A house RESOLUTION

TO HONOR JANE O. SHULER, FORMER CHIEF COUNSEL TO THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE, ON THE OCCASION OF HER RECENT RETIREMENT, TO EXTEND DEEP APPRECIATION FOR HER THIRTY-ONE YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO OFFER BEST WISHES FOR A SATISFYING AND REWARDING RETIREMENT.

Whereas, for thirty-one years, the State of South Carolina enjoyed the benefit of the dedication, experience, and leadership of Jane O. Shuler, former chief counsel to the House Ethics Committee, who on December 31, 2023, retired from her post after more than three decades of outstanding public service to this great State and nearly nine years in the position from which she retired; and

Whereas, beginning her work with the House on February 17, 2015, Jane Shuler served first as counsel and then as chief counsel to the South Carolina House Ethics Committee (HEC). She leaves a legacy of helping institute ethics reforms that promote good government. Some of the HEC's accomplishments during her tenure included starting random audits of members and a candidate's Campaign Disclosure reports and campaign bank records, with 161 audits currently completed; seeing numerous HEC Advisory Opinions adopted and confidential informal opinions written; instituting a fine appeal process and adopting fine appeal standards, with 158 fine appeals heard; and spending two and a half years collaborating with the State Ethics Commission director and Senate Ethics Committee counsel to develop and implement a new ethics filing system for candidates, public members, and public officials to file their Statement of Economic Interests and Campaign Disclosure reports; and

Whereas, further achievements include creating a new candidate brochure and HEC Public Employee brochure, developing procedures to implement the 2017 changes in the complaint process pursuant to Act No. 282 of 2016, improving the process for drafting and handling budget abstentions, educating lawyer/legislators and other public employees on ethics requirements by speaking at continuing legal education seminars, and arranging for two ethics hours and one mental health/substance abuse hour of continuing legal education for lawyers/legislators each year; and

Whereas, in addition to her thirty-one years of service to the State of South Carolina, Jane Shuler served three years with the federal government; and

Whereas, during Jane's well-earned retirement, the House hopes she will find herself more frequently able to indulge in travel with her husband, the volunteer work she so enjoys, and fun with her two delightful granddaughters; and

Whereas, the House of Representatives is grateful for the legacy of consistent commitment and leadership Jane Shuler has bestowed on the people of South Carolina. Speaking on behalf of her many friends across agencies in state government, the House takes great pleasure in wishing her all the best as she enters retirement, and the members trust she will find much enjoyment in the more leisurely pace of the days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, honor Jane O. Shuler, former chief counsel to the House Ethics Committee, on the occasion of her recent retirement, extend deep appreciation for her thirty-one years of distinguished public service to the State of South Carolina, and offer best wishes for a satisfying and rewarding retirement.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jane O. Shuler.

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