H 3461 General Bill, By I.K. Rudnick, F.E. McBride and Phillips
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 27-13-50 so as to require aliens and agents or servants of aliens who own real
 property for the benefit of aliens to file a report of real property ownership
 with the Secretary of State and to provide for a penalty.

   02/07/91  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-6
   02/07/91  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-6
   02/26/91  House  Tabled in committee

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 27-13-50 SO AS TO REQUIRE ALIENS AND AGENTS OR SERVANTS OF ALIENS WHO OWN REAL PROPERTY FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALIENS TO FILE A REPORT OF REAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND TO PROVIDE FOR A PENALTY.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 27-13-50. (A) An alien who owns real property in this State and an agent or servant of an alien, who owns real property in this State for the benefit of the alien on the effective date of this section, shall file a copy of every deed which evidences this ownership with the Secretary of State within ninety days after the effective date of this section. When the owner of record is an agent or servant of an alien, the name of the beneficial owner also must be filed with the Secretary of State.

(B) An alien who purchases real estate in this State and an agent or servant of the alien, who purchases real estate in this State for the benefit of the alien after the effective date of this section, shall file a copy of every deed which evidences these purchases with the Secretary of State within thirty days after the date of purchase. When the grantee of record is an agent or servant of an alien, the name of the beneficial owner also must be filed with the Secretary of State.

(C) When real property owned of record by an alien, or by an alien's agent or servant for the benefit of the alien, is sold or otherwise conveyed, the grantor shall file a report of the conveyance with the Secretary of State within thirty days after the date of the conveyance.

(D) The Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations which specify the information to be contained in and the form of the reports required by this act.

(E) A person who fails to comply with the provisions of this section forfeits to the State a penalty of five hundred dollars a day for each day of noncompliance. This penalty must be enforced by the Attorney General or his designated representative in a court of competent jurisdiction."

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