Underground Facility Damage Prevention

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD DEFINITIONS FOR "COMMENCEMENT DATE," "LARGE PROJECT," "LARGE PROJECT FACILITY LOCATION AGREEMENT," "NOTICE," "PRE-MARKING," "PRIVATE FACILITY," "PROJECT INITIATOR," AND "SOFT DIGGING," AND TO AMEND THE DEFINITIONS OF "EXCAVATE," "EXCAVATOR," AND "OPERATOR"; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-50, RELATING TO THE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION NOTIFICATION CENTER, SO AS TO CLARIFY OPERATOR PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION, THE NOTIFICATION CENTER'S DUTIES, AND OTHER CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-60, RELATING TO NOTICES OF INTENT TO EXCAVATE OR DEMOLISH, SO AS TO CLARIFY CERTAIN NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR NOTICE FOR CERTAIN EXCAVATIONS OR DEMOLITIONS, AND OTHER CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-70, RELATING TO INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY OPERATORS, SO AS TO REQUIRE NOTICE TO EXCAVATORS PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT DATE, REQUIRE QUARTERLY REPORTS OF DAMAGES CAUSED BY EXCAVATIONS OR DEMOLITIONS, AND TO CLARIFY PAYMENTS OF CIVIL PENALTIES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-80, RELATING TO EMERGENCY EXCAVATIONS OR DEMOLITIONS EXEMPT FROM NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AND LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, SO AS ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION AND RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AND TO MAKE A FALSE CLAIM OF AN EMERGENCY A VIOLATION OF THIS CHAPTER; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-90, RELATING TO NOTICES OF DAMAGES, SO AS TO REQUIRE EXCAVATORS TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT ANY KNOWN DAMAGES TO THE NOTIFICATION CENTER AND FACILITY OPERATOR; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-100, RELATING TO DESIGN REQUESTS AND OPERATOR RESPONSES, SO AS TO ADD REFERENCES TO LARGE PROJECTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-110, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO STRIKE CURRENT PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-36-120, RELATING TO PENALTIES AND CIVIL REMEDIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A COMPLAINT PROCESS AND TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 58-36-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE A PROCESS FOR LARGE PROJECTS. - RATIFIED TITLE