Bill > H4786

This bill updates South Carolina's laws regarding service of process (legal notifications) for insurance companies and unauthorized insurers by authorizing electronic delivery and forwarding methods. The bill modifies four existing legal sections to allow state officials like the Director of Insurance and the Secretary of State to receive and transmit legal documents electronically, in addition to traditional physical mail methods. Under the new provisions, when legal documents need to be served on an insurance company or an unauthorized insurer, officials can now electronically deliver copies of the documents to the defendant, which provides a faster and more efficient method of notification. The bill maintains existing requirements such as keeping records of service, charging a standard $10 fee (with $5 going to offset processing costs and $5 going to the state's general fund), and ensuring that defendants receive proper notice within specified timeframes. The electronic delivery methods will be prescribed by specific bulletins or orders from the Director of Insurance, and the changes do not limit other legally permitted methods of serving process. The bill will take effect upon approval by the Governor, modernizing the state's approach to legal service in the insurance industry by incorporating electronic communication methods.

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https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4786&session=126&summary=B