H*3208(Rat #0576, Act #0499 of 1986)  General Bill, By M.D. Burriss and 
J.C. Hearn
 A Bill to amend Section 6-15-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to definitions in regard to sewerage collection, disposal, and
 treatment by governmental entities, so as to include counties within the
 definition of the term "governmental entity" and other definitions thereby
 making the provisions of Chapter 15 of Title 6 applicable to counties as well;
 to amend Section 6-15-60, relating to the authorization of sewer service
 charges, so as to include counties therein; and to amend Section 6-15-110,
 relating to methods of collecting overdue sewer service charges, so as to
 include counties therein.

   12/02/85  House  Prefiled
   12/02/85  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs
   01/14/86  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-79
   01/14/86  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-80
   05/08/86  House  Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-2908
   05/20/86  House  Read second time HJ-3152
   05/21/86  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-3171
   05/22/86  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-2849
   05/22/86  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-2849
   06/03/86  Senate Recalled from Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-3499
   06/03/86  Senate Read second time SJ-3500
   06/04/86  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-3551
   06/05/86         Ratified R 576
   06/10/86         Signed By Governor
   06/10/86         Effective date 06/10/86
   06/10/86         Act No. 499
   06/20/86         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 6-15-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO SEWERAGE COLLECTION, DISPOSAL, AND TREATMENT BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, SO AS TO INCLUDE COUNTIES WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY" AND OTHER DEFINITIONS THEREBY MAKING THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 15 OF TITLE 6 APPLICABLE TO COUNTIES AS WELL; TO AMEND SECTION 6-15-60, RELATING TO THE AUTHORIZATION OF SEWER SERVICE CHARGES, SO AS TO INCLUDE COUNTIES THEREIN; AND TO AMEND SECTION 6-15-110, RELATING TO METHODS OF COLLECTING OVERDUE SEWER SERVICE CHARGES, SO AS TO INCLUDE COUNTIES THEREIN.

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

Definitions

SECTION 1. Items (3), (4), and (9) of Section 6-15-10 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(3) The term 'governmental entity' means any incorporated municipality, county, or special purpose district within the State of South Carolina.

(4) The term 'governing body' means, in the case of an incorporated municipality, the municipal council of the municipality, in the case of a county, the governing council or board thereof, and in the case of any special purpose district, the agency or commission charged by law with performing the functions of the special purpose district.

(9) The term 'sewer service charge' means any charge imposed by any municipality, county, or special purpose district for services rendered in the collection, disposal, or treatment of sewage."

General Assembly confirms right of

governmental entity to impose charges

SECTION 2. Section 6-15-60 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 6-15-60. The General Assembly confirms the right of any governmental entity to impose upon all those to whom sewer service is rendered, (a) a sewer service charge therefor, which may, in the discretion of its governing body be sufficient to provide for all or any part of the cost of operating and maintaining the sewer facilities and to provide debt service on bonds or other obligations of the governmental entity issued to provide any type of sewer collection, disposal, or treatment service, and (b) a sewer connection charge, or connection fee or tapping fee designed to adequately reimburse the governing body for effecting the connection to provide sewer service."

Past due sewer charges and connection fees

SECTION 3. Section 6-15-110 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 6-15-110. The method provided in this chapter for the enforcement of the collection of past due sewer service charges and connection fees by creating the liens against real property is not the exclusive method of enforcing this collection and the governing body is fully empowered to enforce the collection of these fees and charges in any other lawful manner in all or any part of the municipality, county, or special purpose district, including particularly by way of a contract as authorized under Section 6-15-80."

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.