A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 37-6-513 so as to ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO UTILIZE FUNDS AND FEES PAID TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS; and by adding Section 37-6-610 so as to ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO CARRY FORWARD CERTAIN FUNDS.

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

SECTION 1. Part 5, Chapter 6, Title 37 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 376513. (A) Funds paid to the Department of Consumer Affairs to resolve cases involving violations of this title and other statutes enforced by the department may be retained and expended by the department to help offset the costs of investigating, prosecuting, and the administrative costs associated with these violations.

(B) The Department of Consumer Affairs may retain all filing fees collected under Chapters 2, 3, and 6 of this title. These fees must be used to offset the cost of administering and enforcing this title.

(C) The Department of Consumer Affairs may retain all fees collected pursuant to Sections 396180, 3961120, 4039120, and 447980.

(D) Unexpended funds resulting from funds paid to the Department of Consumer Affairs to resolve cases and from fees may be carried forward from one fiscal year to the next and used for the same purpose.

SECTION 2. Part 6, Chapter 6, Title 37 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 376610. Unexpended funds set aside for the Consumer Advocacy Expert Witness/Assistance Program established by Section 376603 may be carried forward from one fiscal year to the next and used for the same purpose.

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

XX