S.C. Code Ann. § 8-13-1308 – Filing of certified campaign reports by candidates and committees

(A) Upon the receipt or expenditure of campaign contributions totaling, in an accumulated aggregate, five hundred dollars or more, a candidate or committee required to file a statement of organization pursuant to Section 8-13-1304 must file an initial certified campaign report within ten days of these initial receipts or expenditures. However, a candidate or a committee that does not receive or expend campaign contributions totaling, in an accumulated aggregate, five hundred dollars or more must file an initial certified campaign report fifteen days before an election.
(B) Following the filing of an initial certified campaign report, additional certified campaign reports must be filed within ten days following the end of each calendar quarter in which contributions are received or expenditures are made, whether before or after an election until the campaign account undergoes final disbursement pursuant to the provisions of Section 8-13-1370.
(C) Campaign reports filed by a candidate must be certified by the candidate. Campaign reports filed by a committee must be certified by a duly authorized officer of the committee.
(D)
1. (1) At least fifteen days before an election, a certified campaign report must be filed showing contributions of more than one hundred dollars and expenditures to or by the candidate or committee for the period ending twenty days before the election. The candidate or committee must maintain a current list during the period before the election commencing at the beginning of the calendar quarter of the election of all contributions of more than one hundred dollars. The list must be open to public inspection upon request.
2. (2) A committee immediately shall file a campaign report listing expenditures if it makes an independent expenditure or an incurred expenditure within the calendar quarter in which the election is conducted or twenty days before the election, whichever period of time is greater, in excess of:
  1. (a) ten thousand dollars in the case of a candidate for statewide office; or
  2. (b) two thousand dollars in the case of a candidate for any other office.
3. (3) In the event of a runoff election, candidates or committees are not required to file another campaign report in addition to the reports already required under this section. However, records must remain open to public inspection upon request between the election and the runoff.
(E) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (B) and (D), if a pre-election campaign report provided for in subsection (D) is required to be filed within thirty days of the end of the prior quarter, a candidate or committee must combine the quarterly report provided for in subsection (B) and the pre-election report and file the combined report subject to the provisions of subsection (D) no later than fifteen days before the election.
(F) Certified campaign reports detailing campaign contributions and expenditures must contain:
1. (1) the total of contributions accepted by the candidate or committee;
2. (2) the name and address of each person making a contribution of more than one hundred dollars and the date of receipt of each contribution;
3. (3) the total expenditures made by or on behalf of the candidate or committee;
4. (4) the name and address of each person to whom an expenditure is made from campaign funds, including the date, amount, purpose, and beneficiary of the expenditure.
  ETHICS COMMISSION OPINIONS
  1. In General
  Committee supporting potential ballot issue is required to file Statement of Organization within 5 days after receiving or expending $500 and must filed Campaign Disclosure Form within 10 days after reaching $500 threshold. Op S.C. St. Ethics Comm., SEC AO92-189, June 9, 1992.
  Campaign practices requirements of Sections 8-13-1304 and 8-13-1308 take effect January 1, 1992. Candidates in January 7, 1992 election will be required to register their committee within 5 days after January 1, 1992. Initial campaign disclosure will be due on or before January 10, 1992. Contribution limits apply only to those contributions received on or after January 1, 1992. Op S. C. St Ethics Comm., SEC AO92-004, Dec 18, 1991.
  Ethics Reform Act does not prohibit political party from raising money by marketing long distance telephone service plan. In accordance with earlier opinions and facts submitted, State Ethics Commission does not object to party's decision to maintain these funds in account separate from campaign accounts and use them only for non-campaign related expenses. Ethics Reform Act does not limit donations to political party that are neither channeled through campaign account nor used to influence outcome of elective offices or ballot measures. Op. S.C. St. Ethics Comm., SEC AO94-019, April 20, 1994.