Lake Conestee Dam Authority

2025-2026 Bill 1151: Lake Conestee Dam Authority - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
S. 1151
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Garrett
Document Path: SR-0595KM26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on April 28, 2026
Introduced in the House on May 7, 2026
Last Amended on May 5, 2026

Currently residing in the House Committee on
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Summary: Lake Conestee Dam Authority
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

4/28/2026

Senate

Introduced and read first time (
Senate Journal-page 8
)

4/28/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Fish, Game and Forestry
(
Senate Journal-page 8
)

4/30/2026

Senate

Recalled from Committee on
Fish, Game and Forestry
(
Senate Journal-page 3
)

5/5/2026

Senate

Amended (
Senate Journal-page 54
)

5/5/2026

Senate

Read second time (
Senate Journal-page 54
)

5/5/2026

Senate

Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-1 (
Senate Journal-page 54
)

5/6/2026

Scrivener's error corrected

5/6/2026

Senate

Read third time and sent to House (
Senate Journal-page 84
)

5/7/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 67
)

5/7/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
(
House Journal-page 67
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/28/2026
04/30/2026
05/05/2026
05/06/2026

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Amended

May 5, 2026

S. 1151

Introduced
by Senator Garrett

S. Printed 5/5/26--S.
[SEC
5/6/2026 11:48 AM]

Read the first time April 28, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
49-11-500
SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE LAKE CONESTEE DAM AUTHORITY; BY ADDING SECTION
49-11-510
SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE AUTHORITY; AND BY ADDING
SECTION
49-11-520
SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES OF THE AUTHORITY.

Amend Title To Conform

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
C
hapter 11, Title 49 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:

A
rticle 5

L
ake Conestee Dam Authority

S
ection
49-11-500
. There is hereby created the Lake Conestee Dam Authority. The
authority is a body corporate and politic of perpetual succession.

S
ection
49-11-510
.
(
A) The authority shall
be comprised of a board with three trustees: one person who is a resident of
Laurens County, one person who is a resident of Greenwood County, and one
person who is a resident of Greenville County, all of whom shall be appointed
by the members of the legislative delegation representing the county from which
the member shall be appointed. The authority shall meet as necessary to perform
its duties under this article, but in any event no less than once annually, on
such a date and time as determined by the board. A supplemental or special
meeting of the authority shall be called upon the request of at least two
members.

(
B) Terms
of elected trustees are for three years, with one expiring each year, except
for the initial terms, which shall be staggered terms of one year, two years,
and three years as determined by the legislative delegation. An elected trustee
may not serve more than two consecutive three-year elected terms. Vacancies
must be filled for the unexpired term in the manner of original appointment. A
vacancy occurs upon the expiration of the term of service, death, resignation,
disqualification, or removal of a trustee.

(
C) A
trustee may not receive a salary for services as a trustee; however, a trustee
must be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in service to the authority,
including subsistence and a per diem.

(
D) The
board annually shall submit a report to the General Assembly including
information on all acts of the board of trustees and full information regarding
the work of the authority.

(
E) For
at least the first year, and for such additional terms as the board deems
necessary, the board may hire an executive director who has administrative
responsibility for implementing the board's directives and managing the
authority's assets. The executive director shall maintain, through a designated
agent, accurate and complete books and records of account, custody, and
responsibility for the property and funds of the authority and control over the
authority bank account. The executive director, with the approval of the board,
has the power to appoint officers and employees, to prescribe their duties, and
to fix their compensation.

S
ection
49-11-520
.
(
A) After completion of
construction of the replacement dam, as well as modifications to the historic
dam and the associated appurtenances, and upon transfer from the Lake Conestee
Dam Restoration Project, the authority shall assume ownership of the dam and its
associated assets. Upon assumption of ownership of the dam, the authority must
monitor the dam's condition to ensure that the dam is in good repair and
operating condition and comply with the relevant statutory and regulatory
requirements applicable to the dam including, but not limited to, the
conditions contained in the dam's operating permit. If the authority, or any
regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the dam, determines that the dam is
unsafe and a danger to life or property, then the authority must notify the
governing bodies of Laurens County, Greenwood County, and Greenville County and
notify the Department of Environmental Services pursuant to Section
49-11-170
.
The governing bodies of the three counties must work together with the authority
to take such action as is necessary to bring the dam back into good repair and
operating condition. If any funds are required to be expended pursuant to this
act, the cost of such funds must be apportioned equally among the counties
comprising the authority.

(
B) The
authority shall ensure that the Department of Environmental Services timely
inspects the dam as provided in Article 3. If the department issues an order
pursuant to Section
49-11-160
or Section
49-11-190
, then the governing bodies
of the three counties must work together with the authority to take such action
as is necessary to take remedial action to correct deficiencies identified in
the order. If any funds are required to be expended to take remedial action to
correct deficiencies, the cost of such funds must be apportioned equally among
the counties comprising the authority.

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on May 6, 2026 at 11:49 AM