H 3341 General Bill, By Allen, R. Brown, Breeland, McCraw, Anthony, F.N. Smith, 
Lee, Davenport, Cato, Whipper, Clyburn, Jefferson, J. Brown and Norman
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 58-1-95 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE DISCONTINUANCE OF ELECTRIC OR NATURAL GAS
 SERVICE TO THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF SENIOR CITIZENS OF A CERTAIN INCOME
 UNTIL FORTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED DISCONTINUANCE HAS BEEN
 PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

   01/25/05  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   01/25/05  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-5
   04/14/05  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: R.Brown,
                     Breeland, McCraw, Anthony, F.N.Smith, Lee,
                     Davenport, Cato, Whipper, Clyburn, Jefferson,
                     J.Brown, Norman

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 58-1-95 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE DISCONTINUANCE OF ELECTRIC OR NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF SENIOR CITIZENS OF A CERTAIN INCOME UNTIL FORTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED DISCONTINUANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 58-1-95.    Any person sixty-five years of age or older whose South Carolina taxable income for the previous year was fifteen thousand dollars or less may notify the provider of the electric or natural gas service to his principal residence in writing of his age and income status and in the notice must also consent to the provider sharing this information and his payment information with the Department of Social Services in the manner and under the conditions provided by this section. The provider in turn shall acknowledge receipt of this information in writing. Upon receipt of this information, the provider of the electric or natural gas service may not discontinue service to that person's principal residence for nonpayment of charges until forty-five days after it has notified the Department of Social Services of the nonpayment and the planned discontinuance of service. The department during this time shall make an investigation of the circumstances of that person, determine what state or other benefits or utility assistance may be available, and provide whatever other assistance to that person it can."

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