Bill > H4765

This bill makes several amendments to South Carolina's Conservation Bank law. First, it expands the definition of "eligible trust fund recipient" to include a broader range of potential recipients, such as municipalities, counties, and not-for-profit charitable corporations focused on land conservation, provided they meet specific financial or accreditation requirements. Second, the bill increases the Conservation Bank's board membership from seventeen to eighteen members by adding the Chief Resilience Officer of the South Carolina Office of Resilience as an ex officio, non-voting member. Third, the bill modifies public access requirements for land acquisitions, stipulating that fee simple land interests acquired with trust funds must provide public access as approved by the board, while explicitly stating that conservation easements on private lands will not require public access. These changes aim to provide more flexibility in land conservation efforts, broaden the potential organizations that can participate in conservation initiatives, and ensure diverse representation on the Conservation Bank's governing board. The bill will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Budget and Finance

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4765&session=126&summary=B