S.C. Code Ann. § 8-13-715
A public official, public member, or public employee acting in an official capacity may not receive anything of value for speaking before a public or private group. A public official, public member, or public employee is not prohibited by this section from accepting a meal provided in conjunction with a speaking engagement where all participants are entitled to the same meal and the meal is incidental to the speaking engagement. Notwithstanding the limitations of Section 2-17-90, a public official, public member, or public employee may receive payment or reimbursement for actual expenses incurred for a speaking engagement. The expenses must be reasonable and must be incurred in a reasonable time and manner in which to accomplish the purpose of the engagement. A public official, public member, or public employee required to file a statement of economic interests under Section 8-13-1110 must report on his statement of economic interests the organization which paid for or reimbursed actual expenses, the amount of such payment or reimbursement, and the purpose, date, and location of the speaking engagement. A public official, public member, or public employee who is not required to file a statement of economic interests but who is paid or reimbursed actual expenses for a speaking engagement must report this same information in writing to the chief administrative official or employee of the agency with which the public official, public member, or public employee is associated.
(5) the chief executive of the governmental entity in all other cases.
ETHICS COMMISSION OPINIONS
1. In General
Public employee would not be prohibited from accepting meal incidental to giving speech in official capacity at meal function where meal is provided to all other persons participating in same event. Agency would not be prohibited by Ethics Reform Act of 1991 from charging organization for costs associated with presentation as reimbursement to agency for program costs. Op S. C. St Ethics Comm., SEC AO92-023, Jan 27, 1992.
Faculty members are prohibited from accepting anything of value other than meal incidental to giving of speech or presentation given "in official capacity", where meal is provided to all other persons participating in same event. Commission notes for clarification that "speaking before public or private group" encompasses not only traditional breakfast or luncheon speech but also more extended participation as speaker at workshop, seminar, or training session or as panel participant. Group inviting public employee could contract with employee's agency to reimburse agency for travel expenses, employee could then be reimbursed by agency in accordance with agency travel reimbursement policies and procedures. Op S. C. St Ethics Comm., SEC AO92-057, Jan 27, 1992.
State agencies may contract with other agencies to reimburse agency for travel and/or lodging costs associated with providing services. (2) State employees may not receive honoraria for giving speech. (3) State employees who serve on national councils or task forces may have travel expenses paid by such organizations. Payment of expenses for providing speeches or service to other organizations should be reimbursed to employee's agency for reimbursement through it to employee. (4) employees attending meal or hospitality functions at conferences sponsored by vendors would not be prohibited from accepting such hospitality if it is provided to all conference participants. (5) meals provided by vendors at vendor-sponsored shows would not be prohibited, unless given to influence. Op S. C. St Ethics Comm., SEC AO92-061, Feb 26, 1992.
It is inappropriate for public employee, Highway Department Engineering Technician, to be accepting compensation from applicant for encroachment permit which employee would be responsible for inspecting. Consequently employee advised not to engage in such off-duty work with developers or contractors, for which he would be paid, whose work he is responsible for inspecting in course of his responsibilities. Op S. C. St Ethics Comm., SEC AO92-066, Feb 26, 1992.
Vendors may assist in sponsorship of conference by contributing to general conference support fund without supporting any particular event. Vendors may pay fees for a booth space with such fees being utilized for general conference support. Op S.C. St. Ethics Comm., SEC AO92-172, May 27, 1992.
Non-profit trade association's ad hoc espousal of position on legislation or other official State action does not constitute lobbying, and neither association nor its board members or officers are lobbyists or lobbyist's principals within meaning of Ethics Reform Act. Op. S.C. St. Ethics Comm., SEC AO94-005, August 18, 1993.
If the expenses are incurred out of state, the public official, public member, or public employee incurring the expenses must receive prior written approval for the payment or reimbursement from: