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TO AMEND SECTION 8-27-30, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS AGAINST AN EMPLOYING PUBLIC BODY FOR RETALIATION AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE WHO REPORTS A VIOLATION OF STATE OR FEDERAL LAW OR REGULATION, SO AS TO CHANGE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ACTUAL DAMAGES AN EMPLOYEE MAY RECOVER FROM FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 8-27-30(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 164 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"(A) If an employee is dismissed, suspended from employment, demoted, or receives a decrease in compensation, within one year after having timely reported an alleged wrongdoing under this chapter, the employee may institute a nonjury civil action against the employing public body for:
(1) reinstatement to his former position;
(2) lost wages;
(3) actual damages not to exceed fifteen three hundred thousand dollars; and
(4) reasonable attorney fees as determined by the court, but this award of attorney fees may not exceed ten thousand dollars for anya trial and five thousand dollars for anyan appeal.
The action must be brought in the court of common pleas of the county in which the employment action occurred. NoAn action may not be brought under this chapter unless (1) the employee has exhausted all available grievance or other administrative remedies;, and (2) any previous proceedings have resulted in a finding that the employee would not have been disciplined but for the reporting of alleged wrongdoing."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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