TO AMEND SECTION 10-9-320, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE LEASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES, SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AS THE DESIGNATED AGENT IN SELECTING LANDS.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 10-9-320 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "Section 10-9-320. The Department of Health and Environmental Control may lease development rights to geothermal resources underlying surface lands owned by the State. The department must promulgate regulations regarding the method of lease acquisition, lease terms, and conditions due the State under lease operations. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Health and Environmental Control is designated as the exclusive agent for the department in selecting lands to be leased, administering the competitive bidding for leases, administering the leases, receiving and compiling comments from other state agencies concerning the desirability of leasing the state lands proposed for leasing and such other activities that pertain to geothermal resource leases as may be included herein as responsibilities of the department."

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