off so she could spend more weeks at home with her baby, he said. She wanted to stay home for 12 weeks, but the couple couldn't afford that, Moore said. 'She really wanted to be home longer, but we weren't in a position for her not to go to work,' Moore said.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protests interrupt rollout of SC's new pro-Israel legislative caucus
Rep. Beth Bernstein, D-Columbia, speaks on April 23, 2025, during a press conference celebrating the new South Carolina-Israel Caucus. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA — A pro-Palestine protest briefly interrupted a Statehouse news conference celebrating the formation of the new bipartisan South Carolina-Israel Caucus, which more than 20 legislators have joined. Rep. Beth Bernstein, the state's only Jewish legislator, had just finished highlighting partnerships between South Carolina and Israeli universities — such as Medical University of South Carolina and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology's joint research in cardiovascular medicine. She also spoke of Israeli-owned businesses across the technology, automotive plastics and agriculture sector that have set up shop in the Palmetto State. 'South Carolina shares a deep and abiding friendship with the people of Israel and welcomes all opportunities to deepen this relationship through cultural, academic and business endeavors,' the Columbia Democrat said Wednesday. The official announcement of the caucus came a day after the House adopted a resolution that Bernstein introduced recognizing the state's 'friendship and partnership' with Israel. As Bernstein's caucus co-chair, Sen. Larry Grooms, stepped to the podium, a man in the crowd yelled out and threw fake money that he referred to as 'Zionist blood money.' 'Israel is guilty of war crimes,' Martin Levisen of Charleston repeatedly shouted as law enforcement with the state Department of Public Safety pinned his hands behind his back and forcibly removed him from the second floor of the Statehouse. 'This is exactly why we need to form the Israel-South Carolina Caucus,' said Grooms, a Berkeley County Republican. Lt. Gov. Pam Evette apologized for the 'outburst' to Jewish members in the crowd when it came her turn to speak. 'That is not the sentiment of America; that is not the sentiment of South Carolina,' she said. (South Carolina was once home to the largest Jewish population in America. A historic Jewish synagogue in Charleston predates American independence by decades.) Levinsen later told the SC Daily Gazette he was not arrested. Law enforcement called paramedics to Statehouse grounds to make sure he was OK after he had hit his head on the handrail as he resisted going down the stairs. 'I am more than willing to sacrifice my freedom to speak for a people that have no voice and are being massacred,' he said. 'It is imperative that people find their voices on this issue we must speak up.' Other protesters from the Carolina Peace Resource Center, in a statement, called the formation of the South Carolina-Israel Caucus 'deeply troubling' in light of the war that broke out between Israel and Palestine after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. About 1,200 civilians were killed in Israel and Hamas took some 250 hostages, 59 of whom are still being held. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called it 'Israel's 9/11,' referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in America, and pledged to destroy Hamas. Israel's air and ground war has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. 'At a time when we should be holding all nations accountable to international norms and human rights, our lawmakers should prioritize the people of South Carolina,' read the statement from the Columbia center. 'This is not a friendship; it's complicity.' Bills seek to improve safety for South Carolinians as they worship and attend class Bernstein said the caucus, which officially formed on April 8, has not voted on legislative priorities. But she highlighted several pieces of legislation she has sponsored that meet with the goals she hopes the caucus can achieve. The first is a bill signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster last year that codifies a definition of antisemitism into state law. The second is legislation Bernstein introduced in March that would fund security improvements for churches, synagogues and other religious institutions in South Carolina. 'South Carolina and Israel have long enjoyed a strong and mutually beneficial relationship,' said Anat Sultan-Dadon, consul general of Israel to the Southeastern United States. 'Through this caucus, we will strive to further strengthen these ties, foster greater cooperation, explore new opportunities for growth in trade, culture, technology, education and beyond.' It's not the first time the Legislature has declared a bond with Israel. In 2011, the House adopted a resolution that was essentially a statement of support on Israel's right to exist. It declared that Israel 'is neither an attacking force nor an occupier of the lands of others.' Four years later, then-Gov. Nikki Haley signed an anti-boycott measure aimed at barring state agencies from doing business with or investing in companies that boycott products or divest from Israel (though it doesn't actually reference Israel). At least three dozen other states have since passed similar policies opposing the so-called 'boycott, divestment and sanctions' movement.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bills seek to improve safety for South Carolinians as they worship and attend class
Rep. Beth Bernstein, D-Columbia, pictured in the South Carolina House chamber on Dec. 4, 2024 (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA — Churches, synagogues and other religious institutions in South Carolina could apply for up to $25,000 in state aid for security improvements under a bipartisan proposal. The legislation, dubbed the 'Pray Safe Act,' is meant to help worshippers of all religions feel safe practicing their faith amid a rise in violence toward religious institutions and groups, Rep. Beth Bernstein, the bill's lead sponsor, told reporters Wednesday. 'Freedom to worship cannot be enjoyed unless you have freedom from fear,' said Bernstein, a Columbia Democrat and the state's only Jewish legislator. Any tax-exempt organization 'at particular risk of being subject to a religiously motivated crime' would be able to apply for a grant of up to $25,000 to hire security guards, train existing security, make buildings more secure, or install cameras and lighting systems, according to the bill introduced earlier this month. With a proposed pot of $750,000 to pull from, that would allow at least 30 religious groups to receive funding. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division would award the grants based on a religious group's risk of being targeted, which include whether crimes have been committed there in the past and its existing level of security. Violence at places of worship is an issue close to home for South Carolina, where an avowed white supremacist killed nine members of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston during a 2015 Bible study. The number of attacks on religious institutions and the people who worship there has only grown in the decade since, Bernstein said. 'In recent years, we have seen hundreds of houses of worship facing violent attacks, from shootings to bomb threats to potential fires,' Bernstein said. 'Individual people of faith have also been targeted at alarming rates.' Instances of vandalism, arson, shootings and bomb threats at churches across the country doubled last year, according to numbers tracked by the Family Research Council. In 2023, the most recent data available, the evangelical nonprofit reported 436 'acts of hostility' against churches nationwide, compared with about 195 the year before. SC legislators approve antisemitism bill amid national wave of Israel-Hamas war protests The same year, the Anti-Defamation League reported nearly 9,000 antisemitic incidents, which include assaults, vandalism and harassment. That was more than double the 3,600 reported in 2022, according to the anti-hate organization. The Charleston and Columbia Jewish federations have seen an uptick in synagogues applying to the joint Secure Community Network, a national nonprofit that provides security training and facility assessments and helps them connect with local law enforcement officers, said Tair Giudice, CEO of the Charleston Jewish Federation. But because of funding restrictions, less than half of all applications to the nonprofit are accepted, Giudice said. Synagogues that can't afford security improvements on their own are left with few other options, she said. 'South Carolina is a state that has always valued faith and worship, and for our faith communities to thrive, it is critical people feel safe,' Giudice said. The bill has yet to have a hearing, and the House did not include the $750,000 in its budget plan for the coming fiscal year. Bernstein hopes the grant program gets added before the budget is finalized. The Senate will debate its plan later this month. The bill's co-sponsors suggest its chances are good. Republicans who have signed on include House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister of Greenville and House Judiciary Chairman Weston Newton of Bluffton. A separate bill that advanced this week to the Senate floor would require private security officers working in K-12 schools to go through stricter training. Lawmakers have long wanted every school in the state to hire a school resource officer, who is a law enforcement officer dedicated to patrolling a school. Last year, legislators designated $2 million to help schools that couldn't afford to hire officers. With shortages of officers across the state, though, some districts have still struggled to fill positions. For instance, 37 of Greenville County's 91 schools have no dedicated security officer, said Sen. Jason Elliott, a co-sponsor on the bill. So, the district turned to private security officers to fill in the gaps, the Greenville Republican said. The goal is to 'supplement and not supplant' school resource officers, Elliott said. Schools would be encouraged to continue searching for full-time resource officers, he said. The bill would require officers working in certain schools to go through extra training with SLED 'to enhance accountability and compliance.' Any officers working in a school would also have to be at least 21 years old and get re-certified every two years. Only schools with a full-time security division and a written agreement with local law enforcement would be able to hire private security officers under the bill. 'Kids' safety and protection is the number one key,' said Sen. Ross Turner, a Greenville Republican and the bill's chief sponsor. 'Before anybody can learn, you've got to feel safe.' The Senate Education Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to advance the proposal.
