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COMMITTEE REPORT
March 8, 2000
S. 257
S. Printed 3/8/00--S.
Read the first time January 12, 1999.
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 257), to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 7-13-870 so as to provide limitations on the amount of compensation that may be paid to poll watchers, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, page 2, beginning on line 5, by striking SECTION 1 in its entirety.
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, page 2, line 32, in Section 8-13-1310, as contained in SECTION 2, by striking /two five/ and inserting therein / five /.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
THOMAS L. MOORE, for Committee.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-870 SO AS TO PROVIDE LIMITATIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION THAT MAY BE PAID TO POLL WATCHERS AND OTHERS PROVIDING ELECTION DAY ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF OF CANDIDATES OR COMMITTEES, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO THOSE LIMITATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1310, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO RECIPIENTS AND REVIEW OF CERTIFIED CAMPAIGN REPORTS SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION TO FORWARD A COPY OF ALL CAMPAIGN REPORTS TO THE CLERK OF COURT OF THE COUNTY OF RESIDENCE OF THE PERSON REQUIRED TO FILE WITHIN TWO DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE REPORT, AND TO PROVIDE THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION MUST REVIEW ALL STATEMENTS FOR INADVERTENT AND UNINTENTIONAL ERRORS OR OMISSIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1366, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF CERTIFIED CAMPAIGN REPORTS SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT CERTIFIED CAMPAIGN REPORTS BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-1372, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS OF RULES ON CAMPAIGN REPORTS SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION RATHER THAN THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION MAY DETERMINE THAT ERRORS AND OMISSIONS ON CAMPAIGN REPORTS ARE INADVERTENT AND UNINTENTIONAL, AND THAT THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION MAY ASSESS A TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED FIFTY DOLLARS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 7-13-870. Any person providing 'get out the vote' efforts, employed as a poll watcher, or providing activities related to election day efforts on behalf of candidates or committees shall be paid no more than five dollars per hour. Such limitation applies only to persons employed on an intermittent, temporary, or irregular basis and shall not limit paid campaign staff who may be paid what is reasonable and commensurate with similar services rendered in the private sector. Any payment for such effort shall be made by check to the provider. No check may be issued before the person has submitted an itemized statement showing specific work performed, the times and dates of the work and the amount of pay to be provided to the person. The itemized statement shall be maintained by the candidate or committee for a period of four years."
SECTION 2. Section 8-13-1310 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 6 of 1995, is amended to read:
"Section 8-13-1310. (A) All persons required to file certified campaign reports under this article must file those reports with the appropriate supervisory office.
(B) The Senate Ethics Committee and the House of Representatives Ethics Committee must forward a copy of each statement filed with it to the State Ethics Commission within five business days of receipt.
(C) Within two five days of receipt, a copy of all campaign reports received by the State Ethics Commission must be forwarded to the State Election Commission and the clerk of court in the county of residence of the person required to file.
(D) As provided in Section 8-13-1372, the State Ethics Election Commission must review all statements forwarded to it by the State Ethics Commission for inadvertent and unintentional errors or omissions."
SECTION 3. Section 8-13-1366 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 248 of 1991, is amended to read:
"Section 8-13-1366. Certified campaign reports must be made available for public inspection at the office of the State Ethics Commission, the State Election Commission, the Senate Ethics Committee, the House of Representatives Ethics Committee, and the county clerk of court within two business days of receipt. The commissions, ethics committees, and county clerks of court may not require any information or identification as a condition of viewing a report or reports. The commissions, ethics committees, and the county clerks of court shall ensure that the reports are available for copying or purchase at a reasonable cost."
SECTION 4. Section 8-13-1372 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 248 of 1991, is amended to read:
"Section 8-13-1372. (A) The State Ethics Election Commission, in its discretion, may determine that errors or omissions on campaign reports are inadvertent and unintentional and not an effort to violate a requirement of this chapter and may be handled as technical violations which are not subject to the provisions of this chapter pertaining to ethical violations. Technical violations must remain confidential unless requested to be made public by the candidate filing the report. In lieu of all other penalties, the State Ethics Election Commission may assess a technical violations penalty not to exceed fifty dollars."
(B) A violation, other than an inadvertent or unintentional violation, must be referred to the appropriate supervisory office for appropriate action."
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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