In Your State - South Carolina

WASHINGTON, December 13, 2001 — The Center interviewed ethics agency officials, scoured ethics agency Web sites and combed through pages of state statutes to conduct this survey of state ethics agencies. Below is a snapshot of answers for this state. See how this state ethics agency compares on staff and budget, oversight and enforcement power, among other topics surveyed. Find out what other type of ethics oversight this state has. Go to the methodology for an explanation of how the survey was conducted and what exact questions were asked.

Oversight Summary
Oversight Survey

South Carolina is one of 27 states in which no outside agency oversees ethical conduct of state legislators. It is one of 18 of those states where no ethics agency oversees any aspect of disclosure. South Carolina is among seven of those states — including Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Ohio — in which an outside agency is setup to oversee other divisions of government.

More Info

What, if any, ethics agency exists in the state?
South Carolina has the South Carolina State Ethics Commission, which is enabled by the South Carolina Code of Laws s.8-13-310. The Commission does not have jurisdiction over state legislators. It oversees other public officials, with a few exceptions, public employees and public members.
http://www.state.sc.us/ethics/

If the above agency does not oversee legislators, is legislative oversight defined in statute?
Yes. South Carolina also has the House of Representatives Ethics Committee and the Senate Ethics Committee, which are enabled by the South Carolina Code of Laws s.8-13-510. Each ethics committee is composed of six legislators, who are elected by the respective chambers.
http://www.lpitr.state.sc.us/code/t08c013.htm

Are there state statutes that address ethical conduct for legislators?
Yes. South Carolina Code of Law s.8-13-100 et seq., "Ethics, Government Accountability, and Campaign Reform," applies to all positions overseen by the State Ethics Commission, the House of Representatives Ethics Committee and the Senate Ethics Committee. It includes South Carolina Code of Laws s.8-13-700, "Rules of Conduct."
http://www.lpitr.state.sc.us/code/t08c013.htm

When were the ethics statutes enacted?
1975

Where do legislators file outside interest disclosures?
House of Representatives Ethics Committee or Senate Ethics Committee. See Info Resources.

Where do legislators file campaign finance disclosures?
House of Representatives Ethics Committee or Senate Ethics Committee. Reports are forwarded to the State Ethics Commission. See South Carolina Code of Laws s.8-13-1300, "Campaign Practices."
http://www.lpitr.state.sc.us/code/t08c013.htm

Where are lobbying disclosures filed?
South Carolina State Ethics Commission
http://www.state.sc.us/ethics/

Note: Some information provided by the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws' "Ethics Update" 2000. For more information or to purchase the reference, visit www.cogel.org.