Committee Report

April 25, 2024

 

S. 621

 

Introduced by Senators Reichenbach, Stephens, Cromer, Kimbrell, M. Johnson, Fanning, Setzler, Bennett, Shealy, Rice, Williams, Allen, Garrett, Loftis, Sabb and Gustafson

 

S. Printed 04/25/24--H.

Read the first time February 06, 2024

 

________

 

The committee on House Ways and Means

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 621) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Chapter 79 to Title 39 so as to create the "South Carolina-Ireland Trade Commission", to provide for the members, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

 

B.W. BANNISTER for Committee.

 

_______

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 79 TO TITLE 39 SO AS TO CREATE THE "SOUTH CAROLINA-IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION", TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE TRADE COMMISSION, AND TO ESTABLISH THE DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Title 39 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    CHAPTER 79

 

    South Carolina-Ireland Trade Commission

 

    Section 39-79-100. (A) There is established the "South Carolina-Ireland Trade Commission" which is created to advance bilateral trade and investment between South Carolina and Ireland. The trade commission shall consist of fifteen members to be appointed as follows:

       (1) four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of which must be members of the House of Representatives;

       (2) four members appointed by the President of the Senate, two of which must be members of the Senate; and

       (3) seven members appointed by the Governor:

           (a) the Secretary of the Department of Commerce or his designee;

           (b) the Commissioner of Agriculture or his designee;

           (c) two representatives of state institutions of higher education;

           (d) two members representing Irish Americans in South Carolina or Irish-American communities; and

           (e) one representative of a South Carolina business organization or a trade organization.

    (B) The members of the commission must be appointed for terms of four years each and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that the seven members appointed by the Governor shall serve initial terms of two years each, the four members appointed by the President of the Senate shall serve initial terms of three years each, and the four members appointed by the Speaker shall serve initial terms of four years each. Members may be reappointed and must include:

       (1) the Secretary of the Department of Commerce or his designee;

       (2) the Commissioner of Agriculture or his designee;

       (3) one representative of a state institution of higher education;

       (4) at least two members representing Irish Americans in South Carolina or Irish-American communities; and

       (5) one representative of a South Carolina business organization or a trade organization.

    (C) All appointments must be made no later than ninety days following the date of enactment of this act. A vacancy in the membership of the commission must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

    (D) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limit of funds appropriated to the commission or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

    (E) The commission shall meet and hold hearings at the places it designates throughout the State.

    (F) The Governor shall designate a chairperson or cochairpersons from among the members of the commission, who shall serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor. The chairperson or cochairpersons, as appropriate may appoint from among the commission members subcommittees or subcommittee chairpersons at their discretion. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the commission.

    (G)(1) The purpose of the South Carolina-Ireland Trade Commission is to:

           (a) advance bilateral trade and investment between South Carolina and Ireland;

           (b) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to South Carolina and Ireland;

            (c) promote business and academic exchanges between South Carolina and Ireland;

           (d) encourage mutual economic support between South Carolina and Ireland;

           (e) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of South Carolina and Ireland; and

           (f) address such other issues as determined by the commission.

       (2) The commission shall report its findings, results, and recommendations to the Governor, and the General Assembly pursuant to this chapter, within one year of its initial organizational meeting and by February first of each succeeding year for the activities of the preceding calendar year. The report must be in writing and include recommendations as is considered appropriate by the commission to effectuate its purpose, as provided by this section.

       (3) The South Carolina-Ireland Trade Commission is authorized to raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions, to defray the commission's administrative expenses and to carry out its purposes as set forth in this chapter. The funds, gifts, grants, or bequests received pursuant to this section must be deposited in an account with the State Treasurer and allocated and annually appropriated to the Department of Commerce to defray the commission's administrative expenses and carry out its purposes. The Department of Commerce may use funds appropriated for Foreign Operations to fund the administrative expenses and carry out the purposes of the commission to the extent that sufficient non-appropriated funds are not available. Foreign Operations appropriations may also be used for any non-administrative expenses of the commission with approval of the Secretary of Commerce. Expenditures made for the purposes of administering the commission and fulfilling its purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of Title 11, Chapter 35 of the code.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----