William M. Luce v. Lexington County Health Services District, Inc.

Summary

The South Carolina Supreme Court answered a certified question from the federal district court, holding that the shift‑differential, on‑call, and other premium pay received by William M. Luce are "earnable compensation" under the SCRS Act and therefore subject to mandatory employer deductions. The Court reached this conclusion by interpreting the statutory definition of earnable compensation as encompassing all pay for hours actually worked, rather than limiting it to a regular salary base or excluding bonus‑type payments. It emphasized a liberal construction of the SCRS statutes and applied established canons of construction. The decision resolves the certified question without addressing the underlying takings claim.