(A) The State Treasurer shall administer the investment of the fund. The department shall administer the collection of assessments and investigate losses for which payment is requested. After verifying a grain dealer's losses, the department shall request that payment for verified losses be made by the State Treasurer to the grain dealer incurring a loss and maintain records of payments made. The fund must be established for the benefit of grain dealers who have delivered grain to the debtor and compensate them for losses relative to grain delivered to the debtor. All income or interest derived from this fund must be reinvested in the fund.
(B) A grain dealer who has not previously filed a claim in this matter within ninety days after the effective date of this chapter shall present his claim for the losses incurred for grain which has been delivered to the debtor, which must be under oath, to the department on a form supplied by the department. All claims must be filed within ninety days after the effective date of this chapter or they are barred from recovery under this fund. To verify his claim, the grain dealer shall present any evidence of loss including, but not limited to, scale tickets. The price for each bushel of grain must be established on the day of the loss and must be for the fair market value on that day at the location of loss. The price for each bushel may not be higher than the contract price, if a price has been established. All grain dealers filing claims under this section are bound by the value determined by the department.
(C) If a claim has previously been denied or if a claim is pending with the department and is not subject to payment from the South Carolina Grain Producers Guaranty Fund or the Warehouse Receipts Guaranty Fund, these claims must be considered for payment from this fund.
(D) The department within thirty days from verification of loss shall request payment of one hundred percent of the approved claim.
(E) Upon approval of his claim by the department, the grain dealer shall subrogate his interest, if any, to the department in a cause of action against the debtor. All monies received from subrogation of these claims must be reinvested in the fund.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 381, Part I, Section 1, eff June 14, 2000.