Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Bill 3810

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      3810
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  19990331
Primary Sponsor:                  Sheheen
All Sponsors:                     Sheheen
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\bbm\9180som99.doc
Residing Body:                    Senate
Current Committee:                Judiciary Committee 11 SJ
Subject:                          Legislative Audit Council, agency 
                                  records, subpoena powers, confidentiality 
                                  requirements


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate  19990511  Introduced, read first time,           11 SJ
                  referred to Committee
House   19990507  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19990506  Read second time, unanimous consent
                  for third reading on Friday,
                  19990507
House   19990505  Committee report: Favorable            25 HJ
House   19990331  Introduced, read first time,           25 HJ
                  referred to Committee


                             Versions of This Bill
Revised on May 5, 1999 - Word format

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

May 5, 1999

H. 3810

S. Printed 5/5/99--H.

Read the first time March 31, 1999.

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3810), to amend Section 2-15-61, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the access of the Legislative Audit Council to state agency records, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

JAMES H. HARRISON, for Committee.

TO AMEND SECTION 2-15-61, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ACCESS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COUNCIL TO STATE AGENCY RECORDS, SO AS TO GRANT SUBPOENA POWERS TO THE COUNCIL AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE COUNCIL'S INFORMATION REQUESTS BE SENT TO THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF THE AGENCY BEING EXAMINED AND THAT WILFUL NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THAT REQUEST IS MISFEASANCE IN OFFICE; TO AMEND SECTION 2-15-120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COUNCIL, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AUDIT WORKING PAPERS ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ITS STAFF, AND OTHER ENTITIES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES WHILE PERFORMING AUDIT COMPLIANCE REVIEW DUTIES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 2-15-61 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 2-15-61. For the purposes of carrying out its audit duties under this chapter, the Legislative Audit Council shall have access to the records and facilities of every state agency during that agency's operating hours with the exception of reports and returns of the South Carolina Department of Revenue as provided in Sections 12-7-1680 and 12-35-1530.

The Legislative Audit Council may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of an officer, employee, or adjunct of a state agency and the production of books, papers, correspondence, documents, memoranda, and other records considered necessary in connection with its duties. Obtaining access to agency records by the council does not subject it to violating privacy provisions of any state or federal law.

The Legislative Audit Council shall address its information requests to the chief administrative officer of the agency being examined. The officer is accountable for swift compliance with the requests. Wilful noncompliance with the information requests is misfeasance in office and subjects the officer to penalties as provided by law."

SECTION 2. The first unnumbered paragraph of Section 2-15-120 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 419 of 1998, is further amended to read:

"All records and audit working papers of the Legislative Audit Council with the exception of its final audit reports provided for by Section 2-15-60 are confidential and not subject to public disclosure prior to the publication of the final audit report. In the performance of compliance review duties, the General Assembly, its staff, or other entities are subject to the requirements and penalties of this section. Information protected from disclosure by federal law and the identity of confidential sources must be kept confidential by the Legislative Audit Council."

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

This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:25 A.M.