South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 68 - Regulation Of Professional Employer Organizations
Section 40-68-10. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:
(1) "Applicant" means a business seeking to be licensed under this chapter or seeking the renewal of a license under this chapter.
(2) "Client company" means a person that contracts with a licensee and is assigned employees by the licensee under that contract.
(3) "Administrator" means the administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(4) "Controlling person" means:
(a) an officer or director of a corporation seeking to offer professional employer services, a shareholder holding ten percent or more of the voting stock of a corporation seeking to offer professional employer services, or a partner of a partnership seeking to offer professional employer services;
(b) an individual who possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a company seeking to offer professional employer services through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and who is actively involved in the day-to-day management of the company; or
(c) an individual employed, appointed, or authorized by a business seeking to offer professional employer services to enter into a contractual relationship with a client company on behalf of the business.
(5) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.
(6) "Insured health benefit plan", for the purposes of this chapter, means a plan offered by an insurer licensed by the Department of Insurance.
(7) "Licensee" means a person licensed under this chapter as a professional employer organization to provide professional employer services. The term includes a professional employer services group licensed under Section 40-68-80.
(8) "Person" means an individual, association, corporation, partnership, or other private legal entity.
(9) "Professional employer services" means an arrangement by which employees of a licensee are assigned to work at a client company and in which employment responsibilities are shared by the licensee and the client company. The employee's assignment is intended to be of a long-term or continuing nature, rather than temporary or seasonal in nature, and a majority of the work force at a client company worksite or a specialized group within that work force consists of assigned employees of the licensee. Professional employer services does not include temporary employees.
(10) "Professional employer organization" means an individual business entity that offers professional employer services.
(11) "Professional employer organization group" means a combination of professional employer services companies that operates under a group license issued under Section 40-68-80.
(12) "Assigned employee" means a person performing services for a client company as affected by a contract between a licensee and client company in which employment responsibilities are shared.
(13) "Entire work force" means all persons engaged by a client company and are employees as defined in Title 42 including persons considered employees under Sections 42-1-400, 42-1-410, and 42-1-420.
HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 169, Section 1; 2005 Act No. 112, Section 1.

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 40 - Professions and Occupations

Chapter 68 - Regulation Of Professional Employer Organizations

Section 40-68-10. Definitions.

Section 40-68-20. Department to adopt regulations; Administrative Procedures Act to govern; licensee governed by chapter and regulations.

Section 40-68-30. License required; application and fee; information required as to each member of group; ineligibility for license for year after denial or revocation of license; exceptions.

Section 40-68-40. Qualifications to serve as controlling person; background investigation; fingerprinting; effect of conviction of crime; designating agent for service of process; minimum net worth requirement.

Section 40-68-45. Continuing professional education.

Section 40-68-50. License fees; biennial assessment fee; submission of financial data to ensure compliance.

Section 40-68-55. Acceptance of affidavit or certification of approval.

Section 40-68-60. Terms of agreement to be established in writing; notice and delivery of notice to assigned employees; posting of notice by client company; notice or knowledge of injury.

Section 40-68-70. Requirements of contract between licensee and client company; investigation of client company's work force; securing workers' compensation insurance coverage; licensee considered employer of assigned employees.

Section 40-68-75. Responsibilities of client company with respect to workers' compensation insurance; penalties and liabilities for violation.

Section 40-68-80. Licensing of multiple companies owned by same entity as professional employer organization group; joint liability.

Section 40-68-90. Nonresident company or group; restricted license; appointment of entity for receipt of legal process.

Section 40-68-100. Duty to issue license to qualified applicants; issuance within prescribed time; time license is valid; renewal.

Section 40-68-110. Disclosure by licensee of information as to insurance or benefit plans for benefit of assigned employees; other reports may be required by regulation.

Section 40-68-120. Licensee's obtaining of workers' compensation coverage; licensee-sponsored and client-sponsored benefit plans for assigned employees; unemployment taxes; notification of start and end of relationship with client company.

Section 40-68-130. Form and content of licenses and notices; display.

Section 40-68-140. Name under which business may be conducted; change of name or location of primary office or records; addition of business offices; license not assignable.

Section 40-68-150. Prohibited acts; operation without license; wrongful use of title or representation of being licensed; use of forged or false information to obtain license or in disciplinary proceeding; use of expired or revoked license; penalties...

Section 40-68-155. Investigation of complaints.

Section 40-68-160. Disciplinary action; grounds; sanctions; notice, hearing, and appeal; reinstatement.

Section 40-68-165. Enforcement by Attorney General.

Section 40-68-170. Fees to be used to implement provisions of chapter.

Section 40-68-180. Other applicable license requirements; licensed, registered, or certified employee considered employee of client company or of licensee; Employment Security Law unaffected.