H 3772 General Bill, By Bingham, Allison, Cole, Daning, Henderson, Horne, Patrick, Pope, Quinn, J.R. Smith, Simrill, Merrill, Atwater, Spires, Ballentine, Huggins, Kennedy, Norman, G.R. Smith, Toole, Taylor, Wells, Clemmons, Willis, Hardwick, D.C. Moss, Forrester, Long, Erickson, Newton, Wood, Nanney, Felder, Rivers, Hixon and Stringer
Similar (H 3945)
Summary: State Ethics Commission
    A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 4 TO CHAPTER 13, TITLE 8 SO AS TO RECONSTITUTE THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION AND REVISE ITS POWERS, DUTIES, AND PROCEDURES, INCLUDING A PROVISION THAT ALL COMPLAINTS RELATING TO ETHICAL VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE MEMBERS AND STAFF OF AND CANDIDATES FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MUST BE FILED WITH THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, PROCESSED BY IT, AND THEN REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC INTEGRITY UNIT CREATED BELOW FOR INVESTIGATION BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO THE APPROPRIATE ETHICS COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE FOR FURTHER ACTION; BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 13, TITLE 8 SO AS TO RECONSTITUTE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEES TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THAT PROVIDED IN THE RULES OF THE RESPECTIVE HOUSES AND TO REVISE THE PROCEDURES OF THE ETHICS COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE IN REGARD TO THE MANNER IN WHICH ETHICAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST ITS MEMBERS, CANDIDATES, OR STAFF MUST BE PROCESSED AND DECIDED; BY ADDING SECTION 8-13-1525 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR CANDIDATE MAY APPEAR ON THE BALLOT FOR ELECTION TO ANY OFFICE IF THAT PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR CANDIDATE HAS RECEIVED NOTICE OF AN OUTSTANDING OR UNPAID FINE LEVIED BY THE ETHICS COMMISSION; BY ADDING CHAPTER 2 TO TITLE 23 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC INTEGRITY UNIT AND PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP, POWERS, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 2-17-10, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO LOBBYING, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "LOBBYING" AND "LOBBYIST"; TO AMEND SECTION 2-17-30, RELATING TO A LOBBYIST'S REPORTING OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES, SO AS TO REQUIRE A LOBBYIST TO DISCLOSE ALL INCOME RECEIVED FROM A LOBBYIST'S PRINCIPAL; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-100, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO ETHICS, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CAMPAIGN REFORM, SO AS TO REVISE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-700, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO USE OF AN OFFICIAL POSITION OR OFFICE FOR FINANCIAL GAIN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DETERMINES THAT HE HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, HE MUST COMPLY WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS BEFORE ABSTAINING FROM ALL VOTES ON THE MATTER, AND TO PROVIDE FOR WHEN A PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHO IS REQUIRED TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM A MATTER MUST DO SO; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-740, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO REPRESENTATION OF ANOTHER PERSON BY A PUBLIC OFFICIAL BEFORE A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, SO AS TO FURTHER DELINEATE WHAT IS CONSIDERED A CONTESTED CASE WHEN REPRESENTATION BY A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS PERMITTED; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-745, RELATING TO PAID REPRESENTATION OF CLIENTS AND CONTRACTING BY A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR AN ASSOCIATE IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS, SO AS TO DELETE A PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN CONTRACTS WITH AN ENTITY FUNDED WITH GENERAL FUNDS; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CONTENTS OF STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTEREST, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THESE CONTENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1300, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO CAMPAIGN PRACTICES, SO AS TO REVISE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1314, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AND RESTRICTIONS, SO AS TO INCREASE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AND PROVIDE A MECHANISM EVERY FIVE YEARS FOR FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, AND TO PROHIBIT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A NONCANDIDATE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED, FINANCED, MAINTAINED, OR CONTROLLED BY A CANDIDATE OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR ANY OTHER ENTITY MAINTAINED BY OR AFFILIATED WITH A CANDIDATE OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1318, RELATING TO ACCEPTANCE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO RETIRE CAMPAIGN DEBTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE ANY SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE ONLY; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1338, RELATING TO PERSONS WHO MAY NOT SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE HEAD OF ANY STATE AGENCY WHO IS SELECTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, OR AN APPOINTED OR ELECTED BOARD; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1340, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS BY ONE CANDIDATE TO ANOTHER OR THROUGH COMMITTEES CONTROLLED BY A CANDIDATE, SO AS TO DELETE AN EXCEPTION FOR A COMMITTEE CONTROLLED BY A CANDIDATE IF IT IS THE ONLY SUCH COMMITTEE, AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-54-240, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS AND REPORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, SO AS TO PERMIT THE DEPARTMENT TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLIC INTEGRITY UNIT INVESTIGATIONS; AND TO REPEAL ARTICLES 3 AND 5, CHAPTER 13, TITLE 8 RELATING TO THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION AND THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ETHICS COMMITTEES, RESPECTIVELY.
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03/06/13	House	Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 89)
03/06/13	House	Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 89)
03/13/13	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Taylor, Wells, Clemmons, Willis, Hardwick, D.C.Moss, Forrester, Long, Long, Erickson, Newton, Wood, Nanney, Felder
03/19/13	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Rivers, Hixon
03/20/13	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Stringer