restore the core First Amendment value of open and robust debate in the political process; (5) diminish the public perception of corruption and strengthen public confidence in the democratic process and democratic institutions; (6) increase the accountability of elected officials to the constituents who elect them; (7) eliminate the danger of actual corruption caused by the private financing of the election campaigns of public officials, thus restoring public confidence in the fairness of the electoral and legislative processes; (8) save taxpayers millions of dollars now wasted due to litigation and amicus filings on partisan issues favored by donors; (9) halt and reverse the escalating cost of elections; (10) create a more level playing field for the incumbent and challengers, create genuine opportunities for qualified residents of this State to run for office, and encourage more competitive elections; (11) facilitate communication with the electorate by candidates, regardless of their access to large sums of campaign money; and (12) free candidates from the incessant rigors of raising money, and allow the officeholder more time to carry out his official duties. (C) The General Assembly further finds and declares that the unique factual circumstances in this State require that the provisions of this act be enacted to promote the compelling state interests listed in subsection (B) of this section. SECTION 2. This act may be known as the “South Carolina Judicial Independence Act”. SECTION 3. Title 8 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding: “CHAPTER 16 South Carolina Judicial Independence Act Section 81610. As used in this chapter: (1) ‘Allowable contribution’ means a qualifying contribution, or a seed money contribution, or a limited inkind contribution to a participating candidate from that candidate’s political party as specified in Section 816250.
Section 816230. (A) The General Assembly shall appropriate funds that, when added to the revenue outlined in subsection (B) are sufficient to fully carry out the provisions of this chapter. These appropriated funds must be deposited in the public financing fund as maintained by the State Ethics Commission. (B) Other sources of revenue to be deposited in the fund must include: (1) the qualifying contributions required of a candidate seeking to become certified as a participating candidate according to the provisions of Section 81620 and the candidate’s excess qualifying contributions; (2) the excess seed money contributions of a candidate seeking to become certified as a participating candidate, as defined in Section 816100; (3) unspent funds distributed to a participating candidate who does not remain a candidate until the primary, general, or runoff election for which they were distributed, or those funds that remain unspent by a participating candidate following the date of the primary, general, or runoff election for which they were distributed; (4) fines levied by the commission against candidates for violation of election laws; (5) voluntary donations made directly to the public financing fund; (6) funds appropriated by the General Assembly; (7) any interest generated by the fund; and (8) any other sources of revenue determined as necessary by the General Assembly. Section 816240. (A) Upon determination that a candidate has met all the requirements for becoming a participating candidate as provided for in this chapter, the commission shall issue to the candidate a card, known as the ‘publicly financed debit card’, and a ‘line of debit’ entitling the candidates and members of the candidate’s staff to draw public financing funds from a commission account to pay for all campaign costs and expenses up to the amount of publicly financed funding the candidate has received. (B) Neither a participating candidate nor another person on behalf of a participating candidate shall pay campaign costs by cash, check, money order, loan, or by any other financial means besides the publicly financed debit card. (C) Cash amounts of one hundred dollars or less for each day may be drawn on the publicly financed debit card and used to pay expenses of no more than twentyfive dollars each. Records of all