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 Legislative Accomplishments and Awards 
 


 
 Public Safety  PUBLIC SAFETY 
 
  • Star of Justice Award 2007 from the Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, for his role in passing legislation that created a new unit of SLED that investigates crimes against vulnerable adults
  • 2007 Legislative Award from the South Carolina Association of Prevention Professionals & Advocates for his sponsorship of The Prevention of Underage Drinking and Access to Alcohol Act.  This legislation is a multi-faceted approach to deal with the problem of underage drinking and repeat DUI offenders.  Also recognized by the South Carolina State Child Fatality Advisory Committee for this endeavor
  • Seat Belt Championship Award of 2006 for his advocacy of seat belt and child safety seat usage. Co-sponsor of mandatory seat belt bill (passed 2005)
  • Youth Prevention Champion Award 2005-2006 by the South Carolina Association of Prevention Professionals & Advocates for his sponsorship of the Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act (passed 2006) that prohibits possession of tobacco by minors and strengthens penalties for those who sell tobacco to minors
  • Outstanding Legislative Support Award from SC Victims Assistance Network in 2004
  • Alliance for SC’s Child Advocacy Leadership Award in 2001 for leadership on legislation requiring seatbelts for minors
  • Primary sponsor of the bill which now requires criminal background checks for all employees of nursing homes and home healthcare agencies (passed 2002
  • Senior Advocacy Award from Senior Resources in 2000
  • Led the effort to pass Jacob's Law (passed 2000) that eliminated the loophole allowing schools and day care centers to transport children in 15 passenger vans
  • Led the initiative that lowered the cost for nonprofit organizations to do criminal background checks on volunteers and employees. (Received the Distinguished Service Award from the South Carolina Association of Non-Profit Organizations in 2000)
   
 Education  EDUCATION 
 
  • SC Commission on National and Community Service 2005 Legislator of the Year Award for his involvement in community service learning and his record of sponsoring and supporting legislation improving the lives of all South Carolinians.
  • 2004 Advocate Award from the SC School Improvement Council for tireless effort in improving South Carolina public schools
   
 Healthcare  HEALTHCARE 
 

  • Co-sponsor and strong advocate for Ryan’s Law (passed 2007) which requires insurance companies to provide coverage for children with Autism
  • SC Public Health Association 2005 Legislator of the Year Award for his efforts to pass Seat Belt legislation, Boiler Safety Legislation and steadfast support for improving healthcare in South Carolina
  • Primary sponsor of the Statewide Birth Defects Surveillance System (passed 2004) within the Department of Health and Environmental Control
  • Primary sponsor of the Prescription Privacy Act (passed 1999) that prohibits the sale of personal prescription information
  • 2002 Advocate Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), Midlands Chapter for continued support on mental health issues and steadfast support for the Columbia Area Mental Health Center
  • Helped create the Newborn Hearing Screening Program. Received the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Legislator of the Year Award in 2000
   
 Consumer Protection  CONSUMER PROTECTION 
 

  • Primary sponsor of the Credit Counseling Bill (passed 2005) that regulates the credit counseling industry within the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs
  • Primary sponsor of the Boiler Safety Act (passed 2005) which provides guidelines for the inspection and maintenance of commercial boilers
   
 Miscellaneous  MISCELLANEOUS 
 

  • Family Hero Recognition 2006-2007 by the Palmetto Family Council for his leadership in passing the state tax credit for premarital counseling
  • Humane Society of the United States 2006 Humane State Legislator Award for his leadership in the passage of legislation strengthening animal fighting laws in South Carolina
  • House Leader on the Governor’s Nuclear Waste Task Force (1999) and helped write legislation that barred other states from dumping their nuclear waste in South Carolina
  • Legislator of the Year Award from National Association of Social Workers, 2003
  • 2004 Legislative Award from the SC Counseling Association for continued support of the counseling profession
   
 








Paid For By Joel Lourie for State Senate | P.O. Box 6212 | Columbia, SC 29260