reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 40-11-10 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-10. South Carolina Contractor's licensing Board created; membership; terms; filling vacancies.

 (A) There is created the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board under the administration of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The purpose of this board is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public through the regulation of businesses and individuals who identify, assess, and provide contract work to individuals or other legal entities through the administration and enforcement of this chapter and any regulation promulgated under this chapter and Article 1, Chapter 1.  (B) The board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor, seven of whom must be licensed contractors. Of the seven contractors, one must have as the larger part of his business the construction of highways, one must have as the larger part of his business the construction of public utilities, one must have as the larger part of his business the construction of commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings, one must have as the larger part of his business the performance of heating, plumbing, or air conditioning work, one must have as the larger part of his business the performance of electrical work, and one must have as the larger part of his business the installation, servicing, and responding to burglar or fire alarm systems, and one must have as the larger part of his business the performance of fire sprinklers systems work. Two members must be consumer members representing the public at large. Nominations for appointment to the board may be submitted to the Governor by the board or an individual, group, or association.  (C) Members serve terms of five years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. A vacancy on the board must be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1; 2005 Act No. 177, Section 2.  Editor's Note  Prior Laws:1936 (39) 1675; 1942 Code Section 7084-2; 1952 Code Section 56-402; 1962 Code Section 56-402; 1956 (49) 1762; 1983 Act No. 151, Part II, Section 39A; 1992 Act No. 360, Section 7; 1976 Code Section 40-11-20.
SC Code § 40-11-30 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-30. Licensing requirement.

 No entity or individual may practice as a contractor by performing or offering to perform contracting work for which the total cost of construction is greater than five thousand dollars for general contracting or greater than five thousand dollars for mechanical contracting without a license issued in accordance with this chapter.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-60 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-60. Rules and regulations; owner-prepared financial statement form.

 The board may adopt rules governing its proceedings and may promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Regulations must be promulgated to establish the form an owner must use to submit an owner-prepared financial statement as provided in Section 40-11-260(A)(3)(c), (A)(4)(c), (B)(3)(c), and (B)(4)(c). The department must furnish the form to the licensees.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-70 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-70. Powers of board.

 In addition to powers and duties provided in Article 1, Chapter 1, the board may:  (1) establish a time limit beyond which an initial complaint may not be considered;  (2) establish a procedure for receiving complaints which protects the anonymity of the person filing the complaint;  (3) order an entity or individual found in violation of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under this chapter to take remedial action;  (4) establish guidelines for identifying substandard construction work.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-80 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-80. Investigation of complaints and violations.

 The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation shall investigate complaints and violations of this chapter as provided for in Section 40-1-80.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-90 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-90. Results of investigations to be presented to board; hearing.

 The results of an investigation must be presented to the board and any subsequent hearing must be conducted in accordance with Section 40-1-90.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-100 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-100. Violations; administrative citations; cease and desist orders; administrative penalties; appeals.

 (A) The department may refer any reports of violations of this chapter and Article 1, Chapter 1 of this title or any reports of violations of regulations promulgated under this chapter directly to the board or may issue administrative citations and cease and desist orders in person or by certified mail and may assess administrative penalties against any entity or individual, including unlicensed contractors, for violations of this chapter as specified by the board.  (B) Separate citations may be issued and separate administrative penalties may be assessed for each violation, however, no more than two thousand five hundred dollars in administrative penalties may be assessed against an entity or an individual per day.  (C) Administrative penalties authorized under this section are separate from and in addition to all other remedies, either civil or criminal.  (D) Administrative penalties assessed pursuant to this section may not exceed the following limits:  (1) for a first offense, not more than a five-hundred dollar penalty;  (2) for a second offense in a five-year period, the citation must be referred to the board for action in accordance with Section 40-11-110.  (E) An entity or individual assessed administrative penalties may appeal those penalties to the board within fifteen days of receipt of the citation. If an appeal is filed, the department shall schedule a hearing before the board, which shall make a determination in the matter. If no appeal is filed, the citation is deemed a final order and the administrative penalties must be paid within thirty days of receipt of the citation.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-120 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-120. Other sanctions.

 In addition to the sanctions the board may impose against a person pursuant to this chapter, the board may take disciplinary action against a person as provided for in Section 40-1-120.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-130 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-130. Denial of license or certificate.

 (A) The department may refuse to issue a license or certificate to an applicant who:  (1) has failed to meet the minimum qualifications required by this chapter or regulations promulgated under this chapter;  (2) has had a license or certificate denied, suspended, revoked, or otherwise been disciplined;  (3) has engaged in contracting without a valid license as required under this chapter;  (4) has submitted a bid without a valid license when one is required by law;  (5) has committed an act which would be grounds for disciplinary action under this chapter;  (6) has submitted false or misleading information;  (7) has engaged in conduct which demonstrates bad faith, dishonesty, untrustworthiness, or incompetence in business or the profession;  (8) has aided or abetted an entity in the violation of a provision of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under this chapter;  (9) has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of this or any other state, district, or territory of the United States, or of a foreign country of the offense of forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, theft, extortion, or conspiracy to defraud or other like offense, has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, or pled nolo contendere to any such offense;  (10) has an outstanding monetary judgment related to construction.  (B) A license or certificate may be denied to an applicant:  (1) for a minimum of one year after the date of revocation of a similar professional license or certificate issued by this State or any other state or jurisdiction;  (2) who is presently under suspension by a professional licensing entity in this or any other state or jurisdiction;  (3) who has unresolved complaints or charges pending against him before this or any other professional licensing board in this or any other state.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-140 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-140. Prior criminal record.

 A license may be denied based on a person's prior criminal record only as provided in Section 40-1-150.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-150 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-150. Voluntary surrender of license.

 A licensee under investigation for a violation of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under this chapter voluntarily may surrender the license in accordance with Section 40-1-150.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-160 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-160. Appeal.

 A person aggrieved by a final action of the board may seek review of the decision in accordance with Section 40-1-160.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-170 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-170. Costs of investigation and prosecution.

 A person found in violation of this chapter or regulations promulgated under this chapter may be required to pay costs associated with the investigation and prosecution of the case in accordance with Section 40-1-170.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-180 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-180. Collection and enforcement of costs, fees, and fines.

 All costs, fees, and fines provided in this chapter, except examination fees, must be paid to and collected by the department in accordance with and are subject to the collection and enforcement provisions of Section 40-1-180.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-190 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-190. Investigations and proceedings confidential; communications privileged.

 Investigations and proceedings conducted under this chapter are confidential and all communications are privileged as provided in Section 40-1-190.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-200 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-200. Unlawful practice; penalty.

 (A) A person who practices or offers to practice in this State in violation of this chapter or who knowingly submits false information for the purpose of obtaining a license is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than five thousand dollars.  (B) It is a violation of this chapter for an awarding authority, owner, contractor, or an agent of an authority, owner, or contractor to consider a bid, sign a contract, or allow a contractor to begin work unless the bidder or contractor has first obtained the licenses required by this chapter. Bids or contracts submitted by contractors may not be reconsidered or resubmitted to an awarding authority, contractor, or owner if the contractor was not properly licensed at the time the initial bid or contract was submitted.  (C) Charges under this section may be preferred by the board by delivering evidence of a violation to a solicitor or a magistrate having jurisdiction.  (D) Upon conviction under this section, the fines and assessments imposed by a court must be administered pursuant to Sections 14-1-205, 14-1-206, 14-1-207, 14-1-208, and 14-1-209.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.  Editor's Note  Prior Laws:1936 (39) 1675; 1942 Code Section 7084-3; 1952 Code Section 56-426; 1956 (49) 1762; 1960 (51) 1537; 1962 Code Sections 56-426, 56-426.1; 1993 Act No. 184, Section 228; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 873; 1976 Code Sections 40-11-290, 40-11-300.
SC Code § 40-11-210 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-210. Injunctive relief.

 The department, on behalf of the board and in accordance with Section 40-1-120, may petition an administrative law judge, in the name of the State, for injunctive relief against a person violating this chapter.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.  Editor's Note  Prior Laws:1962 Code Section 56-426.3; 1968 (55) 2421; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 874.
SC Code § 40-11-240 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-240. Qualifications for licensure; required submissions.

 (A) To qualify for licensure, an entity must:  (1) be organized or registered under applicable South Carolina law as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or a domestic or foreign corporation;  (2) have a certified qualifying party in full-time employment in a responsible management position; and  (3) meet all requirements for licensure as provided in this chapter.  (B) To qualify for a license, an entity must submit:  (1) a completed application on a form approved by the board;  (2) all required fees;  (3) a detailed statement of current financial condition as required by this chapter;  (4) reference from a bank or other financial institution on a form as prescribed by the department;  (5) the name and certificate number of the primary qualifying party for each classification or subclassification for which a license is desired;  (6) proof that the entity's primary qualifying party in each classification or subclassification is an employee in a responsible management position; and  (7) all documentation required by the department pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.  (C) A licensee may list additional qualifying parties.  (D) A change of an entity's name, organizational status, or federal employer identification number must be reported to the department within fifteen days. Failure to do so results in license cancellation fifteen days from the date of change and requires the new entity to submit an initial application and meet all requirements for licensure.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-250 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-250. Renewal of license; lapsed license.

 (A) All licenses may be renewed biennially. A licensee shall apply to the department for license renewal by the expiration date on a form approved by the board. Renewal applications not postmarked by the expiration date result in a lapsed license. An entity which fails to renew and which continues to engage in construction is practicing without a license and is subject to the penalties prescribed in this chapter.  (B) A license which has lapsed may be renewed within ninety days from date of expiration by filing a renewal application and upon payment of renewal and late fees. An entity whose license is lapsed for failure to renew must submit an application and meet all qualifications for initial licensure to engage in construction.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-262 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-262. Surety bonds in lieu of providing financial statements.

 (A) In lieu of providing a financial statement showing a minimum net worth for a license group as required by Section 40-11-260, an applicant may provide a surety bond from a surety authorized to transact surety business in this State in an amount of two times the required net worth for the applicant's license group with his initial or renewal application.  (B) The surety bond provided in subsection (A) must:  (1) be continuous in form and must be maintained in effect for as long as the applicant maintains the license issued by the department or until the applicant submits a financial statement showing that he meets the net worth requirements for his license group as provided in Section 40-11-260;  (2) list the State of South Carolina as obligee for the bond;  (3) be for the benefit of any person who is damaged by an act or omission of the applicant constituting a breach of construction contract or a contract for the furnishing of labor, materials, or professional services for construction undertaken by the applicant, or by any unlawful act or omission of the applicant in performing construction; and  (4) be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other surety bond required of the applicant by law or regulation, or by any party to a contract with the applicant.  (C) The surety bond provided in subsection (A) only may be canceled by notification to the board by the surety and the applicant thirty days prior to cancellation. When the surety bond is canceled, the licensee shall provide proof of net worth for his license group as required by Section 40-11-260 within ten days of cancellation or his license is suspended until written proof of net worth is provided.  (D) Claims may be filed against the bond on a form approved by the board in accordance with procedures established by the board in regulation.  HISTORY: 2018 Act No. 217 (H.4612), Section 1, eff May 18, 2018.
SC Code § 40-11-265 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-265. Contractors who leave the State with unpaid debts and subsequently return; notarized statement to board; board authority to deny or revoke license.

 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who is or has been licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter who leaves this State with unpaid debts and subsequently returns to the State and seeks to become licensed in this State again, or to do business again in this State under the authority of a still-valid license previously issued under this chapter, shall file with the board a signed, notarized statement listing (1) all outstanding debts the person, or any subsidiary of the person, owes with respect to having done business previously in this State and (2) all bankruptcies which the person, or any subsidiary of the person, has been involved in at any time and place. The board is authorized to refuse to issue a license to the person, and is also authorized to revoke the person's still-valid license, as the case may be, based upon the information contained in the signed, notarized statement required by this section.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 313, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-270 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-270. Licensee confined to limitations of license group; display of license; licenses in more than one classification; use of unlicensed subcontractors.

 (A) A licensee is confined to the limitations of the licensee's license group and license classifications or subclassifications as provided in this chapter.  (B) 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.  (C) 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 issued by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Each invoice and proposal form also shall contain the mechanical contractor license number.  (D) An entity may apply for and be licensed in more than one classification or subclassification if all qualifications for licensure prescribed by this chapter have been met. An applicant may apply for a license in more than one classification or subclassification on the same application form.  (E) Licensees may utilize the services of unlicensed subcontractors to perform work within the limitations of the licensee's license group and license classification or subclassification; provided, the licensee provides supervision. The licensee is fully responsible for any violations of this chapter resulting from the actions of unlicensed subcontractors performing work for the licensee.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1; 2016 Act No. 193 (H.4138), Section 1, eff May 26, 2016.  Effect of Amendment  2016 Act No. 193, Section 1, added (B) and (C), relating to display of license, and redesignated former (B) and (C) as (D) and (E).
SC Code § 40-11-280 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-280. Change in license classification.

 A licensee desiring a change in license classification or subclassification or license group shall apply for revision on a form approved by the board. Existing bidding limitations remain in effect until the revision has been approved by the department. The board may assess a penalty authorized by law against a licensee who undertakes or offers to undertake an improvement exceeding the limitations of the licensee's group.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.
SC Code § 40-11-290 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 40 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 11 - Contractors|Section 40-11-290. Licensure of applicant holding license in another state.

 The board may grant a license or certificate to an applicant holding a license or certificate in good standing in another state whose requirements for licensure and certification are equal to or greater than those required by this chapter if the board has authorized an exam waiver agreement with the State. An applicant may exempt the technical examination required for certification if the applicant can verify passing an examination in another state which is essentially the same as the examination required by the department regardless of the absence of a reciprocal agreement with that state. An applicant for certification or licensure under this section may be required to pass the South Carolina Code of Laws examination and must comply with all other licensing and certification requirements of this chapter.  HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 440, Section 1.