Listed below are the Acts from the 2002 Legislative Session. Following each Act number are the Ratification number (preceded by an R), the bill number (preceded by an H for House or an S for Senate), a brief description and the date the Act became effective. An Act will not be added to this page until it has been assigned an Act Number. The full text of an Act is included in the linked page. There is also a list of new laws listed by Effective Date.
-- Motor vehicle drivers' licenses, beginner's permit, provisional, special restricted; Driver's training course; Schools. Effective March 5, 2002; applies to persons who obtain a beginner's permit after the effective date of this act.
-- Magistrates, jurisdiction of interpleader actions over claims of disputed real estate earnest money; Courts, Property. Effective January 1, 2002, and applies to all interpleader actions filed pursuant to this act on or after that date.
-- Environmental systems operators, under Labor, Licensing and Regulation Department; well driller licenses; Environmental Certification Board, Water and Sewer. Effective March 5, 2002
-- Motor vehicle license plates for National or State Guard, military identification card required; fees used to defray cost of producing and distributing. Effective March 27, 2002
-- Motor vehicle license plates, issuance of special to nonprofit organizations certified under 501(C)(8) of Internal Revenue Code; fees used to defray cost of producing. Effective March 27, 2002
-- Insurance Department; reference to Advisory Board Member, S.C. Association of Life Underwriters, name changed to S.C. Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Effective March 27, 2002
-- Federal Deposit Insurance Limit, letters of credit may be used as security for funds deposited in banks and savings and loan associations by the State Treasurer. Effective April 22, 2002
-- Estate Tax Act, order in which federal estate tax credits applied provided; Trusts and Estates, Taxation. Effective April 22, 2002. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to the calculation of South Carolina estate taxes due on or after that date.
-- Murder, death penalty for; statutory aggravating circumstance when county detention facility officer; Crimes, Execution. Effective May 1, 2002. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to offenses committed on or after the effective date.
-- Francis Marion University Trustees may enter into ground lease agreement with private entity for on-campus student housing facilities. Effective May 1, 2002
-- Insurance industry, various revisions. Effective May 1, 2002. Sections 1 through 8 and 10 through 15 of this act take effect upon approval by the Governor. Section 9 of this act takes effect ninety days after approval by the Governor.
-- Historic Rehabilitation Incentives Act, historic structures, income tax credit for; Buildings, Archives and History. Effective May 1, 2002. Upon approval by the Governor, this act is effective for taxable years beginning after 2002 for property placed in service after June 30, 2003.
-- Uniform Prudent Investor Act, investments in mutual funds. Effective May 1, 2002. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor, and applies to affiliate investments and reinvestments made on or after July 18, 2001, the effective date of the South Carolina Uniform Prudent Investor Act.
-- Bodily fluids, felony violation for person in custody or under arrest to throw on law enforcement officers or correctional facility employees. Effective May 1, 2002
-- Supplemental health insurance coverage extended to persons under sixty-five who are eligible for Medicare due to disability and major medical expense coverage extended to persons under sixty-five who are eligible due to disability. Effective January 1, 2003
-- Residential care facilities, nursing homes, adult daycare facilities, home health agencies; health caregivers employed by, criminal record checks required. Effective July 1, 2002
-- Winthrop University Trustees, manner in which elected; Governing boards of institutions of higher learning, meeting attendance provisions. Effective May 14, 2002
-- Motor vehicle registration, grace period allowed for; temporary license plates provided; displaying of dealer sold cards. Effective January 1, 2003. See Act for exceptions.
-- Surety bonds, to prohibit the State or political subdivisions from requiring that a bond be furnished by a particular surety company, agent, or broker. Effective May 14, 2002
-- Forests, state; unauthorized cutting or removal of trees and destruction of property; alcoholic beverage violations on forestry lands. Effective May 20, 2002
-- School district boards and county boards of education, orientation program for members of; Education Department to keep record of those who successfully complete; charter schools, validity of provisions of law regarding. Effective May 20, 2002
-- Property tax assessment notices, mailed by October 1 of year of countywide equalization program; notice of objection provisions. Effective May 28, 2002
-- Cause of death, provisions regarding medical certification of cause of death on death certificates; reports of birth, death, and fetal death to be transmitted to State Registrar. Effective May 28, 2002
-- Home School Awareness Week established; home school students have same admission opportunities to certain state and educational facilities as are provided to public and private school students; foster parents may teach foster children at home. Effective May 28, 2002
-- Rabies, Department of Health and Environmental Control must ensure availability of antirabic (Human) vaccine and globulin products. Effective May 28, 2002
-- State government entities renting, leasing, or purchasing of equipment, State Treasurer to provide financing arrangements under Master Lease Program to entities. Effective May 28, 2002
-- State retirement systems may provide investment education to participants in; deferred compensation plans, to repeal provisions for consultative services for plan participants. Effective July 1, 2002
-- Technical colleges, to change the name of various governing bodies of to reflect revised names of institutions; Aiken County Technical Commission for Comprehensive Education renamed; Area Commission for Trident Technical College, to change manner in which members from Berkeley County are recommended for appointment. Effective June 4, 2002
-- Veterans Affairs Division, Office of the Governor; additional claims representative provided for; duties to include specializing in specific needs and diseases associated with veterans of Vietnam. Effective June 3, 2002
-- Court fines, fees, assessments, and costs may be paid by credit or debit card; provisions regarding payment of money paid to magistrate or municipal judge in lieu of entering into recognizance. See Act for Effective Date
-- Motor vehicle drivers' licenses, route or special restricted, may use to attend Alcohol and Drug Safety Action classes; first offense violation for unlawfully passing a school bus may be tried in magistrate's court. Effective June 3, 2002
-- Homestead exemption, personal representative for estate of deceased taxpayer is deemed the agent for purposes of applying for. See Act for Effective Date
-- Insurance, requiring insurers to file rates; to expand meaning of "exempt commercial policies"; to exempt commercial policies from this requirement. Effective January 1, 2003
-- Commercial motor vehicles over twenty-six thousand pounds; additional information must be provided to Department of Transportation; provisions regarding carrier who has been prohibited from operating by a federal agency; provisions regarding for-hire motor vehicle carriers. Effective June 3, 2002
-- State Board of Law Examiners, membership, terms, duties of board to be set by Supreme Court; authority of citizen to defend the cause of another under certain conditions deleted. Effective June 5, 2002
-- Campus Sexual Assault Information Act; Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act; registration of sex offenders enrolled or employed at institutions of higher learning; hazing prohibited at all public education institutions. Effective June 5, 2002
-- Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Commission, and Motor Vehicle Management Council; to delete references and repeal provisions relating to. Effective June 5, 2002
-- Accommodations tax, revenue used for tourism-related lands and water access; appointment of advisory committee to recommend expenditure of tax revenue. Effective June 5, 2002
-- Preneed funeral contracts, Funeral Service Board not required to verify insurance policy is consistent with statutory requirements for preneed funeral contracts. Effective June 6, 2002
-- Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy distributors, provisions regarding; reporting of drug theft and employee drug convictions to Board of Pharmacy. Effective July 1, 2002
-- DHEC pilot program, innovative environmental approaches; noncommercial propane tanks, over-fill prevention devices not required on. Effective May 29, 2002
-- Oconee County, student participation in interscholastic soccer and organized soccer independent of control of school; provisions regarding participation in any high school league sport. Effective June 6, 2002
-- Funeral directors and embalmers, license and permit requirements; sale of funeral merchandise; to enact the Perpetual Care Cemetery Act; to repeal the Cemetery Act of 1984. Effective July 1, 2002. See Act for Exceptions
-- Motorist Insurance Identification Database Program Act; Motor Vehicle Division shall request proof of insurance from persons identified by Database. Effective July 1, 2002. See Act for Exceptions
-- Richland County School Districts Property Tax Relief Act, to provide for special one percent sales tax; election of trustees for Richland-Lexington School District 5; Richland-Lexington Airport District Commission, appointment of additional member; Midlands Technical College Commission, appointment of members. Effective June 18, 2002, except as otherwise provided for in the Act
-- Uniform court fee increases; domestic abuse, petitions for orders of protection, action may be brought in county in which alleged abuse occurred, criminal domestic violence arrest procedures. Effective June 18, 2002 and applies to orders of protection filed on or after the effective date
-- Student-Led Message Act, policy to permit brief opening or closing message by student at high school graduation or athletic event. Effective June 24, 2002
-- 'Distressed county' designation established; designation to apply to rural infrastructure grants, job development credits, and the hiring of person who receives Family Independence payments. Effective June 18, 2002
-- Wine tastings, percent of alcohol allowed in wines sampled in retail alcoholic liquor stores; to permit discounts on alcoholic liquors through use of coupons redeemable by mail. Effective July 1, 2002
-- Residential Property Condition Act and Vacation Rental Act enacted; rental property, property tax assessment provisions and tenants' responsibility regarding utilities. Effective January 1, 2003, and applies to the covered residential transactions entered into on or after that date
-- Task Force to Review State and Federal Health Insurance Mandates established; new mandates restricted. Effective July 1, 2002. Section 38-71-285 of the 1976 Code, as added by this act, is repealed effective June 30, 2007.
-- Homeland Security Act. Effective July 2, 2002 and applies to offenses committed after its effective date and to causes of action arising or accruing on or after the effective date.
-- American Flag, no homeowners' association may restrict the display of. Effective July 3, 2002 and applies retroactively regardless of the date of adoption of any restrictive covenant, declaration, rule, contractual provision, or other requirement concerning flags or decorations found in a deed, contract, lease, rental agreement, or homeowners' association document.
-- Name change petitions, requirements for person seeking; exception from certain requirements for minors and adults in connection with divorce or marriage. Effective July 20, 2002.
-- Defendant hospitalized on grounds not guilty by reason of insanity not to leave State hospital; serving of warrants to incarcerated inmates and jurisdiction of magistrates; provisions regarding operation of motor vehicles, management of emergency scenes, passing a stopped school bus, issuance of special restricted drivers' licenses to attend court-ordered drug programs. Effective July 20, 2002.
-- Motor vehicle license plates, special issuance of provided to mayors and retired members of General Assembly; fee increased for transfer of certificate of title to support adult education and highway patrol programs. Effective July 20, 2002.
-- Infectious waste less than fifty pounds, requirements and regulations of generators of; 'Unable to Consent' in Adult Health Care Consent Act further defined. Effective July 20, 2002.
-- Sunday minibottle sale permits, provisions regarding referendums held in municipalities and counties; State lottery tickets may be sold in retail liquor stores. Effective July 16, 2002.
-- Rotary International and American Legion special license plates issued; issuance of route restricted drivers' licenses to attend court-ordered drug programs. Effective July 19, 2002.
-- Budget Proviso Codification Act. Effective July 1, 2002. See Act for Items Vetoed by the Governor and for Veto Sustained or Overridden by the General Assembly
-- Private Guardian Ad Litem Reform Act. Effective January 15, 2003, and applies to a guardian ad litem appointed in a custody case on or after the effective date.
-- Estimated Income Tax Payment Reform Act; deductions from taxable income for volunteer emergency workers including HAZMAT workers; discount for payment of sales tax for electronic filing. Effective August 2, 2002, and applies for taxable years beginning after 2002.
-- Underwater Antiquities Act of 1991, revisions to; recovery of submerged property; State Archeologist, to change title to State Underwater Archeologist. Effective September 26, 2002
-- Architectural Examiners Board; "Emeritus Architect" defined; Canadian architectural certification; to establish the S.C. Architecture Education and Research Fund. Effective September 26, 2002
-- Public pension plans, to provide for investment of funds in foreign corporations; to provide for separate pension plan for firefighters; Constitutional Amendment. Effective May 30, 2002
-- Employment Security Commission authorized to spend Social Security Act funds for computer software and equipment, land acquisition and office expansion; PRT to transfer funds for Hunley Lab security. Effective May 28, 2002
-- Poultry from flocks infected with avian flu, prohibitions. Effective May 20, 2002 and remains in effect only until permanent regulations relating to poultry import restrictions have been promulgated and become effective.
-- Beaufort County Board of Education, provisions regarding candidate petitions, terms, and dates of election of certain board members. Effective June 24, 2002
-- Cherokee County School District No. 1, day missed on January 3, 2002 due to inclement weather exempt from make-up requirement. Effective April 23, 2002
-- Cherokee County School District 1, districts from which members elected revised; single member districts decreased from nine to seven; filing fee established. Effective May 29, 2002
-- Clarendon County School District No. 1 fiscal emergency, transfer of revenue between programs and furlough of district staff. Effective March 14, 2002
-- Aiken and Edgefield County school districts, to exempt school days missed due to inclement weather on January 3 and 4, 2002. Effective February 12, 2002
-- Florence County School District No. 1, referendum to determine if board of trustees should be given authority to raise tax millage. Effective March 28, 2002
-- Florence County Registration and Elections Commission created; Office of Commissioners of Election and the Registration Board abolished. Effective May 21, 2002
-- Laurens County Registration and Election Commission, terms of members staggered. Effective March 28, 2002 and applies to the appointment of members of the Registration and Elections Commission for Laurens County after the effective date of this act.
-- Laurens County School Districts 55 and 56, to exempt school days missed due to inclement weather on January 3, 4, and 5, 2002. Effective May 15, 2002
-- Laurens County Transportation Committee members to be paid for attending not more than thirteen meetings for each fiscal year. Effective May 15, 2002
-- Laurens County School Districts 55 and 56, to revise and redefine the single-member districts from which trustees are elected. Effective June 6, 2002
-- Laurens County School Districts 55 and 56, election results determined in accordance with the nonpartisan election and runoff method. Effective September 10, 2002
-- Lee County School District, authorized to charge and collect incidental fees from pupils; waiver provided under certain conditions. Effective June 24, 2002
-- Horry County schools, to excuse day missed on January 3, 2002 due to inclement weather if approved by governing board of school system. Effective May 29, 2002
-- Spartanburg, City of; Commission of Public Works, authorized to establish safety and security department to employ lake wardens, provisions. Effective March 28, 2002
-- Union County School District Trustees, reapportionment of election districts; School districts, Reapportionment. Effective March 6, 2002 and first applies to the election conducted at the time of the general election of 2002 to elect members of the Union County Board of School Trustees.
-- York County School District 4 (Fort Mill), trustees authorized to impose additional property tax millage for fiscal year 2002-2003. Effective July 1, 2002