CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS - South Carolina Statutes

Title 13 - Planning, Research and Development

CHAPTER 1.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 1.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

SECTION 13-1-10. Department of Commerce established.

(A) The Department of Commerce is established as an administrative agency of state government which is comprised of a Division of State Development, a Division of Savannah Valley Development, a Division of Aeronautics, a Division of Public Railways, and an Advisory Coordinating Council for Economic Development. Each division of the Department of Commerce shall have such functions and powers as provided for by law.

(B) All functions, powers, and duties provided by law to the State Development Board, the Savannah Valley Authority, the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, the South Carolina Public Railways Commission, and the Coordinating Council for Economic Development, its officers or agencies, are hereby transferred to the Department of Commerce together with all records, property, personnel, and unexpended appropriations. All rules, regulations, standards, orders, or other actions of these entities shall remain in effect unless specifically changed or voided by the department in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.

SECTION 13-1-20. Purposes of Department.

The Department of Commerce shall conduct an adequate statewide program for the stimulation of economic activity to develop the potentialities of the State; manage the business and affairs of the Savannah Valley Development; develop state public airports and an air transportation system that is consistent with the needs and desires of the public; develop the state public railway system for the efficient and economical movement of freight, goods, and other merchandise; and enhance the economic growth and development of the State through strategic planning and coordinating activities.

SECTION 13-1-25. Public monies defined; accountability and disclosure requirements; reporting requirements.

(A) The monies constituting a fund of any kind used by the department in carrying out a purpose described in Section 13-1-20 are public monies, notwithstanding their public or private source, and must be treated like public monies for all purposes. These monies are subject to all accountability requirements governing public monies, including compliance with the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code, unless exempt by formal approval of the State Budget and Control Board. These monies are also subject to all disclosure requirements governing public monies, unless exempt by Section 30-4-40.

(B) In addition to all other required audits, reviews, and reports, by January 1 of each year the director must submit to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the members of the Senate Finance Committee, and the members of the House Ways and Means Committee a detailed written report of all expenditures for each fund during the previous calendar year. This report must include an explanation of the specific purpose of each expenditure including recreational or entertainment purposes. Expenditures made pursuant to negotiations with an industry or business and which are ongoing as of December 31 of the previous year may be excluded from that calendar year's report and reported the following January or January of the year following public announcement by the company.

SECTION 13-1-30. Secretary of Commerce; executive director; division directors; duties and responsibilities.

(A) The Department of Commerce shall be headed by a secretary, to be known as the Secretary of Commerce, who shall be appointed by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate. The secretary shall be vested with the duty and authority to oversee, manage, and control the operation, administration, and organization of the department subject only to the laws of this State and the United States. He shall receive such compensation as may be established under the provisions of Section 8-11-160 and for which funds have been authorized in the general appropriations act. He is subject to removal by the Governor as provided in Section 1-3-240.

(B) The Secretary of Commerce may appoint an executive director who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and shall be responsible to the secretary for the operation of programs outlined by the secretary.

(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may appoint a director for each division of the department, except for the Division of Aeronautics who must be appointed by the Governor in accordance with Section 13-1-1080. Except for the Executive Director of the Division of Aeronautics who shall serve at the pleasure of the Aeronautics Commission, each director shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce and shall be responsible to the secretary for the operation of the programs outlined by the secretary.

SECTION 13-1-40. Advisory councils.

At the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce an advisory council or councils may be appointed to advise with respect to each broad function which may be the responsibility of the Secretary of Commerce. Each advisory council shall consist of a group of not more than nine members, consisting of state and local governmental officials and of private individuals of outstanding ability in fields of enterprise related to the particular function with respect to which its advice is desired. The members shall receive no salary or per diem but may be compensated for all actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The members shall serve for terms to be established by the Secretary of Commerce and may be removed at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce. Governmental officials shall serve on such councils for a period of one year and may be reappointed for successive terms by the Secretary of Commerce; provided, that their terms shall end with the termination of their office as officials.

SECTION 13-1-45. South Carolina Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Fund created; definitions; powers and duties of Department of Commerce; criteria for selecting qualified projects.

There is established under the direction and control of the Secretary of Commerce the South Carolina Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Fund for the purposes of selecting, assisting, and financing major qualified projects by providing financing assistance to governmental units and private entities for constructing and improving water and wastewater facilities that are necessary for public purposes, including economic development and for technology-related infrastructure grants for local units of government.

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Fund" means the South Carolina Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Fund.

(2) "Department" means the Department of Commerce.

(3) "Financing agreement" means any agreement entered into between the department and a qualified borrower pertaining to financing assistance. This agreement may contain, in addition to financing terms, provisions relating to the regulation and supervision of a qualified project, or other provisions as the department determines. The term "financing agreement" includes, without limitation, a loan or grant agreement, trust indenture, security agreement, reimbursement agreement, guarantee agreement, ordinance or resolution, or similar instrument.

(4) "Government unit" means a municipal corporation, county, special purpose district, special service district, commissioners of public works, or another public body, instrumentality or agency of this State including combinations of two or more of these entities acting jointly to construct, own, or operate a qualified project, and any other state or local authority, board, commission, agency, department, or other political subdivision created by the General Assembly or pursuant to the Constitution and laws of this State which may construct, own, or operate a qualified project.

(5) "Loan obligation" means a note or other evidence of an obligation issued by a qualified borrower.

(6) "Financing assistance" means, but is not limited to, grants, contributions, credit enhancement, capital or debt reserves for debt instrument financing, interest rate subsidies, provision of letters of credit and credit instruments, provision of debt financing instrument security, and other lawful forms of financing and methods of leveraging funds that are approved by the department, and in the case of federal funds, as allowed by federal law.

(7) "Project revenues" means all rates, rents, fees, assessments, charges, and other receipts derived or to be derived by a qualified borrower from a qualified project or made available from a special source, and as provided in the applicable financing agreement, derived from any system of which the qualified project is a part of, from any other revenue producing facility under the ownership or control of the qualified borrower including, without limitation, proceeds of grants, gifts, appropriations, including the proceeds of financing made by the department, investment earnings, reserves for capital and current expenses, proceeds of insurance or condemnation, and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of property and from any other special source as may be provided by the qualified borrower.

(8) "Qualified borrower" means any government unit, public or private nonprofit entity approved by the department that is authorized to construct, operate, or own a qualified project and receives financing assistance pursuant to this section.

(9) "Qualified project" means an eligible project that has been selected by the department to receive financing assistance pursuant to this section.

(10) "Revenues" means any receipts, fees, income, or other payments received or to be received by the department, expressly for the fund including, without limitation, receipts and other payments deposited for the fund and investment earnings on any monies and accounts established for the fund.

(B) The department shall provide the required staff and may add additional staff or contract for services, if necessary, to administer the fund in accordance with this section. The compensation, costs, and expenses incurred incident to administering the fund may be paid from revenues. If the department requests, the State Budget and Control Board may provide legal, technical, planning, and other assistance through intergovernmental agreement. Costs incurred by the board pursuant to such a request must be reimbursed to it by the department from revenues.

(C) In addition to the powers and authority granted in this chapter, the department has the powers and authority necessary to carry out the purposes of this section including, but not limited to:

(1) establish procedures and guidelines necessary for the administration of this section;

(2) offer any form of financing assistance that the department considers necessary to any qualified borrower for a qualified project;

(3) provide loans or other financing assistance to qualified borrowers to finance the eligible costs of qualified projects and to acquire, hold, and sell loans or other obligations at prices and in the manner the department determines advisable;

(4) provide qualified borrowers with other financing assistance necessary to defray eligible costs of a qualified project;

(5) enter into contracts, arrangements, and agreements with qualified borrowers, governmental units, or other otherwise eligible entities, and execute and deliver all financing agreements and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers granted in this chapter;

(6) enter into agreements with a department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or of this State or another state for the purpose of planning and providing for the financing of qualified projects;

(7) establish fiscal controls and accounting procedures to ensure proper accounting and reporting by qualified borrowers;

(8) acquire by purchase, lease, donation, or other lawful means and sell, convey, pledge, lease, exchange, transfer, and dispose of all or part of its properties and assets of every kind and character or any interest in it to further the public purpose of the fund, without further approval or authorization;

(9) procure insurance, guarantees, letters of credit, and other forms of collateral or security or credit support from any public or private entity, including any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or this State, for the payment of any debt issued by a qualified borrower or other entity receiving assistance pursuant to this section, including the power to pay premiums or fees on insurance, guarantees, letters of credit, and other forms of collateral or security or credit support, without further approval or authorization;

(10) collect fees and charges in connection with financing assistance and expend such funds to effectuate the purposes of this section;

(11) apply for, receive and accept from any source, aid, grants, and contributions of money, property, labor, or other things of value to be used to carry out the purposes of this section;

(12) do all other things necessary or convenient to exercise powers granted or reasonably implied by this chapter.

(D) The department shall establish accounts and subaccounts within the state accounts and any federal accounts to receive and disburse funds to effectuate the purposes of this section. Earnings on the balances in these state accounts must be expended to effectuate the purposes of this section. Earnings on balances in the federal accounts must be credited and invested according to federal law. All accounts must be held in trust by the State Treasurer and the unexpended funds in these accounts carry forward from year to year. All earnings on state accounts must be retained in those accounts and used for the same purposes.

(E) The department shall determine which projects are eligible projects and then select from among the eligible projects those qualified to receive financing assistance under this section. Priority in funding must be given to projects located in underdeveloped areas of the State.

(F) In selecting qualified projects, the department shall consider the projected feasibility of the project and the amount of financial risk. The department also may consider, but is not limited to, the following criteria in making its determination that an eligible project is a qualified project:

(1) local support of the project, expressed by resolutions by the governing bodies in the areas in which the project will be located;

(2) economic benefit of the project;

(3) readiness of the project to proceed;

(4) ability of the applicant to repay financial assistance obtained;

(5) financial or in-kind contributions to the project;

(6) development status of the county in which the project is located; and

(7) whether the governing bodies of the county or the incorporated municipality in which the project is located provide to the department a resolution that makes a finding that the project is essential to economic development in the political subdivisions, or the department receives a resolution or certificate from the Coordinating Council for Economic Development that the project is essential to economic development in this State, or both, at the option of the department.

(G) Qualified borrowers may obtain financing assistance pursuant to this section through financing or grant agreements. Qualified borrowers entering into financing or grant agreements or issuing debt obligations may perform any acts, take any action, adopt any proceedings, or make and carry out any contracts or agreements with the department as may be agreed to by the department and any qualified borrower and necessary for effectuating the purposes of this section.

(H) In addition to the authorizations contained in this section, all other statutes or provisions permitting government units to borrow money and issue obligations including, but not limited to, the Revenue Bond Act for Utilities and the Revenue Bond Refinancing Act of 1937, may be utilized by any government unit in obtaining financing assistance from the department pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, obligations secured by ad valorem taxes may be issued by a government unit and purchased by the department or its agent without regard to any public bidding requirement.

(I) A qualified borrower may receive, apply, pledge, assign, and grant security interest in project revenues; and, in the case of a governmental unit, its project revenues, revenues derived from a special source or ad valorem taxes, to secure its obligations as provided in this section, and may fix, revise, charge, and collect fees, rates, rents, assessments, and other charges of general or special application for the operation or services of a qualified project, the system of which it is a part, and any other revenue producing facilities from which the qualified borrower derives project revenues, to meet its obligations under a financing agreement or to provide for the construction and improving of a qualified project.

(J) If a qualified borrower fails to collect and remit in full all amounts due under any related financing agreement, note, or other obligation, the department may, on or after the date these amounts are due, notify the State Treasurer who shall withhold all or a portion of the state funds and all funds administered by this State, its agencies, boards, and instrumentalities allotted or appropriated to the government unit and apply an amount necessary to the payment of the amount due; or in the case of a private entity, the department may pursue recovery pursuant to Chapter 56 of Title 12; or the department may pursue any other remedy provided by law.

(K) Nothing contained in this section mandates the withholding of funds allocated to a government unit or private entity which would violate contracts to which this State is a party, the requirements of federal law imposed on this State, or judgments of a court binding on this State.

(L) Notice, proceeding, or publication, except those required in this section, are not necessary to the performance of any act authorized in this section nor is any act of the department subject to any referendum.

(M) Following the close of each state fiscal year, the department shall submit an annual report of its activities pursuant to this section for the preceding year to the Governor and to the General Assembly.

(N) No funds under this section may be provided, promised, or allocated to any projects authorized hereunder before November 15, 2000.

(O) The department shall submit a quarterly report to the State Budget and Control Board of all projects obligated for funding pursuant to this section.

SECTION 13-1-50. Annual audit of Department.

The department shall be audited by a certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants once each year to be designated by the State Auditor. The department may undergo an Agreed Upon Procedures audit in lieu of having audited financial statements. The audit shall be in coordination with the State Auditor's Office and will be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and must comprise all financial records and controls. The audit must be completed by November first following the close of the fiscal year. The costs and expenses of the audit must be paid by the department out of its funds.

SECTION 13-1-60. Provisions of chapter severable.

If a term or provision of a section of this chapter is found to be illegal or unenforceable, the remainder of this chapter nonetheless remains in full force and effect and the illegal or unenforceable term or provision is deleted and severed from this chapter.

ARTICLE 3.

DIVISION OF STATE DEVELOPMENT

SECTION 13-1-310. Definitions.

The following terms, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Agency" means any state officer, department, board, commission, committee, institution, bureau, division, or other person or functional group that is authorized to exercise or that does exercise any executive or administrative function of government in the State; when the term "local agency" is used, it shall be construed to mean local political subdivisions of the State; when the term "federal agency" is used, it shall be construed to mean any agency of the government of the United States of America;

(2) "Director" means the Director for the Division of State Development.

(3) "Division" means the Division of State Development.

(4) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce.

(5) "State" means the State of South Carolina.

SECTION 13-1-320. Objectives of Division.

The objectives of the division are to:

(1) conserve, restore, and develop the natural and physical, the human and social, and the economic and productive resources of the State;

(2) promote coordination of the functions and activities of state agencies and act as the official state liaison office between the state, federal, and local planning, research, and development agencies;

(3) promote a system of transportation for the State through development and expansion of the highway, railroad, port, waterway, and airport systems;

(4) promote and correlate state and local activity in planning public works projects;

(5) promote public interest in the development of the State through cooperation with public agencies, private enterprises, and charitable and social institutions;

(6) promote and encourage industrial development, private business and commercial enterprise, agricultural production, transportation, and the utilization and investment of capital within the State;

(7) assist the development of existing state and interstate trade, commerce, and markets for South Carolina goods and in the removal of barriers to the industrial, commercial, and agricultural development of the State;

(8) assist in ensuring stability in employment, increase the opportunities for employment of the citizens of the State, and devise ways and means to raise the living standards of the people of the State;

(9) advance the general welfare of the people.

SECTION 13-1-330. Division made up of bureaus.

The division shall consist of a bureau of research, a bureau of planning, a bureau of development, and such other bureaus as the director may establish. Each bureau may be headed by a bureau chief selected on the basis of his technical and administrative qualifications and experience to perform the duties required by his position. The chief for the bureau of research shall be a person thoroughly familiar with the principles of, and experienced in, the methods and techniques of research and economics. The chief for the bureau of planning shall be an industrial engineer experienced in that type of work. The chief for the bureau of development shall be a person thoroughly familiar with the principles of, and experienced in, the methods and techniques of developing a program of advertising and salesmanship.

SECTION 13-1-340. Director of Division; duties, powers and responsibilities.

The director is vested with duties, powers, and responsibilities involved in accomplishing the division's objectives outlined in this article within the appropriations provided by the General Assembly. The director may:

(1) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on matters concerning the division's objectives;

(2) cooperate with the operating agencies of the State in the development of plans;

(3) have access to the records and studies of each state agency pertaining to the division's objectives;

(4) conduct studies on his own initiative pertaining to the division's objectives and others at the request of the Governor, the General Assembly, or state or local agencies;

(5) make special studies on area problems or specific subjects, establish local agencies, and furnish staff or financial aid;

(6) stimulate and encourage local, state, and federal governmental agencies with similar and related objectives and purposes and cooperate with local, regional, and federal planning and development programs;

(7) publish and distribute the division's findings through written reports, brochures, magazine and newspaper articles, and other appropriate forms and use the radio, periodicals, and other recognized forms of advertising, personal interviews, exhibits, and displays in order that governmental agencies, corporations, and individual citizens may become acquainted with the development program of the State;

(8) advertise the advantages of the State for industrial, agricultural, and commercial development by paid publicity;

(9) provide information to and make contact with private business enterprises and local, state, and federal governmental agencies to acquaint them with industrial, agricultural, and commercial opportunities in the State and encourage the establishment of new or the expansion of existing industries and enterprises;

(10) provide advice upon request by local, state, and federal agencies, private citizens, and business and commercial enterprises upon matters of economic development, industrial and business expansion, and agricultural activity upon which his knowledge, sources of information, and findings and decisions qualify him to speak;

(11) accept gifts, grants, funds, and property to accomplish the division's objectives, administer and disburse gifts, grants, and funds, and dispose of property to counties, municipalities, and local agencies performing a public service or function which may disburse the gifts, grants, and funds or make the property available to eligible participants in a program established to perform and implement the public service or function subject to the approval of the Budget and Control Board.

SECTION 13-1-350. Director to assume duties of certain former boards, commissions and councils.

The former State Planning Board, State Board of Housing, Building Council of South Carolina, South Carolina Commerce Development Board, South Carolina Intra-Coastal Waterway Commission, South Carolina Board for Promotion of External Trade, and Natural Resources Commission and their successor the State Development Board having been abolished, the director shall have the following additional duties formerly imposed on such boards, commissions and councils:

(1) State Planning Board:

(a) to confer and cooperate with the executive, legislative and planning authorities of the United States and of neighboring states and of subdivisions thereof;

(b) to promote interest in the understanding of the problems of state planning; and

(c) to cooperate with the United States and any of its agencies in the planning, conservation, utilization and development of state resources and in the planning of its public works programs and to act, when so designated, as an agency of the United States, or of any agency thereof.

(2) State Board of Housing: to perform the duties imposed upon him under Title 31 of this Code;

(3) Building Council of South Carolina: to promulgate and recommend to the General Assembly of the State a building code for adoption;

(4) Commerce Development Board:

(a) to purchase, hold, use, lease, mortgage, sell, transfer, convey, assign, pledge or otherwise to acquire, encumber or dispose of any property, real, personal or mixed, or any estate or interest therein, including, but without limiting the foregoing, stock in any corporation;

(b) to employ attorneys upon such reasonable basis of compensation as may be agreed upon, or as he may determine, commensurate with the services rendered or to be rendered to the end that no excessive or unreasonable fees or compensation shall be allowed;

(c) to build, acquire, construct and maintain power houses and any and all structures, ways and means necessary, useful or customarily used and employed in the construction of highways, in the construction and operation of railroads and in the manufacture, generation and distribution of electricity and any and all other kinds of power, including power transmission lines, poles, telephone and telegraph lines, substations, transformers and generally all things used or useful in the manufacture, distribution and purchase of power and electricity; provided, that electric current produced shall be used by the director and that none of it shall be sold;

(d) to acquire or to build, construct, equip, maintain and operate one or more railroads with any motive power, one or more highways or other methods, means or ways of commerce or transportation or of communication, telegraph or telephone lines, electric lines, pipe lines, commissaries, houses, camps, lakes, fills, dams, reservoirs, ditches, drains, roads, tunnels, culverts, bridges, conduits, shops and depots and equipment; provided, that telegraph or telephone lines shall be used by the director and that no telegraph or telephone service shall be sold to the general public;

(e) to engage in the business of a common carrier of freight or passengers for hire;

(f) to build, construct, equip, maintain and operate, or cause the same to be done, a railroad or a highway connecting the existing lines of railroad at Walhalla, South Carolina, and at or near Maryville, Tennessee, or as near to such points as practicable and to do every act and thing necessary or proper to accomplish that result and to secure improvement of such existing lines connecting the same with the Atlantic seaboard;

(g) to transport goods, freight, mail, passengers and intelligence for hire and to fix and collect proper charges therefor;

(h) to construct or establish parks or playgrounds for the use, benefit, recreation and amusement of the people of this State under such rules and regulations and subject to such charges as it may establish, determine or fix, with all necessary or proper appurtenances, roadways, lakes, reservoirs, pipe lines, wires, buildings or other structures and equipment which it may from time to time deem desirable;

(i) to take such steps as may be proper to prevent and control soil erosion and floods in the areas served by it;

(j) to cooperate with the United States to promote the national defense;

(k) to develop and increase commerce, intrastate, interstate and foreign, by shortening and improving existing routes, by constructing new routes and facilities and by equipping, maintaining and operating or leasing the same, or causing it to be done, by procuring or endeavoring to procure a reduction in freight, passenger, power, light, water, telegraph and telephone rates and tolls and by any other means or method which shall tend so to do and securing to the people of this State the annual saving of large sums and an improvement in their living conditions and general welfare;

(l) to cooperate with the health authorities in the areas served by it to the end that the public health may be improved and disease and suffering reduced;

(m) to fix, alter, charge and collect tolls, freight and other charges for the use of the division's facilities or for the services rendered by or for any commodities furnished by it, at rates to be determined by the director, such rates to be at least sufficient to provide for payment of all expenses of the director under this subsubparagraph (4) of this section, the conservation, maintenance and operation of its facilities and properties, the payment of principal and interest on its notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness or obligation and to fulfill the terms and provisions of any agreements made with the purchasers or holders of any of the division's notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness or obligation;

(n) to have the power of eminent domain;

(o) to acquire by purchase, gift, condemnation or in any other manner any lands, waters, water rights, riparian rights, flowage rights, rights of way, easements, licenses, franchises, engineering data, maps, construction plans or estimates or any other property of any kind, real, personal or mixed, necessary or useful in carrying out any of his powers;

(p) to borrow money, to make and issue negotiable notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness and to secure the payment of such obligations or any part thereof by mortgage, lien, pledge or deed of trust on any or all of the division's property, contracts, franchises or revenues and to make such agreements with the purchasers or holders of such notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness or with others in connection with any such notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, whether issued or to be issued, as the director shall deem advisable and in general to provide for the security for such notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness and the rights of the holders thereof;

(q) to endorse or otherwise to guarantee the obligations of any corporation all of the voting stock of which the division may own or acquire;

(r) to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise to encumber any or all of the division's property, real, personal or mixed, facilities or revenues as security for notes, bonds, evidences of indebtedness or other obligations;

(s) to borrow money from the United States or any corporation or agency created, designed or established by the United States;

(t) to exercise the powers and to do the things authorized by subsubparagraph (4) of this section either by and with his own efforts and resources or to procure or to cause the same to be done by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, by any one or more of the states affected or their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, by any private corporation, association or individual, contractor or otherwise or by the joint efforts of any or all of them or by cooperation with any or all of them, having in mind that the primary objective to be achieved is the construction, maintenance and operation of the railroad, highways, lines of communication and other facilities authorized by this subsubparagraph, regardless of the particular method, manner or agency by or through which the same may be done, and to do any and all acts and things and to make any and all agreements or contracts necessary thereunto, including also the power to lease the whole or any part of the division's facilities or to contract or agree upon a particular method, manner or agency of or for the maintenance or operation of such facilities;

(u) to make, alter and repeal reasonable rules and regulations governing the use of the division's facilities and to fix and collect the charges, tolls, prices or rate of compensation it shall receive for the same, but nothing herein contained shall prevent the director, when in his opinion the public interest will best be served thereby and when the division's financial condition will permit, from allowing the use of its parks, places of amusement and recreation, roads, highways and the like, to be designated by the director from time to time, free of charge or at a merely nominal charge for the benefit of the people of this State;

(v) to sell or otherwise to dispose of any surplus property which the division may acquire and which the director may decide is not needed; and

(w) to have all additional powers, not inconsistent with this article, that are vested by law in common carriers of freight, passengers, electricity and intelligence for hire and in corporations generally.

(5) South Carolina Intra-Coastal Waterway Commission: to perform the duties imposed upon it by Chapter 5 of Title 3 of this Code;

(6) Board for Promotion of External Trade:

(a) to compile surveys showing the nature and extent of the natural resources and of the manufactured products and raw materials found or produced in the State which may move in domestic or foreign commerce; and

(b) to determine the areas throughout the world where commodities and products of this State may find advantageous markets and secure perfection of arrangements between citizens of this State and producers and consumers in other areas whereby there may be carried on greater interchange of commerce.

(7) Natural Resources Commission:

(a) to select a label, have it copyrighted and registered in the United States copyright office, which label shall in the judgment of the director be used to advertise the chemical and other contents of food products grown in South Carolina or to advertise other articles;

(b) to promulgate and register the conditions upon which such label may be used and fix the charges for such use; and

(c) to promulgate information furnished by the South Carolina Research Laboratories and other educational institutions and such other information as has bearing upon value of South Carolina products.

SECTION 13-1-360. Confidentiality of information.

Confidential information submitted to any agency as required by law shall not be published in any manner which will directly or indirectly reflect or damage the reputation or business activity of any individual or corporation concerned.

SECTION 13-1-370. Advisory committee of the Division of State Development.

The director may, in his discretion establish an advisory committee of the Division of State Development (hereafter, in this section, the "advisory committee") which if established, would be comprised of twenty-four citizens of the State to be appointed by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate. One member must be appointed from each of the following two-county areas:

1. Richland and Kershaw counties;

2. Spartanburg and Cherokee counties;

3. Laurens and Newberry counties;

4. Abbeville and Greenwood counties;

5. Berkeley and Charleston counties;

6. Oconee and Anderson counties;

7. Florence and Marion counties;

8. Greenville and Pickens counties;

9. Horry and Georgetown counties;

10. Union and York counties;

11. Lee and Darlington counties;

12. Marlboro and Dillon counties;

13. Chester and Fairfield counties;

14. Lancaster and Chesterfield counties;

15. Sumter and Calhoun counties;

16. Clarendon and Williamsburg counties;

17. Beaufort and Jasper counties;

18. Dorchester and Colleton counties;

19. Orangeburg and Bamberg counties;

20. Allendale and Hampton counties;

21. Aiken and Barnwell counties;

22. Lexington and Saluda counties;

23. Edgefield and McCormick counties.

The Governor shall appoint one member from the State at large who shall serve as chairman. The terms of the members are for a period of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Terms for all members commence on July first of the year of appointment. Of the members initially appointed from the two-county areas, the Governor shall appoint one member from each of the following counties for a term of two years: Kershaw, Cherokee, Newberry, Greenwood, Charleston, Anderson, Marion, Pickens, Georgetown, York, Darlington, and Dillon, and the Governor shall appoint one member from each of the following counties for a term of four years: Fairfield, Chesterfield, Calhoun, Williamsburg, Jasper, Colleton, Bamberg, Hampton, Barnwell, Lexington, and McCormick. Upon the expiration of the initial terms of the members appointed from the two-county areas, the Governor shall rotate the appointment of these members between the counties in each of the two-county areas. The advisory committee may select other officers from its membership to serve for terms designated by it. Vacancies must be filled in the manner of the original appointments for the unexpired portions of the terms. The members of the advisory committee must be paid the usual mileage and subsistence as is provided by law for members of state boards, commissions, and committees. The advisory committee must meet four times a year, and may meet more often if the chairman considers it necessary or if ten members request the chairman to call a meeting, and the director approves such additional meetings. The advisory committee may not meet at any location outside the boundaries of South Carolina. The advisory committee shall advise and consult with the director on the following matters:

(a) the condition of and prospects for economic development in the State - particularly in the rural areas;

(b) the fostering of a close working relationship between the primarily rural, or primarily agricultural, counties of the State and the counties which are primarily nonrural or nonagricultural;

(c) the identification of problems facing smaller rural counties and of solutions to those problems;

(d) having input to the director regarding industrial prospects throughout the State; and

(e) any other matter which the director considers necessary to assist the director, in the way of consultation or advice, in carrying out any of the director's duties or functions under this article.

SECTION 13-1-380. Recycling Market Development Advisory Council.

(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13-1-40, there is established within the division a Recycling Market Development Advisory Council to assist in the development of markets for recovered materials and products with recycled content in this State.

(B) The members of the advisory council shall be appointed not later than ninety days after this article is effective.

(C) The advisory council shall consist of fourteen members to be appointed by the Governor to include:

(1) one member shall represent the division;

(2) one member shall represent county governments;

(3) one member shall represent municipalities;

(4) one member shall represent the solid waste collection and disposal industry;

(5) one member shall represent the existing recycling industry;

(6) one member shall represent the glass industry;

(7) one member shall represent the paper industry;

(8) one member shall represent the aluminum industry;

(9) one member shall represent the plastics industry;

(10) one member shall represent the tire industry;

(11) one member shall represent the general public;

(12) one member shall represent the oil industry;

(13) one member shall represent the scrap metal recycling industry; and

(14) one member shall represent higher education research institutions.

(D) Each member of the advisory council shall serve a two-year term beginning on the date of his appointment and shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority and shall receive the usual mileage, per diem, and subsistence provided by law for members of boards, committees, and commissions. Until sufficient funds have accumulated in the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund to cover the advisory council's expenses, the appointing authorities shall provide the mileage, per diem, and subsistence for their respective appointees. Any other expenses of the advisory council shall be shared equally by the appointing authorities until the trust fund has sufficient funds to cover the expenses.

(E) The chairman shall be designated by the Secretary of Commerce and the advisory council shall select its own vice-chairman. The advisory council shall adopt operating procedures and shall meet on the call of the chairman or of a majority of the members. Members shall promulgate regulations concerning meeting attendance. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to do business. The division shall provide the necessary staff and administrative facilities and services to the advisory council. The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall provide technical assistance to the council at the request of the chairman or of the vice-chairman, or by majority vote of the advisory council.

(F) Not later than fifteen months after this article is effective, the council shall provide to the Governor and to the General Assembly an initial report which shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(1) a description and analysis of this state's existing recycling industry;

(2) an analysis of the projected long-term capacity of existing markets to absorb materials generated by source separation, recovery, or recycling programs;

(3) an analysis of potential markets in this State, in other states, or in foreign countries for recovered materials and products with recycled content from this State;

(4) an analysis of institutional, economic, and technical barriers to the use of recovered materials and products with recycled content;

(5) recommendations for actions which may be taken to increase demand for source separated, recovered, or recycled materials or products;

(6) recommendations for actions which may be taken to increase the incentives for private individuals and for business and industry to consume or export recovered materials and products with recycled content;

(7) an analysis of the compatibility of recycling with solid waste treatment or disposal methods and recommendations on the feasibility of the implementation of mechanisms for cooperative marketing of recyclable materials;

(8) recommendations on categories of materials which should be recovered, given existing and potential markets for such materials;

(9) recommendations for a public education program to be implemented by the Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling within the department to provide information to the public and to business and industry on the benefits of source separation, recovery, and recycling and on the availability of recovered materials or products with recycled content;

(10) a study of methods of and cost effectiveness of source separation and recycling of recovered materials;

(11) a study of packaging reduction; and

(12) a study of the design of products at the primary stage of development to promote recyclability.

(G) Following its initial report, the council shall submit to the Governor and to the General Assembly by the end of each calendar year an annual report on recycling activities in this State which shall, at a minimum, include the following:

(1) any revisions which the council determines are necessary to its initial report;

(2) a description and analysis of the amounts and types of solid waste materials recovered or recycled in this State during the preceding year;

(3) recommendations regarding materials which should be added to or deleted from source separation, recovery, and recycling programs; and

(4) any other recommendations, including tax incentives, to facilitate the development of markets for recovered materials or products in this State.

ARTICLE 5.

DIVISION OF SAVANNAH VALLEY DEVELOPMENT

SECTION 13-1-610. Definitions.

The following terms, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Director" means the Director for the Division of Savannah Valley Development.

(2) "Division" means the Division of Savannah Valley Development.

(3) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce.

SECTION 13-1-620. Rights and powers of director.

The director has all the rights and powers necessary or convenient to manage the business and affairs of the division and to take action as he considers advisable, necessary, or convenient in carrying out his powers, including, but not limited to, the following rights and powers to:

(a) have perpetual succession;

(b) sue and be sued;

(c) adopt, use, and alter a corporate seal;

(d) adopt and amend bylaws for regulation of the division's affairs consistent with this article;

(e) notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation to the contrary, and in accordance with its own procurement procedures and regulations as approved by the Budget and Control Board, acquire, purchase, hold, use, improve, manage, lease, mortgage, pledge, sell, transfer, and dispose of any property, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest in any property, or revenues of the authority, including as security for notes, bonds, evidences of indebtedness, or other obligations of the authority. The authority is subject to the provisions of Title 11, Chapter 35. The authority has no power to pledge the credit and the taxing power of the State or any of its political subdivisions;

(f) receive contributions, donations, and payments and to invest and disburse the division's funds;

(g) make inquiry into the status of, and plans for, the development of the J. Strom Thurmond project and the Richard B. Russell project by the United States government, by the State of Georgia, or by any other agency or instrumentality;

(h) encourage, assist, promote, and cooperate in the development of the Savannah River and the streams, canals, or watercourses now or at a later time connected to or flowing into the river and to appear on behalf of the State before any agency, department, or commission of this State, of the United States, or of any other state in furtherance of the development or of any matter connected with the development or related to the development;

(i) negotiate agreements, accords, or compacts on behalf of and in the name of the State with the State of Georgia or the United States, or both, with any agency, department, or commission of either or both, or with any other state or any agency, department, or commission of the other state, relating to the development of the Savannah River and the development of the streams, canals, or watercourses now or at a later time connected to or flowing into the river, and particularly in reference to joint or concurrent action in the furtherance of agreements, accords, or contracts. Interstate compacts made by the division are subject to approval by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly;

(j) act as a regional development agency of the State to receive, purchase, hold title to, and to manage any real property in the division's jurisdiction acquired by release of surplus real property, by purchase, by donation, by lease, or by exchange and to develop and promote the development of the land for recreational, transportation, residential, commercial, and industrial purposes, both public and private, and to lease, sublease, or convey title in fee simple to the real property as provided in the bylaws of the division. The division shall retain, carry forward, or expend any proceeds derived from the sale, lease, rental, or other use of real and personal property under the division's exclusive jurisdiction. The proceeds shall only be used in the development and the promotion of the division as provided by this article and for the purposes authorized by this article;

(k) promulgate regulations governing the use of or doing business on the division's property or facilities, including the adoption of safety standards and insurance coverage or proof of financial responsibility, including, but not limited to, providing for the licensing of persons, firms, or corporations using or doing business on such property or facilities, and for license fees to cover the expense thereof;

(l) borrow money, make and issue notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness, including refunding and advanced refunding notes and bonds, of the division; to secure the payment of the obligations or any part by mortgage, lien, pledge, or deed of trust on any of its property, contracts, franchises, or revenues, including the proceeds of any refunding and advanced refunding notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness and the investments in which proceeds are invested and the earnings on and income from the investments; to invest its monies, including without limitation its revenues and proceeds of the notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness, in obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are guaranteed by or are fully secured by contracts with, the United States, in obligations of any agency, instrumentality, or corporation which has been or may at a later time be created by or pursuant to an act of the United States Congress as an agency, instrumentality, or corporation, in direct and general obligations of this State, and in certificates of deposit issued by any bank, trust company, or national banking association; to make agreements with the purchasers or holders of the notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or with others in connection with any notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness, whether issued or to be issued, as the division considers advisable; and to provide for the security for the notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness and the rights of the holders of the notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness. In the exercise of the powers granted in this section to issue advanced refunding notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness the director may, but is not required to, avail himself of or comply with any of the provisions of Chapter 21 of Title 11. The director, when investing in certificates of deposit, shall invest in certificates of deposit issued by institutions authorized to do business in this State if the institutions offer terms which, in the opinion of the director, are equal to or better than those offered by other institutions;

(m) loan the proceeds of notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness to a person, corporation, or partnership to construct, acquire, improve, or expand the projects described in Section 13-1-640;

(n) make contracts, including service contracts with a person, corporation, or partnership, to provide the services provided in Section 13-1-640, and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient for the carrying out of business

(o) for the acquiring of rights-of-way and property necessary for the accomplishment of its duties and purposes, the division may purchase them by negotiation or may condemn them, and should it elect to exercise the right of eminent domain, condemnation actions must be in the name of the division. The power of eminent domain applies to all property of private persons or corporations and also to property already devoted to public use in Abbeville and McCormick counties;

(p) employ and dismiss, at the will and pleasure of the authority, those employees, consultants, and other providers of services as the authority considers necessary and to fix and to pay their compensation; provided, that the state agency head salary review process and the rules and guidelines thereunder applies to the executive director of the authority. As of July 1, 1993, the compensation of the executive director of the authority must be re-evaluated by the State Agency Head Salary Commission in order that the appropriate adjustments be made. Except as provided above, employees of the authority or an entity established pursuant to Section 13-9-190 are not considered state employees except for eligibility for participation in the State Retirement System and the State Health Insurance Group Plans and pursuant to Chapter 78 of Title 15; provided, however, that employees of the authority are subject to the state uniform classification and compensation system until such time as the authority is self-supporting. Except as provided above, the provisions of Chapter 11 of Title 8 and Article 5, Chapter 17 of Title 8 do not apply to the authority. The authority is responsible for complying with the other state and federal laws covering employers. The authority may contract with the Division of Human Resources Management of the State Budget and Control Board to establish a comprehensive human resource management program.

(q) fix, alter, charge, and collect tolls, fees, rents, charges, and assessments for the use of the facilities of or for the services rendered by, the division; these rates must be at least sufficient to provide for payment of all expenses of the division, the conservation, maintenance, and operation of its facilities and properties, the payment of principal and interest on its notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness or obligation, and to fulfill the terms and provisions of any agreements made with the purchasers and holders of these notes, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or obligation.

SECTION 13-1-630. Area of director's powers.

The director may exercise any of the powers and duties conveyed under Section 13-1-620 in the entire area of a county or portion of a county which borders the Savannah River or is within the Savannah River Basin.

SECTION 13-1-640. Issuance of revenue bonds to fund projects.

In furtherance of its purposes, the division may issue revenue bonds, the interest on which may or may not be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes, for the purpose of raising funds needed from time to time for the financing or refinancing, in whole or in part, the acquisition, construction, equipment, maintenance, and operation of a facility, building structure, or any other matter or thing which the division is authorized to acquire, construct, equip, maintain, or operate. In connection with the issuance of bonds, the division may enter into an agreement with a company to construct, operate, maintain, and improve a project, and the division may enter into a financing agreement with the company prescribing the terms and conditions of the payments to be made by the company to the division, or its assignee, to meet the payments that become due on bonds.

SECTION 13-1-650. Executive order of director required for issuance of revenue bonds; contents of order.

Revenue bonds issued under this article for any project described in Section 13-1-640 must be authorized by executive order of the director. The director's executive order may contain provisions which are a part of the contract between the division and the several holders of the bonds as to:

(a) the custody, security, use, expenditure, or application of the proceeds of the bonds;

(b) the acquisition, construction, and completion of any project for which the bonds are issued;

(c) the use, regulation, operation, maintenance, insurance, or disposition of the project for which the bonds are issued, or any restrictions on the exercise of the powers of the division to dispose of or limit or regulate the use of the project;

(d) the payment of the principal of or interest on the bonds and the sources and methods of payment, the rank or priority of any bonds as to any lien or security, or the acceleration of the maturity of any bonds;

(e) the use and disposition of the revenues derived or to be derived from the operation of any project;

(f) the pledging, setting aside, depositing, or entrusting of the revenues from which the bonds are made payable to secure the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds or the payment of expenses of operation and maintenance of the project;

(g) the setting aside of revenues, reserves, or sinking funds and the source, custody, security, regulation, and disposition of the revenues, reserves, or sinking funds;

(h) the determination of the definition of revenues or of the expenses of operation and maintenance of the project for which the bonds are issued;

(i) the rentals, fees, or other charges derived from the use of the project and the fixing, establishing, collection, and enforcement of the rentals, fees, or other charges, the amount or amounts of revenues to be produced by the rentals, fees, or other charges, and the disposition and application of the amounts charged or collected;

(j) limitations on the issuance of additional bonds or any other obligations or the incurrence of indebtedness payable from the same revenues from which the bonds are payable;

(k) rules to ensure the use of the project by the public or private sector to the maximum extent to which the project is capable of serving the public or private sector;

(l) any other matter or course of conduct which, by recital in the resolution authorizing the bonds, is declared to further secure the payment of the principal of or interest on the bonds.

SECTION 13-1-660. Specifics of revenue bonds and their issuance.

The bonds may be issued in one or more series, may bear a date, may mature at a time not exceeding forty years from their respective dates, may bear interest at the rate or rates per annum as approved by the State Budget and Control Board, may be payable in a medium of payment and at a place, may be in a denomination, may be in a form, either coupon or registered, may carry registration privileges, may be subject to terms of redemption before maturity, with or without premium, and may contain terms, covenants, and conditions as the executive order authorizing the issuance of the bonds may provide. The interest rate on bonds issued by the division, the proceeds of which are loaned to a company pursuant to a financing agreement to construct or acquire a project authorized under Section 13-1-640, are not subject to approval by the State Budget and Control Board. The bonds are fully negotiable within the meaning of and for the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code.

SECTION 13-1-670. Principal and interest on bonds exempt from taxation.

The principal of and interest on bonds issued under this article are exempt from taxation, as provided in Section 12-1-60. All security agreements, indentures, and financing agreements made pursuant to the provisions of this article are exempt from state stamp and transfer taxes.

SECTION 13-1-680. Approval of State Budget and Control Board as prerequisite to issuance of bonds.

No bonds may be issued pursuant to the provisions of this article until the proposal of the director to issue the bonds receives the approval of the State Budget and Control Board. When the director proposes to issue bonds, he shall file a proposal with the Budget and Control Board setting forth:

(a) a brief description of the project proposed to be undertaken and its anticipated effect upon the economy of the area in which the project is to be located;

(b) a reasonable estimate of the cost of the project;

(c) a general summary of the terms and conditions of any financing agreement and security agreement. Upon the filing of the proposal the Budget and Control Board shall, as soon as practicable, make an independent investigation, as it considers necessary or appropriate, and if it finds that the project is intended to promote the purposes of this article, it may approve the project. At any time following the approval, the division may proceed with the acquisition and financing of the project. If the proceeds of the bonds are to be made available to a company to construct a project, as provided in Section 13-1-640, notice of the approval of any project by the Budget and Control Board must be published at least once by the division in a newspaper having general circulation in the county where the project is to be located. Any interested party may, within twenty days after the date of the publication of notice, but not after the twenty days, challenge the validity of the approval in the court of common pleas in the county where the project is to be located.

SECTION 13-1-690. Signature on bonds.

The bonds must be signed in the name of the director by the manual or facsimile signature of the director. Interest coupons attached to the bonds must be signed by the facsimile signature of the director. The bonds may be issued notwithstanding that the director signing them or whose facsimile signature appears on the bonds or the coupons has ceased to hold office at the time of issue or at the time of the delivery of the bonds to the purchaser.

SECTION 13-1-700. Manner of sale of bonds.

The bonds must be sold at public or private sale upon terms and conditions as the State Budget and Control Board considers advisable.

SECTION 13-1-710. Report to State Treasurer following issuance of bonds.

The deputy director shall file with the State Treasurer within thirty days from the date of their issuance a complete description of all obligations entered into by the division with the rates of intere