South Carolina H 4136: Dam study committee

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4136 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 05, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4136

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

l

A joint Resolution

to CREATE A STUDY 
COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE AND REVIEW ALL PRIOR REPORTS AND STUDIES CONDUCTED SINCE 
2015 WHICH PERTAIN TO THE REGULATION, INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENT 
OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DAMS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY 
COMMITTEE, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly first recognized the importance of monitoring and 
regulating public and private dams during catastrophic weather events of 2015 
and 2016; and

Whereas, repairing 
privately owned dams can present a significant financial hardship to dam 
owners; and

Whereas, failing, faulty, 
and aging dams put the life and property of South Carolina citizens at risk in 
the event of future catastrophic weather conditions; and

Whereas, the General 
Assembly has taken steps towards studying and improving the conditions of dams 
across the State through different legislative actions; and

Whereas, the Department 
of Environmental Services has limited financial and personnel resources to 
focus on the risks associated with hazardous dams. They also have limited 
jurisdiction of the regulation of dams statewide. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. (A) There 
is created a study committee to examine and review all prior reports and 
studies conducted since 2015 which pertain to the regulation, inspection, 
maintenance, and improvement of public and private dams. The committee must 
review the current classification of dams to determine if improvements could be 
made to this organizational system. The committee also must determine whether there 
is a need for a permanent infrastructure bank related to the regulation, 
inspection, maintenance, and improvement of public and private dams and how it 
may be adequately funded.

 (B) The study 
committee is composed of:

 (1) the 
Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee, or his designee;

 (2) the 
Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, or his 
designee;

 (3) the 
director of the dams safety and stormwater permitting engineer division of the 
S.C. Department of Environmental Services, or his designee;

 (4) two civil 
engineers experienced in evaluating the structural soundness of dams, appointed 
by the Governor; and

 (5) two members 
of the general public who own property upon which exists a private dam, 
appointed by the governor.

 (C) Members of the 
study committee serve without compensation, but are allowed the mileage, 
subsistence, and per diem allowed by law for members of state boards, 
committees, and commissions, to be paid equally from approved accounts of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate.

 (D) The study 
committee must choose its officers and must be provided with clerical, 
administrative, and research services by the House of Representatives and the 
Senate.

 (E) The study 
committee shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the 
General Assembly by January 1, 2026, at which time the study committee 
terminates.

SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect 
upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on March 05, 2025 at 11:36 AM