§ 41-29-300 — Department of Employment and Workforce Appellate Panel; creation; purpose; powers; composition.

(A) There is created the Department of Employment and Workforce Appellate Panel within the Department of Employment and Workforce, which is separate and distinct from the department's divisions. The sole purpose of the panel is to hear and decide appeals from decisions of the department's divisions. (B)(1) The panel initially must be comprised of the members of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce serving on the day before the effective date of this act. These initial panel members may serve in that temporary capacity until their successors are elected pursuant to this section. (2) The members of the appellate panel must be elected by the General Assembly, in joint session, for terms of four years and until their successors have been elected and qualified, commencing on the first day of July in each presidential election year. Initial elections for members of the appellate panel must be held before May 22, 2010. The seats on the appellate panel are designated as Seat 1, Seat 2, and Seat 3. (3) The appellate panel must elect one of its members to be chairman. A vacancy must be filled by the Governor through a temporary appointment until the next session of the General Assembly, at which time a joint session of the General Assembly shall elect an appellate panelist to fill the unexpired term. (4) The appellate panelists shall receive such compensation as may be established under the provisions of Section 8-11-160 and for which funds have been authorized in the general appropriations act but not to exceed compensation that is commensurate with their hearing duties. (C) A party only may appeal from a decision of the department directly to the panel. A party only may appeal a decision of the panel to an administrative law court in the manner provided in Section 41-35-750. (D) A quorum must consist of two panel members and is necessary to hear or decide an appeal under subsection (C). A decision of the panel must be rendered in writing and is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. (E)(1) The Department of Employment and Workforce Review Committee must screen a person and find him qualified before he may be elected to serve as a member of the appellate panel. The qualifications that each panelist must possess, include, but are not limited to: (a) a baccalaureate or more advanced degree from: (i) a recognized institution of higher learning requiring face-to-face contact between its students and instructors prior to completion of the academic program; (ii) an institution of higher learning that has been accredited by a regional or national accrediting body; or (iii) an institution of higher learning chartered before 1962; or (b) a background of at least five years in any combination of the following fields of expertise: (i) general business administration; (ii) general business management; (iii) management at the Department of Employment and Workforce, or its predecessor; (iv) human resources management; (v) finance; or (vi) law. (2) A member of the General Assembly may not be elected to serve as a panelist or appointed to be a panelist while serving in the General Assembly; nor shall a member of the General Assembly be elected or appointed to be a panelist for a period of two years after the member either: (a) ceases to be a member of the General Assembly; or (b) fails to file for election to the General Assembly in accordance with Section 7-11-15. (3) When screening an appellate panel candidate and making its findings regarding the candidate, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce Review Committee must give due consideration to a person's ability, area of expertise, dedication, compassion, common sense, and integrity. (F)(1) A panelist is bound by the Code of Judicial Conduct, as contained in Rule 501 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules, and the State Ethics Commission is responsible for enforcement and administration of Rule 501 pursuant to Section 8-13-320. A panelist also must comply with the applicable requirements of Chapter 13, Title 8. (2) A panelist and his administrative assistant annually must attend and successfully complete a workshop of at least three continuing education hours in ethics. (G) Notwithstanding another provision of law, it shall be mandatory for a member of the Department of Employment and Workforce Appellate Panel to retire not later than the end of the fiscal year in which he reaches his seventy-second birthday.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 146, SECTION 1, eff March 30, 2010; 2010 Act No. 234, SECTION 9, eff January 1, 2011; 2011 Act No. 63, SECTION 18, eff June 14, 2011. Editor's Note 2010 Act No. 146, SECTION 111, provides as follows: "In making appointments and hiring decisions for positions pursuant to this act, the governing authority or individual tasked with making such appointment or hiring decision must consider race, gender, and other demographic factors to assure nondiscrimination, inclusion, and representation to the greatest extent possible of all segments of the population of this State; however, consideration of these factors in no way creates a cause of action or basis for an employee grievance for a person appointed or for a person who fails to be appointed." Effect of Amendment The 2010 amendment added subsection (G) relating to the Department of Employment and Workforce Appellate Panel. The 2011 amendment in subsection (B)(2) added the last sentence relating to the appellate panel designations.