South Carolina H 4703: South Carolina STEM Opportunity Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4703 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4703

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 enacting the 
"South Carolina Special Purpose District Accountability and Transparency Act" 
by adding Article 3 to Chapter 7, Title 11 so As to Create the Special Purpose 
district accountability office within the office of state auditor, to provide 
for its powers and duties, and to designate Article 1, Chapter 7, Title 11 As 
"General Provisions".

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that:

 (1) South Carolina 
has more than two hundred and fifty special purpose districts performing 
essential governmental functions and funded through public taxation, fees, and 
public debt.

 (2) There is 
currently no centralized oversight structure ensuring transparency, 
accountability, or financial compliance by these districts.

 (3) The absence of 
mandatory audits, uniform reporting, enforcement authority, and statewide 
directory increases the risk of fraud, waste, and financial mismanagement.

 (4) Several states 
including Florida, Texas, and Colorado provide successful oversight models with 
annual audits, statewide directories, enforcement powers, and public facing 
transparency portals.

 (5) It is 
necessary for the General Assembly to establish a comprehensive accountability 
framework for South Carolina's special purpose districts.

SECTION 2. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Special Purpose District 
Accountability and Transparency Act."

SECTION 3. Chapter 7, Title 11 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 3

Special Purpose District Accountability Office

 Section 
11-7-100. As used in this article:

 (1) 
"Special purpose district" or "district" means any local political subdivision 
created by act of the General Assembly or by county ordinance for providing 
limited governmental services including, but not limited to, water, sewer, fire 
protection, recreation, conservation, hospital, or public works districts.

 (2) 
"Office" means the South Carolina Special District Accountability Office.

 (3) 
"Governing board" means the board of commissioners or governing authority of a 
district.

 (4) 
"Annual financial report" means a standardized report format prescribed by the office.

 (5) 
"Annual audit" means an independent audit performed in accordance with 
Government Auditing Standards.

 Section 
11-7-110. (A) There is created 
within the office of the State Auditor the Special District Accountability 
Office (SDAO).

 (B) 
The office must:

 (1) 
maintain a public statewide directory of all special purpose districts;

 (2) 
collect and publish annual budgets, financial reports, audits, millage rates, 
fees, revenues, expenditures, and debt disclosures;

 (3) 
maintain a public transparency portal providing online access to all required 
filings;

 (4) 
monitor and enforce district compliance with this article;

 (5) 
provide reporting forms, instructions, guidance, and training materials for 
district officials; and

 (6) 
issue notices of delinquency and noncompliance.

 Section 
11-7-120. (A) Each district must file 
electronically with the office annually:

 (1) 
the adopted annual budget;

 (2) 
the annual financial report in a format prescribed by the office;

 (3) 
a certified annual audit if the district:

 (a) 
receives or expends more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars per fiscal 
year;

 (b) 
levies property taxes or assessments; or

 (c) 
maintains outstanding debt obligations;

 (4) 
a list of current board members, their terms, vacancies, and contact 
information;

 (5) 
a schedule of all fees, rates, assessments, and charges imposed;

 (6) 
a listing of all bonds, loans, leases, and debt service requirements; and

 (7) 
copies of all current intergovernmental agreements.

 (B) 
Reports must be filed within six months after the close of the district's 
fiscal year.

 (C) 
All documents filed under this section must be posted publicly on the 
transparency portal within thirty days of submission.

 Section 
11-7-130. (A) The office must 
maintain an online portal providing:

 (1) 
a statewide searchable database of all districts;

 (2) 
access to all required filings;

 (3) 
classification of each district as compliant, delinquent, or noncompliant;

 (4) 
historical submissions for a minimum of ten years; and

 (5) 
district boundary maps when available.

 (B) 
Each district must either maintain its own website posting these documents or 
link directly to the portal.

 Section 
11-7-140. (A) Upon failure to 
submit required reports, the office must issue a Notice of Delinquency.

 (B) If 
the delinquency is not cured within six