Takata continues to invest in county

Earlier this month, I had the chance to welcome to Cheraw two very important Japanese visitors, Jim and Akki Takada, the owners of the multi-billion-dollar Takata Corporation. Mr. and Mrs. Takada, who live outside of Tokyo, came to announce plans for the capital expenditure of more than $3 million to buy new equipment at the Cheraw plant that makes specialty industrial fabrics for Highland Industries, a division of Takata.
The investment in new equipment will lead to the creation of 20 to 30 new jobs at the Cheraw plant, which already employs more than 400. The plant makes more than 150 fabrics for roofing, automotive interiors, hoses, airbags, insulation on rocket boosters, and other products.
I flew in the state plane to greet Mr. and Mrs. Takada, joining S.C. Sen. Vincent Sheheen, Representative Doug Jennings, Cheraw Mayor Andy Ingram and others to thank the Takadas for keeping the Cheraw plant viable. We pledged to do what we can at the state and local level to ensure the plant remains in Cheraw.
Back in Columbia, I joined other legislators in seeking to finalize action on bills, with just a few weeks remaining in the 117th General Assembly. Some of the measures recently approved by the House include:
• Legislation (H 4028) that would allow medical prescriptions to be transmitted electronically from medical practitioners to pharmacists.
• Legislation (H 3254) requiring that any public school receiving an “unsatisfactory” absolute academic performance rating must offer parents an orientation class that addresses the value of education, academic assistance programs, student discipline and school policies.
• Legislation (S 518) requiring the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to make available a video on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. The video would be offered to hospitals, licensed childcare facilities and parents adopting children through the Department of Social Services. Hospitals, in turn, would offer the video to parents of every newborn baby. In addition, DHEC would need to instruct family practice and pediatric health care providers about the importance of discussing with new parents at well-child visits about the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children.
• Legislation (H 3045) aimed at helping local fire departments. The measure would require the General Assembly to offer grants to fire departments to protect communities from incidents involving fire, hazardous materials, and terrorism, and to provide for the safety of volunteer firefighters. The grant money would be available for fire suppression equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus, training, protective clothing, decontamination equipment, and special operations vehicles. At least three percent of the funds would be awarded to the South Carolina State Firefighters Association annually for establishing and maintaining a recruitment and retention program for volunteer firefighters.
• Legislation (H 3572) to allow circuit solicitors to establish a Pretrial Intervention Education Program for first-time traffic offenses. Participation in this fee-based program would reduce the number of points assessed for violations.
A House-Senate conference committee is the process of working on an agreement for the state budget for Fiscal Year 2008.

Ted Vick represents Chesterfield County in the S.C. House of Representatives. He can be reached at 843-623-5001, and at 200 West Main Street, Chesterfield, S.C. 29709.