South Carolina S 665: Trade commissions

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 665 Text of Previous Version (May. 07, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 665

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 CHAPTER 
80 TO TITLE 39 ENTITLED "SOUTH CAROLINA-BAHAMAS TRADE COMMISSION" SO AS TO 
ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA-BAHAMAS TRADE COMMISSION AND PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP 
AND PURPOSE.

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

SECTION 1. Title 39 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

CHAPTER 80

South Carolina-Bahamas Trade Commission

 Section 
39-80-100. (A) There is established 
the "South Carolina-Bahamas Trade Commission" to advance bilateral trade and 
investment between South Carolina and The Bahamas. The commission consists of 
fifteen members appointed as follows:

 (1) 
four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of 
whom must be members of the House of Representatives;

 (2) 
four members appointed by the President of the Senate, two of whom must be 
members of the Senate; and

 (3) 
seven members appointed by the Governor:

 (a) 
the Secretary of the Department of Commerce or his designee;

 (b) 
the Commissioner of Agriculture or his designee;

 (c) 
two representatives from state institutions of higher education;

 (d) 
two members representing Bahamian Americans in South Carolina or 
Bahamian-American communities; and

 (e) 
one representative from a South Carolina business organization or trade 
organization.

 (B) 
The members of the commission must be appointed for terms of four years each 
and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that the seven 
members appointed by the Governor shall serve initial terms of two years each, 
the four members appointed by the President of the Senate shall serve initial 
terms of three years each, and the four members appointed by the Speaker shall 
serve initial terms of four years each. Members may be reappointed and must 
include:

 (1) 
the Secretary of the Department of Commerce or his designee;

 (2) 
the Commissioner of Agriculture or his designee;

 (3) 
one representative from a state institution of higher education;

 (4) 
at least two members representing Bahamian Americans in South Carolina or 
Bahamian-American communities; and

 (5) 
one representative from a South Carolina business organization or trade 
organization.

 (C) 
Appointments must be made within ninety days following the enactment of this 
act. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

 (D) 
Members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses 
incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds 
appropriated or otherwise available to the commission.

 (E) 
The commission shall meet and hold hearings at designated places throughout the 
State.

 (F) 
The Governor shall designate a chairperson or co-chairpersons from among the 
commission members, serving at the Governor's pleasure. The chairperson may 
appoint subcommittees and its chairpersons as deemed necessary. A majority of 
the commission members constitutes a quorum for conducting business.

 (G) 
The commission's purposes include:

 (1) 
advancing bilateral trade and investment between South Carolina and The 
Bahamas;

 (2) 
initiating joint action on policy issues of mutual interest;

 (3) 
promoting business and academic exchanges;

 (4) 
encouraging mutual economic support;

 (5) 
encouraging mutual investment in infrastructure; and

 (6) 
addressing other issues as determined by the commission.

 (H) 
The commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor 
and the General Assembly within one year of its initial meeting and by February 
first annually thereafter. The report must include recommendations to 
effectuate its purposes.

 (I) 
The commission is authorized to raise funds through direct solicitation or 
fundraising events, alone or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and 
bequests to defray administrative expenses and carry out its purposes. Funds 
received shall be deposited with the State Treasurer and allocated to the 
Department of Commerce for these purposes. The Department may use appropriated 
funds for Foreign Operations to support the commission if sufficient 
nonappropriated funds are unavailable. Expenditures for administering the 
commission and fulfilling its purposes are exempt from the provisions of Title 
11, Chapter 35 of the S.C. Code.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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