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Ethics Committee
About
The House Legislative Ethics Committee is responsible for the enforcement of the Ethics Reform Act of 1991 with respect to Members, candidates, and employees of the House. This enforcement includes:
- ascertaining compliance with ethics filings: the Campaign Disclosure Report and Statement of Economic Interests,
- filing complaints when alleged violations are identified,
- investigating, and hearing a complaint which alleges a possible violation of a breach of a privilege or a rule,
- publishing advisory opinions,
- providing confidential informal opinions,
- educating the Members, candidates, and staff on the Ethics Act’s requirements,
- conducting random audits of Members campaign disclosure reports and campaign bank account statements by an outside CPA.
Committee Staff
- Lauren Trask - Chief Counsel
- Maggie Chappell - Asst. Legal Counsel
- Grace Ross - Exec. Asst.
Contact Information
Post Office Box 11867
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Room 519 Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Room 519 Blatt Building
Telephone: (803) 734-3114
Scheduled Meetings as of 12/26/2024 07:05pm EST
No scheduled meetings found.
MembersReportsProtocols and ProceduresAdvisory OpinionsComplaints
Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr. - Chairman
District 63, Florence County
J. David Weeks - V.C.
District 51, Sumter County
Beth E. Bernstein - Secy.
District 78, Richland County
Paula Rawl Calhoon
District 87, Lexington County
Neal A. Collins
District 5, Pickens County
Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr.
District 106, Horry County
John Richard C. King
District 49, York County
Robby Robbins
District 97, Dorchester County
J. Todd Rutherford
District 74, Richland County
Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis
District 119, Charleston County
Rules of the House Ethics Committee - Updated: January 12, 2023
House Ethics Committee Fines - Updated: March 21, 2023
Protocol for Audits of Candidates/House Members' Campaign Accounts - December 12, 2022
Protocol Regarding the House Ethics Committee's Handling of Judicial Candidates' Statement of Economic Interests
SC Ethics Filings FAQ - Information to assist House Members and Candidates as you migrate your ethics account and file in the new ethics filing system to be launched on Monday, September 23, 2021 at 7 am.
Public Hearing Process
House Ethics Committee Fines - Updated: March 21, 2023
Protocol for Audits of Candidates/House Members' Campaign Accounts - December 12, 2022
Protocol Regarding the House Ethics Committee's Handling of Judicial Candidates' Statement of Economic Interests
SC Ethics Filings FAQ - Information to assist House Members and Candidates as you migrate your ethics account and file in the new ethics filing system to be launched on Monday, September 23, 2021 at 7 am.
Public Hearing Process
Advisory Opinion Dashboard
1997 - 1992 Advisory Opinions - Updated: May 4, 2023
2016 - 1998 Advisory Opinions - Updated: May 4, 2023
2023 - 2017 Advisory Opinions - Updated: September 26, 2023
House Ethics Advisory Opinions by Topic with a Table of Contents - Updated September 27, 2023
Advisory Opinion 2016-2, Laundry List Opinion
HEC Advisory Opinion August 29, 2022, in Complaint C2022-022, In The Matter of Kathryn Roberts, with Exhibits A-D; SEC Recommendation of Probable Cause July 22, 2022
HEC Advisory Opinion August 31, 2022, in Complaint C2022-021, In The Matter of Patricia Cannon Fisher, with Exhibits A-D; SEC Recommendation of Probable Cause July 22, 2022
HEC Advisory Opinion 2023-1, whether permissible to use campaign funds for childcare services while campaigning or in the performance of duties related to the office held.
HEC Advisory Opinion 2023-2, whether a Member may provide consulting services to a local Housing Authority.
HEC Advisory Opinion 2023-3, regarding a former Legislative Special Interest Caucus should follow the provisions of South Carolina laws as they apply to legislative caucuses as addressed in the Advisory Opinion.
1997 - 1992 Advisory Opinions - Updated: May 4, 2023
2016 - 1998 Advisory Opinions - Updated: May 4, 2023
2023 - 2017 Advisory Opinions - Updated: September 26, 2023
House Ethics Advisory Opinions by Topic with a Table of Contents - Updated September 27, 2023
Advisory Opinion 2016-2, Laundry List Opinion
HEC Advisory Opinion August 29, 2022, in Complaint C2022-022, In The Matter of Kathryn Roberts, with Exhibits A-D; SEC Recommendation of Probable Cause July 22, 2022
HEC Advisory Opinion August 31, 2022, in Complaint C2022-021, In The Matter of Patricia Cannon Fisher, with Exhibits A-D; SEC Recommendation of Probable Cause July 22, 2022
HEC Advisory Opinion 2023-1, whether permissible to use campaign funds for childcare services while campaigning or in the performance of duties related to the office held.
HEC Advisory Opinion 2023-2, whether a Member may provide consulting services to a local Housing Authority.
HEC Advisory Opinion 2023-3, regarding a former Legislative Special Interest Caucus should follow the provisions of South Carolina laws as they apply to legislative caucuses as addressed in the Advisory Opinion.
Information older than two years has been moved to the House Ethics Committee Archives page.