H 5571

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 5571
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
59-101-700 SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS RELATED TO AN EMPLOYEE OF A PUBLIC INSTITUTION
OF HIGHER LEARNING AND AN EMPLOYEE'S BUSINESS, TO REQUIRE THAT EVERY PUBLIC
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A SECURE ELECTRONIC
REPORTING SYSTEM FOR EACH EMPLOYEE TO ANNUALLY DISCLOSE ANY BUSINESS WITH WHICH
HE IS ASSOCIATED, AND TO REQUIRE THE INSTITUTION TO ADOPT POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE THESE REQUIREMENTS.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Article 2, Chapter 101, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
59-101-700.  (A) For purposes of
this section:
       (1)
"Employee" means an individual employed by a public institution of higher
learning on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or contractual basis.
       (2)
"Business with which he is associated" means any business, trade, profession,
membership, appointment, elected position, or other commercial activity
conducted for compensation by an employee other than the employee's official
duties with the institution.
    (B) A
public institution of higher learning, as defined in Section 59-103-5, shall
establish and maintain a secure electronic reporting system for each employee
to annually disclose any business with which he is associated.
    (C)
On or before December thirty-first of each year, every employee shall submit a
disclosure through the reporting system listing:
       (1)
any business with which he is associated;
       (2)
the name of the business; and
       (3)
a general description of the type of work or services performed for the
business.
    (D) A
public institution of higher learning shall ensure that the reporting system
maintains the confidentiality and security of all submitted information.
    (E) A
public institution of higher learning shall adopt policies and procedures
necessary to implement and enforce the requirements of this section, including
provisions addressing noncompliance. A copy of those policies and procedures
shall be provided to the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works
Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee upon adoption and
upon any subsequent amendments.
    (F)
Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit an employee from engaging
in any outside business activities unless otherwise restricted by state law or
institutional policy.
SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on April 23, 2026 at 11:08 AM