A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 57-1-100 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY AND UNDERTAKE A PROJECT TO ESTABLISH COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE IN THE STATE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.  Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 57 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    Section 57-1-100.  (A) The Department of Transportation shall conduct a study to determine where highway right of ways may be widened and how much it would cost through both eminent domain and regular private sale for the purpose of adding commuter rail lines adjacent to existing highways. The study shall include:

           (1) the cost of widening existing railway, highway, and powerline right of ways; and

           (2) projections of how long through fares could a bond sale be repaid to cover 10 percent, 17.5 percent, and 25 percent of the cost of commuter rail sections between cities exceeding sixty thousand residents, where fares would generate the most revenue.

       (B) Once feasible routes have been established, the department shall issue a request for proposals for the architectural design and construction of rail beds, railways, and associated facilities, and rail companies to offer commuter rail service.

       (C) The request for proposals shall include a statement that the price for the various services must be the lowest price that:

           (1) has a minimum wage of twenty-five dollars per hour for the operators and workers or equivalent salary with a health care plan that is at least the breadth of the Silver Plan as defined by the federal Affordable Care Act;

           (2) offsets carbon emissions to the precision of the nearest five thousand pounds of carbon emissions from all carbon commuter rail trains;

           (3) replaces felled trees to the precision of the nearest fifth of an acre;

           (4) recycles all number 1 and number 2 plastics, glass, and metal; and

           (5) donates all uncovered archeological artifacts and fossils to the anthropology or geology departments of a public university with at least one thousand enrolled undergraduate students.

       (D) The South Carolina Energy Office shall audit all offsets of any contractor for commuter rail projects prior to an award of a contract to ensure additionality.

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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