S.L. 2013-365: Domestic Energy Jobs Act

• Prohibits issuance of permits for oil and gas exploration using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing until the Mining and Energy Commission adopts required rules and the General Assembly takes affirmative legislative action to allow permitting.

• Exempts the Mining and Energy Commission, Environmental Management Commission, and Commission for Public Health from preparing fiscal notes for rules governing oil and gas exploration and development activities.

• Directs the Mining and Energy Commission to study a coordinated permitting program, appropriate severance tax rates, and registration requirements for landmen, with reports due by April 1, 2014 and April 1, 2015.

• Modifies the Mining and Energy Commission's composition from 15 to maintain 15 members and establishes criteria for site-by-site bonding requirements for oil and gas operators to cover reclamation costs.

• Establishes the Offshore Energy Management Fund to receive revenues and royalties from offshore energy production, allocating 75% to the General Fund and distributing remaining percentages to transportation, education, research, conservation, ports, and economic development.

• Requires the Governor to negotiate a regional interstate offshore energy policy compact with South Carolina and Virginia governors and provides revised membership and duties for the Energy Policy Council.

• Authorizes licensed hospitals to use compressed natural gas as emergency fuel in bi-fuel generators as an alternative to liquid fuel storage.