A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 11-1-130 so as to PROVIDE THAT A TREASURER, COMPTROLLER, OR ACCOUNTANT, OR HIS DESIGNEE, MAY USE A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION CARD FOR BUSINESS-RELATED EXPENDITURES, PURCHASES, OR PROCUREMENTS, TO PROVIDE FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND RECORDKEEPING, TO PROVIDE THAT NO ELECTED OFFICIAL, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, OR MEMBER OF A PUBLIC BOARD OR COMMISSION MAY POSSESS OR USE A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION CARD THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED TO THE CARDHOLDER FOR ANY PURPOSE, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 11 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 11-1-130. (A) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Cardholder” means the person, public agency, board, commission, department, or political subdivision named on the face of a financial transaction card to whom or for whose benefit the financial transaction card has been issued by an issuer.

(2) “Financial transaction card” means any instrument or device, whether known as a credit card, credit plate, bank services card, banking card, check guarantee card, or debit card, or by any other name, issued with or without a fee by an issuer for the use of the cardholder in obtaining money, goods, services, or anything else of value on credit.

(3) “Issuer” means a business organization or financial institution, or its duly authorized agent, that issues a financial transaction card.

(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (C), no elected official or public employee may possess or use for any purpose a financial transaction card that has been issued to a cardholder.

(C) A cardholder; a cardholder’s treasurer, comptroller, or accountant; or an authorized designee may use a financial transaction card for business-related expenditures, purchases, or procurements.

(D) An elected official, public employee, or member of a public board or commission may submit to his respective treasurer, comptroller, or accountant for reimbursement actual expenses incurred in the performance of his official duties. Reimbursable expenditures are not authorized for a spouse or family members.

(E) The appropriate treasurer, comptroller, or accountant shall maintain a record of all reimbursements and reimbursement requests.

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

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