S.C. Code Ann. § 57-1-490

(A) The department shall be audited by a certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants once each year to be designated by the State Auditor. The designated accountant or firm of accountants shall issue audited financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and such financial statements must be made available annually by October fifteenth to the General Assembly. The costs and expenses of the audit must be paid by the department out of its funds. (B) The Legislative Audit Council shall contract for an independent performance and compliance audit of the department's finance and administration division, mass transit division, and construction engineering and planning division. This audit must be completed by January 15, 2010. The Legislative Audit Council may contract for follow-up audits or conduct follow-up audits as needed based upon the audit's initial findings. The costs of these audits, including related administrative and management expenses of the Legislative Audit Council, are an operating expense of the department. The department shall pay directly to the Legislative Audit Council the cost of the audits. (C) Copies of every audit conducted pursuant to this section must be made available to the Department of Transportation Commission, the State Auditor, the Governor, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and Transportation Committees, and the Chairmen of the House of Representatives Ways and Means and Education and Public Works Committees. Editor's Note 2007 Act No. 114, SECTION 7, provides as follows: "The initial procurement audit required by Section 5 of this act must be transmitted to the chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee and the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee on or before October 15, 2008, and then annually thereafter as provided in Section 57-1-490." 2019 Act No. 41, SECTION 80, provides as follows: "SECTION 80. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to solicitations issued after that date." Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 41, SECTION 74, deleted (B), which related to a requirement that the department's internal procurement operation must be audited annually, and redesignated (C) and (D) as (B) and (C).