Secretary of State of South Carolina
Seal of South Carolina
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| Agency overview | |
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| Headquarters | Columbia, SC |
| Employees | 26 |
| Annual budget | $623,371 |
| Minister responsible |
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| Website | scsos.com |
The Secretary of State of South Carolina is an elected position that is responsible to maintain clear records of statewide corporations, supply to the public with customer service, and administrate the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act.
Presently, Mark Hammond serves as the Secretary of State since 2003, and the Co-Chairman of International Relations Committee on Business Services.
The South Carolina Office of Secretary of State oversees organizations that provides in registration of companies, non profit organizations, partnerships, employment agencies, state trademarks and business opportunities. Secretary of State also has authority of issuing cable franchise applications and certificates, annexations of land, and investigations of counterfeited finances. Composed of five organizations, The Business Filings Division, Trademarks Division, Charities Division, Notaries, and The Cable Franchise, are set to deliver regulation and composure of records to accommodate each division to taxpayers, businesses, charities, banks, and the government.
The Secretary of State's salary is set at $92,007 annually.
The Business Filing Division is accountable for filings for business corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships.
The Uniform Commercial Code is another responsibility of the Business Filings Division, this Code conducts the laws of commercial transactions. This includes the sale of goods, commercial paper, bank deposits and collections, letters of credit, bulk transfers, bills of lading and investment securities.
The Trademarks Division enforces a protection of copyrighted products and assists law enforcement in the seizing of any forged goods. According to the Secretary of State Accountability Report, about two million dollars of dishonorable merchandise was collected from fifty six individuals in the financial year from 2009 to 2010.
The Public Charities Division promotes and educations the public of charitable non profit organizations and sets regulations to maintain records in order to provide competent donations. Also the division investigates charities that violate the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act. To further inform the public, Secretary Hammond formed the Secretary of State/Nonprofit Advisory Council. All charities in South Carolina must register and include a review of annual financial reports, and is susceptible to investigations and prosecutions. Those who do not register, do not file financial records, or mislead the public are fined. Files submitted to the Division of Public Charities are available to the public for inspection.
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