H 4750 General Bill, By Townsend and Keegan

Similar(S 990)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS
 57-1-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO
 ESTABLISH A SPECIAL FUNDS ACCOUNT; BY ADDING SECTION 57-1-38 SO AS TO PROVIDE
 THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO RELAX DESIGN AND
 CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN THE SECONDARY STATE HIGHWAY
 SYSTEM WITHOUT INCURRING LIABILITY; BY ADDING SECTION 57-11-95 SO AS TO
 PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO EXPEND ALL CASH
 BALANCES FROM A PRIOR YEAR UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY ADDING SECTION
 57-11-100 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO
 SECURE BONDS AND INSURANCE COVERING CERTAIN ACTIVITIES; BY ADDING SECTION
 57-11-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO
 COMPENSATE ITS EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO THE STATE'S ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT;
 AND BY ADDING SECTION 57-11-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF
 TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE OF DOCUMENT FEES.

   03/04/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-4
   03/04/98  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-5
   04/08/98  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-10
   04/15/98  House  Amended HJ-25
   04/15/98  House  Read second time HJ-26
   04/16/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-10
   04/21/98  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-21
   04/21/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-21

April 15, 1998

H. 4750

S. Printed 4/15/98--H.

Read the first time March 4, 1998.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 57-1-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL FUNDS ACCOUNT; BY ADDING SECTION 57-1-38 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO RELAX DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN THE SECONDARY STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM WITHOUT INCURRING LIABILITY; BY ADDING SECTION 57-11-95 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO EXPEND ALL CASH BALANCES FROM A PRIOR YEAR UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY ADDING SECTION 57-11-100 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO SECURE BONDS AND INSURANCE COVERING CERTAIN ACTIVITIES; BY ADDING SECTION 57-11-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO COMPENSATE ITS EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO THE STATE'S ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT; AND BY ADDING SECTION 57-11-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE OF DOCUMENT FEES.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 57-1-35. The Department of Transportation with the approval of the State Treasurer may establish with the State Treasurer special funds out of the department's funds as considered advisable for proper accounting purposes."

SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 57-5-720. The exercise of discretionary authority to relax design and construction standards does not give rise to any liability on the part of the department, its commission, officers, and employees."

SECTION 3. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 57-11-95. The Department of Transportation may expend all cash balances brought forward from a prior year and all income including all federal funds, unexpended general funds, and proceeds from bond sales accruing to the department, but the expenditures of the department must not exceed the amount of cash balances brought forward from the preceding year plus the amount of all income including federal funds, general funds, and proceeds from bond sales."

SECTION 4. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 57-11-100. The Department of Transportation may secure bonds and insurance covering activities of the department that are proper and advisable, with due consideration being given to the security offered and the service of claims."

SECTION 5. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 57-11-105. Employees of the Department of Transportation shall receive at least equal compensation increases, health insurance benefits, and employee bonuses provided in the state's general appropriations act."

SECTION 6. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 57-11-110. The Department of Transportation may establish an appropriate schedule of fees to be charged for copies of records, lists, bidder's proposals, plans, maps, and other items based upon approximate actual costs and handling costs of producing copies, lists, bidder's proposals, plans, maps, and other items."

SECTION 7. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.