South Carolina H 5681: Trade commissions

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5681 Text of Previous Version (May. 07, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5681

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-BELIZE TRADE 
COMMISSION" SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA-BELIZE 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-Belize 
Trade Commission

 Section 
39-80-100. (A) There is established 
the "South Carolina-Belize Trade Commission" to advance bilateral trade and 
investment between South Carolina and Belize. 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 Belizean-Americans 
in South Carolina or Belizean-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 Belizean-Americans 
in South Carolina or Belizean-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.

 (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 Belize;

 (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 Chapter 35, Title 11 of the S.C. Code.

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

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