Current Status Bill Number:3154 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970114 Primary Sponsor:Townsend All Sponsors:Townsend, Kirsh and Meacham Drafted Document Number:jic\5185cm.97 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Subject:Transportation Department, highway construction projects, annual budget provisions
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19970114 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
House 19970108 Prefiled, referred to Committee 21 HEPW
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TO AMEND SECTION 57-11-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE HIGHWAY FUND AND FEDERAL AID HIGHWAY FUND, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO SUBMIT IN ITS ANNUAL BUDGET TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALL HIGHWAY PROJECTS SCHEDULED FOR CONSTRUCTION OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS BEFORE THE INITIATION OF A PROJECT NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AS SUBMITTED, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT NOT TO PAY FEES FOR PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING SERVICES UNTIL THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 57-11-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 6, Act 461 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"Section 57-11-20. (A) All state revenues and state monies dedicated by statute to the operation of the department must be deposited into one fund to be known as the `state highway fund' and all federal revenues and federal monies must be deposited into the `federal aid highway fund'. These funds must be held and managed by the State Treasurer separate and distinct from the general fund, except as to monies utilized by the State Treasurer for the payment of principal or interest on state highway bonds as provided by law. Interest income from the state highway fund must be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.
(B) Beginning July 1, 1993, The department must process all payment for goods and services, including right-of-way acquisitions through the office of the Comptroller General.
(C) Beginning January 1, 1994, The department shall process the payment for all personnel services through the office of the Comptroller General.
(D) For all capital improvement and permanent improvement projects beginning on or after July 1, 1994, the department shall enter detailed project numbers on all transactions submitted to the Comptroller General.
(E) The Comptroller General may continue to make deductions from the compensation of employees for the payment of premiums for life, hospital, and other types of insurance plans that are in force on July 1, 1992.
(F) Beginning July 1, 1993, The department is not considered a lump sum agency. The department must submit in its annual budget to the General Assembly all highway projects scheduled for or in the process of construction. These projects must be completed before initiation of a project not included in the budget as submitted, excluding emergency circumstances and emergency maintenance that present a clear and immediate danger to the public. The department must use due diligence in completing each project submitted for completion, unless the project is removed by legislative enactment. Fees for preliminary engineering services may not be paid until the project is completed."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.