§ 25-11-100 — South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council.

South Carolina § 25-11-100

• Jurisdiction: South Carolina
• Title 25: MILITARY, CIVIL DEFENSE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
• Ch. 11: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS

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(A) There is hereby established the South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council for the purpose of sustaining and expanding the military presence in South Carolina. The council shall coordinate with military communities to support mission readiness for installations and improve the quality of life for service members and their families. The council shall coordinate efforts among the public and the private sectors to maintain the significant presence of the United States Department of Defense and the United States Department of Homeland Security in South Carolina. The council shall advise the secretary, Governor, and the General Assembly on any issues and strategies related to military base closures, realignments, and mission changes. (B)(1) The council shall be comprised of the following members or their designees: (a) South Carolina Adjutant General; (b) Secretary of the South Carolina Department of Commerce; (c) Executive Director of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce; (d) Chief Executive Officer of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce; (e) Chief Executive Officer of the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce; (f) Chief Executive Officer of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce; (g) Chief Executive Officer of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce; (h) Chief Executive Officer of the Sumter Chamber of Commerce; (i) Chairperson of the Aiken County Council; (j) Chairperson of the Beaufort County Council; (k) Chairperson of the Berkeley County Council; (l) Chairperson of the Dorchester County Council; (m) Chairperson of the Charleston County Council; (n) Chairperson of the Richland County Council; (o) Chairperson of the Sumter County Council; (p) Chairperson of the Edgefield County Council; (q) Mayor of North Augusta; (r) Mayor of Beaufort; (s) Mayor of Charleston; (t) Mayor of Columbia; (u) Mayor of North Charleston; (v) Mayor of Port Royal; (w) Mayor of Sumter; (x) one or more members of the Senate or the House of Representatives appointed by the Governor; and (y) six at-large members appointed by the Governor who have demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, defense industry, military installation operation, environmental issues, finance, local government, or senior military leadership, of whom: (i) five shall represent, respectively, the five military counties of Aiken, Beaufort, Charleston, Richland, and Sumter, and each shall reside in the military county that he is appointed to represent; and (ii) the sixth at-large member shall serve as the task force chairman. (2) The secretary may designate any one of the members of the council as its vice chairman. (C) Staff support and other resources as necessary may be provided through funding by the General Assembly and/or other resources, which shall be administered by the department to assist the council in carrying out the directives of this section. (D) The council's executive committee shall consist of the chairman; vice chairman, if any; Adjutant General, or his designee; Secretary of Commerce, or his designee; and the five at-large council members who represent the five military counties of Aiken, Beaufort, Charleston, Richland, and Sumter. (E) The council executive committee shall also act as an executive advisory committee to the secretary and the General Assembly on various military matters that affect this State and shall coordinate an annual meeting between the secretary, Governor, military commanders, and General Assembly members geographically representing military communities to discuss items of interest to all parties and exchange pertinent information on the current climate and challenges facing our state's military installations and their personnel. (F) Upon the approval of the secretary, the council may pursue specialists to provide information and assistance, develop strategic plans, and assist in executing strategies to support military installations and their related military communities to maximize the potential for increased investment by the United States Department of Defense or other defense-related federal agencies and defense-related businesses in this State. (G) The council shall convene no less than once every calendar year at such times as requested by the council's chairperson, secretary, or the Governor. (H) Members of the executive committee shall be recommended by the county legislative delegation to the Governor for consideration for appointment.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 2019 Act No. 26 (H.3438), SECTION 3, eff July 1, 2019; 2025 Act No. 31 (S.89), SECTION 1, eff May 12, 2025. Editor's Note 2019 Act No. 26, SECTION 4, provides as follows: "SECTION 4. (A) All classified or unclassified personnel employed by these offices on the effective date of this act, either by contract or by employment at will, shall become employees of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, with the same compensation, classification, and grade level, as applicable. The Department of Administration shall cause all necessary actions to be taken to accomplish this transfer in accordance with state laws and regulations. "(B) Regulations promulgated by the Division of Veterans' Affairs as it formerly existed under the Department of Administration are continued and are considered to be promulgated by the newly created Department of Veterans' Affairs. "(C) The Code Commissioner is directed to change or correct all references to Division of Veterans' Affairs within the Department of Administration in the 1976 Code, to reflect the transfer of it to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. References to the Division of Veterans' Affairs in the 1976 Code or other provisions of law are considered to be and must be construed to mean appropriate reference to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. This authority shall not be construed to remove any authority from the Department of Administration for approval of statewide policies, procedures, regulations, rates and fees, or specific actions requiring Department of Administration approval." Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 31, SECTION 1, rewrote the section. ARTICLE 3 South Carolina Military Family Relief Fund