South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

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Bill 3314

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

AMENDED

March 26, 2009

H. 3314

Introduced by Rep. Harrison

S. Printed 3/26/09--H.    [SEC 3/27/09 11:54 AM]

Read the first time January 27, 2009.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTIONS 1-30-35, 44-20-30, 44-20-210, 44-20-220, 44-20-225, 44-20-240, 44-20-320, 44-20-350, 44-20-360, 44-20-430, 44-20-1120, 44-20-1130, 44-20-1140, 44-20-1150, 44-20-1160, 44-20-1170, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS HEADED AND GOVERNED BY A DIRECTOR APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, AND THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS SERVES AS AN ADVISORY BOARD TO THE DIRECTOR; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 44-20-230 RELATING TO POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Section 1-30-35 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 1-30-35.    Effective on July 1, 1993, the following agencies, boards, and commissions, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated, or related entities as well as the employees, funds, property, and all contractual rights and obligations associated with any such agency, except for those subdivisions specifically included under another department, are hereby transferred to and incorporated in and shall must be administered as part of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs to be initially divided into divisions for Mental Retardation, Head and Spinal Cord Injury, and Autism; provided, however, that the board of the former Department of Mental Retardation as constituted on June 30, 1993, and thereafter, under the provisions of Section 44-19-10, et seq., shall be the governing authority for the department. Beginning July 1, 2009, the department must be headed and governed by a director appointed by the Governor in the manner provided by Section 1-30-10(b), and the South Carolina Commission on Disabilities and Special Needs shall become an advisory board to the department on this date in the manner provided by law.

(A)    Department of Mental Health Autism programs, formerly provided for at Section 44-9-10, et seq.;

(B)    Head and Spinal Cord Injury Information System, formerly provided for at Section 44-38-10, et seq.;

(C)    Department of Mental Retardation, formerly provided for at Section 44-19-10, et seq."

SECTION    2.    Section 44-20-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-30.    As used in this chapter:

(1)    'Applicant' means a person who is believed to have mental retardation, one or more related disabilities, one or more head injuries, one or more spinal cord injuries, or an infant at high risk of a developmental disability who has applied for services of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

(2)'Client' is a person who is determined by the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs to have mental retardation, a related disability, head injury, or spinal cord injury and is receiving services or is an infant at risk of having a developmental disability and is receiving services.

(3)    'Commission' means the South Carolina Commission on Disabilities and Special Needs, the policy-making and governing body an advisory board of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

(4)    'County disabilities and special needs boards' means the local public body administering, planning, coordinating, or providing services within a county or combination of counties for persons with mental retardation, related disabilities, head injuries, or spinal cord injuries and recognized by the department.

(5)    'Day programs' are programs provided to persons with mental retardation, related disabilities, head injuries, or spinal cord injuries outside of their residences affording development, training, employment, or recreational opportunities as prescribed by the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

(6)    'Department' means the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

(7)    'Director' means the South Carolina Director of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, the chief executive director appointed by the commission administrative head of the department, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The director serves at the pleasure of the Governor and may be removed by the Governor pursuant to Section 1-3-240(b).

(8)    'High risk infant' means a child less than thirty-six months of age whose genetic, medical, or environmental history is predictive of a substantially greater risk for a developmental disability than that for of the general population.

(9)    'Least restrictive environment' means the surrounding circumstances that provide as little intrusion and disruption from the normal pattern of living as possible.

(10)    'Improvements' means the construction, and reconstruction of buildings, and other permanent improvements for regional centers and other programs provided by the department directly or through contract with county boards of disabilities and special needs, including equipment and the cost of acquiring and improving lands for equipment.

(11)    'Mental retardation' means significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period.

(12)    'Disabilities and special needs services' are means activities designed to achieve the results specified in an individual client"s client's plan.

(13)    'Obligations' means the obligations in the form of notes or bonds or contractual agreements issued or entered into by the commission director pursuant to the authorization of this chapter and of Act 1377 of 1968 to provide funds with which to repay the proceeds of capital improvement bonds allocated by the State Budget and Control Board.

(14)    'Regional residential center' is means a twenty-four hour residential facility serving a multi-county area and designated by the department.

(15)    'Related disability' is means a severe, chronic condition found to be closely related to mental retardation or to require a condition that requires treatment similar to that required for persons with mental retardation and must meet the following conditions:

(a)    It it is attributable to cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or any other condition other than mental illness found to be closely related to mental retardation because this the condition results in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of persons with mental retardation and requires treatment or services similar to those required for these persons.;

(b)    It it is manifested before twenty-two years of age.;

(c)    It it is likely to continue indefinitely.; and

(d)    It it results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self-care, understanding and use of language, learning, mobility, self-direction, and capacity for independent living.

(16)    'Residential programs' are means services providing dwelling places to clients for an extended period of time with assistance for activities of daily living ranging from constant to intermittent supervision as required by the individual client's needs.

(17)    'Revenues' or 'its revenues' means revenue derived from paying clients at regional residential centers and community residences but does not include Medicaid, Medicare, or other federal funds received with the stipulation that they be used to provide services to clients.

(18)    'State capital improvement bonds' means bonds issued pursuant to Act 1377 of 1968.

(19)    'State board' shall mean means the State Budget and Control Board as constituted pursuant to Chapter 11, Title 1."

SECTION    3.    Section 44-20-210 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-210.    (A)    There is created the South Carolina Commission on Disabilities and Special Needs. The commission serves as an advisory board to the department and consists of seven members. One member must be a resident of each congressional district and one must be from the state at large to be appointed by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate. They Members shall serve for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify qualified. Members of the commission are subject to removal by the Governor pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-3-240. A vacancy may be filled by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term.

(B)    On July 1, 1993, the Commission on Mental Retardation becomes the Commission on Disabilities and Special Needs. The commissioners continue to serve until their terms expire and their successors are appointed and qualify qualified."

SECTION    4.    Section 44-20-220 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-220.    The commission director shall determine the policy and promulgate regulations governing the operation of the department and the employment of professional staff and personnel. The members of the commission shall receive subsistence, mileage, and per diem as may be provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions. The commission shall appoint and in its discretion remove a South Carolina Director of Disabilities and Special Needs who is the chief executive officer of the department. The commission director may appoint additional advisory committees it considers necessary to assist in the effective conduct of its responsibilities. The director may appoint and remove other officers and employees of the department in his discretion. The commission director may educate the public and state and local officials as to the need for the funding, development, and coordination of services for persons with mental retardation, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries and promote the best interest of persons with mental retardation, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. The commission director is authorized to promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter and other laws related to mental retardation, related disabilities, head injuries, or spinal cord injuries. In promulgating these regulations, the commission director must consult with the advisory committee of the division for which the regulations shall apply."

SECTION    5.    Section 44-20-225 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-225.    The Governor shall appoint a seven-member consumer advisory board with the advice and consent of the Senate for each of the following divisions: the Mental Retardation Division, the Autism Division, and the Head and Spinal Cord Injury Division. One member must be a resident of each congressional district, and one must be from the State at large.

The membership of each advisory board must consist of persons with knowledge and expertise in the subject area of that division. In making such appointments, race, gender, and other demographic factors should be considered to ensure nondiscrimination, inclusion, and representation to the greatest extent possible of all segments of the population of the State; however, consideration of these factors in making an appointment in no way creates a cause of action or basis for an employee grievance for a person appointed or for a person who fails to be appointed.

The members of the commission advisory board shall receive subsistence, mileage, and per diem as may be provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.

Terms of the members shall must be for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify qualified, except that of the original appointees, two shall must be appointed for a period of two years, two shall must be appointed for a period of three years, and three shall must be appointed for a period of four years."

SECTION    6.    Section 44-20-240 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-240.    There is created the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs which has authority over all of the state's services and programs for the treatment and training of persons with mental retardation, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. This authority does not include services delivered by other agencies of the State as prescribed by statute. The department must be comprised of a Mental Retardation Division, an Autism Division, and a Head and Spinal Cord Injuries Division. The department may be divided into additional divisions and named as may be determined by the director and approved and named by the commission. Responsibility for all autistic services is transferred from the Department of Mental Health to the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs."

SECTION    7.    Section 44-20-320 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-320.    The department or any of its programs may accept gifts, bequests, devises, grants, and donations of money, real property, and personal property for use in expanding and improving services to persons with mental retardation, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries available to the people of this State. However, nothing may be accepted by the department with the understanding that it diminishes an obligation for paying care and maintenance charges or other monies funds due the department for services rendered. The commission director may formulate policies and promulgate regulations governing the disposition of gifts, bequests, devises, grants, and donations. If they are given to a specific service program of the department they must remain and be used for that program only or to its successor program."

SECTION    8.    Section 44-20-350 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-350.    (A)    Reasonable reimbursement to the State for its fiscal outlay on behalf of services rendered by the department or any other agency authorized by the department to offer services to clients is a just obligation of the person with mental retardation, a related disability, head injury, or spinal cord injury, his estate, or his parent or guardian under the conditions and terms provided in this section.

(B)    The department or an agency authorized by the department to offer services to clients may charge for its services. However, no service may be denied a client or his parent or guardian because of inability to pay part or all of the department's or other agency's expenses in providing that service. Where federal reimbursement is authorized for services provided, the department initially shall seek federal reimbursement. No charge or combination of charges may exceed the actual cost of services rendered. The commission director shall approve the procedures established to determine ability to pay and may authorize its designees to reduce or waive charges based upon its findings.

(C)    Parents, guardians, or other responsible relatives must not be charged for regional center or community residential services provided by the department for their child or ward. However, a person receiving nonresidential services or his parent or guardian may be assessed a charge for services received, not to exceed cost. The department with the approval of the commission may determine for which services it charges.

(D)    The department shall establish a hearing and review procedure so that a client or his parent or guardian may appeal charges made for services or may present to officials of the department information or evidence to be considered in establishing charges. The department may utilize legal procedures to collect lawful claims.

(E)    The department may establish by regulation charges for other services it renders."

SECTION    9.    Section 44-20-360 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-360.    (A)    The physical boundaries of Midlands Center, Coastal Center, Pee Dee Center, and Whitten Center are designated as independent school districts. These facilities may elect to participate in the usual activities of the districts, to receive state and federal aid, and to utilize other benefits enjoyed by independent school districts in general.

(B)    The commission director operates as the board of trustees trustee for these districts for administrative purposes, including the receipt and expenditure of funds granted to these districts for any purpose."

SECTION    10.    Section 44-20-430 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-430.    The director or his designee has the final authority over applicant eligibility, determination, or services and admission order, subject to policies adopted by the commission."

SECTION    11.    Section 44-20-1120 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-1120.    The commission director may raise monies funds for the construction of improvements under the terms and conditions of this article."

SECTION    12.    Section 44-20-1130 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-1130.    The aggregate of the outstanding principal amounts of state capital improvement bonds issued for the commission director may not exceed twenty million dollars."

SECTION    13.    Section 44-20-1140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-1140.    If the commission director determines that improvements are required for a residential regional center or community facility, it he may make application for them to the State Budget and Control Board. The application must contain:

(1)    a description of the improvements sought and their estimated cost;

(2)    the number of paying clients receiving services from the department, the amount of fees received from the clients during the preceding fiscal year, and the estimated amount to be received from them during the next succeeding fiscal year;

(3)    the revenues derived from the paying clients during the preceding three fiscal years;

(4)    a suggested maturity schedule, which may not exceed twenty years, for the repayment of monies funds to be made available to the commission director for state capital improvement bonds; and

(5)    a statement showing the debt service requirements of other outstanding obligations."

SECTION    14.    Section 44-20-1150 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-1150.    The State Budget and Control Board may approve, in whole or in part, or may modify an application received from the commission director. If it finds that a need for the improvements sought by the commission director exists, it may contract to make available to the commission director funds to be realized from the sale of state capital improvements bonds if it finds that the revenues for the preceding fiscal year, if multiplied by the number of years, which may not exceed twenty, contemplated by the suggested or revised maturity schedule for the repayment of the monies funds to be made available to the commission director, result in the production of a sum equal to not less than one hundred twenty-five percent of the aggregate principal and interest requirement of all outstanding obligations and all obligations to be incurred by the commission director."

SECTION    15.    Section 44-20-1160 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-1160.    Upon receiving the approval of the State Budget and Control Board the commission director shall obligate itself himself to apply all monies funds derived from its the revenues to the payment of the principal and interest of its the outstanding obligations and those to be issued and to deliver to the board State Budget and Control Board its the obligations."

SECTION    16.    Section 44-20-1170 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-20-1170.    (A)    Following the execution and delivery of its obligations, the commission director shall remit to the State Treasurer all its revenues, including accumulated revenues not applicable to prior obligations, for credit to a special fund. The special fund must be applied to meet the sums due by the commission director under its obligations. These monies funds from the special fund must be applied by the State Treasurer to the payment of the principal of and interest on outstanding state capital improvement bonds.

(B)    If the accumulation of revenues of the commission director in the special fund exceeds the payment due or to become due during the then current fiscal year and an additional sum equal to the maximum annual debt service requirement of the obligations for a succeeding fiscal year, the State Budget and Control Board may permit the commission director to withdraw the excess and apply it to improvements that have received the approval of the board State Budget and Control Board or to transfer the excess out of the special fund for contract awards to local disabilities and special needs boards for needed improvements at the local level and for nonrecurring prevention, assistive technology, and quality initiatives at the regional centers and local boards."

SECTION    17.    Section 44-20-230 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION    18.    A.    Title 2 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"CHAPTER 2

Legislative Oversight of Executive Departments

Section 2-2-5.    The General Assembly finds and declares the following to be the public policy of the State of South Carolina:

(1)    Section 1 of Article XII of the constitution of this State requires the General Assembly to provide for appropriate agencies to function in the areas of health, welfare, and safety and to determine the activities, powers, and duties of these agencies and departments.

(2)    This constitutional duty is a continuing and ongoing obligation of the General Assembly that is best addressed by periodic review of the programs of the agencies and departments and their responsiveness to the needs of the state's citizens by the standing committees of the State Senate or House of Representatives.

Section 2-2-10.    As used in this chapter:

(1)    'Agency' means an authority, board, branch, commission, committee,     department, division, or other instrumentality of the executive or judicial departments of state government, including administrative bodies. 'Agency' includes a body corporate and politic established as an instrumentality of the State. 'Agency' does not include:

(a)    the legislative department of state government; or

(b)    a political subdivision.

(2)    'Investigating committee' means any standing committee or subcommittee of a standing committee exercising its authority to conduct an oversight study and investigation of an agency within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction.

(3)    'Program evaluation report' means a report compiled by an agency at the request of an investigating committee that may include, but is not limited to, a review of agency management and organization, program delivery, agency goals and objectives, compliance with its statutory mandate, and fiscal accountability.

(4)    'Request for information' means a list of questions that an investigating committee serves on a department or agency under investigation. The questions may relate to any matters concerning the department or agency's actions that are the subject of the investigation.

(5)    'Standing committee' means a permanent committee with a regular meeting schedule and designated subject matter jurisdiction that is authorized by the Rules of the Senate or the Rules of the House of Representatives.

Section 2-2-20.    (A)    Beginning January 1, 2011, each standing committee shall conduct oversight studies and investigations on all agencies within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction at least once every five years in accordance with a schedule adopted as provided in this chapter.

(B)    The purpose of these oversight studies and investigations is to determine if agency laws and programs within the subject matter jurisdiction of a standing committee:

(1)    are being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of the General Assembly; and

(2)    should be continued, curtailed, or eliminated.

(C)    The oversight studies and investigations must consider:

(1)    the application, administration, execution, and effectiveness of laws and programs addressing subjects within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction;

(2)    the organization and operation of state agencies and entities having responsibilities for the administration and execution of laws and programs addressing subjects within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction; and

(3)    any conditions or circumstances that may indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting new or additional legislation addressing subjects within the standing committee's subject matter jurisdiction.

Section 2-2-30.    (A)    The procedure for conducting the oversight studies and investigations is provided in this section.

(B)(1)    The President Pro Tempore of the Senate, upon consulting with the chairmen of the standing committees in the Senate and the Clerk of the Senate, shall determine the agencies for which each standing committee shall conduct oversight studies and investigations. A proposed five-year review schedule must be published in the Senate Journal on the first day of session each year.

(2)    In order to accomplish the requirements of this chapter, the chairman of each standing committee shall schedule oversight studies and investigations for the agencies for which his standing committee is the investigating committee and may:

(a)    coordinate schedules for conducting oversight studies and investigations with the chairmen of other standing committees; and

(b)    appoint joint investigating committees to conduct the oversight studies and investigations including, but not limited to, joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives or joint standing committees of concurrent subject matter jurisdiction within the Senate or within the House of Representatives.

(3)    Chairmen of standing committees having concurrent subject matter jurisdiction over an agency or the programs and law governing an agency by virtue of the Rules of the Senate or Rules of the House of Representatives, may request that a joint investigating committee be appointed to conduct the oversight study and investigation for an agency.

(C)(1)    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, upon consulting with the chairmen of the standing committees in the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, shall determine the agencies for which each standing committee shall conduct oversight studies and investigations. A proposed five-year review schedule must be published in the House Journal on the first day of session each year.

(2)    In order to accomplish the requirements of this chapter, the chairman of each standing committee shall schedule oversight studies and investigations for the agencies for which his standing committee is the investigating committee and may:

(a)    coordinate schedules for conducting oversight studies and investigations with the chairmen of other standing committees; and

(b)    appoint joint investigating committees to conduct the oversight studies and investigations including, but not limited to, joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives or joint standing committees of concurrent subject matter jurisdiction within the Senate or within the House of Representatives.

(3)    Chairmen of standing committees having concurrent subject matter jurisdiction over an agency or the programs and law governing an agency by virtue of the Rules of the Senate or Rules of the House of Representatives, may request that a joint investigating committee be appointed to conduct the oversight study and investigation for the agency.

(D)    The chairman of an investigating committee may vest the standing committee's full investigative power and authority in a subcommittee. A subcommittee conducting an oversight study and investigation of an agency:

(1)    shall make a full report of its findings and recommendations to the standing committee at the conclusion of its oversight study and investigation, and

(2)    shall not consist of fewer than three members.

Section 2-2-40.    (A)    In addition to the scheduled five-year oversight studies and investigations, a standing committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives may by one-third vote of the standing committee's membership initiate an oversight study and investigation of an agency within its subject matter jurisdiction. The motion calling for the oversight study and investigation must state the subject matter and scope of the oversight study and investigation. The oversight study and investigation must not exceed the scope stated in the motion or the scope of the information uncovered by the investigation.

(B)    Nothing in the provisions of this chapter prohibits or restricts the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or chairmen of standing committees from fulfilling their constitutional obligations by authorizing and conducting legislative investigations into agencies' functions, duties, and activities.

Section 2-2-50.    When an investigating committee conducts an oversight study and investigation or a legislative investigation is conducted pursuant to Section 2-2-40(B), evidence or information related to the investigation may be acquired by any lawful means, including, but not limited to:

(A)    serving a request for information on the agency being studied or investigated. The request for information must be answered separately and fully in writing under oath and returned to the investigating committee within forty-five days after being served upon the department or agency. The time for answering a request for information may be extended for a period to be agreed upon by the investigating committee and the agency for good cause shown. The head of the department or agency shall sign the answers verifying them as true and correct. If any question contains a request for records, policies, audio or video recordings, or other documents, the question is not considered to have been answered unless a complete set of records, policies, audio or video recordings or other documents is included with the answer;

(B)    deposing witnesses upon oral examination. A deposition upon oral examination may be taken from any person that the investigating committee has reason to believe has knowledge of the activities under investigation. The investigating committee shall provide the person being deposed and the agency under investigation with no less than ten days notice of the deposition. The notice to the agency shall state the time and place for taking the deposition and name and address of each person to be examined. If a subpoena duces tecum is to be served on the person to be examined, the designation of the materials to be produced as set forth in the subpoena must be attached to or included in the notice. The deposition must be taken under oath administered by the chairman of the investigating committee or his designee. The testimony must be taken stenographically or recorded by some other means and may be videotaped. A person may be compelled to attend a deposition in the county in which he resides or in Richland County;

(C)    issuing subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum pursuant to Chapter 69 of this title; and

(D)    requiring the agency to prepare and submit to the investigating committee a program evaluation report by a date specified by the investigating committee. The investigating committee shall specify the agency program or programs or agency operations that it is studying or investigating and the information to be contained in the program evaluation report.

Section 2-2-60.    (A)    An investigating committee's request for a program evaluation report must contain:

(1)    the agency program or operations that it intends to investigate;

(2)    the information that must be included in the report; and

(3)    the date that the report must be submitted to the committee.

(B)    An investigating committee may request that the program evaluation report contain any of the following information:

(1)    enabling or authorizing law or other relevant mandate, including any federal mandates;

(2)    a description of each program administered by the agency identified by the investigating committee in the request for a program evaluation report, including the following information:

(a)    established priorities, including goals and objectives in meeting each priority;

(b)    performance criteria, timetables, or other benchmarks used by the agency to measure its progress in achieving its goals and objectives;

(c)    an assessment by the agency indicating the extent to which it has met the goals and objectives, using the performance criteria. When an agency has not met its goals and objectives, the agency shall identify the reasons for not meeting them and the corrective measures the agency has taken to meet them in the future;

(3)    organizational structure, including a position count, job classification, and organization flow chart indicating lines of responsibility;

(4)    financial summary, including sources of funding by program and the amounts allocated or appropriated and expended over the last ten years;

(5)    identification of areas where the agency has coordinated efforts with other state and federal agencies in achieving program objectives and other areas in which an agency could establish cooperative arrangements including, but not limited to, cooperative arrangements to coordinate services and eliminate redundant requirements;

(6)    identification of the constituencies served by the agency or program, noting any changes or projected changes in the constituencies;

(7)    a summary of efforts by the agency or program regarding the use of alternative delivery systems, including privatization, in meeting its goals and objectives;

(8)    identification of emerging issues for the agency;

(9)    a comparison of any related federal laws and regulations to the state laws governing the agency or program and the rules implemented by the agency or program;

(10)    agency policies for collecting, managing, and using personal information over the Internet and nonelectronically, information on the agency's implementation of information technologies;

(11)    a list of reports, applications, and other similar paperwork required to be filed with the agency by the public. The list must include:

(a)    the statutory authority for each filing requirement;

(b)    the date each filing requirement was adopted or last amended by the agency;

(c)    the frequency that filing is required;

(d)    the number of filings received annually for the last five years and the number of anticipated filings for the next five years;

(e)    a description of the actions taken or contemplated by the agency to reduce filing requirements and paperwork duplication;

(12)    any other relevant information specifically requested by the investigating committee.

(C)    All information contained in a program evaluation report must be presented in a concise and complete manner.

(D)    The chairman of the investigating committee may direct the Legislative Audit Council to perform a study of the program evaluation report and report its findings to the investigating committee. The chairman also may direct the Legislative Audit Council to perform its own audit of the program or operations being studied or investigated by the investigating committee.

(E)    A state agency that is vested with revenue bonding authority may submit annual reports and annual external audit reports conducted by a third party in lieu of a program evaluation report.

Section 2-2-70.    All testimony given to the investigating committee must be under oath.

Section 2-2-80.    Any witness testifying before or deposed by the investigating committee may have counsel present to advise him. The witness or his counsel may, during the time of testimony or deposition, object to any question detrimental to the witness' interests and is entitled to have a ruling by the chairman on any objection. In making his ruling, the chairman of the investigating committee shall follow as closely as possible the procedures and rules of evidence observed by the circuit courts of this State.

Section 2-2-90.    A witness shall be given the benefit of any privilege which he may have claimed in court as a party to a civil action.

Section 2-2-100.    A person who appears before a committee or subcommittee of either house, pursuant to this chapter, and wilfully gives false, misleading, or incomplete testimony under oath is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine within the discretion of the court or for a term of imprisonment of not more than five years, or both.

Section 2-2-110.    If a person violates Section 2-2-100, it is the duty of the chair of the committee or subcommittee before which the false, misleading, or incomplete testimony was given, to notify the Attorney General of South Carolina who shall cause charges to be filed in the appropriate county."

B.    This SECTION takes effect July 1, 2009.

SECTION    19.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on March 27, 2009 at 11:54 AM