South Carolina § 35-1-607 - Public records; confidentiality.

§ 35-1-607. Public records; confidentiality.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), records obtained by the Securities Commissioner or filed under this chapter, including a record contained in or filed with a registration statement, application, notice filing, or report, are public records and are available for public examination.

(b) The following records are not public records and are not available for public examination under subsection (a):

(1) a record obtained by the Securities Commissioner in connection with an audit or inspection under Section 35-1-411(d) or an investigation under Section 35-1-602;

(2) a part of a record filed in connection with a registration statement under Sections 35-1-301 and 35-1-303 through 35-1-305 or a record under Section 35-1-411(d) that contains trade secrets or confidential information if the person filing the registration statement or report has asserted a claim of confidentiality or privilege that is authorized by law;

(3) a record that is not required to be provided to the Securities Commissioner or filed under this chapter and is provided to the Securities Commissioner only on the condition that the record will not be subject to public examination or disclosure;

(4) a nonpublic record received from a person specified in Section 35-1-608(a);

(5) any social security number, residential address unless used as a business address, and residential telephone number unless used as a business telephone number, contained in a record that is filed;

(6) a record obtained by the Securities Commissioner through a designee of the Securities Commissioner that a rule or order under this chapter determines has been:

(A) expunged from the Securities Commissioner's records by the designee; or

(B) determined to be nonpublic or nondisclosable by that designee if the Securities Commissioner finds the determination to be in the public interest and for the protection of investors;

(7) a record provided to the Securities Division of the Office of the Attorney General pursuant to Section 35-1-870.

(c) If disclosure is for the purpose of a civil, administrative, or criminal investigation, action, or proceeding or to a person specified in Section 35-1-608(a), the Securities Commissioner may disclose a record obtained in connection with an audit or inspection under Section 35-1-411(d) or a record obtained in connection with an investigation under Section 35-1-602.

HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 110, SECTION 1, eff January 1, 2006; 2021 Act No. 84 (S.425), SECTION 3, eff May 18, 2021.

Effect of Amendment

2021 Act No. 84, SECTION 3, in (b), added (7).