RSS 1.0State Ethics Commission
Established in 1975, the South Carolina State Ethics Commission is responsible for the enforcement of the state’s ethics laws, including financial disclosure, campaign disclosure, and ethical rules of conduct.
- State Ethics Commission Website
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Agency Website Archive
From the SC State Government Web Archive by the Department of Archives & History
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Recent Submissions
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Advisory Opinion 2020-002
(2020-12-03)A public official, public member, or public employee may vote on entire budgets that contain items affecting the economic interests of himself, his family members, businesses with which he is associated, or individuals ... -
Advisory Opinion 2020-001
(2020-09-17)Individuals reporting government income on a Statement of Economic Interests should report the amount of gross income received. Gross income means the amount of wages earned prior to any deductions or withholdings. -
Advisory Opinion 2019-001
(2019-03-19)Section 8-13-1348 of the Ethics Act prohibits the use of campaign funds to pay fines or penalties imposed by the State Ethics Commission for violations of the Ethics Act. -
Advisory Opinion 2018-004
(2018-07-19)A Council Member's expression of a personal opinion on a ballot measure during a Council meeting constitutes use of public resources. Whether such an expression constitutes an attempt to influence the outcome of a ballot ... -
Advisory Opinion 2018-003
(2018-05-25)Sections 765 and 1346 do not apply when Council Members are not using public time and public resources. Sections 765 and 1346 do not apply to proposed referenda not yet submitted to voters for approval. -
Advisory Opinion 2018-002
(2017-09-21)Worker's Compensation Commissioners currently serve as officers or board members on two 501(C)(3) non-profit associations, the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Educational Association ("SCWCEA") and Kids' Chance of ... -
Advisory Opinion 2018-001
(2017-07-18)This opinion presents substantially similar facts to the question presented in State Ethics Commission Advisory Opinion 2015--03 (November 19, 2014), as both opinions were requested by officials to the Town of Blythewood ... -
Advisory Opinion 2017-004
(2017-03-15)A lobbyist's principal has the option of acting as a lobbyist's principal only as to designated public offices or public bodies. If the lobbyist's principal makes this selection, then the gift limitations of Section 2-17-90 ... -
Advisory Opinion 2017-003
(2017-03-15)S.C. Code Ann. § 8-13-740(5) prevents a bail bondsman who is a municipal public official from issuing bonds in the court system for that municipality. Given that a bondsman is subject to the jurisdiction of the court upon ... -
Advisory Opinion 2017-002
(2016-07-20)Section 8-13-1348 has no general prohibition on a candidate paying for services to his own business, a family business, or a family member provided the services were 'bona fide'. In all such cases, payment for the services ... -
Advisory Opinion 2017-001
(2016-07-20)A State University that is a lobbyist's principal would ordinarily not be able to provide directly to a Constitutional officer gifts in excess of the daily and yearly dollar limitations set forth in S.C. Code Ann. 2-17-90. ... -
Advisory Opinion 2016-004
(2016-01-20)The prohibition in Section 8-13-1348 of the Ethics Reform Act on using campaign funds to defray personal expenses extends to the use of these funds to pay for expenses associated with membership at private clubs or food ... -
Advisory Opinion 2016-001
(2015-09-16)A State University that is a lobbyist's principal would ordinarily not be able to provide directly to a Constitutional officer gifts in excess of the daily and yearly dollar limitations et forth in Section 2-17-90. The ... -
Advisory Opinion 2015-003
(2015-11-19)The question of whether a town council member has an economic interest in a zoning issue before his government entity must be answered on a case-by-case basis. In the situation outlined, the town council member has an ... -
Advisory Opinion 2015-002
(2015-11-19)The question of whether a town council member has an economic interest in a zoning issue before his government entity must be answered on a case-by-case basis. In the situation outline, the town council member has an ... -
Advisory Opinion 2015-001
(2014-09-17)Staff briefings of the Public Service Commission do not violate the open meeting rules of the Freedom of Information Act or the adjudicative responsibilities of the Code of Judicial Conduct. -
Advisory Opinion 2014-004
(2014-05-21)Notwithstanding the apparent inconsistencies between S.C. Code 8-13-1314(A) and S.C. Code 8-13-1320(1) the Commission opines that because of the plain meaning S.C. Code 8-13-1320(1) candidates in a primary runoff who accept ... -
Advisory Opinion 2014-003
(2014-05-21)An advocate of a lobbyist's principal is a lobbyist if the person is employed, appointed, or retained to influence legislators by posting messages on legislators' Facebook pages, or other social media platforms, seeking ... -
Advisory Opinion 2014-002
(2014-03-19)The planning commission member may not participate in discussions or votes regarding zoning matters in the commercial district, specifically related to food and beverage establishments. As there are only nine food and ... -
Advisory Opinion 2014-001
(2013-09-18)The Ethics Reform Act does not require a candidate to accept mileage reimbursement for the use of his personal vehicle to attend campaign events. Related campaign travel expenses, beyond mileage, paid for by the candidate ...
