2022 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 33 - Corporations, Partnerships and Associations
Chapter 49 - Electric Cooperatives
Section 33-49-630. Compensation or employment of trustee; actions and conduct prohibited.

(A) The bylaws may make provision for the compensation of trustees; provided, however, that compensation shall not be paid except for actual attendance upon activities authorized by the board. The bylaws may also provide for the travel, expenses and other benefits of trustees, as set by the board. A trustee must not be employed by the cooperative in any other capacity involving compensation.

(B) A member of an electric cooperative's board of trustees may not:

(1) knowingly use his position as a trustee to obtain an economic interest in addition to his compensation, if any, for serving as a member of the board of trustees for himself, a family member, an individual with whom he is associated, or a business with which he is associated;

(2) have a business relationship with the electric cooperative that is distinct from or in addition to the trustee's mandatory cooperative membership pursuant to Section 33-49-610(A) or his service on the board of trustees; or

(3) appoint, direct, or cause a family member to become a member of a committee or an employee of the cooperative.

(C) A member of an electric cooperative board of trustees is not prohibited by this section from accepting goods or services such as lodging, transportation, entertainment, food, meals, beverages, or any other thing of value provided that:

(1) the value of the good or service is reasonable and the purpose relates to his duties as a trustee;

(2) the good or service is furnished on the same terms or at the same expense to a member of the general public or to general attendees of functions considered reasonable by the board for the fulfillment of his duties as a trustee; or

(3) if the good or service is of more than twenty-five dollars in value and is furnished to the trustee by a company that the trustee knows, has, or seeks a business relationship other than a cooperative membership with the cooperative, on whose board the trustee serves and the cooperative is not an owner or a member of that company, the trustee must disclose the acceptance of the good or service to the board.

(D) For purposes of this section, "an individual with whom he is associated" has the same meaning as provided in Section 8-13-100(21) and "family member" has the same meaning as provided in Section 8-13-100(15).

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 12-1043; 1952 Code Section 12-1043; 1942 Code Section 8555-99; 1939 (41) 240; 1976 Act No. 631; 2019 Act No. 56 (H.3145), Section 10, eff May 16, 2019.

Editor's Note

2019 Act No. 56, Section 16, provides as follows:

"SECTION 16. Where the provisions of new or revised 1976 Code sections or subsections contained in this act conflict with provisions of the bylaws of an electric cooperative, the provisions of this act control and the cooperative, as permitted by Section 33-49-280, shall amend and conform its bylaw provisions accordingly."

Effect of Amendment

2019 Act No. 56, Section 10, rewrote the section, prohibiting certain actions or conduct by trustees, with exceptions.