South Carolina H 5571: Public Institutions of Higher Learning disclosures

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5571 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 23, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

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