By RICK BRUNDRETT

Special to the Chronicle

Another state agency is under scrutiny for violating health-insurance benefits law.

2 SC Ports Authority board members participate in the state health plan although the law doesn’t allow them to be covered.

The Public Employee Benefit Authority acknowledged it had found cases of ineligible part-time employees who were offered benefits.

PEBA couldn’t provide details but agency records show unidentified board members of taxpayer-owned Santee Cooper receive benefits in violation of the law.

Santee Cooper provides much of the power for Lexington County members of Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative.

State law doesn’t require PEBA to audit more than 700 covered groups to ensure compliance with state law.

Last week we reported that PEBA audited 54 employers last year.

At that pace, it would take the agency nearly 14 years to audit every group once.

PEBA is governed by an 11-member board.

3 are appointed by the governor. The majority are controlled by Senate and House leaders.

The Ports Authority’s 9 board members each received $11,700 last year,

Ports Authority spokeswoman Liz Crumley said 2 board members participate in the state health plan and “pay their own premiums” but would not name them.

PEBA allowed ineligible Santee Cooper board members to receive state health benefits through the end of this year as it didn’t want to impose an “undue hardship” on them.

Santee Cooper's 12 board members each received $9,999.60 last year plus $2,000 in “travel, insurance and meeting reimbursement.” 

The Santee Cooper board is supposed to be advised by the governor, attorney general, comptroller general, treasurer and secretary of state.

In 2018, these advisors raised no concerns about the failed $9 billion Santee Cooper and SC Electric & Gas nuclear project.

By law, state health insurance covers state and local government officials and employees, regional tourism-promotion commissions, regional councils of government, special-purpose districts, government employee organizations and legislative caucus committees.

Brundrett is the news editor of The Nerve (www.thenerve.org). Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@thenerve.org.