Source: http://discussions.scbar.org/public/legislative_update/2016.html
Timestamp: 2019-12-12 14:46:38
Document Index: 290352111

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 29', '§ 30', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 11', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 6', '§ 30', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 7', '§ 7', '§ 7', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 9', '§ 9', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 8', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 13', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 23', '§ 23', '§ 23', '§ 23', '§ 23', '§ 24', '§ 24', '§ 25', '§ 33', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 37', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 40', '§ 56', '§ 41', '§ 42', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 38', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 44', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 47', '§ 48', '§ 48', '§ 48', '§ 48', '§ 48', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 55', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 48', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 12', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 57', '§ 57', '§ 57', '§ 57', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 1', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 58', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 59', '§ 4', 'art 10', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', 'art 6', 'art 5', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63']

South Carolina Bar | Legislative Update 2016
Administration of Government General Assembly U.S. Government, Agreements and Relations With Counties
Local Government Elections Public Officers and Employees Public Finance
Taxation Planning,Research and Development Civil Remedies and Procedures Crimes and Offenses
Criminal Procedures Law Enforcement and Public Safety Correctons, Jails, Probations, Paroles and Pardons Military, Civil Defense and Veterans' Affairs
Corporations, Partnerships and Associations Banking, Financial Institutions and Money Securities Consumer Protection Code
Insurance Trade and Commerce Professions and Occupations Labor and Employment
Workers' Compensation Health Agriculture Animals, Livestock and Poultry
Environmental Protection and Conservation Fish, Game and Watercraft Sundays, Holidays and Other Special Days Aeronautics
Motor Vehicles Highway, Bridges and Ferries Public Utilities, Services and Carriers Education
Alcohol and Alcoholic Beverages South Carolina Probate Code South Carolina Children's Code
This issue of the Legislative Update is a comprehensive review of all legislation passed by the General Assembly during the 2016 session. It is a report intended to provide a brief synopsis of newly enacted legislation and is generally categorized for ease of review. Please refer to the actual text of the legislation for detailed provisions.
When requesting legislation, please refer to the Act number. Please direct requests for legislation to Lindsey Pitts, Government Relations Coordinator, South Carolina Bar at lpitts@scbar.org or (803) 576-3837. There will be a charge for any requests for printed legislation exceeding 30 pages ($.10 per page).
Any other questions relating to legislation can be directed to Leah Johnson, Assistant Executive Director, South Carolina Bar at ljohnson@scbar.org or (803) 576-3765.
Boundary Clarification Between NC and SC.Act No. 270 (R292, S. 667) an act to amend § 1-1-10, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the jurisdiction and boundaries of the state, so as to clarify the boundary between North Carolina and South Carolina along Horry, Dillon, Marlboro, Chesterfield, Lancaster, York, Cherokee, and Spartanburg Counties and to provide additional information about the plats describing the location of the boundary between North Carolina and South Carolina along Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee Counties; by adding § 12-2-115 so as to provide that "new jobs" are not created in South Carolina by employees whose work location is changed from North Carolina to South Carolina as a result of the boundary clarification, nor is there any new investment in South Carolina as a result of property that changes location from North Carolina to South Carolina as a result of the boundary clarification; by adding § 12-2-120 so as to provide for the manner and application of tax assessments and refunds for the period prior to the boundary clarification; by adding § 12-2-130 so as to provide that in the year containing the date of the boundary clarification, the Department of Revenue has the authority to compromise taxes that result in taxation in both South Carolina and North Carolina solely because of the boundary clarification; by adding § 12-6-5600 so as to provide for the income tax treatment of individuals and businesses whose state of residence or property location changes as a result of the boundary clarification; by adding § 12-21-820 so as to provide for the manner of cigarette and tobacco products taxation as a result of the boundary clarification; by adding § 12-24-160 so as to provide that if, as a result of the boundary clarification, property is deemed to have changed locations from North Carolina to South Carolina and if solely as a result of this change, a deed is filed in South Carolina, no deed recording fees are due on this filing and no county filing fees may be charged; by adding § 12-28-350 so as to provide that a retailer that sells motor fuel whose business location changes from South Carolina to North Carolina as a result of the boundary clarification is allowed a refund of South Carolina motor fuel taxes or user fees if North Carolina requires that retailer to pay the North Carolina motor fuel taxes or user fees on that same fuel; by adding § 12-36-2695 so as to provide for the manner in which sales and use taxes and admissions taxes must be collected and paid as a result of the boundary clarification; by adding § 12-37-140 so as to provide for how certain real and personal property is subject to property taxation, and for procedural matters relating to this taxation, including application lien dates; by adding § 12-37-145 so as to further provide for motor vehicle license registration and motor vehicle personal property taxes as a result of the boundary clarification; by adding § 12-37-150 so as to provide that if as a result of the boundary clarification an individual is required to register his personal motor vehicle in South Carolina and if the property taxes on that motor vehicle would have been less in North Carolina, the individual may receive a tax rebate from the South Carolina county for the difference between the tax the individual was required to pay in South Carolina and the individual was required to pay in North Carolina on that same vehicle; by adding § 12-37-155 so as to provide that for 2017 only, the lien date for nonbusiness personal property, other than motor vehicles, is January 1, 2017, for individuals whose state of residency changes from North Carolina to South Carolina solely as a result of the boundary clarification; by adding § 29-3-800 so as to provide specified procedures in regard to the foreclosure of mortgages and other liens encumbering affected lands; by adding § 30-5-270 so as to provide for special recording requirements for deeds, plats, mortgages, and other instruments regarding real property in the affected jurisdictions, and to require a notice of the state boundary clarification to be provided by the register of deeds or clerks of court in certain circumstances; by adding § 44-1-315 so as to provide a compliance schedule for environmental permittees impacted by the boundary clarification; by adding § 44-6-110 so as to provide that a Medicaid provider outside of the geographical boundary of South Carolina but within the South Carolina Medicaid service area shall not lose status as a Medicaid provider as a result of the clarification of the South Carolina - North Carolina border; by adding Chapter 2 to Title 58 so as to provide for the manner in which utility services must be provided in areas affected by the boundary clarification; by adding § 59-63-550 so as to further provide for school attendance procedures and requirements for children residing in school districts affected by the boundary clarification; and by adding § 59-112-150 so as to further provide for in-state tuition rates and the awarding of other state-supported scholarships and grants to independent persons and their dependents affected by the boundary clarification. Effective January 1, 2017
Appropriations Bill, 2016-2017. Act No. 284 (R275, H. 5001) an act to make appropriations and to provide revenues to meet the ordinary expenses of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, to regulate the expenditure of such funds, and to further provide for the operation of state government during this fiscal year and for other purposes. See Act for Effective Date
Capital Reserve Fund. Act No. 285 (R276, H. 5002) a joint resolution to appropriate monies from the Capital Reserve Fund for fiscal year 2015-2016, and to allow unexpended funds appropriated to be carried forward to succeeding fiscal years and expended for the same purposes. See Act for Effective Date
SC State University. Act No. 286 (R240, S. 1166) a joint resolution to require the Executive Director of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority to enter into a loan repayment agreement on outstanding loans with South Carolina State University, to provide that if the university meets certain standards that portions of the loan must be forgiven, to provide processes to aid the financial structure of the university, to provide reporting requirements, and to extend flexibility related to furlough programs. Effective July 2, 2016
Carry Forward Funds. Act No. 289 (R180, S. 1272) a joint resolution to authorize the Department of Education to carry forward certain funds appropriated in the 2015-2016 General Appropriations Act regarding supplemental support of programs and services for students with disabilities so as to meet the estimated maintenance of effort for the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Effective May 16, 2016
Horse Meat and Kangaroo Meat. Act No. 301 (R152, H. 4787) (D. No. 4552) a joint resolution to approve regulations of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, relating to horse meat and kangaroo meat; fairs, camp meetings, and other gatherings; camps; mobile/manufactured home parks; sanitation of schools; and nuisances, designated as Regulation Document Number 4552, pursuant to the provisions of Article 1, Chapter 23, Title 1 of the 1976 Code. Effective March 16, 2016
Local Emergency Preparedness Standards. Act No. 302 (R187, H. 4786) (D. No. 4563) a joint resolution to approve regulations of the Office of The Governor, relating to local emergency preparedness standards, designated as Regulation Document Number 4563, pursuant to the provisions of Article 1, Chapter 23, Title 1 of the 1976 code. Effective May 23, 2016
Unemployment Trust Fund Solvency. Act No. 303 (R290, H. 5364) (D. No. 4645) a joint resolution to approve regulations of the Department of Employment and Workforce, relating to Unemployment Trust Fund Solvency, designated as Regulation Document Number 4645, pursuant to the provisions of Article 1, Chapter 23, Title 1 of the 1976 code.)
S.C. Code of Laws Volumes 7A and 19. Act No. 306 (R138, S. 1008) a joint resolution to adopt revised Code Volumes 7a and 19 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to the extent of their contents, as the only general permanent statutory law of the state as of January 1, 2016. Effective February 16, 2016
Higher Education Excellence Enhancement Program.Act No. 143 (R147, H. 3534) an act to amend § 2-77-15, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the definition of "eligible institution" as it pertains to the South Carolina Higher Education Excellence Enhancement Program, so as to include institutions that offer at least one nonsectarian program at the baccalaureate level, historically single gender women's institutions of traditional students, and institutions accredited by an organization that is recognized by the United States Department of Education and also receives Title III funding; and to amend § 2-77-20, as amended, relating to the allocation of appropriated funds among eligible institutions, so as to require the Commission on Higher Education annually to review and determine whether each eligible institution appropriately used these funds, and to provide requirements for funding reductions and alternate funding distributions when the commission finds an eligible institution inappropriately used these funds. Effective July 1, 2016
Adjournment of the General Assembly. Act No. 199 (R214, S. 267) an act to amend § 2-1-180, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to adjournment of the General Assembly, to change the date for the mandatory adjournment of the General Assembly from the first Thursday in June to the second Thursday in May, and to provide that the adjournment date may be extended up to two weeks in the discretion of the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate if a forecast reduction is submitted by the Board of Economic Advisors after April tenth; and to amend § 11-9-880, relating to the Board of Economic Advisors' forecast of economic conditions, so as to revise the dates of the forecasts. See Act for Effective Date
Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact. Act No. 161 (R166, H. 4662) an act to reenact the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact and related provisions, enacted by §§ 1, 2, 3, and 5, Act 339 of 2008, which expired on June 1, 2014, and to make these reenacted provisions retroactive to this expiration date, and to specifically not reenact certain obsolete provisions. Effective April 21, 2016
Murrell's Inlet-Garden City Fire District. Act No. 141 (R145, S. 1002) an act to amend § 4-23-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the boundaries of the Murrell's Inlet-Garden City Fire District, so as to revise the boundaries; and to repeal § 4-23-15 relating to the boundaries of the same district. See Act for Effective Date
Educational Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax. Act No. 182 (R195, S. 1233) an act to amend § 4-10-470, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to counties in which the Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax may be imposed, so as to revise the criteria applicable to certain counties in order for them to place the question of imposing this sales and use tax on a referendum ballot. Effective May 25, 2016
Local Option Tourism Fee. Act No. 249 (R208, H. 5011) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 4-10-980 so as to provide for the reimposition of the local option tourism development fee. Effective June 1, 2016
Local Sales and Use Taxes. Act No. 250 (R282, H. 5078) an act to amend § 4-10-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to various local sales and use taxes, so as to define "general election"; to amend § 4-10-330, relating to the Capital Projects Sales Tax Act, so as to provide that the tax must terminate on April thirtieth of an odd- or even-numbered year and to specify certain referendum publication requirements; and to amend § 4-10-340, as amended, relating to the Capital Projects Sales Tax Act, so as to provide that the tax must terminate on April thirtieth of an odd- or even-numbered year. Effective June 6, 2016
Kershaw County Transportation Committee. Act No. 299 (R248, S. 1296) an act to provide the Kershaw County Transportation Committee shall be comprised of seven members; and to provide members shall serve terms of four years, except that on the effective date of this act members shall serve initial terms that are staggered in two, three, and four-year intervals. Effective June 5, 2016
Transfer of Undeveloped Property. Act No. 144 (R148, H. 3972) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 6-29-1210 so as to establish that undeveloped property may be transferred without the submission of a land development or land use plan and that a local government may require the grantee to file a plat at the time the deed is recorded; and to amend § 30-5-30, relating to prerequisites to recording, so as to establish that the submission of a land development or land use plan is not a prerequisite to recording and that a local government may require the grantee to file a plat at the time the deed is recorded. Effective March 14, 2016
Prayer or Invocation. Act No. 198 (R213, S. 233) an act to amend § 6-1-160, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to invocations to open meetings of deliberative bodies, so as to provide that public prayer means a prayer or invocation; to provide that deliberative public body includes a school district board; to provide that public invocations may not proselytize or advance any one faith or belief, or coerce participation by observers; and to broaden the items that may be included in a policy to permit public invocations adopted by the public body. Effective June 3, 2016
Exemptions from Impact Fees. Act No. 229 (R262, H. 4416) an act to amend § 6-1-970, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the exemptions from impact fees, so as to add exemptions for certain schools and volunteer fire departments; and to amend § 6-1-920, relating to the definition of "public facilities", so as to add certain public education facilities. Effective June 3, 2016
Millage Rate Increase Limits and Exceptions. Act No. 276 (R268, H. 4762) an act to amend § 6-1-320, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the limitation on millage rate increases and exceptions to this limitation, so as to revise the exception to this limitation for the purchase of capital equipment and other expenditures in a county having a population of less than one hundred thousand persons and having at least forty thousand acres of state forest land by changing the term "state forest land" in this exception to the term "state or national forest land". Effective June 15, 2016
Aiken County Voting Precincts.Act No. 139 (R143, S. 937) an act to amend § 7-7-40, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the designation of voting precincts in Aiken County, so as to redesignate the map number on which the names of the Aiken County voting precincts may be found and maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. Effective March 14, 2016
Lancaster County Voting Precincts. Act No. 176 (R185, H. 4705) an act to amend § 7-7-350, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the designation of voting precincts in Lancaster County, so as to redesignate the map number on which the names of these precincts may be found and maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. Effective May 23, 2016
Spartanburg County Voting Precincts. Act No. 217 (R244, S. 1212) an act to amend § 7-7-490, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the designation of voting precincts in Spartanburg County, so as to add the River Ridge Precinct, to redesignate the Mountain View Baptist Precinct the Carlisle Wesleyan Precinct, and to redesignate the map number on which the names of these precincts may be found and maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. Effective July 1, 2016
Campaign Contributions.Act No. 184 (R197, H. 3193) an act to amend § 8-13-1320, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the attribution of campaign contributions to specific types of elections, so as to revise the manner in which campaign contributions are attributed to a primary election and to a primary election runoff. Effective May 25, 2016
Leave and Lump-Sum Payments. Act No. 202 (R217, S. 381) an act to amend § 8-11-620, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to leave and lump-sum payments upon termination of employment, so as to provide that certain active members of the South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS) or the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System (SCPORS) who are terminated within one year of retirement eligibility shall have five days after termination to purchase service credit; to amend § 9-1-1140, as amended, relating to establishing service credit in the SCRS, so as to provide that an active member who is terminated from employment within one year of retirement eligibility may purchase service credit; and to amend § 9-11-50, as amended, relating to establishing service credit in the SCPORS, so as to provide that an active member who is terminated from employment within one year of retirement eligibility may purchase service credit. Effective June 3, 2016
Payroll Deductions for State Employees. Act No. 277 (R287, H. 5270) an act to amend § 8-11-83, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the payroll deduction for State Employees' Association dues, so as to allow membership dues for the Society of Former Agents of the State Law Enforcement Division to be deducted from the compensation of state retirees and paid over to the association in the same manner other membership dues are deducted and paid. Effective June 15, 2016
Ethics Reform Act. Act No. 282 (R306, H. 3184) an act to amend § 8-13-130, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the State Ethics Commission's authority to levy enforcement and administrative fees, so as to authorize the legislative ethics committees to levy enforcement and administrative fees; to amend § 8-13-310, as amended, relating to the composition of the State Ethics Commission, so as to reconstitute the State Ethics Commission; to amend § 8-13-320, as amended, relating to the duties and powers of the State Ethics Commission, so as to cite additional legal authority authorizing the State Ethics Commission to initiate and receive complaints and to provide that the filer of a groundless complaint may be ordered to reimburse the commission for costs associated with the investigation and disposition of the complaint, to authorize commission staff to participate in facts sufficiency determinations, to revise the procedures by which the commission, upon its own motion, may file a verified ethics complaint, to revise the commission's required actions and treatment of complaint information following a dismissal or a finding of probable cause, to revise the procedures by which the commission determines probable cause; to provide that commission hearings must be open to the public, and to revise the procedures by which the commission issues formal advisory opinions; by adding § 8-13-322 so as to prohibit anyone who is the subject of a pending ethics investigation or open complaint from contacting or attempting to contact, either directly or indirectly, a member of the State Ethics Commission or a legislative ethics committee; to amend § 8-13-530, as amended, relating to the powers and duties of the legislative ethics committees, so as to revise the committees' functions and responsibilities and to require the legislative ethics committees to refer certain ethics complaints to the State Ethics Commission for investigation; by adding § 8-13-535 so as to establish procedures for the legislative ethics committees to issue formal advisory opinions; to amend § 8-13-540, as amended, relating to the manner in which the legislative ethics committees conduct investigations and hearings, so as to establish procedures for forwarding certain ethics complaints to the State Ethics Commission for disposition and to make other conforming changes; and to amend § 8-13-550, relating to the consideration of an ethics committee report by the House Of Representatives or Senate, so as to eliminate the confidentiality exception for private reprimands. See Act for Effective Date
Ethics and Government Accountability. Act No. 283 (R307, H. 3186) an act to amend § 8-13-1120, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the contents of the statement of economic interests, so as to require the disclosure of specified income information on the statement of economic interests, and to define "income" for purposes of the statement of economic interests and to enumerate exclusions. Effective January 1, 2017
SC Able Savings Program. Act No. 165 (R171, H. 3768) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 3 to Chapter 5, Title 11 so as to establish the "South Carolina Able Savings Program", to allow individuals with a disability and their families to save private funds to support the individual with a disability, to provide guidelines to the State Treasurer for the maintenance of these accounts, and to establish the Savings Program Trust Fund and Savings Expense Trust Fund; to amend § 12-6-1140, as amended, relating to individual income tax deductions, so as to provide a deduction for contributions made to certain investment trust accounts; and to designate the existing §§ of Chapter 5, Title 11 as Article 1 and entitle them "general provisions". Effective April 29, 2016
Renewable Energy Property. Act No. 134 (R137, H. 3874) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 12-6-3770 so as to provide for an income tax credit to an individual or business that constructs, purchases, or leases certain solar energy property and places it in service in this State, and to provide a definition of "solar energy property"; and to amend § 12-6-3587, relating to the purchase and installation of certain solar energy systems, so as to allow an income tax credit for certain costs incurred by the taxpayer in the purchase and installation of geothermal machinery and equipment, and to provide a definition of "geothermal machinery and equipment". See Act for Effective Date
Stamp Tax on Tobacco Products. Act No. 145 (R149, H. 4151) an act to amend § 12-21-735, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the stamp tax on cigarettes, so as to require and provide for the proper affixing of stamps, including provisions for exempt packages, unique serial numbering of stamps, revocation of the license of a person violating these provisions, limitations on the receipt and sale of untaxed cigarettes, to provide for return and payment of the tax, and to authorize the Department of Revenue to promulgate regulations necessary to establish, implement, and enforce these provisions. See Act for Effective Date
Quarterly Income Tax Withholdings. Act No. 160 (R165, H. 4328) an act to amend § 12-8-1530, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the quarterly income tax withholdings, so as to change the due date of the fourth quarter return from the last day of February to the last day of January; to amend § 12-8-1550, relating to the due date for filing statements regarding income tax withholdings with the Department of Revenue, so as to change the due date from the last day of February to the last day of January; to amend § 12-6-40, as amended, relating to the application of the Internal Revenue Code to state income tax laws, so as to update the reference to the Internal Revenue Code to the year 2015 and to provide that if the Internal Revenue Code sections adopted by this State are extended, then these sections also are extended for South Carolina income tax purposes; to amend § 12-6-4970, relating to the time to file returns, so as to add requirements for when a partnership must file; to amend § 12-8-590, relating to tax withholding on distributions to nonresidential shareholders of "S" corporations and nonresident partners, so as to change the due date for filing withholdings for nonresident partners; to amend § 12-13-80, relating to income tax returns on building and loan associations, so as to change the due date for filing returns; to amend § 12-20-20, relating to annual reports filed by corporations, so as to change the due date of the annual reports; to amend § 12-28-110, relating to motor fuel user fee definitions, so as to add a definition for "diesel gallon equivalent" and "gasoline gallon equivalent"; by adding § 12-28-120 so as to clarify certain references to the term "gallon"; to amend § 12-36-2120, as amended, relating to exemptions from the sales tax, so as to add certain gases to the sales tax exemption; and to amend § 12-28-1125, relating to the requirements of an occasional importer's license or bonded importer's license to bring certain motor fuel into this State, so as to require a license regardless of the method of transportation used to deliver the motor fuel. Effective April 21, 2016
Agricultural Real Property, Mobile Home, and Lessee Improvements. Act No. 167 (R173, H. 4712) an act to amend § 12-43-230, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the treatment of agricultural real property, mobile home, and lessee improvements to real property, so as to classify off-premises outdoor advertising signs as personal property and to provide that under certain circumstances an off-premises sign site must be taxed at its value which existed before the erection of the sign. Effective April 29, 2016
Textiles Communities Revitalization Income Tax Credit. Act No. 179 (R189, H. 5009) an act to amend § 12-65-30, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the Textiles Communities Revitalization Income Tax Credit, so as to delete a provision that limits the credit to fifty percent of certain liability. Effective May 23, 2016
Property Tax Assessment Ratios. Act No. 206 (R228, S. 932) an act to amend § 12-43-220, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to property tax assessment ratios, so as to revise an application deadline for certain property owned by certain members of the armed forces. See Act for Effective Date
Multiple Lot Discount. Act No. 237 (R254, H. 3710) an act to amend § 12-43-225, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the multiple lot discount, so as to provide an additional year of eligibility in certain circumstances. Effective June 6, 2016
Roll-back Tax Due on a Parcel. Act No. 251 (R250, H. 3313) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 12-43-222 so as to provide that for purposes of calculating roll-back tax due on a parcel of real property changed from agricultural to commercial or residential use the value used for platted green space for conservation or open space use of the parcel, the value must be based on the green space for conservation or open space use if such use is ten percent or more of the parcel, and to provide other qualifications; to amend § 12-43-220, as amended, relating to classes of property and applicable assessment ratios for purposes of imposition of the property tax, so as to make a conforming amendment, to provide that after a parcel of real property has undergone an assessable transfer of interest, delinquent property tax and penalties assessed because the property was improperly classified as owner-occupied residential property while owned by the transferor are solely a personal liability of the transferor and do not constitute a lien on the property and are not enforceable against the property after the assessable transfer of interest if the transferee is a bona fide purchaser for value without notice, and to provide that roll-back taxes must not be applied solely because the owner of the property fails to apply for an agricultural assessment so long as the actual use of the property remains agricultural, and to provide that if the property assessment is changed from agricultural or the property is assessed roll-back taxes, the property must continue to be assessed as agricultural and the roll-back taxes may not be applied until the final appeal date; and by adding § 12-43-370 so as to authorize a county to allow a taxpayer to elect to receive his property tax bill and receipt in electronic form, and to provide administrative requirements. -Effective June 7, 2016
Bingo. Act No. 254 (R280, H. 5034) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 12-21-4320 so as to require the Department of Revenue to establish an informational charitable bingo webpage on its website; to amend § 12-21-3940, relating to applications for a bingo license by nonprofit organizations and promoters, so as to extend the time by which the department must respond; to amend § 12-21-3990, relating to the manner of playing bingo, so as to provide the manner in which certain devices must be operated; to amend § 12-21-4000, relating to procedures applicable to the conduct of bingo, so as to increase the allowance for promotions; to amend § 12-21-4005, relating to the operation of bingo games, so as to exclude certain raffles; to amend § 12-21-4090, relating to bingo checking and savings accounts, so as to allow the promoter to make certain contributions, to require that all expenses related to the bingo operation must be paid from the operations bingo account, and to allow for electronic payments; to amend § 12-21-4190, relating to the distribution of bingo revenues, so as to increase the percentage that is distributed to charity; and to amend § 12-21-4200, relating to the disbursement of bingo revenues, so as to ensure a disbursement to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Effective June 7, 2016
Remission of Redevelopment Fees. Act No. 255 (R212, S. 227) an act to amend § 12-10-88, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the remission of redevelopment fees to a redevelopment authority, so as to extend the end date for remissions from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2021, and to prohibit a redevelopment authority from receiving more in remissions than it did in fiscal year 2014-2015. Effective June 7, 2016
Job Tax Credits. Act No. 256 (R218, S. 427) an act to amend § 12-6-3360, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the job tax credit, so as to add an establishment engaged in an activity or activities listed under Sector 4881, subsector 488190 to the definition of a "qualifying service-related facility", to allow a taxpayer operating an agricultural packaging operation to claim the credit, to allow certain agricultural operations to claim seasonal workers as a certain fraction of a full-time job, and to define "agricultural packaging"; to amend § 12-36-2120, as amended, relating to exemptions from the state sales tax, so as to exempt machines used in agricultural packaging; and by adding § 13-1-1780 so as to require the Department of Commerce and the Coordinating Council to consider agricultural businesses in awarding economic development benefits. See Act for Effective Date
Local Option Tourism Fee. Act No. 269 (R239, S. 1122) an act to amend § 12-28-110, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to definitions pertaining to motor fuels, so as to amend certain definitions; to amend § 12-37-2820, relating to the assessment of motor vehicles, so as to clarify a definition as it relates to motor vehicles fueled by alternative fuel; and by adding § 12-6-3695 so as to allow an income tax credit to a taxpayer who purchases or constructs and installs and places in service in this State eligible property that is used for distribution, dispensing, or storing alternative fuel at a new or existing fuel distribution or dispensing facility, and to specify the amount of the credit and the requirements of the credit. Effective June 6, 2016
Taxable Income Deductions. Act No. 272 (R297, H. 3147) an act to amend § 12-6-1170, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the retirement income tax deduction, so as to reduce the deduction by the deduction claimed pursuant to § 12-6-1171; by adding § 12-6-1171 so as to provide an income tax deduction for certain eligible taxpayers with military retirement income that is included in South Carolina taxable income, to specify the amount of the deduction, and to phase in the deduction over five years; and to amend § 12-65-30, relating to the textile revitalization tax credit, so as to specify unused credit may be carried forward at the individual, partnership, or limited liability company level, and may be passed through as provided by law. See Act for Effective Date
Habitat for Humanity. Act No. 280 (R309, H. 4765) an act to amend § 12-6-5060, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to voluntary contributions made by an individual by means of the income tax return check off, so as to add the South Carolina Association of Habitat for Humanity Affiliates; and to amend § 12-6-3750, relating to tax credits for processing donated deer for charitable distribution, so as to change the amount of the credit from fifty dollars to seventy-five dollars. Effective June 22, 2016
Educational Tax Credit. Act No. 288 (R139, H. 4633) a joint resolution to extend the date by which an independent school must apply to become an eligible institution for purposes of the educational tax credit for exceptional needs children until May 1, 2016. Effective February 16, 2016
Destruction of Booking and Arrest Records. Act No. 132 (R134, S. 255) an act to amend § 17-1-40, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to expungement and the procedure for retention and destruction of criminal records, so as to clarify when destruction of certain records relating to arrest and booking is required, to give the solicitor discretion to notify the State Law Enforcement Division to amend a person's record if a person pleads guilty to a lesser included offense, and to delete provisions which exclude expungement for certain wildlife and driving offenses; by adding § 17-1-60 so as to provide that it is unlawful for a person or entity to publish on the person's or entity's website or any other publication the arrest and booking records of a person and removal or revision of those records that requires the payment of a fee or other consideration, to provide procedures for the removal of such records under certain circumstances, to provide a penalty for a violation, and to provide exceptions; to amend § 17-22-950, as amended, relating to expungement of certain criminal charges in summary court, so as to provide further procedures for summary court orders of expungement and the removal of records from all internet-based public records; to amend § 22-5-910, as amended, relating to expungement of criminal records, so as to delete provisions which exclude expungement for certain wildlife and driving offenses; and to amend § 22-5-920, as amended, relating to youthful offender convictions, so as to delete provisions which exclude expungement for certain wildlife and driving offenses. See Act for Effective Date
S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Advisory Committee. Act No. 136 (R140, H. 4507) an act to amend § 23-25-20, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the creation, purpose, and membership of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Advisory Committee, so as to increase the membership to include the president of the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, or his designee. Effective March 2, 2016
Law Enforcement Officer Transfers. Act No. 222 (R253, H. 3653) an act to amend Chapter 20, Title 23, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the Law Enforcement Assistance and Support Act, so as to revise the definition for the term "law enforcement agency" and the term "law enforcement services", to provide a definition for the term "mutual aid agreement", to delete the provision that allows law enforcement agencies to enter into contractual agreements to provide law enforcement services, to allow political subdivisions to enter into mutual aid agreements to provide law enforcement services, to provide for the content of a mutual aid agreement, to specify the officials who may enter into and enforce a mutual aid agreement, to provide for the legal rights, powers, and duties of law enforcement officers who participate in a mutual aid agreement, and to make technical changes; and to repeal §§ 23-1-210, 23-1-215, and 23-20-50 relating to a law enforcement agency transferring an officer to another law enforcement agency, agreements between law enforcement agencies to transfer officers between agencies to investigate crime, and the approval of contracts entered into under the Law Enforcement Assistance and Support Act. Effective June 3, 2016
Concealed Weapons Permit. Act No. 223 (R255, H. 3799) an act to amend § 23-31-215, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the issuance of concealed weapon permits, so as to provide that South Carolina shall recognize concealed weapon permits issued by Georgia and North Carolina under certain circumstances. Effective June 3, 2016
Confidential Communication. Act No. 234 (R271, H. 4878) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 23-3-85 so as to provide that communications between a public safety employee or the employee's immediate family and certain critical incident support service providers shall be confidential and privileged under certain circumstances. Effective June 3, 2016
Quotas on Citations Issued by Law Enforcement. Act No. 264 (R303, H. 4387) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 23-1-245 so as to provide that a law enforcement agency, department, or division may not require a law enforcement officer to issue a specific amount or meet a quota for the number of citations issued, to provide that a law enforcement agency, department, or division may evaluate an officer's performance based on the officer's points of contact, to establish that an officer who alleges a violation of the provisions of this section is protected by the provisions contained in Chapter 27 of Title 8, and to define necessary terms. Effective June 9, 2016
Judge William R. Byars Youthful Offender Act. Act No. 164 (R170, S. 1090) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 24-19-5 so as to provide that Chapter 19 of Title 24 may be cited as the "Judge William R. Byars Youthful Offender Act". Effective April 29, 2016
Prisoners. Act No. 201 (R216, S. 338) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 24-13-180 so as to provide that certain public, private, or nonprofit entities which are engaged in helping to rehabilitate and reintroduce paroled prison inmates into the community and which as a part of their programs provide residential housing in the community to these parolees must provide notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the communities where these residential housing facilities will be located, and also must conduct public hearings regarding the programs and the locations of these residential housing facilities in the communities where they will be located, to provide that these hearings are for informational purposes only and do not bind the decision making authority of the entity, and to provide that the provisions contained in this section must be met before a facility may be opened. Effective June 3, 2016
Governor's Authority in Times of Emergency. Act No. 236 (R289, H. 5299) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 25-1-445 so as to require the director of The South Carolina Emergency Management Division to develop a system by which a person who transports goods or services, or who assists in the restoration of utility services can be certified for the purpose of reentry into an area subject to a state or local curfew, to provide qualifications for certification, and to specify the circumstances under which a certified person is allowed to reenter or remain in a curfew area. Effective June 3, 2016
Marketing Cooperative Associations. Act No. 149 (R154, S. 1049) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 33-47-1160 so as to allow a marketing cooperative association whose term of existence has expired to apply to the Secretary of State for reinstatement within two years of its expiration. Effective April 21, 2016
Savings Promotion Contests. Act No. 203 (R221, S. 652) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Chapter 45 to Title 34 so as to authorize financial institutions that do business in South Carolina to conduct savings promotion contests for members and customers of the financial institutions, to provide definitions, to provide certain conditions for conducting a saving promotion contest by a participating financial institution, and to authorize the appropriate federal or state regulatory agency of each financial institution to oversee the conduct of the contests and issue cease and desist orders when necessary. Effective June 3, 2016
South Carolina Anti-Money Laundering Act. Act No. 266 (R305, H. 4554) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Chapter 11 to Title 35 so as to enact the "South Carolina Anti-Money Laundering Act" to provide regulation and oversight of the money transmission services business most commonly used by organized criminal enterprise to launder the monetary proceeds of illegal activities, and to provide definitions, exclusions, procedures, and penalties. Effective June 9, 2016
Closing fees on Motor Vehicle Sales Contract. Act No. 231 (R265, H. 4548) an act to amend § 37-2-307, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to closing fees assessed on motor vehicle sales contracts, so as to require a motor vehicle dealer who charges a closing fee to pay a registration fee and the fee must be included in the advertised price of the motor vehicle; to define the term closing fee; to establish the procedures a dealer shall undertake before charging a closing fee and to authorize the Department of Consumer Affairs to determine whether a closing fee is reasonable; to provide that a dealer who complies with certain statutory requirements may lawfully charge a closing fee, to allow a motor vehicle dealer to assert any defenses provided to a creditor pursuant to Title 37, and to allow a purchaser injured or damaged by the action of a motor vehicle dealer in violation of certain statutory requirements may assert the remedies available pursuant to Title 37; to authorize the Department of Consumer Affairs to administer and enforce motor vehicle dealer closing fees; and to express the intent of the General Assembly. See Act for Effective Date
Territorial Application of the Consumer Protection Code. Act No. 244 (R281, H. 5040) an act to amend § 37-1-201, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to territorial application of the Consumer Protection Code, so as to expand how a creditor may induce a consumer to enter into a transaction; to amend § 37-1-203, relating to jurisdiction and service of process, so as to replace the term "creditor" with the term "person"; to amend § 37-1-302, relating to the definition of the "Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act", so as to remove the reference to the Board Of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; to amend § 37-2-102, relating to the scope of Chapter 2 of the Consumer Protection Code, so as to apply certain provisions to the sale of motor vehicles; to amend § 37-2-305, relating to filing and posting the maximum rate schedule, so as to remove the provision requiring the Department of Consumer Affairs to maintain a file for each creditor's original and all revised maximum rate schedules, among other things; to amend § 37-3-305, relating to filing and posting a maximum rate schedule, so as to remove the provision requiring the Department of Consumer Affairs to maintain a file for each creditor's original and all revised maximum rate schedules, among other things; to amend § 37-5-102, relating to the scope of Chapter 5 of the Consumer Protection Code, so as to extend the provisions of the chapter to other transactions governed by Title 37; to amend § 37-6-102, relating to the applicability of Chapter 6, Title 37, so as to apply the provisions of the chapter to a person who is subject to Title 37 or an action of the administrator; to amend § 37-6-107, relating to the application of Chapter 6 to administrative procedure and judicial review, so as to remove the reference to part four of Chapter 6 and insert that the administrative procedures act applies to and governs all administrative actions taken pursuant to the Chapter; to amend § 37-6-108, relating to administrative enforcement orders, so as to remove language requiring an administrator to bring an action before the Administrative Law Court; to amend § 37-6-110, relating to injunctions against violations of the Consumer Protection Code, so as to replace the term "creditor" with the term "person"; to amend § 37-6-113, relating to civil actions by the administrator, so as to replace the term "creditor" with the term "respondent"; to amend § 37-6-115, relating to remedies available under the Consumer Protection Code, so as to replace the term "debtors" with the term "consumers"; and to amend § 37-6-118, relating to investigation of unfair trade practices in consumer transactions, so as to update the procedures available to a person aggrieved by an order of the administrator. Effective June 5, 2016
Insurance. Act No. 137 (R141, H. 4660) an act to amend § 38-43-50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to limited line and special producer licensure, so as to provide that a licensed property casualty insurance producer may place surplus lines insurance through a licensed insurance broker without being appointed by the surplus lines insurer; and to amend § 38-1-20, relating to definitions concerning the insurance law of this State, and § 38-45-10, relating to definitions concerning insurance brokers and surplus property lines insurance, both so as to make conforming changes to related terms. Effective March 2, 2016
Insurance Policies. Act No. 148 (R153, S. 850) an act to amend § 38-9-180, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to standard valuation, so as to define necessary terms, to prescribe new requirements for the director or his designee concerning valuing reserve liabilities for outstanding insurance policies based upon the effective date of the policy or contract, to alter the actuarial opinion requirements for all life insurance policies, to update references to require that the commissioner's reserve valuation method be used for policies issued after March 23, 1960, and policies issued after the effective date of this act, to provide a new formula to compute the calendar year statutory interest rate, to update references to reflect the commissioner's reserve valuation methods, to provide the minimum reserve required if the premium charged by a company is less than the valuation net premium for the policy or contract, to prescribe the minimum standard of valuation for accident and health insurance contracts issued on or after the operative date of the operation manual, to prescribe the operative date for the valuation manual and what the valuation manual must specify, to establish requirements for a company that uses a principle-based valuation, to define confidential information and to provide privilege for and confidentiality of confidential information, and to provide exemptions in certain circumstances; to amend § 38-63-510, relating to standard nonforfeiture law for life insurance, so as to define the term "operative date of the valuation manual"; and to amend § 38-63-600, relating to the basis for calculating adjusted premiums and present values of policies issued on or after January 1, 1989, so as to provide that the commissioners' standard mortality table shall be used to determine the minimum nonforfeiture standard for policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual. Effective April 21, 2016
Limited Lines Travel Insurance Act. Act No. 159 (R164, H. 4141) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the "Limited Lines Travel Insurance Act" by adding Article 6 to Chapter 43, Title 38 so as to provide a citation, to define necessary terms, to provide requirements only under which travel retailers may offer and disseminate travel insurance under a limited lines travel insurance producer business entity license for compensation, to provide that travel insurance may be provided under an individual policy or under a group or master policy, to provide that limited lines travel insurance producers acting as an insurance designee are responsible for the acts of the travel retailer and shall use reasonable means to ensure compliance by the travel retailer with this article, and to provide penalties for violations. See Act for Effective Date
Generic Prescription Drugs. Act No. 163 (R168, S. 849) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 20 to Chapter 71, Title 38 so as to provide procedures governing the maximum allowable cost reimbursements for generic prescription drugs by pharmacy benefit managers, to provide necessary definitions, to exempt the South Carolina Department Of Health And Human Services in the performance of its duties in administering Medicaid under Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act, to provide requirements for placing drugs on maximum allowable cost lists by pharmacy benefit managers, and to provide various requirements of pharmacy benefit managers; to provide the article is applicable to contracts between pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers that are entered into, renewed, or extended on or after the effective date of this act; and to make the provisions of this act effective January 1, 2016. Effective January 1, 2016
Emergency Medical Care Act. Act No. 172 (R183, H. 5100) an act to amend § 38-71-1520, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to definitions in the access to Emergency Medical Care Act, so as to revise the definition of "emergency medical provider" to include oral surgeons and dentists licensed by the State Board of Dentistry; and by adding § 38-71-1545 so as to exclude application of the article to certain insurance policies. Effective May 12, 2016
Insurers Rehabilitation and Liquidation Act. Act No. 190 (R193, S. 693) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 38-27-475 so as to revise the Insurers' Rehabilitation and Liquidation Act by adding provisions specific to federal home loan banks and insurer-members of those banks in delinquency proceedings brought pursuant to the act; to amend § 38-27-50, relating to definitions concerning the act, so as to define additional terms; and to amend § 38-27-70, relating to injunctions and other equitable remedies available to receivers appointed in delinquency proceedings under the act, so as to provide circumstances in which federal home loan banks may exercise their rights regarding collateral pledged by its insurer-members involved in delinquency proceedings brought pursuant to the act. Effective May 26, 2016
Risk-based Capital Plans. Act No. 191 (R194, S. 978) an act to amend § 38-9-330, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to risk-based capital plans, so as to increase the multiplier for a company action level event for a life and health insurer from 2.5 to 3.0; to amend § 38-87-30, relating to the chartering of a risk retention group, so as to define terms, to provide that a majority of a risk retention groups' directors must be independent directors, to establish the maximum term of any material service provider contract, to require the board of directors to adopt a written policy, to require the board of directors to adopt and disclose its governance standards, to require the board to adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics, to require a risk retention group to comply with applicable regulations, to establish procedures for noncompliance, and to set established dates for compliance; to amend § 38-87-40, relating to out-of-state risk retention groups, so as to allow an out-of-state risk retention group to submit revisions to its plan of operation within thirty days of approval by the State Insurance Commission or within thirty days if no approval is required; and to amend § 38-90-160, as amended, relating to captive insurance companies, so as to extend the provisions of § 38-87-30 to a risk retention group licensed as a captive insurance company. Effective January 1, 2017
Bondsman or Runner License. Act No. 194 (R204, H. 4817) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 38-53-95 so as to require an individual who applies for a bondsman or runner license to provide his business, email, mailing, and residential street addresses to the department; to amend § 38-43-107, relating to the address requirement for an insurance producer's license, so as to require an applicant to provide an email address to the department; to amend § 38-45-30, relating to requirements for a nonresident to be licensed as an insurance broker, so as to delete the affidavit requirements; to amend § 38-45-110, relating to warning stamps on policies of eligible surplus lines insurance, so as to no longer require a broker to write or stamp a warning on the face of an application for eligible surplus lines insurance; to amend § 38-47-15, relating to the address requirement for an insurance adjuster's license, so as to require an applicant to provide an email address to the department; to amend § 38-48-30, relating to the address requirement for a public insurance adjuster's license, so as to require an applicant to provide an email address to the department; to amend § 38-49-25, relating to the address requirement for a motor vehicle physical damage appraiser's license, so as to require an applicant to provide an email address to the department; and to amend § 38-43-100, relating to insurance producer licensing, so as to require an applicant to comply with all licensing and renewal requirements and to furnish a complete set of fingerprints to the director and undergo a state criminal records check. See Act for Effective Date
Insurers Writing Workers' Compensation Policy. Act No. 213 (R237, S. 1064) an act to amend § 38-73-525, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to rate filing requirements, so as to require an insurer writing workers' compensation insurance to adopt loss costs within a certain time frame, to require an insurer to file its multiplier for expenses, assessments, profit and contingencies sixty days before using a new multiplier; and to amend § 38-73-1210, relating to filing requirements for rating organization members, so as to establish that an insurer writing workers' compensation insurance may satisfy its filing obligation by becoming a member of or subscriber to a licensed rating organization. Effective June 3, 2016
Continuing Education for Bondsmen. Act No. 240 (R272, H. 4931) an act to amend § 38-53-85, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to education and continuing education requirements for professional bondsmen, surety bondsmen, and runners, so as to increase the number of hours of education required for licensure and for continuing education. Effective June 5, 2016
Insurance Premium Tax. Act No. 273 (R230, S. 973) an act to amend § 38-7-20, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to insurance premium taxes, so as to extend the date that certain revenue must be sent to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, to require one percent of premium taxes collected to be transferred to the aid to fire districts account within the State Treasury, and to require one quarter of one percent of premium taxes to the aid to emergency medical services regional councils within the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Effective July 1, 2017
Bad Faith Assertion of Patent Infringement Act.Act No. 261 (R299, H. 3682) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Chapter 4 to Title 39 so as to enact the "Bad Faith Assertion of Patent Infringement Act", to provide that bad faith assertions of patent infringements are prohibited, to define terms, to provide for a private cause of action in state courts by a recipient of a bad faith assertion to patent infringement, to provide that enforcement actions may be brought by the Attorney General and willful and knowing violations may result in civil penalties of not more than fifty thousand dollars for each violation, to provide for the factors that a court may consider when making a bad faith determination, and to provide exceptions. Effective June 9, 2016
Manufactured Housing Dealers. Act No. 135 (R138, H. 3881) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 40-29-327 so as to provide each licensed manufactured housing retail dealer location must have one authorized official representing the dealership, to provide an authorized official who is not the dealer must hold a manufactured home retail salesperson or retail dealer license, and to provide the Manufactured Housing Board must be notified in writing within twenty days if the authorized official changes. Effective February 16, 2016
Real Estate Brokers. Act No. 170 (R177, S. 1013) an act to amend Chapter 57, Title 40, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to real estate brokers, salesmen, and property managers, so as to Title the Chapter "Real Estate Brokers, Salespersons, and Property Managers", and to revise the chapter in its entirety; to provide for the continuity of existing regulations promulgated under authorization of the chapter regardless of whether their respective authorizing provisions are redesignated. Effective January 1, 2017
Eye Care Consumer Protection Law. Act No. 173 (R178, S. 1016 ) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the "Eye Care Consumer Protection Law" by adding Chapter 24 to Title 40 so as to establish certain requirements to dispense spectacles or contact lenses. Effective May 19, 2016
Mechanical Contractor License. Act No. 193 (R202, H. 4138) an act to amend § 40-11-270, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to contractor's licenses and license classifications and subclassifications, so as to provide that each person holding a license in the mechanical contractor subclassification of air conditioning, heating, or packaged equipment shall display the mechanical contractor license in a conspicuous manner at his principal place of business, to provide that all commercial vehicles used by mechanical contractors licensed in the subclassification of air conditioning, heating, or packaged equipment exclusively in the daily operation of their business shall have prominently displayed on them the mechanical contractor license number, and to provide that each invoice and proposal form also shall contain the mechanical contractor license number. Effective May 26, 2016
General and Mechanical Contractors. Act No. 200 (R215, S. 280) an act to amend § 40-11-260, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to financial statements and net worth requirements for general contractors and mechanical contractors, so as to revise the net worth requirements for licensure and license renewal, and to delete obsolete language; and to amend § 40-11-360, relating to exemptions from contractor licensure requirements, so as to include contractor services concerning the installation, repair, and maintenance of billboard signs except to require licensed electrical contractors must perform final connections to branch circuit conductors. Effective June 3, 2016
SC Telemedicine Act. Act No. 210 (R234, S. 1035) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the "South Carolina Telemedicine Act" by adding § 40-47-37 so as to authorize the practice of telemedicine and to establish requirements related to the practice of telemedicine; to amend § 40-47-20, relating to definitions of terms used in Chapter 47, Title 40, so as to define "telemedicine"; to amend § 40-47-113, relating to the requirement of a physician-patient relationship before prescribing medication for a patient, so as to authorize the prescription of medication as part of the practice of telemedicine and to establish limitations. Effective June 3, 2016
State Board of Dentistry. Act No. 211 (R235, S. 1036) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 40-15-176 so as to provide the State Board of Dentistry may issue restricted dental auxiliary instructors' licenses to dentists who meet certain requirements, to provide licensed dental auxiliary instructors may practice dentistry in limited circumstances associated with certain accredited dental auxiliary programs of technical colleges, and to provide for the renewal and revocation of restricted dental auxiliary licenses; and to amend § 40-15-175, relating to restricted instructors' licenses issued by the board, so as to revise criteria for licensure and require renewal biennially instead of annually. Effective June 3, 2016
Team Physicians. Act No. 212 (R236, S. 1037) an act to amend § 40-47-30, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the exemption of team physicians of athletic teams visiting the state for a specific sporting event from physician licensing requirements in this State, so as to expand the exemption to include team physicians of athletic teams visiting the state for a team training camp. Effective June 3, 2016
Architects. Act No. 215 (R241, S. 1177) an act to amend § 40-3-20, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to definitions concerning the professional licensure of architects, and to amend § 40-3-230, relating to training requirements for the professional licensure of architects, both so as to replace references to the "Intern Development Program" with references to the "Architectural Experience Program"; and to amend § 40-3-240, relating to requirements for taking the Architectural Registration Examination, so as to replace requirements concerning participation in the Intern Development Program with requirements concerning participation in the Architectural Experience Program or certain programs sanctioned by the National Council on Architectural Registration Boards. -Effective June 3, 2016
S.C. Real Estate Appraiser License and Certification Act. Act No. 243 (R279, H. 5023) an act to amend § 40-60-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the composition of the South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board, so as to provide one member must be a certified residential appraiser; to amend § 40-60-20, as amended, relating to definitions in the South Carolina Real Estate Appraiser License and Certification Act, so as to delete and revise certain definitions; to amend § 40-60-30, relating to activities requiring licensure as a real estate appraiser, so as to revise exceptions; to amend § 40-60-34, as amended, relating to miscellaneous requirements for licenses, certifications, and permits issued by the South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board, so as to revise requirements concerning expired and revoked licenses, certifications, and permits; to amend § 40-60-36, as amended, relating to appraiser education, so as to provide reprimands for violations may be public or private; to amend § 40-60-50, relating to fees, so as to delete the requirement that certain fees be paid by certified funds; to amend § 40-60-80, as amended, relating to investigations of complaints and violations, so as to delete the six-month limit on stays and supersedeas of certain board orders pending appeal, and to provide parties aggrieved by final decisions of the board may appeal pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act; and to amend § 40-60-120, relating to the effective time of certain disciplinary orders of the board, so as to make a conforming change to reflect the availability of public and private reprimands, and to delete a provision stating petitions for review do not operate as supersedeas or stays. Effective June 5, 2016
Engineers and Surveyors. Act No. 259 (R222, S. 685) an act to amend § 40-22-2, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the purpose of Chapter 22, Title 40 concerning the regulation of engineers and surveyors, so as to provide that the practice of the profession of engineering and surveying is subject to regulation by this State; to amend § 40-22-10, relating to the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, so as to provide additional qualifications; to amend § 40-22-20, relating to definitions, so as to add, redefine, and delete definitions; to amend § 40-22-50, relating to duties of the board, so as to provide the board shall maintain and update, rather than annually prepare, a roster of information concerning professional engineers and surveyors; to amend § 40-22-60, relating to the duty of the board to promulgate certain regulations, so as to update a cross reference and to provide additional duties with respect to providing advice and recommendations concerning statutory revisions to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation; to amend § 40-22-75, relating to emergency waivers of license requirements, so as to limit application of these waivers to declared national or state emergencies and to limit their duration to ninety days; to amend § 40-22-110, relating to the automatic suspension of the licenses of mentally incompetent persons, so as to delete a redundancy; to amend § 40-22-220, relating to eligibility requirements for licensure as an engineer, so as to revise education requirements; to amend § 40-22-222, relating to licensure of existing engineers, so as to add an optional accreditation source for an education requirement; to amend § 40-22-225, relating to eligibility requirements for surveyor licensure, so as to revise the requirements; to amend § 40-22-230, relating to application requirements, so as to revise the requirements; to amend § 40-22-250, relating to certificates of authorization to practice as a firm, so as to revise requirements for these certificates and to provide requirements through which licensees may maintain branch offices; to amend § 40-22-260, relating to temporary licenses, so as to revise circumstances in which the department may grant temporary licenses to out-of-state firms, and to provide requirements for submission of plans produced and submitted for permitting by persons holding temporary certificates of authorization; to amend § 40-22-270, relating to seals of licensees, so as to provide seals and signatures of licensees on documents constitute certification that the documents were prepared by the licensee or under his direct supervision, among other things; to amend § 40-22-280, as amended, relating to exceptions from the applicability of the chapter, so as to modify the exemptions; and to amend § 40-22-290, relating to "Tier A" surveying, so as to exempt the creation of nontechnical maps. Effective June 3, 2016
Pawnbrokers. Act No. 262 (R300, H. 4090) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 40-29-55 so as to provide for the periodic adjustment of certain monetary requirements in a certain manner, to provide the Department of Consumer Affairs timely shall publish notice of such changes in the State Register, to provide people who rely on current published dollar amounts at the time transactions occur may not be considered to violate the provisions of Chapter 29, Title 40 when dollar amounts subsequently change; by adding § 40-29-145 so as to provide hold orders that may be placed on property in the possession of pawnbrokers who suspect the property has been misappropriated or stolen, and to provide related requirements concerning requirements and specifications of these orders and property on which hold orders are placed; by adding § 40-29-155 so as to provide aggrieved parties are entitled to contested case hearings before the Administrative Law Court for final administrative orders, absent which the department may bring actions to enforce its orders; to amend § 40-39-10, relating to definitions concerning the regulation of pawnbrokers by the department, so as to revise the definition of "pledged goods" specifically to exclude certain vehicles; to amend § 40-39-20, relating to certificates of authority required of pawn brokers, so as to clarify characteristics that necessitate certificates of authority, to revise requirements concerning background checks required for certificates of authority, to provide pawnbrokers shall comply with these requirements before hiring employees, to provide applicants for employment shall pay the actual costs of these background checks, to provide financial responsibility and other criteria required for certificates of authority, and to provide a rebuttable presumption of meeting these criteria in certain circumstances; to amend § 40-39-30, relating to the requirement of certificate of authority for each business location of a pawnbroker, so as to provide pawnbrokers may not retain pledged goods in locations not designated in his certificate of authority without first providing certain notice to the department, and to provide a pawnbroker conspicuously shall post the hours of operation and any closure at each location; to amend § 40-39-40, relating to the prohibition on unauthorized fees, so as to provide a pawnbroker that collects such unauthorized fees may not collect, receive, or retain any interest or charges on the loan in violation of this chapter and has no right to possess the pledged goods; to amend § 40-39-50, relating to bonds and other evidence of financial responsibility required for certificates of authority, so as to revise and delete some existing requirements and to provide pawnbrokers shall provide certain notice of occurrences that may affect pledged goods within twenty-one calendar days after the occurrence; to amend § 40-39-70, relating to pawnbroker record keeping requirements, so as to require certain verification of pledgors' or sellers' identities, and to provide pawn and purchase transactions must be performed by the owner of the property, or his authorized agent, whose identity and agency relationship must be verified by the pawnbroker; to amend § 40-39-80, relating to the issuance of a memorandum or note at the time of pawning and pledging, so as to characterize the memorandum or note as a "pawn ticket" and to satisfy related requirements, among other things; to amend § 40-39-100, relating to permissible charges on loans by pawnbrokers, so as to revise the maximum permissible amount; to amend § 40-39-120, relating to renewals of a certificate of authority, so as to provide penalties for failing to timely renew, and to provide requirements for pawn shops that must close because of the surrender or revocation of their certificate of authority; to amend § 40-39-140, relating to pledged or pawned property owned by third parties, so as to provide circumstances in which pawnbrokers must return such property to the third parties, to provide monetary penalties against pledgors and sellers of such leased property, and to provide pawnbrokers are not liable to such pledgors and sellers for such returned property; and to amend § 40-39-150, relating to fines and penalties for violations, so as to transfer the authority to order certain equitable relief from the Administrative Law Court to the department; and to provide counties and municipalities may enact ordinances that comply with, but that are not more restrictive than, the provisions of this act, and to provide exceptions, among other things. Effective June 9, 2016
Veterinarians and Prescription Drugs. Act No. 274 (R231, S. 980) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 40-69-300 so as to provide all animal shelters that provide veterinary services in this State are subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, to require animal shelters and veterinarians who provide veterinary services in animal shelters to maintain and report certain data to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, to require the department make these reports available on its internet website, to provide the range of veterinary services allowed in animal shelters, to provide certain record-keeping requirements, and to provide necessary definitions; by adding § 40-69-305 so as to prohibit dispensing prescription drugs to owners of end-users for the treatment of bodily injuries or diseases of animals in specific circumstances and to provide penalties for violations; to amend § 40-69-295, relating to mobile veterinary facilities, so as to require these facilities must identify the closest local emergency veterinary services facility and communicate it in a certain manner, to prohibit the operation of mobile veterinary facilities within specific distances of privately owned veterinary practices, and to define necessary terms; to amend § 56-3-9600, as amended, relating to "No More Homeless Pets" license plates and a related fund established to support local animal spaying and neutering efforts, so as to provide for the operation of a related grants program by the South Carolina Animal Care and Control Association or its successor, to require the Department of Agriculture shall provide an annual accounting and summary of this program to the General Assembly, and to provide local nonprofit spaying and neutering programs must provide certain information to the association before they may receive reimbursements for services from the fund, and to provide the association shall provide the department with certain information about the number of individuals who bring in animals for spaying or neutering and the number of animals brought in by each of these individuals; and to create the Pet Care and Humane Treatment Study Committee, and to provide the purposes, duties, composition, and reporting requirements of the committee. Effective June 15, 2016
Youth Sports Organizations. Act No. 155 (R160, H. 3576) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 41-1-120 so as to provide that certain written agreements between nonprofit youth sports organizations and coaches provide conclusive evidence that the coach is an independent contractor rather than an employee of the organization and that the organization is exempt from certain obligations concerning workers' compensation coverage and income tax withholdings, to provide specific requirements for these written agreements, to provide these written agreements are not conclusive proof of the existence of an independent contractor relationship for purposes of required coverage of unemployment insurance and of any civil actions instituted by third parties, and to define the term "nonprofit youth sports organization". Effective April 21, 2016
Workers’ Compensation Commission. Act No. 140 (R144, S. 975) an act to amend § 42-3-20, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the manner of appointment of the chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, so as to delete a prohibition of the serving of consecutive terms by the chairman, to provide the Governor may reappoint a chairman, and to provide members appointed to the Workers’ Compensation Commission are subject to removal by the Governor in certain circumstances. Effective March 14, 2016
Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Committee. Act No. 142 (R146, H. 3251) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 44-1-310 so as to require the Department of Health and Environmental Control to establish the Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Committee to review and study maternal deaths and to report the findings to the General Assembly. Effective March 14, 2016
Cervical Cancer Prevention Act. Act No. 151 (R156, H. 3204) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 44-29-185 so as to enact the "Cervical Cancer Prevention Act", to provide that beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the Department of Health and Environmental Control may offer the cervical cancer vaccination series to adolescent students enrolling in the seventh grade of any public or private school or homeschooling program in this State, to provide that no student is required to have the vaccine before enrolling in or attending school, to provide that the department may develop an informational brochure related to offering this vaccination with specific content requirements, to require the department to disclose certain information about the vaccination series, to define "cervical cancer vaccination series", to provide that implementation of this act is contingent upon receipt of certain funds, and to prohibit the department from contracting with a health care provider to offer the vaccination series if the health care provider performs abortions. Effective April 21, 2016
Emergency Anaphylaxis Treatment Act. Act No. 156 (R161, H. 3706) an act to amend Chapter 99, Title 44, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to emergency treatment for medical hazards caused by insect stings, so as to rename the Chapter the "Emergency Anaphylaxis Treatment Act"; to define certain terms, including "authorized entity", "epinephrine auto-injector", and "health care practitioner"; to allow the prescription of epinephrine auto-injectors to authorized entities; to allow authorized entities to acquire and stock epinephrine auto-injectors; to allow certain individuals to provide and administer epinephrine auto-injectors and to establish training requirements; and to provide for immunity from liability for certain individuals and entities, with exceptions. Effective April 21, 2016
Hope's Law. Act No. 168 (R174, S. 339) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact "Hope's Law" by adding § 44-115-160 so as to require mammogram providers to provide a mammogram report to patients about breast density and to require these providers to include a conspicuous notice when a mammogram shows the presence of dense breast tissue. Effective May 12, 2016
S.C. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Act No. 183 (R196, H. 3114) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 5 to Chapter 41, Title 44 so as to enact the "South Carolina Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act", to provide findings of the General Assembly, to define necessary terms, to require a physician to calculate the probable post-fertilization age of an unborn child before performing or inducing an abortion, to provide that an abortion may not be performed if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is twenty or more weeks, to provide for exceptions, to require certain reporting to the Department of Health and Environmental Control by facilities in which abortions are performed, to require the Department of Health and Environmental Control to prepare public reports that provide data on abortions performed in the state and to promulgate regulations, to create criminal penalties, and to provide the act does not implicitly or otherwise repeal another provision of law. Effective May 25, 2016
Immunity from Liability for Providing Free Health Care Services. Act No. 189 (R207, H. 4999) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 3 to Chapter 30, Title 44 so as to be entitled "Immunity From Liability For Providing Free Health Care Services" and to provide immunity from liability for providing free health care services, with exceptions; to reentitle Chapter 30, Title 44 as "Health Care Professionals"; to designate §§ 44-30-10 through 44-30-90 as Article 1, Chapter 30, Title 44, entitled "Health Care Professional Compliance Act"; to amend § 38-79-30, relating to liability of health care providers when providing free medical care, so as to require a written agreement of provision of the voluntary, uncompensated care and to allow the written agreement to be an electronic record; and to enable health care providers to fulfill certain continuing education requirements by providing free health care services. Effective May 25, 2016
Emergency Admission of Person. Act No. 225 (R257, H. 3952) an act to amend § 44-23-10, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to definitions applicable to both mentally ill persons and persons with intellectual disability, so as to add a definition for "gravely disabled"; to amend § 44-17-410, as amended, relating to the emergency admission of a person likely to cause serious harm to himself or others, so as to provide for a written affidavit stating a belief that the individual is a person with a mental illness and because of this condition there is the likelihood of serious harm; and to amend § 44-17-440, relating to the custody and transport of a person requiring immediate care, so as to require a state or local law enforcement officer preferably with crisis intervention training to take into custody and transport the person to the hospital, and to provide for who shall transport the individual from one facility to another. Effective June 3, 2016
Health Care Decisions. Act No. 226 (R258, H. 3999) an act to amend § 44-66-30, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to persons who may make health care decisions for patients who are unable to provide consent, so as to make changes to the order of priority, to add classes of persons with the authority to make these health care decisions, and for other purposes. Effective June 3, 2016
Marshals at State Mental Health Facilities. Act No. 227 (R259, H. 4124) an act to amend § 44-11-70, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to appointment and powers of marshals at state mental health facilities, so as to substitute Department of Mental Health for Mental Health Commission and law enforcement officers for marshals, and for other purposes. Effective June 3, 2016
Experimental Health Care Treatment Law. Act No. 230 (R263, H. 4542) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the "The Right To Try Act" by adding Chapter 137 to Title 44 so as to give certain patients with a terminal illness the right to try an investigational drug, biological product, or device to treat the illness; to provide protection from liability for entities providing care for a patient using an investigational drug, biological product, or device and for manufacturers of these drugs, biologics, and devices; to protect certain health care providers and entities from professional discipline or other sanctions for recommending an investigational drug, biological product, or device; and for other purposes. Effective June 3, 2016
Medical Foster Home Program for Veterans. Act No. 232 (R266, H. 4580) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 44-7-263 so as to provide that any home or facility approved and annually reviewed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a medical foster home in which care is provided exclusively to three or fewer veterans are exempt from the provisions of Chapter 7, Title 44 in regard to hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities required to be licensed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Effective June 3, 2016
Margy's Law. Act No. 233 (R269, H. 4773) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, so as to enact "Margy's Law"; to amend § 44-78-15, relating to definitions in the Emergency Medical Services Do Not Resuscitate Order Act, so as to define the term "do not resuscitate bracelet"; to amend § 44-78-20, relating to the availability of do not resuscitate orders for emergency services to the terminally ill, so as to provide for the availability of do not resuscitate bracelets in addition to written orders; to amend § 44-78-25, relating to duties of emergency medical services personnel when presented do not resuscitate orders, so as to make a conforming change; to amend § 44-78-30, relating to required forms for do not resuscitate orders, so as to provide requirements for the form of do not resuscitate bracelets, to provide patients must bear the costs of obtaining the bracelets, and to provide commercial vendors approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control to develop and distribute the bracelets shall not fulfill requests for bracelets without receiving orders from health care providers; and to amend §§ 44-78-35, 44-78-40, 44-78-45, and 44-78-60, all relating to miscellaneous provisions in the act, so as to make conforming changes. Effective June 3, 2016
Opioid Antidotes. Act No. 247 (R285, H. 5193) an act to amend § 44-130-40, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to opioid antidotes, so as to allow pharmacists to dispense opioid antidotes pursuant to a joint written protocol issued by the Board of Medical Examiners and Board of Pharmacy and to establish protocol requirements, to prohibit pharmacists from delegating the dispensing of an opioid antidote to pharmacy interns and technicians, to require the Department of Health and Environmental Control to study certain issues related to opioid addiction and to provide a report, and for other purposes. Effective June 5, 2016
Brain Tissue Donor Study Committee. Act No. 305 (R308, H. 4391) an act to create the "Brain Tissue Donor Study Committee" to provide a process and procedure for citizens of this State to donate their brain tissue upon their death for research and education, to provide for membership of the study committee, to require the study committee to prepare a report for the General Assembly, and to include a sunset provision for the study committee. Effective June 22, 2016
S.C. Farm Aid Fund. Act No. 174 (R182, H. 4717) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 46-1-160 so as to create the "South Carolina Farm Aid Fund" to assist farmers who have suffered at least a forty percent loss of agricultural commodities as a result of the October 2015 flood, to provide that the fund must be administered by the Department of Agriculture, to create a Farm Aid Advisory Board to make recommendations, to specify eligibility and grant amounts, to appropriate funds from the Capital Reserve Fund to the fund, and to provide for the dissolution of the fund. - See Act for Effective Date
Department of Agriculture. Act No. 208 (R232, S. 1028) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 46-3-280 so as to create a program within the Department of Agriculture to integrate veterans into the field of agriculture and support veterans working in the field of agriculture, to provide that Clemson University may develop a program to further advance the agriculture industry and help veterans promote their agriculture products, to establish in the State Treasury the South Carolina Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture Program and Fund, its funding mechanism and how funds are to be spent, and to provide that the Department of Agriculture shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section. Effective June 3, 2016
Euthanasia of Shelter Animals. Act No. 175 (R184, H. 3343) an act to amend § 47-3-420, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to methods of euthanasia that may be used to kill animals impounded or quarantined in animal shelters, so as to revise the allowable methods of euthanasia, to provide that the use of carbon monoxide gas and other delineated substances are not allowable methods of euthanasia, to provide that the use of sodium pentobarbital and other substances or procedures that are humane may be used to perform euthanasia, and to provide exceptions for a dangerous dog or cat. Effective May 23, 2016
Permit Maintenance Dredging. Act No. 150 (R155, S. 1076) an act to amend § 48-39-130, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to permits to utilize critical areas, so as to establish that an individual does not need to apply for a permit to dredge a manmade, predominately armored, recreational use or essential access canal. Effective April 21, 2016
Coastal Zone Critical Areas. Act No. 197 (R211, S. 139) an act to amend § 48-39-130, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to permits required for coastal zone critical areas, so as to allow certain techniques to be used to protect beach and dune critical areas without applying for a permit while acting under an emergency order; to amend § 48-39-290, as amended, relating to restrictions on construction or reconstruction seaward of the baseline, so as to allow for the use of wood-like material for walkways and small wooden decks, to narrow the exception of golf courses from permitting requirements, to expand permitting exceptions to sand fencing, revegetation of dunes, minor beach renourishment, and dune construction, to allow for the Department of Health and Environmental Control to issue general permits in certain circumstances, and to establish that the department's permitting Committee Coastal Division shall consider applications for special permits; and to amend § 48-39-280, relating to the forty-year retreat policy, so as to prohibit the baseline from moving seaward from the position determined on December 31, 2017, and to eliminate the right of local governments and landowners to petition the Administrative Law Court to move the baseline seaward upon completion of a beach renourishment project. See Act for Effective Date
Managed Tidal Impoundment Preservation Act. Act No. 204 (R224, S. 788) an act to amend § 48-39-150, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the approval of permits to alter critical areas, so as to enact the "Managed Tidal Impoundment Preservation Act", by exempting property that is deemed eligible under a United States Army Corp of Engineers' general permit from permitting requirements in certain circumstances and granting enforcement authority to the Coastal Division of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Effective June 3, 2016
SC Marine Resource Act of 2000. Act No. 166 (R172, H. 4709) an act to amend § 50-5-15, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to terms and their definitions contained in the South Carolina Marine Resources Act of 2000, so as to provide a definition for the term "southern cobia management zone"; and to amend § 50-5-2730, as amended, relating to certain federal fishing regulations, so as to provide that these regulations do not apply to cobia located in the southern cobia management zone. Effective April 29, 2016
Sale and Trafficking of Fish. Act No. 169 (R175, S. 780) an act to amend § 50-13-1630, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the sale and trafficking in fish, so as to make technical changes, to provide that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources may issue permits for the release or stocking of sterile white amur, grass carp, or grass carp hybrids in this State, and to provide that the department may issue permits for the importation, breeding, and possession of grass carp. Effective May 12, 2016
Conestee Foundation. Act No. 177 (R186, H. 4743) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 50-11-935 so as to provide that the land owned and managed by the Conestee Foundation and known as Lake Conestee Nature Park is declared to be a wildlife sanctuary
Nongame Fish. Act No. 209 (R233, S. 1030) an act to amend § 50-13-645, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the protection of nongame fish, so as to provide that it is unlawful for a recreational fisherman to take more than twenty-five American eel a day and that each American eel taken must be at least nine inches long. Effective June 3, 2016
DNR Enforcement Officers. Act No. 216 (R242, S. 1205) an act to amend § 50-3-315, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to Department of Natural Resources' deputy enforcement officers, so as to provide that certain officers are not required to obtain the bonds required by § 50-3-330; and to amend § 50-3-330, relating to Department of Natural Resources enforcement officers' oath and bonds, so as to provide that the officers shall be covered by a surety bond of not less than two thousand dollars and that the Department of Natural Resources must pay the premiums on the surety bonds. Effective June 3, 2016
Nongame Fishing Devices and Gear. Act No. 220 (R251, H. 3449) an act to amend § 50-13-675, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to nongame fishing devices and gear that are permitted to be used in certain bodies of freshwater, so as to provide that the Department of Natural Resources may issue one recreational license to a person sixty-five years of age or older for the use of hoop nets along the Wateree River, and to make a technical change. See Act for Effective Date
Hunting and Fishing Licenses. Act No. 257 (R219, S. 454) an act to amend § 50-9-650, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the issuance of annual individual antlerless deer tags, so as to revise the procedure whereby the Department of Natural Resources issues and charges a person for the privilege of hunting and taking deer in this State; to amend § 50-9-920, as amended, relating to the collection and disposition of revenues generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, permits, and tags, so as to substitute the term "antlerless deer quota permit" for the term "deer quota program permit", and to provide for the distribution of revenues collected from the sale of nonresident antlered deer tags and resident antler restriction individual antlered deer tags; by adding § 50-11-315 so as to provide bag limits for antlered deer and deer taken with a deer quota program permit, and to provide a penalty for a violation of this section; by adding § 50-11-320 so as to provide the procedure whereby the Department of Natural Resources issues tags for the hunting and taking of deer, to regulate the hunting and taking of deer, and to provide penalties; to amend § 50-11-390, as amended, relating to the Department of Natural Resources' regulation of game zones, so as to provide that the department may promulgate regulations for the taking of antlerless deer during certain periods of time, to provide for the establishment of antlerless days, and to provide for the regulation of the deer quota program; to repeal § 50-11-335 relating to bag limits established for antlered deer; and to provide that the Department of Natural Resources shall provide the General Assembly a report on the status of the state's white-tailed deer population. Effective July 1, 2017
Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day. Act No. 162 (R167, H. 4816) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 53-3-205 so as to designate June twenty-seventh of each year as South Carolina Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Awareness Day. Effective April 21, 2016
Eartha Kitt Day. Act No. 171 (R181, H. 3036) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 53-3-75 so as to declare January seventeenth of each year as "Eartha Kitt Day" in South Carolina in honor of the late Eartha Mae Kitt, nationally and internationally known actress, singer, and native South Carolinian and to promote cultural tourism in the state in order to enhance the economic well-being and improve the quality of life of all South Carolinians. Effective May 12, 2016
Water Safety Awareness Month. Act No. 180 (R191, H. 5218) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 53-3-117 so as to provide that the month of May every year is declared "Water Safety Awareness Month" in the state to promote an understanding of water safety practices and the critical importance of water safety in an effort to reduce drowning deaths among children in this State. Effective May 23, 2016
S.C. Day of Service. Act No. 235 (R277, H. 5020) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 53-3-210 so as to declare the third Saturday of May of each year as "South Carolina Day of Service" and encourage all South Carolinians to roll up their sleeves and lend a hand to make a positive difference in our great state. Effective June 3, 2016
State Aviation Fund. Act No. 239 (R267, H. 4577) an act to amend § 55-5-280, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the State Aviation Fund, so as to provide that percentages of revenues of certain property taxes levied on aircraft by the state must be directed to the State Aviation Fund. See Act for Effective Date
Motor Vehicle Express Warranties Enforcement. Act No. 157 (R162, H. 3788) an act to amend § 56-28-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to certain terms and their definitions regarding the enforcement of motor vehicle express warranties, so as to revise the definitions of the terms "motor vehicle" and a "new motor vehicle". Effective April 21, 2016
License Plates. Act No. 158 (R163, H. 3911) an act to amend § 56-3-1230, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the issuance, content, and production costs of motor vehicle license plates, so as to revise the interval in which the Department of Motor Vehicles must reissue a license plate from six years to ten years. Effective April 21, 2016
Electronic Tickets and Citations. Act No. 185 (R198, H. 3685) an act to amend § 56-7-20, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the uniform traffic tickets and electronic tickets, so as to provide that tickets may be collected electronically, but must be transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles electronically; to amend § 56-7-30, as amended, relating to the printing and ordering of traffic tickets, the forwarding of the driving record and audit copy of the ticket by a law enforcement agency to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the processing of an electronic ticket, so as to provide that the court's copy of the ticket must be forwarded to the appropriate court and electronically to the Department of Motor Vehicles within three business days of the issuance of the ticket and that information regarding the disposition of the offense must be forwarded electronically to the Department of Motor Vehicles by the appropriate court within five days of the trial date, to delete the provision that requires a law enforcement agency to conduct an annual inventory of all tickets received but not disposed of by final court action or by nolle prosequi, and to delete the provision that gives a law enforcement agency the option of transmitting a ticket electronically to the Department of Motor Vehicles; to amend § 56-7-40, relating to the penalty imposed upon a person who violates a provision relating to the use, printing, and transmitting of a uniform traffic ticket, so as to provide that a ticket must be electronically forwarded to the Department of Motor Vehicles, to delete references to the records copy and audit copy of the ticket, and to delete the provision that creates an offense and imposes a penalty upon a person charged with failing to timely forward the results of the annual inventory to the Department of Motor Vehicles; to amend § 56-1-365, as amended, relating to a person surrendering his driver's license when it has been revoked or suspended, so as to provide that the Department of Motor Vehicles shall electronically receive disposition and license surrender information from the court immediately after receipt or within five business days after receipt, to delete the term "ticket" and replace it with the term "disposition" when the terms refer to the document that must be electronically forwarded to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and to revise the procedure to calculate when a revocation or suspension begins under certain circumstances; to amend § 56-1-370, as amended, relating to a licensee's request for an administrative hearing to review a notice of suspension, cancellation, or revocation of a driver's license, so as to provide the date when a suspension, cancellation, or revocation of a driver's license commences when the hearing results in the continued suspension, cancellation, or revocation of the driver's license; and to repeal § 56-3-1972 relating to the design of the uniform parking violation ticket. Effective May 25, 2016
License Plates. Act No. 186 (R201, H. 3927) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 139 to Chapter 3, Title 56 so as to provide that the Department of Motor Vehicles may issue special personalized motor vehicle license plates; to amend § 56-3-2250, relating to the issuance of sample license plates by the Department of Motor Vehicles, so as to delete the provision that provides that it is unlawful to display a sample license plate on a motor vehicle and the penalty associated with this crime, to provide that the department may retain the fee that is charged for the issuance of this license plate, to provide that the department may issue souvenir license plates for any special organizational license plate that it produces and personalized special organizational souvenir license plates for a fee, to provide for the disbursement of the fees, to provide that these license plates may be displayed only on the front of a motor vehicle, and to provide a penalty for a violation of this provision; to amend § 56-3-7360, as amended, relating to the Department of Motor Vehicles' issuance of "Korean War Veterans" special license plates, so as to delete the provisions that relate to the requirements for production and distribution of this license plate and the fee for this license plate, and to provide that there is no fee for this license plate; to amend §§ 56-3-10610 and 56-3-10710, relating to the Department of Motor Vehicles' issuance of "Silver Star" and "Bronze Star" special license plates, so as to define the type of motor vehicles and motorcycles whose owners may be issued these license plates; and by adding Article 138 to Chapter 3, Title 56 so as to provide that the Department of Motor Vehicles May issue "Chase Away Childhood Cancer" special license plates. Effective May 25, 2016
Vehicle Weights and Lengths. Act No. 188 (R205, H. 4932) an act to amend § 56-5-4070, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to maximum lengths of vehicles that may be operated along the state's highways, so as to provide a maximum length for trailers or semitrailers used to transport vehicles used in connection with motorsports competition events; to amend § 56-5-4130, relating to the maximum gross weight upon any wheel of certain vehicles allowed to operate along the state's highways, so as to provide that an over-the-road bus, motorhome, or certain vehicles used as intrastate public agency transit passenger buses are excluded from certain axle weight requirements but are limited to a maximum axle weight limit; to amend § 56-5-4140, as amended, relating to the maximum gross weight of vehicles allowed to operate along the state's highways, so as to make technical changes, to revise the maximum gross weights of certain vehicles that may be operated along the state's highways, and to provide that an over-the-road bus, motorhome, or certain vehicles used as intrastate public agency transit passenger buses are excluded from certain axle spacing requirements but are limited to a maximum single axle weight limit; to amend § 56-5-4160, as amended, relating to the enforcement of provisions that establish weight limits for vehicles that operate along the state's highways, so as to revise the maximum weight limit allowed for a vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with an idle reduction system and to allow certain vehicles fueled primarily by natural gas to exceed the gross, single axle, tandem axle, or bridge formula weight limits under certain circumstances; to amend § 56-35-30, relating to vehicles equipped with auxiliary power units, so as to revise the allowable gross weight of the vehicle used to determine whether the vehicle has violated provisions relating to vehicle weight restrictions; and to amend § 48-20-280, relating to the applicability of the South Carolina Mining Act to the Department of Transportation, so as to provide that this act does not apply to certain activities of the South Carolina Ports Authority. Effective May 25, 2016
Driver's License. Act No. 196 (R210, S. 21) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 56-1-222 so as to provide that a person diagnosed with low vision acuity who uses bioptic telescopic lenses for vision assistance may be issued a driver's license under certain circumstances, to provide for the renewal of the driver's license, to provide for the revocation of the driver's license, to provide that the person may not be issued a license to operate a motorcycle or a commercial driver's license, and to provide that the Department of Motor Vehicles may promulgate regulations to implement the provisions contained in this section. Effective June 3, 2017.
License Plates. Act No. 214 (R238, S. 1111) an act to amend § 56-3-2332, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to license plates for certain manufacturers, so as to revise the method by which the license plate fee is calculated and credited; and to set the license plate fee for 2017 and 2018. Effective June 3, 2016
Surcharges on Passenger Motor Vehicles. Act No. 224 (R256, H. 3891) an act to amend § 56-31-50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to surcharges on rental or private passenger motor vehicles for thirty-one days or less, so as to define necessary terms, to delete existing surcharge provisions and instead provide rental companies engaged in the business of renting vehicles for periods of ninety days or less may charge certain motor vehicle license fees, to provide fees charged must represent good faith estimates by motor vehicle rental companies of their daily charges calculated to recover their actual total annual recoverable costs, to provide requirements for when vehicle license fees annually collected by motor vehicle rental companies exceed the actual annual costs, to impose disclosure requirements in rental agreements, and to subject these vehicle license fees to certain sales and use taxes; by adding § 56-31-60 so as to provide mandatory rental fees for qualified heavy equipment, to provide exceptions, to define necessary terms, and to exempt qualified heavy duty property equipment subject to heavy equipment rental fees from personal property taxes; and to repeal § 12-37-717 relating to surcharges on heavy equipment rental contracts. Effective January 1, 2017
Liens Recorded Against Motor Vehicles; Mobile Homes. Act No. 245 (R283, H. 5089) an act to amend § 56-19-10, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to terms and their definitions regarding the protection of titles to and interest in motor vehicles, so as to add additional terms and their definitions to this section; and to amend § 56-19-265, as amended, relating to liens recorded against motor vehicles and mobile homes, so as to provide that a lien or encumbrance on a motor vehicle or titled mobile home must be noted on the printed title or electronically through the Department of Motor Vehicles' electronic title and lien system, to provide that the transmittal must be done electronically for business entities, to make technical changes, to provide that business entities are subject to certain fees, to provide that the transmittal and retrieval of data fees are "official fees", to provide that certain businesses and commercial lienholders must utilize the electronic lien system to transmit and receive electronic lien information, to provide the effective date and lapse date for certain liens, to provide that the department shall publish forms for the purpose of filing a lien continuation statement, and to provide the process for filing a lien continuation statement and the period for which the lien remains in effect. See Act for Effective Date
Golf Carts. Act No. 246 (R284, H. 5118) an act to amend § 56-2-105, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the issuance of golf cart decals, the registration of golf carts, and the operation of golf carts along the state's highways, so as to make technical changes, to delete an obsolete provision, to provide that certain municipalities and counties that have barrier islands within their jurisdictions may adopt ordinances that allow golf carts to be operated at night, and to provide that the ordinances shall expire on January 1, 2021. Effective June 6, 2016
Motor Vehicle Beginners Permit. Act No. 267 (R223, S. 689) an act to amend § 56-1-50, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the issuance of motor vehicle beginner's permits and vehicle operation, so as to delete the provision that allows a permittee to operate a motor scooter, or light motor-driven cycle, to provide the times of day when a permittee may operate a motorcycle or moped unsupervised and when a permittee must operate a motorcycle or moped while under supervision, and to revise the location where the permittee's supervisor must be located; and to amend § 56-5-3630, relating to the operation of a motorcycle, so as to provide a location where a passenger may ride upon a motorcycle, and to provide that the provisions contained in this section do not apply to persons riding in a motorcycle sidecar. Effective June 7, 2016
S.C. Transportation Infrastructure Bank. Act No. 275 (R246, S. 1258) an act to amend Article 3, Chapter 1, Title 57, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the Commission of the Department of Transportation, so as to restructure the commission, to provide for review of appointees to the commission, to provide a maximum number of years a commissioner may serve, to provide for removal of a commissioner, and to provide for auditing procedures for the Department of Transportation; to amend § 57-1-410, as amended, relating to the Secretary of Transportation, so as to provide that the commission shall appoint the secretary and to provide for review by the General Assembly; to amend §§ 57-1-720, 57-1-730, and 57-1-750, relating to the Joint Transportation Review Committee, so as to make conforming changes; to amend § 57-1-740, as amended, relating to the Joint Transportation Review Committee, so as to delete the language; to amend § 57-1-490, as amended, relating to annual audits of the General Assembly, so as to make conforming changes; to amend § 11-43-150, relating to the powers of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank, so as to require the approval of the Department of Transportation Commission before the bank may provide loans or other financial assistance; to amend § 11-43-180, relating to the bank providing loans and other financial assistance, so as to require that the eligible costs of a project be at least twenty-five million dollars to receive a loan or assistance; by adding § 11-43-265 so as to require the bank to prioritize all projects in accordance with the prioritization criteria established in Act 114 of 2007, and to provide an exception; by adding § 11-43-167 so as to direct the revenue from certain fees and fines to the State Highway Fund for the resurfacing program and transfers to the bank for road and bridge projects; to amend §§ 12-37-2740, 38-73-470, 56-1-140, as amended, 56-1-143, as amended, 56-1-148, as amended, 56-1-170, as amended, 56-1-200, as amended, 56-1-220, 56-1-286, as amended, 56-1-390, 56-1-395, 56-1-400, as amended, 56-1-460, as amended, 56-1-550, 56-1-740, 56-1-746, as amended, 56-1-1320, as amended, 56-1-2080, as amended, 56-1-3350, as amended, 56-3-210, 56-3-355, 56-3-1290, as amended, 56-3-1335, 56-3-1920, as amended, 56-3-2330, as amended, 56-3-2335, as amended, 56-3-2340, as amended, 56-3-3500, as amended, 56-3-3600, 56-3-3710, 56-3-3950, 56-3-4100, as amended, 56-3-4200, as amended, 56-3-4410, as amended, 56-3-4510, as amended, 56-3-4600, as amended, 56-3-4800, as amended, 56-3-4910, 56-3-5200, as amended, 56-3-5400, as amended, 56-3-7200, 56-3-7300, as amended, 56-3-7310, 56-3-7320, 56-3-7330, as amended, 56-3-7360, as amended, 56-3-7700, 56-3-7750, as amended, 56-3-7780, as amended, 56-3-7860, as amended, 56-3-7910, as amended, 56-3-7950, 56-3-8000, as amended, 56-3-8100, as amended, 56-3-8200, as amended, 56-3-8300, as amended, 56-3-8400, 56-3-8600, as amended, 56-3-8710, as amended, 56-3-9400, as amended, 56-3-9600, as amended, 56-3-9710, 56-3-10010, 56-3-13710, 56-5-750, 56-5-2942, as amended, 56-5-2951, as amended, 56-9-330, 56-10-240, 56-10-245, 56-10-260, 56-10-552, as amended, 56-19-265, as amended, 56-19-420, as amended, and 56-19-520, all relating to fees or fines collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles, so as to provide that all or a portion of the fees shall be credited to the State Highway Fund; to amend § 12-36-2647, relating to the tax revenues collected from the sale or lease of a motor vehicle, so as to credit all the revenues to the State Highway Fund except for certain amounts that are used for the Education Improvement Act; and to repeal § 1-3-240(c)(1)(b) relating to the removal of Department Of Transportation Commissioners by the Governor. See Act for Effective Date
Coal Combustion Residuals. Act No. 138 (R142, H. 4857) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 58-27-255 so as to require coal combustion residuals resulting from the production of electricity to be placed in a Class 3 landfill and to provide exceptions. See Act for Effective Date
State Telecom Equity in Funding Act. Act No. 181 (R192, S. 277) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, so as to enact the "State Telecom Equity in Funding Act"; by adding § 58-9-2515 so as to clarify the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission over local exchange service carriers, prepaid wireless service providers, commercial mobile radio service providers, and voice over internet protocol providers; by adding § 58-9-2535 so as to provide local exchange providers, commercial mobile radio service providers, voice over internet protocol service providers, and prepaid wireless service providers shall collect dual party relay charges, and to provide for related billing determinations, fee retentions, liability limits, and governmental restrictions and obligations, among other things; to amend § 58-9-10, relating to definitions concerning the regulation of telephone services, so as to revise certain definitions; to amend § 58-9-280, relating to the Universal Service Fund, so as to require the collection and remittance of contributions to the fund and the provision and maintenance of certain related information, to permit the retention of a portion of these collections as administrative fees, to limit the size of the fund, to provide various liability limitations for previously rendered services, to provide for certain random compliance audits and related investigations of fund recipients by the Office of Regulatory Staff, to require the Office of Regulatory Staff to report certain information to the Public Utilities Review Committee, and to provide that all revisions made by this section are void if any are finally adjudicated to be invalid, among other things; to amend § 58-9-576, relating to certain elections by local exchange carriers, so as to provide the Public Service Commission may not regulate certain standalone basic residential lines of carriers in service before an election date, to provide an exception allowing the commission to order such local exchange carriers to provide voice services to residential customers in certain circumstances, to provide procedures for the termination of these services, and to define necessary terminology; to amend § 58-9-2510, relating to definitions concerning telephone service for hearing and speech impaired people, so as to revise these definitions and provide additional necessary definitions; to amend § 58-9-2530, relating to the operating fund for a system of dual party relay devices and related telecommunications devices for the deaf, so as to include commercial mobile radio service providers, voice over internet protocol service providers, and prepaid wireless sellers among the entities that must impose related fees, to reduce the maximum charge from twenty-five cents to ten cents, to require uniformity of the fees among all providers and sellers required to impose the fees, and to provide for the remittal and transferal of collected fees to the fund; to amend § 58-9-576, relating to the definition of a "single-line basic residential service", so as to revise the definition; and to repeal § 58-9-2540 relating to an advisory committee concerning statewide telecommunications relay access service. Effective May 25, 2016
Procedures for Eminent Domain for Pipeline Companies. Act No. 205 (R225, S. 868) an act to amend § 58-7-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to rights, powers, and privileges of telegraph and telephone companies conferred on pipeline companies, so as to provide that certain rights, powers, privileges do not apply to private, for-profit pipeline companies, and to provide that the provisions of this act are repealed on June 30, 2019. Effective June 3, 2016
Renewable Water Resources. Act No. 298 (R291, H. 5367) an act to amend Act 745 of 1967, as amended, relating to Renewable Water Resources (REWA), formerly known as the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority, so as to add the "northern Greenville" area of Greenville County to REWA's service territory, to express the General Assembly's intent to designate a map as the document of record on which REWA's amended boundary lines are delineated, and to provide that no residential or commercial entity located within the "northern Greenville" extended territory is required to tap into the services provided by REWA unless the entity does so voluntarily or has no other DHEC-approved method for disposal. Effective June 5, 2016
Petroleum Pipeline Study Committee. Act No. 304 (R296, S. 1065) a joint resolution to clarify that § 58-7-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, does not apply to a private, for-profit pipeline company, including a publicly-traded for-profit company that is not a public utility as defined by Title 58; and to create the Petroleum Pipeline Study Committee to study matters related to the presence of petroleum pipelines in South Carolina, and for the study committee to provide a report to the General Assembly by June 30, 2017, and to continue its work until December 31, 2017, if the June report determines further work is needed. Effective June 9, 2016
Higher Education Commission. Act No. 146 (R150, H. 4629) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 59-103-17 so as to provide the Commission on Higher Education may enter interstate reciprocity agreements that authorize accredited degree-granting institutions of higher education in this State to offer postsecondary distance education in a certain manner, to provide related powers and duties of the commission, to provide participation in these reciprocity agreements is voluntary to eligible institutions of higher education in this State, to provide institutions of higher education in this State that do not participate in any interstate reciprocity agreement entered into by the commission are not prohibited from offering postsecondary distance education, and to clarify that no provision of this act prohibits or reduces the authority of the commission to license institutions of higher education offering distance education in this State if the institution is not a participant in the interstate reciprocity agreement in which the commission participates. -Effective March 14, 2016
Comprehensive Health Education Programs. Act No. 152 (R157, H. 3265) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, so as to enact "Ronald Rouse's Law"; to amend § 59-32-30, as amended, relating to public school comprehensive health education programs, so as to provide that students must receive instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and awareness of the use of automated external defibrillators at least once during the entire four years of grades nine through twelve, to specify skills this instruction must include, to provide for adaptation of the program for virtual schools, to provide for waivers in certain circumstances, to provide related requirements of local school districts and the State Department of Education; to provide students who have already completed the requisite health course are not required to take the course a second time; to provide the department may include language from any section of this act in the South Carolina health and safety education curriculum standards; and to provide school districts must begin complying with the provisions of this act no later than the 2017-2018 school year. Effective April 21, 2016
Office of Transformation. Act No. 178 (R188, H. 4940) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 59-18-1575 so as to provide for the manner in which the Department of Education through the Office of Transformation shall provide technical assistance to underperforming schools and school districts. Effective May 23, 2016
SC Founding Principles Act. Act No. 192 (R199, H. 3848) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the "South Carolina Founding Principles Act" by adding § 59-29-155 so as to provide the State Board of Education and Education Oversight Committee shall incorporate instruction on certain founding principles of the United States into required studies of the United States Constitution and the South Carolina Social Studies Standards, to specify certain minimum content requirements, to provide the State Department of Education biennially shall report on the implementation of this act to the General Assembly, and to provide the department shall offer professional development opportunities regarding founding principles instruction to teachers. Effective May 26, 2016
High School Graduates. Act No. 195 (R206, H. 4936) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 59-1-50 so as to provide for educational achievement goals for South Carolina high school graduates and students, and the standards and areas of learning by which these goals are measured. Effective May 26, 2016
Academic Standards and Assessments. Act No. 207 (R229, S. 933) an act to amend § 59-18-310, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to petitions for obtaining high school diplomas by former public high school students who failed to graduate solely for not meeting exit exam requirements, so as to eliminate a deadline for filing these petitions, to extend the date by which the Department of Education shall report related information to the General Assembly, and to eliminate the requirement that the department advertise the availability of these petitions after December 31, 2017. Effective June 3, 2016
Charter Schools. Act No. 219 (R247, S. 1262) an act to amend § 59-40-50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to charter schools designated as Alternative Education Campuses, so as to provide Alternative Education Campuses may give mission-aligned admissions preferences to certain educationally disadvantaged students, and to provide related definitions, procedures, and criteria; and to amend § 59-40-111, relating to categories of Alternative Education Campuses, so as to include charter schools with the explicit mission and purpose of serving enrolled student populations of which at least fifty percent demonstrate certain educational disadvantages, and to revise mission and student population considerations for accountability and academic performance standards applicable to Alternative Education Campuses. Effective June 3, 2016
Teacher Dismissal Hearings. Act No. 221 (R252, H. 3560) an act to amend § 59-25-410, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the annual deadline by which public school districts must notify teachers of their employment status for the ensuing year, so as to extend the deadline to May first; to amend § 59-25-420, relating to the annual deadline by which teachers must notify public school districts of their acceptance of teaching contracts offered by the district, so as to extend the deadline to May eleventh; to amend § 59-25-460, relating to notices of dismissal and the conduct of related proceedings, so as to provide the hearings are evidentiary hearings, to provide the hearings may be conducted by school boards or their designees, to provide required qualifications for board designees, to provide for preliminary meetings at which parties and their representatives may discuss alternative resolutions, to revise the process for districts to adopt certain policies concerning their dismissal procedures, and to provide miscellaneous requirements concerning the conduct of hearings and related matters; to amend § 59-25-470, relating to the scheduling of teacher dismissal hearings, so as to make conforming changes, to extend the period for scheduling hearings to forty-five days, and to revise procedures concerning the conduct of hearings; to amend § 59-25-480, relating to appeals of board decisions, so as to correct archaic language; and to amend § 59-25-490, relating to depositions in teacher dismissal hearings, so as to correct archaic language. Effective June 3, 2016
State Education Statutes. Act No. 241 (R274, H. 4939) an act to provide that certain education officials are directed to each appoint one representative to a committee to be chaired by the appointee of the State Superintendent of Education to review Title 59 of the 1976 Code and report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2016, with an update every five years of all statutes that are obsolete or no longer applicable, and to provide that the report also must identify all the federal education statutes and regulations with which the state is required to comply, and the total cost to the state to comply; and to provide that the department also shall develop a system for providing services and technical assistance to districts which shall include academic assistance and assistance with finances, to provide that the state superintendent of education shall report the design of the system to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2016, and to provide that the department shall monitor the professional development of teachers, staff, and administrators in districts it determines are underperforming to ascertain what improvements and changes are necessary, and also shall monitor the operations of school boards in underperforming districts in order to determine if they are operating efficiently and effectively. Effective June 5, 2016
Adult Students with Disabilities Educational Rights Consent Act. Act No. 242 (R278, H. 5021) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the "Adult Students With Disabilities Educational Rights Consent Act" by adding Article 3 to Chapter 33, Title 59 so as to provide procedures and policies through which students who are eligible for special education under the individuals with disabilities act and who have not been determined to be incapacitated in Probate Court may be identified as unable to provide informed consent with respect to his educational program and delegate the authority to make such decisions to an agent or representative; and to designate the existing §s of Chapter 33, Title 59 as Article 1 entitled "general provisions". Effective June 5, 2016
Elementary School Food Service Meals Requirements. Act No. 258 (R220, S. 484) an act to amend § 59-10-310, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the establishment of elementary school food service meals and competitive food requirements, so as to provide school service meals and competitive foods provided in kindergarten through twelfth grade during the academic school year must meet and may exceed nutritional requirements established by the United States Department of Agriculture, to provide school districts may adopt more restrictive policies, to provide these more restrictive policies may not restrict the food parents or guardians provide for student consumption at school, to exempt school fundraisers from these requirements, and to clarify that this section does not restrict or prohibit the State Department of Education from establishing policies regarding school fundraisers authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture; and to amend § 59-10-330, relating to the Coordinated School Health Advisory Council and the development of health wellness plans, so as to provide school health improvement plans must report compliance with the requirements of § 59-10-310. Effective June 5, 2016
Tucker Hipps Transparency Act. Act No. 265 (R304, H. 4521) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the "Tucker Hipps Transparency Act" by adding § 59-101-210 so as to provide that beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year, public institutions of higher learning, excluding technical colleges, shall maintain reports of actual findings of certain misconduct by members of fraternities and sororities formally associated with the institution, to specify information that must be included and must be excluded, to provide requirements for updating and preserving reports, to provide institutions shall make the reports available to the public and online, to provide members of the public may seek redress for suspected violations under the Freedom Of Information Act; and to provide specific requirements for the initial reports each institution shall compile and make available; and to provide the act expires three years after its effective date absent further action by the General Assembly. Effective June 9, 2016
School Opening. Act No. 281 (R310, H. 5140) an act to amend § 59-1-425, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the opening date for the public school year, so as to make grammatical changes; and to amend § 59-18-325, as amended, relating to certain assessments of various public school students based on grade level, so as to revise various assessments used, manner of procurement, implementation, and administration of these assessments, among other things. Effective June 22, 2016
Student Assessment. Act No. 287 (R133, H. 4632) a joint resolution to revise applicability of certain student assessment statutes for the 2015-2016 school year and 2016-2017 school year, and to exempt the State Department of Education from state procurement law for certain assessments in the 2015-2016 school year. Effective February 1, 2016
Literacy Coaches and Teachers. Act No. 290 (R209, H. 5024) a joint resolution to require that before the 2016-2017 school year, the State Department of Education shall provide all literacy coaches and literacy teachers in kindergarten through third grade with training on dyslexia and related disorders, including evidence-based screenings, instructional methods, and interventions, among other things; and to impose related reporting requirements on the department. Effective May 26, 2016
Survey Higher Education Students. Act No. 291 (R273, H. 4938) a joint resolution to provide that the State Department of Education and the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA), working in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education, shall survey specified students enrolled in the state's colleges of education, which shall include questions as to whether the students have ever considered teaching in a rural and economically challenged school district, with the results of the survey to be reported to the General Assembly by December 1, 2016; and to provide that the department, CERRA, and the Commission on Higher Education also shall explore a means of obtaining similar survey information from students in other programs as a means of planning and promoting teaching career information and employment options, with a report summarizing the recommendations of this survey to be submitted to the General Assembly by February 1, 2017, to include whether the focus should be on students in the state's two-year as well as four-year institutions, and whether improvements facilitating transfer and articulation into teacher education programs could enhance recruitment into the teaching profession. Effective June 5, 2016
Joe Madden Bus Center. Act No. 292 (R243, S. 1206) a joint resolution to direct the State Department of Education to rename the Greenville State Bus Shop on Halton Road in Greenville County to be the "Joe Madden Bus Center". Effective June 3, 2016
Beaufort County Board of Education. Act No. 293 (R190, H. 5066) an act to amend Act 589 of 1986, as amended, relating to the Beaufort County Board of Education, so as to require candidates seeking election to submit a statement of candidacy rather than submit signed petitions. Effective May 23, 2016
Charleston County School District. Act No. 294 (R288, H. 5279) an act to amend Act 340 of 1967, as amended, relating to the Charleston County School District, so as to revise procedures concerning the annual district budget by providing the school board shall obtain certification of property tax revenue expected for the budget from the county auditor before the board may give the budget second reading, to provide that within sixty days following enactment of the annual state budget, the board shall review and, if needed to avoid operating with a deficit, amend the annual district budget to reflect funds actually appropriated by the General Assembly, to provide that before January first annually the board shall review the status of its fiscal year revenues and expenditures to determine the extent to which, if any, the district is operating with a deficit, and to provide if the district determines that it is operating with a deficit, it must amend its budget to eliminate the deficit within sixty days; and to provide that before the Charleston County School District board may vote on the closure of a school in the district, it shall hold a public hearing on the proposed closure, provide its reasons for proposing the school closure, and allow public input on the proposed closure. Effective June 5, 2016
Chesterfield County School District Board Members. Act No. 295 (R249, S. 1297) an act to amend Act 185 of 1999, relating to per diem payments for members of the Board of the Chesterfield County School District, to provide that the board may adjust the amount of the per diem payments and to provide for the effective date of the adjusted rates. Effective June 15, 2016
Florence County School District Number 5. Act No. 296 (R169, S. 985) an act to amend § 4 of Act 250 of 1991, as amended, relating to elections for members of the Board of Trustees for Florence County School District Five, to provide that the Florence County Election Commission shall conduct the elections, to provide that the elections shall occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each year, and to provide for the locations where the election commission shall conduct the election. Effective April 29, 2016
Florence County School District Two. Act No. 297 (R179, S. 1238) an act to amend Act 806 of 1952, as amended, relating to the annual budget for Florence County School District Two, so as to only require a separate meeting of the citizens if the proposed budget requires a millage increase. Effective May 16, 2016
Richland County School District One. Act No. 300 (R176, S. 863) an act to amend Act 613 of 1986, as amended, relating to school districts in Richland County, so as to reapportion the four single-member election districts from which the trustees of Richland County School District One are elected, to designate a map number on which these single-member election districts are delineated, and to provide demographic information pertaining to the reapportioned election districts. Effective May 12, 2016
SC Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. Act No. 260 (R226, S. 908) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the "South Carolina Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act" by adding Part 10 to Article 2, Title 62 so as to establish a framework by which internet users have the power to plan for the management and disposition of digital assets upon death or incapacitation; to define necessary terms; to set forth the applicability of the act to fiduciaries, personal representatives, conservators, trustees, and other parties; to provide that the act does not apply to a digital asset of an employer that is used by an employee in the ordinary course of business; and to require that the provisions of this act be applied and construed so as to promote uniformity of law among the states. Effective June 3, 2016
Veteran Affairs. Act No. 278 (R293, S. 777) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 62-5-436 so as to provide additional and alternative requirements for matters involving payment of benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and to define relevant terms; to amend § 62-1-201, as amended, relating to definitions applicable to the South Carolina Probate Code, so as to define the term "VA" and to make other technical corrections; to amend § 62-5-404, relating to the original petition for appointment or protective order, so as to require the petition to show that the person to be protected has been rated incompetent by the VA and to provide that the petition shall state the name and address of the person to be notified on behalf of the VA; to amend § 62-5-405, as amended, relating to service of summons and petitions, notice of hearing, and waiver of notice by the person to be protected, so as to require service upon the VA and notice of the hearing in certain circumstances; to amend § 62-5-407, as amended, relating to procedures concerning the hearing and order on original petition, so as to clarify certain provisions in cases involving payment of benefits from the VA; and to repeal Part 6, Article 5, Title 62 relating to the Uniform Veterans' Guardianship Act. Effective June 9, 2016
S.C. Uniform Power of Attorney. Act No. 279 (R294, S. 778) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 8 to Title 62 so as to enact the "South Carolina Uniform Power Of Attorney Act"; to define applicable terms; to outline the Article's requirements and applicability, and to provide exceptions; and to amend Part 5, Article 5, Title 62, relating to powers of attorney, so as to enact the "South Carolina Statutory Health Care Power Of Attorney Act"; to define applicable terms; to outline the part’s requirements and applicability; to provide execution and witness requirements; and to specify the proper form of a health care power of attorney. Effective January 1, 2017
Foster Children. Act No. 187 (R203, H. 4510) an act to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding § 63-7-2400 so as to establish limitations on the number of foster children who may be placed in a foster home. Effective May 25, 2016
Posting Notice That a Location is a Safe Haven. Act No. 228 (R261, H. 4413) an act to amend § 63-7-40, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to locations at which a person may leave an infant under certain circumstances without criminal penalty, so as to require safe havens to post a notice stating that the location is a safe haven, to require the Department of Social Services to prepare the notice for use by safe havens, to allow the placement of an infant not more than sixty days old at a safe haven, and to change the definition of "infant". Effective June 3, 2016
Definitions in Children's Code. Act No. 238 (R264, H. 4546) an act to amend § 63-7-20, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to definitions used in the Children's Code, so as to add definitions for "age or developmentally appropriate", "caregiver", and "reasonable and prudent parent standard"; by adding § 63-7-25 so as to provide for the right of children in out-of-home care to participate in age or developmentally appropriate activities; to amend § 63-7-1700, as amended, relating to permanency planning, so as to provide for court consideration of local foster care review board recommendations, to require the court to take into consideration recommendations of the Department of Social Services, the local foster care review board, and the guardian ad litem before approving a placement plan, and to require the court to review the department's efforts to ensure a foster child has the opportunity to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities; to amend § 63-7-2310, relating to the foster care system, so as to require the department to make efforts to normalize the lives of children in foster care by enabling participation in age or developmentally appropriate activities; to amend § 63-11-720, relating to functions and powers of local foster care review boards, so as to change certain functions or powers, including the frequency with which boards must review foster care cases; to amend § 63-11-750, relating to the foster care review board's right to participate in child abuse and neglect judicial proceedings, so as to allow the board to introduce, examine, and cross-examine witnesses; and for other purposes. Effective June 5, 2016
Family Court Judges. Act No. 253 (R270, H. 4877) an act to amend § 63-3-40, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to family court judges elected from each judicial circuit, so as to add two additional family court judges who shall be at large and must be elected without regard to their county or circuit of residence. Effective June 7, 2016
Family Childcare Homes. Act No. 263 (R301, H. 4262 ) an act to amend § 63-13-820, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to registration of family childcare homes, so as to require a fingerprint review of certain persons; to amend § 63-13-825, relating to training for family childcare home operators and employees, so as to require additional training; to amend § 63-13-830, relating to statements of registration for family childcare homes, so as to provide additional authority of the Department of Social Services and rights of family childcare homes; and to amend § 63-13-850, relating to appeals of decisions to withdraw a statement of registration of a family childcare home, so as to also address appeals of decisions to deny an application for a statement or renewal of registration. See Act for Effective Date
Juvenile Justice Code Definitions. Act No. 268 (R227, S. 916) an act to amend § 63-3-510, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the jurisdiction of the family court, so as to raise the age that a person is considered a child for purposes of delinquency matters before the family court; to amend § 63-19-20, relating to the definition of "child" or "juvenile" , so as to mean a person under the age of eighteen years, with exceptions; to amend §s 63-19-1030, 63-19-1210, 63-19-1410, 63-19-1420, 63-19-1440, as amended, 63-19-1850, as amended, and 63-19-2050, as amended, all relating to juvenile delinquency proceedings in the family court, so as to raise age limitations to conform with §§ 63-3-510 and 63-19-20; and to require certain state agencies to collect data and submit a report addressing the fiscal impact of raising the age that a person is considered a child for purposes of delinquency matters before the family court. See Act for Effective Date