H*3436(Rat #0297, Act #0244 of 2002)  General Bill, By Wilkins and Harrison
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 2-15-120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO RECORDS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COUNCIL AND THEIR
 CONFIDENTIALITY PRIOR TO PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL AUDIT REPORT, SO AS TO
 PROVIDE THAT ALL RECORDS AND AUDIT WORKING PAPERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
 COUNCIL ARE CONFIDENTIAL AT ALL TIMES.

   02/01/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-13
   02/01/01  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-13
   03/07/01  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-3
   03/08/01  House  Read second time HJ-13
   03/08/01  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-14
   03/09/01  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2
   03/13/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   03/13/01  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-8
   04/25/01  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-31
   05/02/01  Senate Read second time SJ-20
   04/30/02  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-17
   05/08/02         Ratified R 297
   05/14/02         Signed By Governor
   06/05/02         Act No. 244
   06/19/02         Effective date 05/14/02
   06/19/02         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 2-15-120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO RECORDS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COUNCIL AND THEIR CONFIDENTIALITY PRIOR TO PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL AUDIT REPORT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL RECORDS AND AUDIT WORKING PAPERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COUNCIL ARE CONFIDENTIAL AT ALL TIMES.

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

Records and audit working papers confidential at all times

SECTION 1. Section 2-15-120 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 419 of 1998, is further amended to read:

"Section 2-15-120. All records and audit working papers of the Legislative Audit Council with the exception of its final audit reports provided for by Section 2-15-60 are confidential and not subject to public disclosure. The court in determining the extent to which any disclosure of all or any part of a council record is necessary shall impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized disclosure.

As used in this section, 'records' includes, but is not limited to, books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the Legislative Audit Council.

Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year. If the person convicted is an officer or employee of the State, he must be dismissed from office or employment and is ineligible to hold any public office in this State for a period of five years after the conviction."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 8th day of May, 2002.

Approved the 14th day of May, 2002.