Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2005 Session > Title 2

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Title 2 - General Assembly

CHAPTER 7.

LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS

ARTICLE 1.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 2-7-10. Effective date of legislative enactments.

No act or joint resolution passed by the General Assembly shall take effect or become of force until the twentieth day after the day of its approval by the executive, unless some other day be specially named in the body of the act or joint resolution as the day upon which it shall take effect.

SECTION 2-7-20. Effect of repeal of legislative enactment.

The repeal of an act or joint resolution shall not revive any law theretofore repealed or superseded, nor any office theretofore abolished.

SECTION 2-7-30. Construction of words.

The words "person" and "party" and any other word importing the singular number used in any act or joint resolution shall be held to include the plural and to include firms, companies, associations and corporations and all words in the plural shall apply also to the singular in all cases in which the spirit and intent of the act or joint resolution may require it. All words in an act or joint resolution importing the masculine gender shall apply to females also and words in the feminine gender shall apply to males. And all words importing the present tense shall apply to the future also.

SECTION 2-7-35. Handicapped person defined.

Wherever the term "handicapped person" appears in the laws of this State, unless it is stated to the contrary, it shall mean a person who:

(1) Has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities including, but not limited to caring for himself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working;

(2) Meets any other definition prescribed by federal law or regulation for use by agencies of state government which serve handicapped persons.

SECTION 2-7-40. to members of county legislative delegations in certain statutes affecting multi-county senatorial districts.

In multi-county senatorial districts, all references in existing statutes relative to county affairs and appointments to the members of a county legislative delegation or language of similar import, except in statutes relating to appointments required to be made upon the advice and consent of the Senate, in a determination of action by the delegation under the statutes, shall mean a majority of the members of the House of Representatives resident in the county when such county is without a resident Senator and one half of such members when such county has a resident Senator and shall include in all such counties with or without a resident Senator at least one Senator thereof in those districts having not more than two Senators and at least two Senators in those districts having at least three Senators; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any county having more than five members of the House of Representatives.

SECTION 2-7-45. Adoption of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as only general statutory law of State.

The Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, which contains the permanent laws of general application through the 1975 session of the General Assembly and which was presented to the members of the General Assembly during the 1977 session is hereby adopted as the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, and is declared to be the only general statutory law of the State as of January 1, 1976.

SECTION 2-7-50. Amendments, additions and repeals may be made by reference to this Code.

Whenever, in any act, reference is made to this Code for the purpose of altering, amending, adding to or repealing any part thereof, such reference, alteration, amendment, addition or repeal shall be construed to apply to the original law purporting to be revised in such revision as fully and specifically as though such original laws were mentioned in the act containing such reference, alteration, amendment, addition or repeal.

SECTION 2-7-60. Annual general appropriations act.

The General Assembly shall annually provide for all expenditures in the general appropriation act and the appropriations made for any department, institution, board or commission shall be in a definite sum for each purpose or activity with such itemization under the activity as may be deemed necessary by the General Assembly.

SECTION 2-7-62. Report to General Assembly on transfer of funds resulting from transfers for responsibilities between agencies during consideration of general appropriation act.

At each stage of consideration of the annual general appropriation act, the Budget and Control Board shall compile and submit a report to the Members of the General Assembly containing any transfer of funds resulting from the transfer of programs, functions, or responsibilities between agencies and institutions of state government. A transfer must be designated as to its origin and subsequent placement in the act with reference to the appropriate page and line number.

SECTION 2-7-65. Agencies, departments and institutions to justify amount of requested appropriations.

The State Budget and Control Board shall, prior to making its annual recommendations to the General Assembly of the amounts to be appropriated to the various state agencies, departments and institutions, as required by Section 2-7-60 of the 1976 Code, require them to justify the entire amount of money they are requesting. It is the intent of this section that each state agency, department or institution shall be required to justify its recurring expenses, as well as any new or additional expenses.

For the purpose of justification as set forth in this provision, the Budget and Control Board shall require each state agency, department and institution to submit for each program the purposes, objectives and such quantitative measurements regarding services provided as the Budget and Control Board in consultation with the Joint Legislative Appropriations Review Committee might deem necessary for program evaluation.

SECTION 2-7-66. Education Improvement Act appropriations to agencies and entities other than Education Department.

Education Improvement Act of 1984 appropriations for programs which are administered by agencies and entities other than the State Department of Education must be included in the annual general appropriations bill under the section containing appropriations for the State Department of Education in a separate subsection titled "Education Improvement Act Appropriations to Other Agencies and Entities"; Funds appropriated under this subsection must be disbursed to the agencies and entities by the State Treasurer in accordance with state accounting policies and procedures.

SECTION 2-7-68. Format for general appropriations bill sections providing for employment of additional personnel.

Beginning with the State General Appropriation Bill for the Fiscal Year 1980-81 and each year thereafter, each section of the Bill which provides for the employment of additional personnel shall include a separate line item for all new employees for whom compensation is provided in the section concerned and such line items shall be divided according to the job classifications of such additional employees.

Beginning with Fiscal Year 1984-85 and each year thereafter, every proviso appearing in Part I of the Bill which regulates the expenditure of any funds appropriated or deals with related matters, but which did not appear as a proviso in Part I of the State General Appropriation Bill or State General Appropriation Act for the immediately preceding fiscal year, must be italicized.

SECTION 2-7-69. Inclusion of new positions in general appropriation act; copies of Analysis of Change in appropriations by agency.

(A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, if the Budget and Control Board authorizes a state agency to exceed the number of positions authorized by the general appropriation act, the authorization for the positions must terminate at the end of the fiscal year in which the authorization is made unless the authorization is included as a new position in the general appropriation act for the following fiscal year. At each stage of the consideration of the annual general appropriation bill, the Budget and Control Board shall compile and present in a report to the Members of the General Assembly an explanation and justification of all such new positions.

(B) At each stage of consideration of the general appropriation bill, the Budget and Control Board shall provide a member of the body presently considering the bill, upon his request, a copy of the Analysis of Change which details changes in appropriations by agency as of the most recent legislative action.

SECTION 2-7-70. Itemization of appropriation bills.

All bills introduced in either house carrying appropriations shall be itemized in accordance with the classifications used in the budget.

SECTION 2-7-71. Tax bills; requirement of estimated revenue impact statement.

When a bill relating to state taxes is reported out of a standing committee of the Senate or House of Representatives for consideration, there must be attached and printed as a part of the committee report a statement of the estimated revenue impact of the bill on the finances of the State certified by the Board of Economic Advisors. As used in this section "statement of estimated revenue impact" means the consensus of the persons executing the required statement as to the increase or decrease in the net tax revenue to the State if the bill concerned is enacted by the General Assembly. In preparing a statement, the Board of Economic Advisors may request technical advice of the Department of Revenue.

SECTION 2-7-72. Bills and resolutions requiring expenditure of funds shall have fiscal impact statements.

Whenever a bill or resolution is introduced in the General Assembly requiring the expenditure of funds, the principal author shall affix a statement of estimated fiscal impact and cost of the proposed legislation. Before reporting the bill out of committee, if the amount is substantially different from the original estimate, the committee shall attach a statement of estimated fiscal impact to the bill signed by the Director of the State Budget Division of the State Budget and Control Board or his designee. As used in this section, "statement of estimated fiscal impact" means the opinion of the person executing the statement as to the dollar cost to the State for the first year and the annual cost thereafter.

SECTION 2-7-73. Bills and resolutions mandating health insurance coverage shall have fiscal impact statement.

(A) Any bill or resolution which would mandate a health coverage or offering of a health coverage by an insurance carrier, health care service contractor, or health maintenance organization as a component of individual or group policies, must have attached to it a statement of the financial impact of the coverage, according to the guidelines enumerated in subsection (B). This financial impact analysis must be conducted by the Division of Research and Statistical Services and signed by an authorized agent of the Department of Insurance, or his designee. The statement required by this section must be delivered to the Senate or House committee to which any bill or resolution is referred, within thirty days of the written request of the chairman of such committee.

(B) Guidelines for assessing the financial impact of proposed mandated or mandatorily offered health coverage to the extent that information is available, must include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) to what extent does the coverage increase or decrease the cost of treatment or services;

(2) to what extent does the coverage increase or decrease the use of treatment or service;

(3) to what extent does the mandated treatment or service substitute for more expensive treatment or service;

(4) to what extent does the coverage increase or decrease the administrative expenses of insurance companies and the premium and administrative expenses of policyholders; and

(5) what is the impact of this coverage on the total cost of health care.

SECTION 2-7-75. Funds to be used in fiscal year for which they are appropriated, in accordance with line item appropriations.

All state funds appropriated shall be used and all federal and other funds may be used for the operation of state agencies and institutions for the fiscal year for which they are appropriated or made available for use. All agencies and institutions are directed to expend state appropriated funds in strict accordance with the line item appropriations as authorized by the annual appropriations act except for such transfers of funds as may be approved by the Budget and Control Board under its authority as set forth in the appropriations act or other provisions of law. When practicable, all agencies and institutions having federal or other funds available for the financing of their operation shall expend such funds in accordance with the line item appropriations. The authorization to spend federal and other funds shall be reduced to the extent that receipts from these sources do not meet the estimates as reflected in each section of the appropriation act. The Budget and Control Board shall give consideration to the intent of the General Assembly expressed in this section when exercising its responsibility for reviewing grant requests as set forth in the annual appropriations act.

SECTION 2-7-76. Fiscal or revenue impact statements for certain bills and resolutions affecting the expenditure of funds by counties or municipalities.

(A) The chairman of the legislative committee to which a bill or resolution was referred shall direct the Budget Division or the Economic Research Section of the Budget and Control Board, as appropriate, to prepare and affix to it a statement of the estimated fiscal or revenue impact and cost to the counties and municipalities of the proposed legislation before the legislation is reported out of that committee if a bill or resolution:

(1) requires a county or municipality to expend funds allocated to the county or municipality pursuant to Chapter 27 of Title 6;

(2) is introduced in the General Assembly to require the expenditure of funds by a county or municipality;

(3) requires the use of county or municipal personnel, facilities, or equipment to implement a general law or regulations promulgated pursuant to a general law; or

(4) relates to taxes imposed by political subdivisions.

(B) A revised estimated fiscal or revenue impact and cost statement must be prepared at the direction of the presiding officer of the House of Representatives or the Senate by the Budget Division or Economic Research Section of the Budget and Control Board before third reading of the bill or resolution, if there is a significant amendment to the bill or resolution.

(C) For purposes of this section, political subdivision means a county, municipality, school district, special purpose district, public service district, or consolidated political subdivision.

SECTION 2-7-78. Requirements for certification of revenue estimate in the Governor's recommended appropriations bill and the conference committee report.

This section applies to the annual appropriation recommendation of the Governor and to the report of the conference committee on the annual general appropriations bill. A provision offered for inclusion in the annual general appropriations bill by amendment or otherwise, by the Governor, or which increases or decreases the most recent official projection of general fund revenues of the Board of Economic Advisors must not be included in the bill or recommendation unless the revenue impact is certified by the board. Changes to the official general fund revenue estimate as a result of the provision may not exceed the amounts certified by the board. The requirements of this section are in addition to the other provisions of law regarding fiscal impact statements.

SECTION 2-7-80. Printing and distribution of acts.

The clerks of the two houses of the General Assembly are directed to have printed all statewide acts after their approval by the Governor and to place upon the desk of each member of the General Assembly, not later than two weeks after the approval date, a copy of such acts and to mail copies to the house of those members who request such services and, after sine die adjournment each year, to mail a copy of all acts not placed on the members' desks during the session to the home address of each member of the General Assembly. In addition, three copies must be mailed to the head of each state department and institution, to the Chief Justice and associate justices and clerk of the Supreme Court, to the Chief Judge and associate judges and clerk of the Court of Appeals, and each judge and clerk of the judicial circuits. Likewise, printed copies of local acts approved by the Governor must be furnished to the members of the legislative delegation from the county involved. The Secretary of State shall notify the respective clerks immediately upon receipt of all acts available to them for proofreading. One copy of each printed statewide act of the General Assembly must be supplied to each county clerk of court and each county governing body.

SECTION 2-7-90. Use of certified mail satisfies requirement for registered mail.

Whenever in the statute laws of this State requirements are made that notices be sent by registered mail, the use of certified mail, or such other form of United States mail as may be instituted by the United States Post Office providing for proof of mailing or delivery of such mail, shall be considered as compliance with such statutory requirements.

SECTION 2-7-105. Authorization for state capital improvement bonds.

State capital improvement bonds may be authorized by the General Assembly in odd-numbered years. A project may be authorized in the act only for a state agency or institution included in the annual general appropriations act.

SECTION 2-7-110. Bill or resolution requiring expenditure by county, municipality, special purpose district, or school district; statement of estimated fiscal impact.

Whenever a bill or resolution is introduced in the General Assembly requiring the expenditure of funds by a county, municipality, special purpose district, or school district, the principal author shall affix thereto a statement of estimated fiscal impact and cost of the proposed legislation. Prior to reporting the bill out of committee, if the amount is substantially different from the original estimate, the committee chairman shall cause a revised statement of the estimated fiscal impact of the bill to be attached to the bill. As used in this section, "statement of estimated fiscal impact" means the opinion of the person executing the statement as to the dollar cost to the county, municipality, special purpose district, or school district for the first year and the annual cost thereafter.

SECTION 2-7-115. Appropriations for debt service in general appropriations act; additional bonds.

The General Assembly finds that the appropriations for debt service in the general appropriations act are the estimated debt service requirements of bonds of the State for each fiscal year. The inclusion of these appropriations in the annual general appropriations act shall not prevent the issuance of additional bonds pursuant to current or future authorizations if permitted by law.

SECTION 2-7-120. Designation of non-recurring or one-time expenditures in budget recommendations and general appropriations bills.

Whenever the General Assembly appropriates funds for nonrecurring or one-time expenditures, the appropriation must be listed in a separate program entitled "Nonrecurring Appropriation". The Budget and Control Board, when making its annual budget recommendations, shall identify in a separate marking "Nonrecurring Appropriations" all nonrecurring or one-time expenditures.

ARTICLE 3.

CORRECTION OF ERRORS IN ACTS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

SECTION 2-7-210. Clerk shall correct typographical and clerical errors in legislative enactments.

As hereinafter provided the clerk of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall correct typographical and clerical errors in acts and joint resolutions which have been passed by the General Assembly, either before or after approval thereof by the Governor. The authority granted in this section shall only apply to such matter as has been duly passed by both houses of the General Assembly.

SECTION 2-7-220. Procedure for making corrections.

When a typographical or clerical error shall have been called to the attention of the clerk of the Senate or the clerk of the House of Representatives, the clerk may correct such error and shall affix upon the page of the act his signature showing such correction together with the date of such correction and his reason for making such correction. The clerk of the Senate shall certify such corrections on all acts originating in the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall certify such corrections on all acts originating in the House of Representatives.

SECTION 2-7-230. Doubtful matters shall not be corrected.

If, upon examination of such errors as may be called to their attention, the clerk of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall be in doubt as to their authority to make a correction as hereinabove provided, said clerks shall withhold their certificates of correction.

SECTION 2-7-240. No correction shall be made after fifteen days.

No act or joint resolution lodged in the Secretary of State's office over fifteen days shall be corrected as hereinabove provided for in this article.

ARTICLE 5.

INTRODUCTION OF MEASURES FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES

SECTION 2-7-410. Petition and draft of bill for legislation for private purposes.

No bill (a) to charter or incorporate or amend the charter of any society, company, organization or body politic of any kind, (b) for the granting of any privilege or immunity or (c) for any other private purpose whatsoever shall be introduced or entertained in either house of the General Assembly, except by petition to be signed by the persons seeking to be incorporated, by the incorporators or their officers or duly appointed agents seeking an amendment of a charter or by the person seeking such privilege, immunity or other private grant or relief. The petition must be accompanied in each instance by a draft of a bill or joint resolution, as the case may be, to charter or incorporate such society, organization or body politic, to amend the charter thereof, to grant the privilege or immunity or to carry out the private purpose prayed for in the petition.

SECTION 2-7-420. Statement of reasons for legislative charter.

In case of an application for a charter or incorporation, other than of a railroad or canal company, the petition shall state and set forth why the charter cannot be obtained under the provisions of the general statutes, in pursuance of the Constitution, relating to incorporations and any other special reasons on which such charter or incorporation is sought.

SECTION 2-7-430. Application for charter or incorporation of transportation company.

In case of an application for the charter or incorporation of a railroad, canal, tramway, plank road or turnpike company and the grant of the right of way therefor, in addition to the foregoing requirements for other charters and incorporations, the petition shall set forth and describe approximately the route proposed for the projected road and where such route will cross any railroad existing or in the course of construction and shall be accompanied by a plat or map delineating the same. And in case of an application for a railroad charter, the notice required by law shall be given before the application for the charter is made.

SECTION 2-7-440. Statement of merits effect on others and notice.

In any case other than that of a charter or incorporation, the petition shall set forth fully and distinctly the merits and particulars of the case and, if the proposed legislation shall in any wise directly affect the rights of others who reside in this State, the petition shall be accompanied with proof that the parties, so far as known, who may be affected merely, have had sixty days' notice of the presentation of such petition before such petition is presented and also that notice of the intention of the petitioner or petitioners to make such application has been published in the newspaper having the largest circulation published in the county in which the privilege or immunity is to be enjoyed, once a week for at least three weeks, the first of which publications shall be at least sixty days before such petition is presented.

SECTION 2-7-450. Reference of petition to committee.

Any such petition together with the draft of the bill or joint resolution shall be referred to some appropriate committee of the house in which such petition is presented, to be acted upon by such committee.