H 3340 Joint Resolution, By Bannister, Herbkersman, Newton, Ballentine, Harrell, 
Clemmons, Goldfinch, H.A. Crawford, Kennedy, Murphy and George
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE III OF THE
 CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 COMMENCING ON THE SECOND TUESDAY IN FEBRUARY RATHER THAN THE SECOND TUESDAY IN
 JANUARY OF EACH YEAR, REQUIRE EACH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO
 ADJOURN SINE DIE NOT LATER THAN THE FIRST THURSDAY IN MAY EACH YEAR, AND ALLOW
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONVENE IN LOCAL SESSION AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF
 BEGINNING COMMITTEE MEETINGS OR HEARINGS ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF JANUARY EACH
 YEAR.

   01/16/13  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 9)
   01/16/13  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 9)
   01/22/13  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Herbkersman, Newton
   01/29/13  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Ballentine, Harrell
   01/30/13  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 47)
   01/31/13  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Goldfinch, H.A.Crawford
   02/05/13  House  Debate adjourned until Wed., 2-6-13
                     (House Journal-page 14)
   02/06/13  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Kennedy,
                     Murphy, George
   02/06/13  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 13)
   02/06/13  House  Roll call Yeas-91  Nays-9 (House Journal-page 15)
   02/07/13  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 25)
   02/07/13  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 4)
   02/07/13  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 4)
   03/08/13  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Campsen (ch), Hutto,
                     Massey, Coleman, Gregory

H. 3340

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

January 30, 2013

H. 3340

Introduced by Reps. Bannister, Herbkersman, Newton, Ballentine and Harrell

S. Printed 1/30/13--H.

Read the first time January 16, 2013.

To whom was referred a Joint Resolution (H. 3340) proposing an amendment to Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, relating to sessions of the General Assembly, so as to provide for annual sessions, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

F. GREGORY DELLENEY, JR. for Committee.

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMENCING ON THE SECOND TUESDAY IN FEBRUARY RATHER THAN THE SECOND TUESDAY IN JANUARY OF EACH YEAR, REQUIRE EACH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADJOURN SINE DIE NOT LATER THAN THE FIRST THURSDAY IN MAY EACH YEAR, AND ALLOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONVENE IN LOCAL SESSION AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEGINNING COMMITTEE MEETINGS OR HEARINGS ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF JANUARY EACH YEAR.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    It is proposed that Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section    9.    The annual session of the General Assembly shall convene at the State Capitol Building in the City of Columbia on the second Tuesday of January February of each year and must adjourn sine die not later than the first Thursday in May each year. The General Assembly may convene in local session and for the purpose of beginning committee meetings or hearings on the second Tuesday of January of each year. After the convening of the General Assembly, nothing in this section shall prohibit the Senate or the House of Representatives, or both, from receding for a time period not to exceed thirty consecutive calendar days at a time by a majority vote of the members of the body of the General Assembly seeking to recede for a time period not to exceed thirty consecutive calendar days, or from receding for a time period of more than thirty consecutive calendar days at a time by a two-thirds vote of the members of the body of the General Assembly seeking to recede for more than thirty consecutive calendar days at a time. Each body shall sit in session at the State Capitol Building in the City of Columbia and may provide for meetings during the legislative session as it shall consider appropriate. Furthermore, the Senate or the House of Representatives, or both, may meet on the first Tuesday following the certification of the election of its members for not more than three days following the general election in even-numbered years for the purpose of organizing. If the casualties of war or contagious disease render it unsafe to meet at the seat of government, the Governor, by proclamation, may appoint a more secure and convenient place of meeting. Members of the General Assembly shall not receive any compensation for more than forty days of any one session."

SECTION    2.    The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:

"Shall Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide for annual sessions of the General Assembly commencing on the second Tuesday in February, rather than the second Tuesday in January of each year, to require each annual session of the General Assembly to adjourn sine die not later than the first Thursday in May each year, and to allow the General Assembly to convene in local session and begin committee meetings or hearings on the second Tuesday in January each year?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."