A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 42-17-20, RELATING TO A HEARING BEFORE COMMISSION ON COMPENSATION PAYABLE, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN THE COUNTY SEAT WITHIN A DISTRICT UNLESS AN ALTERNATIVE COURTHOUSE IS PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY CLERK.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 42-17-20 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    Section 42-17-20.  (A) If the employer and the injured employee or his dependents fail to reach an agreement in regard to compensation under this title within fourteen days after the employer has knowledge of the injury or after a death or if they have reached such an agreement which has been signed and filed with the commission and compensation has been paid or is due in accordance therewith and the parties thereto then disagree as to the continuance of any weekly payment under such agreement, either party may make application to the commission for a hearing in regard to the matters at issue and for a ruling thereon. Immediately after such application has been received the commission shall set a date for a hearing, which shall be held as soon as practicable, and shall notify the parties at issue of the time and place of such hearing.

    (B) The hearing shall be held in the district in which the injury occurred, but no greater than seventy-five miles from the county seat of the county in which the injury occurred, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties and authorized by the commission. For purposes of this section, the "county seat" is the county courthouse. These districts are defined as those districts designated by the commission and in effect as of January 1, 2018.

    (C) The hearing shall be held in the county seat within the district. The clerk of court shall provide hearing space within the county seat. The county clerk may provide hearing space in an alternative courthouse within the district.

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

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