TO AMEND SECTION 2-17-17 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO OUTSIDE LOBBYISTS, TO PROVIDE THAT A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, AGENCY DIRECTOR, STATE BOARD OR COMMISSION, OR GOVERNING BODY OF ANY OTHER ENTITY OF STATE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT EMPLOY OR CONTRACT WITH A LOBBYIST WHO IS NOT A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 2-17-17 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 2-17-17.    A department director, constitutional officer, agency director, state board or commission, or governing body of any other entity of state government whose department, office, agency, board, commission, or entity employs or contracts may not employ or contract with a lobbyist, as defined in Section 2-17-10, who is not a full-time employee of the state, from funds appropriated in the annual general appropriations act, must retain and use a portion of these funds to provide in a timely fashion copies of the disclosure statements and reports filed by the lobbyist with the Secretary of State or State Ethics Commission by mail to the home address of each member of the board, commission, or governing body, authority or official of such department, agency, or entity."

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