Current Status Bill Number:4077 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970424 Primary Sponsor:Hodges All Sponsors:Hodges Drafted Document Number:dka\4493mm.97 Companion Bill Number:695 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Public officer or employee, not to disclose records on individuals when unrelated to official duties; Ethics
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 19970424 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-725, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO USE OR DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION BY A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, MEMBER, OR EMPLOYEE FOR ECONOMIC GAIN, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE EXAMINATION OF OR THE AIDING AND ABETTING OF THE EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, MEMBER, OR EMPLOYEE WHEN THE EXAMINATION IS UNRELATED TO HIS PUBLIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 8-13-725 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 248 of 1991, is amended to read:
"Section 8-13-725. (A) No A public official, public member, or public employee may not use or disclose confidential information gained in the course of or by reason of his official responsibilities in any a way that would affect an economic interest held by himself him, a member of his immediate family, an individual with whom he is associated, or a business with which he is associated.
(B)(1) A public official, public member, or public employee may not examine, or aid and abet in the examination of, a tax return of a taxpayer, a worker's compensation record, a record in connection with health or medical treatment, social services records, or other records of an individual in the possession of or within the access of a public department or agency if the purpose of the examination is to obtain information about the individual unrelated to carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the public official, member, or employee.
(2) A person convicted of violating this subsection must be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, and shall reimburse the costs of prosecution. Upon conviction, the person also must be discharged immediately from his public capacity as an official, member, or employee."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.