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Secretary of State Mark Hammond seeks higher retention and new IT funding as online services expand
Summary
Secretary of State Mark Hammond told a legislative subcommittee the office has expanded online services — including a trademark filing system and GiveSmart app — and asked to amend Proviso 96.1 to retain more revenue while requesting other-funds authorization for IT and staffing needs.
Secretary of State Mark Hammond told a legislative subcommittee that his office has expanded digital services and is seeking adjustments to retention and other-funds authorizations to offset rising costs.
"It's not my Secretary of State's office, it's South Carolina's Secretary of State's office," Hammond said, opening his remarks and introducing Deputy Secretary Melissa Dunlap and Tracy Watford, director of administration. He described customers served by the office — members of the public, businesses, nonprofits, lenders, the legal and accounting communities, and other state agencies — and said online services have reduced friction for many users.
Hammond highlighted several recent developments: an online trademark filing system launched in January that has recorded 121 online filings; an over-one-year rollout of online notary payments that removes the need to attach checks; and GiveSmart SC, a mobile app with about 2,000 downloads that allows the public to view nonprofit filings and submit confidential complaints. On enforcement, he said the office filed roughly 30 matters with administrative law courts last year and collected "just over $1,200,000" in fines under the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act.
The secretary also outlined workload and staffing figures: about 100,000 phone calls, 8,000 walk-ins and roughly 607,000 total filings handled by a staff of 36. To respond to operational needs he asked the committee to amend Proviso 96.1 so the office may retain an additional $70,000 (raising the cap from $180,000 to $250,000) to offset division costs. He requested a $150,000 increase in other-funds authorization to support agency-wide IT projects and operations, and $70,950 to help cover retirement, health and cost-of-living increases for positions funded by other funds.
Committee members praised the office's customer service and said they appreciated the presentation; one senator recounted a recent positive phone experience with staff. The committee did not take a vote on the requests during the hearing and indicated staff and members would follow up as needed.
The subcommittee moved on to its next agenda item after the presentation.
