Miscellaneous matters

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 37-6-610 AND 37-6-611 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO AVOID CERTAIN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, TO PROHIBIT THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE FROM SEEKING EMPLOYMENT WITH A PUBLIC UTILITY WHILE SERVING AS THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE AND FROM REPRESENTING A PUBLIC UTILITY IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AFTER THE TERMINATION OF HIS SERVICE AS THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS FROM SOLICITING, RECEIVING, OR ACCEPTING ANYTHING OF VALUE FROM AN ENTITY THAT IS REGULATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR SUBJECT TO THE DEPARTMENT'S JURISDICTION, TO PROHIBIT ENTITIES THAT ARE REGULATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR SUBJECT TO THE DEPARTMENT'S JURISDICTION FROM OFFERING, FACILITATING, OR PROVIDING ANYTHING OF VALUE TO DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT BE EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT IF THE DEPARTMENT REGULATES A BUSINESS WITH WHICH THE PERSON IS ASSOCIATED, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-3-565 SO AS TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC UTILITIES, AFFILIATES OF A PUBLIC UTILITIES, ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENTING PUBLIC UTILITIES, OR OTHER PERSONS OR ENTITIES WHOSE BUSINESSES ARE REGULATED, WHETHER WHOLLY OR IN PART, BY THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF OR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 33-49-630, RELATING TO COMPENSATION OR EMPLOYMENT OF A MEMBER OF AN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SO AS TO PROHIBIT A TRUSTEE FROM SOLICITING, RECEIVING, OR ACCEPTING ANYTHING OF VALUE FROM THE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE IN ADDITION TO HIS COMPENSATION FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND FROM HAVING A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE THAT IS DISTINCT FROM OR IN ADDITION TO THE TRUSTEE'S MANDATORY COOPERATIVE MEMBERSHIP OR HIS SERVICE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-25, RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROHIBIT COMMISSION EMPLOYEES FROM HAVING CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES REGULATED BY THE COMMISSION AND TO PROHIBIT SOLICITING, RECEIVING, ACCEPTING, OFFERING, OR PROVIDING THINGS OF VALUE BETWEEN COMMISSION EMPLOYEES AND PERSONS OR ENTITIES REGULATED BY THE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-30, RELATING TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND AT LEAST SIX HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND TO ESTABLISH OTHER ETHICAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-40, RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EMPLOYEES OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATOR STAFF, SO AS TO PROHIBIT OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF EMPLOYEES FROM HAVING CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES REGULATED BY THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND TO PROHIBIT SOLICITING, RECEIVING, ACCEPTING, OFFERING, OR PROVIDING THINGS OF VALUE BETWEEN OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF EMPLOYEES AND PERSONS OR ENTITIES REGULATED BY THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-31-20, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, REVISE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.