Keywords: 977, all

Summary: The House Ethics Committee met on June 25 with Representatives Jordan, Collins, Guest, King, Robbins, and Rutherford present, and later Representative Calhoun joined during executive session. The committee had one agenda item requiring legal briefing, so it first moved into executive session for legal purposes. No actions were taken while in executive session. After returning to open session, the chair reported that the committee had received legal advice and reviewed a draft opinion. Representative King then moved that the committee find the fees at issue do not need to be reported on members’ SCI because the fees are not state or government funds, and to adopt the advisory opinion as drafted by counsel based on that finding. Representative Calhoun seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously among members present and voting. Staff was directed to finish drafting the advisory opinion, and the meeting was adjourned.

Keywords: 977, all

Keywords: 977, all

Keywords: 977, all

Summary: The committee met to receive a detailed financial operations presentation from the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency, with staff walking members through funding sources, budgeting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and grants management. Sabrina Walker explained VR’s blended funding structure, including federal grants, state appropriations, program income, and interagency contracts, and emphasized that state funds are essential to meeting the federal match and maintenance-of-effort requirements. Members asked repeatedly about transparency, audit controls, and the risk that state cuts could reduce federal drawdowns; staff responded that all reports reconcile back to the SCEIS accounting system, are subject to state audits and internal reviews, and that even modest state reductions could significantly reduce total available funding. The committee also discussed pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities, with staff confirming services are offered through school districts, charters, and private schools, and that contracts are monitored for performance and compliance. The presentation then shifted to budgeting and internal controls. Walker described a zero-based departmental budgeting process, monthly monitoring reports, contingency reserves for unexpected expenses, and a formal annual cycle that culminates in board approval. Members asked about facilities tracking, culture, and how the agency maintains accountability; staff said facilities staff inspect buildings and equipment, supervisors justify line-item requests, and the process has become smoother over time as departments learned the system. Cynthia Johnson followed with an accounts receivable overview, describing invoicing, receipting, aging, customer verification, year-end reporting, and the use of cross-training, shared email inboxes, and spreadsheets as checks and balances. She also explained work training center billing, interdepartmental transfers, and the revolving fund used to issue consumer checks more quickly than standard vendor payments. Olivia Perez presented accounts payable operations, including invoice processing through SCEIS and OnBase, the three-way match, travel reimbursements, revolving fund checks, State Treasury Office interactions, and handling of reversals, rejections, and levy notices. She reported that AP processed 67,723 SCEIS payments, 13,670 case management system invoices, 3,379 travel reimbursements, and 15,693 revolving fund checks in fiscal year 2025, with only 70 payment rejections. The final portion of the meeting covered Grants and Funds Management, where Walker explained federal reporting, drawdowns, payroll allocation, asset tracking, lease and IT contract reviews, cost allocation, and closing packages. She noted upcoming system changes such as S/4HANA, Workiva, and SC Pro, but said the agency is receiving training and feedback opportunities. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the presentation portion beyond approval of the prior minutes and a brief recess.

Keywords: 977, all

Summary: The Senate convened briefly with a devotional prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. No legislation or substantive policy matters were discussed. A senator from Cherokee moved that, upon adjournment, the Senate stand adjourned to meet at the call of the President. The motion was adopted by voice vote. The Senate then voted to adjourn, and the body stood adjourned to the call of the President.