WEBSITE FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE LEGISLATURE
The South Carolina General Assembly maintains a very informative website that is an excellent tool for you to use in gathering information about a piece of legislation at the state level or locating a point of contact to get an answer to a question or express a concern about an issue. The website provides you with information about pending legislation and dates for committee or subcommittee meetings where discussion or voting on legislation will occur. It also provides the names and contact information for the members of the South Carolina Senate and House, contact information for the various committees in both the Senate and the House, and various public information of interest to the citizens of our state. Additionally, It provides live video of the Senate and the House so that you can view both chambers while they are in session.
If you are unsure as to the State Senate or House district in which you live, this website will provide you the ability to identify your state senator and representatives as well as your congressional representatives by simply entering your address. The website for the South Carolina General Assembly is: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/.
A brief note on “Home Rule” and what it means to local governments.
Prior to 1973, local city and county government bodies in South Carolina had very little authority to govern. Because of the structure of our 1895 State Constitution, city and county governments depended upon legislative delegations, consisting of all of the members of the South Carolina General Assembly representing a particular county of the state, to provide for city and county functions and services through special legislation for each county. The “Home Rule” constitutional amendment of 1973 changed this and gave wide power to South Carolina’s city and county governments. Because of that amendment, today more authority is maintained by city and county governments to regulate local matters than is held by the General Assembly. Therefore, if you have questions pertaining to local matters such as the issuance of business licenses, traffic control or maintenance of local roadways, county assessments or taxes, zoning issues, etc., the answers to these questions are best addressed by contacting the city or county entity responsible for the matter that is the subject of your question or concern.
Additionally, even when your question or concern relates to statewide matters such as motor vehicle registration questions, state income or business taxes, child support issues, boat mooring permit issues, restaurant quality concerns, etc., the state agencies that regulate these areas operate local offices within the Charleston area. Each of these offices has trained staff available to assist you with your question or concern. Normally, you will find that state agency representatives are able to provide you with prompt, courteous, and helpful assistance.
With this in mind, I have attempted to provide you with a list of points of contact for Charleston area city and county government entities and statewide and Charleston area contact information for state agencies. I hope you will find this list useful in resolving your issue.
County and City Links:
Charleston County Council and Charleston County Officials:
(843) 958-4030
http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/Council/contacts.htm
City of Charleston:
Ombudsman – Brian Sheehan: (843) 724-3745
http://www.charlestoncity.info/lists/contacts.aspx
City of North Charleston:
(843) 554-5700
http://www.northcharleston.org/
City of Mount Pleasant:
(843) 884-8517, ext. 3402
http://www.townofmountpleasant.com/index.cfm?section=14&page=12
Department of Motor Vehicles- Provides drivers’ licenses, identification cards, address changes and vehicle license plates State Customer Service:
http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/default.aspx?n=contactus
(803) 896-5000
Charleston County Contact Number:
(843) 769-5879
Department of Revenue- Handles state taxes and licensing for beer, wine, liquor, and bingo
State Website Contact List:
http://www.sctax.org/Contact+Information/phone.htm
Satellite Office List:
http://www.sctax.org/Contact+Information/Satellite+Offices/default.htm
North Charleston Contact Information:
(843) 202-6080
http://www.charlestoncounty.org/Departments/RevenueCollections/index.htm
Department of Social Services- Provides adoption services, child support enforcement, monitoring of child care facilities, disaster relief, food assistance, and other family needs State Website Contact List: http://dss.sc.gov/content/about/contact.aspx
State General Information Number: (803) 898-7601
Charleston Area Contact Information:
(843) 953-9400
http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/DSS/index.htm
Department of Health and Environmental Control- Monitors maternal, infant and child health issues, provides official copies of S.C. birth certificates, regulates restaurants, food and water cleanliness, waste management, immunizations, boat mooring and dock construction permits, and other areas related to the health of the public and the environment
State Contact Information:
(803) 898-3432
http://www.scdhec.net/administration/contactus.asp
Charleston Area Contact Information:
(843) 746-3800
http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/DHEC/index.htm
S.C. Birth Certificate Information:
(803) 898-3432
http://www.scdhec.net/administration/vr/index.htm
SC Employment Security Commission- Provides unemployment benefits, placement services for individuals, recruitment services for businesses, and labor market information for the public
State Contact Information:
(803) 737-2588
http://www.sces.org/Contacts.htm
Charleston Area Contact Information (includes information pertaining to unemployment benefits):
(843) 953-8400
http://www.sces.org/loff/charleston.htm
Department of Disabilities and Special Needs- Serves people suffering from mental retardation, autism, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, and conditions related to each of these four disabilities
State Contact Information:
(803) 898-9600
http://www.state.sc.us/ddsn/
Charleston Area Contact Information:
(843) 805-5800
http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/DisabilityBoard/index.htm
Department of Natural Resources- Provides hunting and fishing licenses, enforces land and water regulations, and offers wildlife/ conservation education
State Contact Information:
(803) 734-4400
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/admin/phone.html
Charleston Area Contact Information:
(843) 953-9314
SC Department of Health & Human Services- Medicaid Agency: Responsible for program oversight, provider claims payment, and Medicaid eligibility determination
State Contact Information:
(888) 549-0820, (803) 898-2500
http://www.dhhs.state.sc.us/dhhsnew/index.asp
Charleston Regional Contact Information:
(843) 740-5900
www.scdhhs.gov
SC Vocational Rehabilitation- Vocational evaluation/rehabilitation and disability determination services
State Contact Information:
(803) 832-7526 or (803) 896-6500
http://www.scvrd.net/c_index.php
Charleston/Dorchester Area Contact Information:
(843) 740-1600
www.scvrd.net
SC Department of Mental Health- Psychiatric evaluation/treatment services
State Contact Information:
(803) 898-8581
Charleston Area Contact Information:
(843) 727-2000
www.state.sc.us/dmh
Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging- Assistance and special services for senior citizens
State Contact Information:
(803) 734-9886
askus@aging.sc.gov
Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Regional Contact Number:
(843) 554-2275
SC Department of Consumer Affairs– Research and assistance related to consumer complaints
State Contact Information:
(800) 922-1594
(803) 734-4200
www.scconsumer.gov
The following agencies are not government entities but provide free and/or reduced cost services that may help in your inquiry:
Goodwill Industries of Lower SC, Inc. – Provides job training/placement and emergency services (e.g. clothing, temporary housing, food, etc.)
General Information:
(888) 560-0072, (843) 566-0072
www.palmettogoodwill.org
Disability Resource Center – Assistance with disability claims
General Information:
(866) 874-7730 or (843) 225-5080
www.drcilc.org
SC AARP – Advocacy and special services for senior citizens
State Contact Information:
(866) 389-5655
SCAARP@aarp.org
Road Projects
In 2007, the General Assembly reformed the Department of Transportation (DOT) in order to improve the transparency and efficiency of the department with the passage of Act 114, which became effective on June 27 2008. You may read the Act at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/web_bh10.exe?bill1=355&session=117. The reform measures changed the governing body of the DOT into a Secretary of Transportation, who is appointed by the Governor, and a seven member Commission. Six of the Commission members come from the six Congressional districts within the State and are appointed by the legislative delegation for each district. The seventh Commission member is appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commission is responsible for developing a twenty-year plan to address South Carolina’s transportation needs, and it controls all spending by the DOT on road projects. All projects approved by the Commission must be justifiable according to objective and quantifiable factors determined in the twenty-year plan. Commission members are bound by state ethics laws and must submit statements of economic interest, and all commission members must be screened by a Joint Transportation Review Committee to ensure they possess expertise and experience in a transportation related field.
The DOT reform emphasizes ethics, transparency, and accountability in the expenditure of state funds for road projects. Most importantly, the reform removes legislators from having any direct involvement in deciding road projects or in prioritizing or funding them. Now, road project decisions and priorities are based solely upon need and an objective set of criteria.
Road projects in South Carolina are large projects that involve complex issues including condemnation of land, funding, and zoning matters. State money, county sales taxes, federal funds, or a combination of these sources may fund road projects. Many projects underway in the Charleston area fall directly under the control of the South Carolina Department of Transportation. However, some projects may fall under a given county’s control and funding. Because of the number and the complexity of road projects underway in the Charleston area, it is impossible to list each project and identify the point of contact for each one. The following links will take you to sites pertaining specifically to Charleston county officials and projects. The first link will take you to the Roadwise Program, which includes projects such as Maybank Highway, US 17/ Old Charleston Highway, Mark Clark Expressway, the I-26 Widening project, Main Road, and Edenvale Road. If you have questions or concerns about zoning issues involved in a road project, you should contact your county council member.
Roadwise:
(843) 329-0050
http://www.ccroadwise.org/contact_us.html
SC DOT Project Manager (Columbia):
David Kinard
1-888-623-4526
Information related to the Mark Clark Expressway:
http://www.dot.sate.sc.us/I526/contact.shtml
Charleston Public Works:
(843) 202-7600
http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/publicworks/index.htm
South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission contact information:
SC DOT Transportation Secretary
H.B. “Buck” Limehouse, Jr.
(803) 737-1302 or 737-2314
http://www.dot.state.sc.us/
Commission Member Representing the First Congressional District
Danny Issac
Counties: All, or part of, Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry
1004 8th Avenue North Extention
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Office: (843) 448-8485
Commission Member Representing the Sixth Congressional District
Marvin Stevenson
Counties: All, or part of, Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Georgetown, Florence, Lee, Marion, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, Colleton
Post Office Box 121
Marion, SC 29571
Office: (843) 275-9842
For the Charleston Engineering District (projects controlled at the state level), use the following contacts:
Charleston – SCDOT Engineering District 6
Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, and Jasper Counties
Administrator, Robert T. Clark (843) 740-1665
Project Manager, Tim Henderson (843) 740-1667
Maintenance – (843) 740-1655
2401 Maintenance Way
North Charleston, SC 29406
Construction Office “A” – (843) 740-1685
Construction Office “B” – (843) 740-6143
Post Office Box 70744
Charleston Heights, SC 29415
Charleston Bridge Construction – (843) 740-1574
Post Office Box 71696
Charleston Heights SC 29415-1696
Specialized Bridge Division – (843) 740-1695
2695 Rourk Street
North Charleston, SC 29406
District 6 Sign Shop – (843) 740-6172
6355-E Fain St.
North Charleston, SC 29406
District 6 Signal Shop – (843) 740-1668
6355-E Fain St.
North Charleston SC 29406
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS INVOLVING FEDERAL AGENCIES
Some of your issues or concerns may involve programs or services that are administered by the federal government. If you have a question regarding a federally administered program, you need to contact the responsible federal agency. While there are far too many federal agencies to list on this information sheet, below is a list of some federal agencies, including local offices, who administer programs that are often the subject of questions received from constituents.
Social Security Administration- handles federal retirement and disability benefits (e.g. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI), etc.)
Charleston Office Contact Information:
(843) 573-3600
https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/Controller
Veterans Administration- administers benefits and assistance to military veterans
Charleston Office Contact Information:
(843) 974-6360
http://www.charlestoncounty.org/Departments/VeteransAffairs/index.htm
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - an agency of the Department of Homeland Security focusing on weaknesses in the US immigration and financial networks
Charleston Office Contact Information:
https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.detail&office=CHL&OfficeLocator.office_type=LO&OfficeLocator.statecode=SC
United States Department of State (passports)– this federal agency handles numerous issues related to international matters, to include issuing passports to U.S. citizens for travel purposes
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
United States Congressional Delegation Contact Information
If you are unable to obtain an answer to a question or response to a concern involving a federal statute or regulation from the appropriate federal agency, you may wish to contact one of South Carolina’s Congressional representatives. Below are the names and contact information for our United States Senators and the Representative to the United States House of Representatives representing Charleston.
Senator Lindsey Graham
Lowcountry Regional Office
530 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Suite 202
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Main: (843) 849-3887
http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.OfficeLocations
Senator Jim DeMint
Charleston Office
112 Custom House
200 East Bay St
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 727-4525
Fax: (843) 722-4923
Office Hours:
8:30am – 5:30pm (M-F)
http://demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Offices
Representative James E. Clyburn – Sixth Congressional District
SANTEE OFFICE
176 Brooks Boulevard
Santee, SC 29142
Phone: (803) 854-4700
Fax: (803) 854-4900
https://forms.house.gov/clyburn/zipauth.shtml
Representative Henry Brown – First Congressional District
CHARLESTON OFFICE
5900 Core Avenue, Suite 401
North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: (843) 747-4175
Fax: (843) 747-4711
http://brown.house.gov/Contact/index.html
