H 3345 General Bill, By Scott, Cato, Tripp, J.H. Neal, McLeod, J.M. Neal, 
Whipper, Hosey, Phillips, Haskins, R. Brown, Davenport, Bales, Breeland, Ceips, 
Clyburn, Dantzler, Funderburk, Hamilton, M. Hines, Howard, Huggins, Jennings, 
Mahaffey, McCraw, Miller and J.E. Smith
 A BILL TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR AND DISABLED CITIZENS UTILITY
 PROTECTION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 58-1-85 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE DISCONTINUANCE
 OF ELECTRIC OR NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF CERTAIN
 SENIOR AND DISABLED CITIZENS UNTIL THIRTY DAYS AFTER NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED
 DISCONTINUANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

   01/25/05  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-7
   01/25/05  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-7

TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR AND DISABLED CITIZENS UTILITY PROTECTION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 58-1-85 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE DISCONTINUANCE OF ELECTRIC OR NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF CERTAIN SENIOR AND DISABLED CITIZENS UNTIL THIRTY DAYS AFTER NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED DISCONTINUANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    This act shall be known as the "South Carolina Senior and Disabled Citizens Utility Protection Act".

SECTION    2.    Chapter 1, Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 58-1-85.    Any person sixty-five years of age or older or who is totally and permanently disabled and whose South Carolina taxable income for the previous year was twenty-five thousand dollars or less may notify the provider of the electric or natural gas service, to his principal residence in writing of his age or disability status and income and in the notice must also consent to the provider sharing this information and his payment information with the Department of Social Services in the manner and under the conditions provided by this section. The provider in turn shall acknowledge receipt of this information in writing. Upon receipt of this information, the provider of the electric or natural gas service may not discontinue service to that person's principal residence for nonpayment of charges until thirty days after it has notified the Department of Social Services of the nonpayment and the planned discontinuance of service. The department during this time shall make an investigation of the circumstances of that person, determine what state or other benefits or utility assistance may be available, and provide whatever other assistance to that person it can."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.