BIL:3810
TYP:General Bill GB
INB:House
IND:19990331
PSP:Sheheen
SPO:Sheheen
DDN:l:\council\bills\bbm\9180som99.doc
RBY:Senate
COM:Judiciary Committee 11 SJ
SUB:Legislative Audit Council, agency records, subpoena powers, confidentiality requirements
HST:
BodyDateAction DescriptionComLeg Involved
______
Senate19990511Introduced, read first time,11 SJ
referred to Committee
House19990507Read third time, sent to Senate
House19990506Read second time, unanimous consent
for third reading on Friday,
19990507
House19990505Committee report: Favorable25 HJ
House19990331Introduced, read first time,25 HJ
referred to Committee
Printed Versions of This Bill
Ordered Printed on 19990505
TXT:
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
COMMITTEE REPORT
May 5, 1999
H.3810
Introduced by Rep.Sheheen
S. Printed 5/5/99--H.
Read the first time March 31, 1999.
THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
To whom was referred a Bill (H.3810), to amend Section 21561, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the access of the Legislative Audit Council to state agency records, etc., respectfully
REPORT:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
JAMES H. HARRISON, for Committee.
[3810-1]
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 21561, 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 215120, 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:
SECTION1.Section 21561 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:
“Section 21561.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 1271680 and 12351530.
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.”
SECTION2.The first unnumbered paragraph of Section 215120 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 21560 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.”
SECTION3.This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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[3810]1