COLUMBIA, S.C. - Governors wouldn't be able to get rid of state boards like Santee Cooper or the Ports Authority and appoint their own nominees under a House bill that cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

The Senate previously passed similar legislation.

The bill considered Tuesday now goes farther. It requires a review board to screen Santee Cooper board members for a range of qualifications similar to new rules governing who serves on the state Public Service Commission. Those standards require a minimum of a four-year college degree and experience in a field related to work on the board.

Gov. Mark Sanford's office says the governor opposes the effort to take authority away. "The governor believes we need to strengthen a historically limited Executive Branch, not further weaken it," Sanford spokesman Will Folks said.

"These are perfect examples of the frequent baby steps that South Carolina has taken backward in creating efficient and accountable government," he said.