The State Ethics Commission, Senate Ethics Committee, and House of Representatives Ethics Committee may levy an enforcement or administrative fee on a person who is found in violation, or who admits to a violation, pursuant to Title 2 or Title 8. The fee must be used to reimburse the commission, the appropriate legislative Ethics Committee, or combination thereof, for costs associated with the investigation and hearing of a violation. The costs associated include:
(1) the investigator's time;
(2) mileage, meals, and lodging;
(3) the prosecutor's time;
(4) the hearing panel's travel, per diem, and meals;
(5) administrative time;
(6) subpoena costs to include witness fees and mileage; and
(7) miscellaneous costs such as postage and supplies.
These fees and costs are in addition to any fines as otherwise provided by law.
HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 22B, eff July 1, 2009; 2016 Act No. 282 (H.3184), Section 1, eff April 1, 2017.
Editor's Note
2016 Act No. 282, Section 17, provides as follows:
"SECTION 17. The provisions of this act are effective as of April 1, 2017 and shall apply to complaints filed on or after April 1, 2017. However, the provisions in Section 8-13-310 regarding the selection of the initial members to serve on the State Ethics Commission as of April 1, 2017, and the termination of terms of the members serving on the commission as of March 31, 2017, take effect after the date of the Governor's signature for the limited purpose of having the initial members of the reconstituted State Ethics Commission begin service on April 1, 2017. The State Ethics Commission, House Ethics Committee and Senate Ethics Committee shall maintain jurisdiction over all open complaints and investigations pending in the appropriate entity on or before March 31, 2017. The reconstituted State Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over open complaints and investigations pending within the State Ethics Commission as of March 31, 2017."
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 8 - Public Officers and Employees
Chapter 13 - Ethics, Government Accountability, And Campaign Reform
Section 8-13-100. Definitions.
Section 8-13-120. Fee for education and training programs.
Section 8-13-150. Carrying forward unexpended lobbyists and lobbyist's principals registration fees.
Section 8-13-320. Duties and powers of State Ethics Commission.
Section 8-13-322. Prohibited contacts during pendency of investigation or open complaint.
Section 8-13-325. Commission to retain fees.
Section 8-13-340. Annual report of commission.
Section 8-13-350. Ethics brochure to be provided to public officials, members, and employees.
Section 8-13-365. Electronic filing system for disclosures and reports; public accessibility.
Section 8-13-510. Creation of ethics committees; committee membership; terms; filling vacancies.
Section 8-13-520. Duty to recommend changes in ethics laws and rules.
Section 8-13-530. Additional powers and duties of committee.
Section 8-13-535. Issuance of ethics advisory opinions.
Section 8-13-550. Consideration of report of committee by House or Senate; action; public record.
Section 8-13-795. Receipt of award, grant, or scholarship by public official or family member.
Section 8-13-920. Report of campaign expenditures.
Section 8-13-930. Seeking or offering pledges of votes for candidates.
Section 8-13-935. Public Service Commission election requirements; violations and penalties.
Section 8-13-1110. Persons required to file statement of economic interests.
Section 8-13-1120. Contents of statement of economic interests.
Section 8-13-1130. Report on names of, and purchases by, lobbyists.
Section 8-13-1140. Filing of updated statement.
Section 8-13-1150. Filing of statement by certain consultants.
Section 8-13-1300. Definitions.
Section 8-13-1302. Maintenance of records of contributions, contributors, and expenditures.
Section 8-13-1306. Contents of statement of organization.
Section 8-13-1308. Filing of certified campaign reports by candidates and committees.
Section 8-13-1309. Certified campaign reports; filing; contents.
Section 8-13-1312. Campaign bank accounts.
Section 8-13-1314. Campaign contribution limits and restrictions.
Section 8-13-1322. Dollar limits on contributions to committees.
Section 8-13-1324. Anonymous campaign contributions.
Section 8-13-1326. Loans to candidates considered contributions; limitations; exceptions.
Section 8-13-1328. Limits on repayment of loans from candidate or family members to campaign.
Section 8-13-1330. Contributions by spouses or parent and child.
Section 8-13-1332. Unlawful contributions and expenditures.
Section 8-13-1333. Soliciting contributions from the general public.
Section 8-13-1338. Persons prohibited from soliciting contributions.
Section 8-13-1356. Economic interests statements, filing deadlines for particular candidates.
Section 8-13-1358. Format of certified campaign reports.
Section 8-13-1360. Contribution and expenditure reporting form; contents.
Section 8-13-1364. Sending of notice of obligation to report and forms.
Section 8-13-1366. Public availability of certified campaign reports.
Section 8-13-1372. Technical violations of rules on campaign reports.
Section 8-13-1374. Richland County designated as site of failure to file.