S 0610 General Bill, By Goldfinch
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 39, TITLE 48 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA BEACH MANAGEMENT ACT, BY ADDING SECTION 48-39-265, TO ESTABLISH A
 WORKING GROUP FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING A LONG-RANGE COMPREHENSIVE BEACH
 MANAGEMENT PLAN IN ORDER TO QUANTIFY NOURISHMENT VOLUME NEEDS, RELATED COSTS,
 AND THE BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN BEACH PRESERVATION, PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
 FOR FUTURE FUNDING SOURCES, AND IDENTIFY A FUNDING DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY; TO
 SET MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS; AND TO ADD DEFINITIONS.

   04/04/17  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 4)
   04/04/17  Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources (Senate Journal-page 4)

TO AMEND CHAPTER 39, TITLE 48 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH MANAGEMENT ACT, BY ADDING SECTION 48-39-265, TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING A LONG-RANGE COMPREHENSIVE BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN IN ORDER TO QUANTIFY NOURISHMENT VOLUME NEEDS, RELATED COSTS, AND THE BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN BEACH PRESERVATION, PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE FUNDING SOURCES, AND IDENTIFY A FUNDING DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY; TO SET MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS; AND TO ADD DEFINITIONS.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 39, Title 48 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 48-39-265.    (A)    The department shall form a working group for the purpose of developing a long-range comprehensive beach management plan pursuant to Section 48-39-250(11) in order to quantify nourishment volume needs, related costs, and the benefits of investing in beach preservation; provide recommendations for future funding sources; and identify a funding distribution strategy. The working group shall identify and issue a report that must include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1)    determining the total beach miles that are critically eroded;

(2)    forecasting the total annual cost of future state beach preservation projects and annual sand volume needs;

(3)    documenting the statewide benefits of investing in beach preservation;

(4)    coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other state and federal agencies involved with the state's beach management;

(5)    developing a four-year cycle of beach preservation projects;

(6)    identifying regional plans to maximize the use of suitable dredge disposal material for beach preservation and to reduce equipment mobilization costs;

(7)    providing specific funding source alternatives capable of generating sufficient revenue to fund a long-term state beach preservation program; and

(8)    detailing fair and equitable alternatives for the distribution of funding, and selecting state beach preservation projects pursuant to Section 48-39-340.

Members of the working group shall include:

(1)    the Secretary of the Department of Health and Environmental Control or his designee;

(2)    the Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism or his designee;

(3)    two members from the South Carolina Senate, one member from the coastal region and one member from the upstate region;

(4)    two members from the House of Representative, one member from the coastal region and one member from the upstate region;

(5)    a governmental-based beach association representative;

(6)    a coastal processes researcher employed by an accredited South Carolina university or government agency;

(7)    a coastal-engineering professional; and

(8)    a coastal stakeholder.

(B)    This group shall submit a report with recommendations regarding a long-term dedicated statewide beach preservation funding and strategic plan to the Office of the Governor, the South Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore, and the Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives by January 15, 2018. The plan shall be revised as necessary every four years and must be submitted to the General Assembly no later than March first of that year."

SECTION    2.    Section 48-39-270 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered item to read:

"(    )    Beach preservation means implementing coastal management techniques, such as beach nourishment and groins at erosional hotspots, moving habitable structures, conserving undeveloped shorelines, creating and stabilizing sand dunes using sand fencing and native vegetation, and utilizing other proven techniques."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.