The bill H. 4765 seeks to amend various sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws related to the South Carolina Conservation Bank. It modifies the definition of "eligible trust fund recipient" to include specific state agencies, municipalities, counties, and not-for-profit organizations that focus on land conservation and historic preservation. Additionally, the bill expands the governing board of the South Carolina Conservation Bank to include the Chief Resilience Officer of the Office of Resilience, thereby increasing the board's membership from seventeen to eighteen members.

Furthermore, the bill revises the public access requirements for lands acquired with trust funds. It stipulates that while fee simple interests acquired with trust funds must provide for public access as approved by the board, there will be no requirement for public access for grants that fund conservation easements on private lands. This change aims to balance the need for public access with the rights of private landowners involved in conservation efforts. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
Latest Version: 48-59-30, 48-59-40, 48-59-100