Journal of the Senate
of the Second Session of the 111th General Assembly
of the State of South Carolina
being the Regular Session Beginning Tuesday, January 9, 1996

Page Finder Index

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license application. In the case of the organization, the organization must also have been active in this State for at least three years.

Section 12-21-4080. (A) Upon completion of the session, the promoter shall deliver to the representative member of the organization the gross proceeds from the session less the amount paid out as prizes and collected as entrance fees.

(B) The representative member of the nonprofit organization shall deposit the funds into the bingo checking or savings account as described in Section 12-21-4090. For purposes of this section, a member of the licensed nonprofit organization is any individual who holds a full membership in the organization as defined by the organization's constitution, charter, articles of incorporation or by-laws and has been a member of the organization for at least one year. The term also includes those individuals who are members of an auxiliary or recognized junior affiliate of the parent organization.

Section 12-21-4090. (A) The provisions of this section apply to the licensed nonprofit organization which is responsible for the special checking and savings accounts established by this section.

(B) The organization shall control all deposits, transfers, and disbursements from these accounts, including the payment of compensation to the promoter and employees of the promoter or organization working the bingo games.

(C) An organization receiving an annual license to conduct bingo shall establish and maintain one regular checking account designated the `bingo account' and also may maintain an interest-bearing savings account designated the `bingo savings account'. All funds derived from the conduct of bingo, less the amount awarded as cash prizes, must be deposited in the bingo account. No other funds may be deposited in the bingo account. Deposits must be made no later than the next business day following the day of the bingo occasion on which the receipts were obtained. All accounts must be maintained in a financial institution in this State.

(D) Funds from the bingo account must be withdrawn by preprinted, consecutively-numbered checks or withdrawal slips, jointly signed by a properly authorized representative of the licensed nonprofit organization and promoter and made payable to a person or organization. Checks must be imprinted with the words `Bingo Account' and must contain the organization's bingo license number on the face of the check. There also must be noted on the face of the check or withdrawal slip the nature of the payment made. No check or slip may be made payable to `cash',


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`bearer', or a fictitious payee. All checks, including voided checks and slips, must be kept and accounted for.

(E) Funds received by the nonprofit organization from the department as a result of the sale of bingo cards must be deposited into a separate account and maintained separately from bingo funds and the bingo account referenced in this section.

(F) Checks drawn on the bingo account must be for one or more of the following purposes:

(1) payment of necessary and reasonable bona fide expenses incurred and paid in connection with the conduct of bingo;

(2) payment of necessary and reasonable compensation incurred and paid in connection with the conduct of bingo for personnel and promoters managing and conducting the game;

(3) disbursement of net proceeds derived from the conduct of bingo to charitable purposes or the purpose for which the organization was established;

(4) transfer of net proceeds derived from the conduct of bingo to the bingo savings account pending a disbursement to a charitable purpose.

(G) The disbursement of net proceeds on deposit in the bingo savings account to a charitable purpose must be made by transferring the intended disbursement back into the bingo account and then withdrawing the amount by a check drawn on that account as prescribed in this section.

(H) Proceeds given to a person or an organization for a charitable purpose must not be used by the donee:

(1) to pay for services rendered or materials purchased in connection with the conducting of bingo by the donor organization; or

(2) for a cause, an act, or an activity that does not constitute a charitable purpose or other purpose for which the organization was established if the activity is conducted by the donor organization.

(I) Gross proceeds derived from the conduct of bingo must not be commingled with other funds of the licensed organization.

(J) A licensed organization that has stopped conducting bingo and has unexpended bingo funds shall disburse those funds to a charitable purpose or other purposes for which the organization was established within one year after the date it ceases to conduct bingo. However, unexpended funds to be used for a building fund may be retained for this purpose. The organization shall file a report with the department showing the establishment of a building fund, the amount of money from the special account to be retained for that purpose, and other information the department may consider necessary. If the organization is identified as a


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fictitious charity after originally licensed, any payments due the charity revert to the general fund.

(K) Net proceeds must not be used directly or indirectly by a licensed authorized nonprofit organization to support or oppose a candidate or slate of candidates for public office, to support or oppose a measure submitted to a vote of the people, or to influence or attempt to influence legislation. The records of these accounts are available for inspection, upon demand, by the department.

Section 12-21-4100. (A) Each licensed nonprofit organization conducting bingo games shall submit quarterly to the department on the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter a report under oath containing the following information:

(1) the amount of the gross proceeds derived from the games;

(2) each item of expense incurred or paid;

(3) each item of an expenditure made or to be made, with a detailed description of the merchandise purchased or the services rendered;

(4) the net proceeds derived from the games;

(5) the use to which the proceeds have been or are to be applied;

(6) a list of prizes offered and given, with their respective values;

(7) excess proceeds as provided in Section 12-21-4000(12)(b);

(8) number of players at each session;

(9) other information considered necessary by the department.

(B) Each licensed nonprofit organization shall maintain records to substantiate the contents of each report.

(C) The department may revoke the license of an organization that fails to file the reports and information required in this Article.

Section 12-21-4110. The department shall perform all functions incident to the administration, collection, enforcement, and operation of the tax and regulations imposed under this article. Local law enforcement officials are authorized to enforce the hours of operation.

Section 12-21-4120. A person who is found in violation of the provisions of this article and assessed additional taxes, penalties, fines, or interest is entitled to a conference upon request.

Section 12-21-4130. The department may seize bingo equipment or cards found in the possession of a promoter, a licensed nonprofit organization, or player which have been manufactured, altered, or changed in a manner so as to no longer make bingo a game of chance as defined in this article.

Section 12-21-4140. A penalty of up to five thousand dollars and revocation of the license at the discretion of the department may be


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imposed for a violation of this article. Each violation and each day in violation of a provision of this article constitutes a separate offense.

Section 12-21-4150. A person who poses as a bingo player or a person who conspires to have a person pose as a bingo player with the intent to defraud regular customers of the game, or a person who is using unauthorized bingo supplies, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.

Section 12-21-4160. The department or its designated agent or representative may enter upon the premises where bingo is played or the business premises of another person and examine books, papers, records, memoranda, commodities, or other things bearing upon the amount of taxes or fees payable or the proper conduct of a game and secure from the taxpayer or other person information directly or indirectly for the enforcement of this article.

Section 12-21-4170. The department, in its discretion, may compromise a criminal or civil action arising under the provisions of this article either before or after prosecution has begun.

Section 12-21-4180. The collection of the taxes and fees imposed by this article must not be stayed or prevented by an injunction, writ, or order issued by a court or its judge.

Section 12-21-4190. The department shall charge and retain sixteen and one-half cents for each dollar of face value for each bingo card sold except sales to Class C licensees pursuant to this article. The revenue retained must be distributed as follows:

(1) twenty-six percent of the revenue must be distributed to the sponsoring charity for which the bingo cards were purchased. The department shall make the distribution to the sponsoring charity by the last day of the next month following the month the revenue was collected. Distributions under this subsection must be reduced by any delinquent debts as defined in the Setoff Debt Collection Act;

(2) seventy-four percent pursuant to Section 12-21-4200.

Section 12-21-4200. The first nine hundred forty eight thousand dollars of the total revenues derived from the provisions of this article which is collected from bingo within this State must be deposited monthly in twelve equal amounts into an account in the Office of the State Treasurer and called `Division On Aging Senior Citizen Centers Permanent Improvement Fund'. All interest earned on monies in the Division on Aging Senior Citizen Centers Permanent Improvement Fund must be credited to this fund. Of the remaining revenue:


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(1) Seven and five one-hundredths percent of the annual revenue derived from the provisions of Section 12-21-4190(2) must be deposited with the State Treasurer to be credited to the account of the Division on Aging, Office of the Governor. This amount must be allocated to each county for distribution in home community services for the elderly as follows:

(a) One-half of the funds must be divided equally among the forty-six counties.

(b) The remaining one-half must be divided based on the percentage of the county's population age sixty and above in relation to the total state population using the latest report of the United States Bureau of the Census.

The aging service providers receiving these funds must be agencies recognized by the Division on Aging of the Office of the Governor and the area agencies on aging.

(2) Twenty and eight-tenths percent of the annual revenue derived from the provisions of Section 12-21-4190(2) must be deposited by the State Treasurer in a separate fund for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism entitled the Parks and Recreation Development Fund. Interest earned by this fund must be added to it and credited to its various accounts in the same proportion that the annual allocation to each account bears to the total annual distribution to the fund. Unexpended amounts in the various fund accounts must be carried forward to succeeding fiscal years except as provided in Section 51-23-30. Fund proceeds must be distributed as provided in Chapter 23 of Title 51.

(3) Seventy-two and fifteen one-hundredths percent of the annual revenue derived from the provisions of Section 12-21-4190(2) must be deposited with the State Treasurer and credited to the general fund.

Section 12-21-4210. Bingo cards may not be sold or transferred between licensed organizations, between distributors, or between manufacturers. All unused bingo cards may be returned to the department for refund and destruction. The department is required to refund only the amount retained by the department previously based on the face value of each card and does not include the manufacturer's price or transportation charges to the consignee at destination and such additional charges.

Section 12-21-4220. Bingo cards shall meet the design and requirements of the department. The use of the cards is evidence of the payment of the license tax imposed upon bingo cards by this article.

Section 12-21-4230. Manufacturers, promoters, organizations, or distributors of bingo cards are required to furnish bond in an amount


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approved by the department to ensure faithful compliance with the regulations of the department.

Section 12-21-4240. Each manufacturer, distributor, organization, or promoter must be licensed to manufacture or distribute, or use bingo cards. The department shall charge an annual license fee of five thousand dollars for each manufacturer and two thousand dollars for each distributor. A license issued by the department under this section is renewable annually unless canceled or terminated. No license issued under this section is transferable or assignable.

Section 12-21-4250. A bingo card manufacturer may not be licensed to operate a game, as a bingo card distributor, or as a promoter. A bingo card distributor may not be a manufacturer, a licensed nonprofit organization, or promoter. A licensed nonprofit organization or a promoter may not be a manufacturer or distributor.

Section 12-21-4260. A person licensed as a bingo manufacturer, distributor, organization, or promoter shall submit to a background investigation. This includes each partner of a partnership and each director and officer and all stockholders of ten percent or more in a parent or subsidiary corporation of a bingo card manufacturer, distributor, organization, or promoter. The department has sole discretion to issue a license based on the background investigation.

Section 12-21-4270. Each licensed nonprofit organization or promoter, in the name of a licensed organization, may obtain bingo cards approved by the department by making application and remitting sixteen and one-half percent of the total face value of the cards to be purchased. Payment to the State for the issuance of bingo cards must be made by certified check within fifteen days of receipt of the application. Upon receipt of the application, the department shall notify a licensed distributor, who has purchased bingo cards from a licensed manufacturer that the licensed distributor may release the face value of the bingo cards requested to the licensed organization or promoter. However, no additional bingo cards must be released until payment is received for the prior application of bingo cards. The department is required to set forth procedures to ensure that there is a crosscheck between manufacturers, distributors, and licensed nonprofit organizations or promoters. A quarterly return is required by each manufacturer, distributor, and licensed nonprofit organization or promoter on or before the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter outlining those items the department determines necessary to verify the sale and distribution of bingo cards. The sale of bingo cards and entrance fees provided by


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Section 12-21-4030 are not subject to the admissions tax provided by Section 12-21-2420.

Section 12-21-4280. (A) The department may revoke a license issued under this article if it finds that a licensed nonprofit organization is not in compliance with the exemption requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.

(B) A license revoked under this section must not be reissued until a new application is made and the department determines that the applicant is complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

(C) The department may promulgate regulations to enforce this section.

Section 12-21-4295. Proceeds after expenses derived from the game of bingo within South Carolina must not be expended for the benefit of charitable organizations located outside this State."

SECTION 2. Regardless of the date of issue and license period, all bingo licenses issued pursuant to Article 23, Chapter 21, Title 12 of the 1976 Code expire after September 30, 1997.

SECTION 3. All proceedings pending and rights and liabilities existing, acquired, or incurred at the time this act takes effect are saved and may be consummated according to the law in force when they were commenced. This act may not be construed to affect any prosecution pending or begun before the effective date of this act.

SECTION 4. Article 23, Chapter 21, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION 5. This act takes effect October 1, 1997./

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

Senator GREG SMITH explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered returned to the House with amendments.

SECOND READING BILL

WITH NOTICE OF GENERAL AMENDMENTS

The following Bill having been read the second time with notice of general amendments was ordered placed on the third reading Calendar:

H. 4704 -- Reps. McElveen, J. Young, Harvin, Neal, Canty and G. Brown: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF


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SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EDUCATION, BY ADDING CHAPTER 108 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE MID-CAROLINA COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP, FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION, TO DEVOLVE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SUMTER COUNTY COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION UPON THE COMMISSION; AND TO REPEAL ACT 50 OF 1965 AND ACT 822 OF 1973 RELATING TO THE SUMTER COUNTY COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

Senator LEVENTIS explained the Bill.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED, READ THE SECOND

TIME WITH NOTICE OF GENERAL AMENDMENTS

H. 4472 -- Reps. Klauber, Hallman, Seithel, H. Brown, Sandifer, Cain, Kirsh, Richardson, R. Smith, Bailey, Fulmer, Wofford, Young-Brickell, Dantzler, Koon, Wilkins, J. Young, Cato, Limbaugh, Carnell, J. Harris, Wells, Allison, Spearman, Waldrop and Phillips: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 24, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CORRECTIONS AND PRISONERS, BY ADDING CHAPTER 27 SO AS TO REQUIRE SPECIFIED PAYMENTS OF FILING FEES AND COURT COSTS REGARDING INMATE LITIGATION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE LOSS OF EARNED WORK, EDUCATION, AND GOOD-TIME CREDITS BY A PRISONER IF THE COURT FINDS HE ENGAGED IN CERTAIN IMPROPER ACTIONS REGARDING LEGAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS, AND TO PREVENT A PRISONER FROM BRINGING CERTAIN CIVIL ACTIONS OR APPEALS IF HE HAS BEEN FOUND ON THREE OR MORE PRIOR OCCASIONS OF HAVING INSTITUTED FRIVOLOUS LITIGATION.

Senator McCONNELL asked unanimous consent to make a motion to take up the Bill for immediate consideration.

There was no objection.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill. The question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

The Judiciary Committee proposed the following amendment (JUD4472.002), which was adopted:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting therein the following:


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/SECTION 1. Title 24 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"CHAPTER 27

Inmate Litigation

Article 1

Filing Fees and Court Costs

Section 24-27-100. Unless another provision of law permits the filing of civil actions without the payment of filing fees by indigent persons, if a prisoner brings a civil action or proceeding, the court, upon the filing of the action, shall order the prisoner to pay as a partial payment of any filing fees required by law a first-time payment of twenty percent of the preceding six months' income from the prisoner's trust account administered by the Department of Corrections and thereafter monthly payments of ten percent of the preceding month's income for this account. The department shall withdraw the monies maintained in the prisoner's trust account for payment of filing fees and shall forward quarterly the monies collected to the appropriate court clerk or clerks until the filing fees are paid in full.

The prisoner must file a certified copy of his trust account with the court that reflects the prisoner's balance at the time the complaint is filed unless the prisoner does not have a trust account.

Section 24-27-110. Unless another provision of law permits the filing of civil actions without the payment of court costs by indigent persons, if a prisoner brings a civil action, the prisoner is responsible for the full payment of the court costs. For this purpose, the court shall order the prisoner to pay a partial first-time payment of twenty percent of the preceding six months' income from the prisoner's trust account administered by the Department of Corrections and thereafter monthly payments of ten percent of the preceding month's income of this account. The department shall withdraw the monies maintained in the prisoner's trust account for payment of court costs and shall forward quarterly the monies collected to the appropriate court clerk or clerks until the court costs are paid in full.

Section 24-27-120. Nothing in this chapter prevents a prisoner from authorizing payments beyond those required herein.

Section 24-27-130. The court may dismiss without prejudice any civil action pertaining to the prisoner's incarceration or apprehension brought by a prisoner who has previously failed to pay filing fees and court costs imposed under this chapter, except as otherwise provided in Section 24-27-150 or 24-27-400.


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Section 24-27-140. For purposes of this chapter, a prisoner is defined as a person who has been convicted of a crime and is incarcerated for that crime or is being held in custody for trial or sentencing.

Section 24-27-150. If a prisoner does not have a trust account, or if the prisoner's trust account does not contain sufficient funds to make the first-time payments required by this chapter, the civil action may still be filed, but the prisoner shall remain responsible for the full payment of filing fees and court costs. Payments of ten percent of the preceding month's income of the prisoner's trust account, as set forth in this chapter, shall be made from the prisoner's trust account as soon as a trust account is created for the prisoner and funds are available in the account.

Article 2

Loss of Earned Release Credits

Section 24-27-200. A prisoner shall forfeit all or part of his earned work, education, or good conduct credits in an amount to be determined by the Department of Corrections upon recommendation of the court if the court finds that the prisoner has done any of the following in a case pertaining to his incarceration or apprehension filed by him in state or federal court or in an administrative proceeding while incarcerated:

(1) submitted a malicious or frivolous claim, or one that is intended solely to harass the party filed against;

(2) testified falsely or otherwise presented false evidence or information to the court;

(3) unreasonably expanded or delayed a proceeding; or

(4) abused the discovery process.

The court may make such findings on its own motion, on motion of counsel for the defendant, or on motion of the Attorney General, who is authorized to appear in the proceeding, if he elects, in order to move for the findings in a case in which the State or any public entity or official is a defendant.

Section 24-27-210. If the court does not make such findings in the original action brought by the prisoner, the Attorney General is authorized to initiate a separate proceeding in the court of common pleas for the court to recommend to the Department of Corrections the revocation of work, education, or good conduct credits as set forth in Section 24-27-200.

Section 24-27-220. Nothing in this chapter shall affect the discretion of the Director of the Department of Corrections in determining whether or not a prisoner's earned work, education, or good conduct credits shall be forfeited.

Article 3

Successive Claims

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