H 5174 Joint Resolution, By Edge, Barfield, Keegan, Kelley and Witherspoon
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM TO BE HELD AT THE
 SAME TIME AS THE 1998 GENERAL ELECTION TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOR THE
 QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF HORRY COUNTY FAVOR REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE HORRY COUNTY
 BOARD OF EDUCATION IN A SPECIFIED MANNER.

   05/21/98  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-40
   05/21/98  House  Unanimous consent for second reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-41
   05/26/98  House  Read second time HJ-1
   05/26/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-19
   05/27/98  Senate Intd. & placed on local & uncontested cal. w/o
                     reference SJ-12
   05/28/98  Senate Read second time SJ-44
   05/28/98  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-44
   06/04/98  Senate Amended SJ-39
   06/04/98  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-39
   06/16/98  House  Continued HJ-11

June 4, 1998

H. 5174

Introduced by Reps. Edge, Barfield, Witherspoon, Keegan and Kelley

L. Printed 5/27/98--S.

Read the first time May 27, 1998.

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM TO BE HELD AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 1998 GENERAL ELECTION TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF HORRY COUNTY FAVOR REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE HORRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IN A SPECIFIED MANNER.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. (A) An advisory referendum shall be held at the same time as the 1998 general election in Horry County on the question of whether or not the qualified electors of the county favor reducing the size of the Horry County Board of Education from eleven members from defined election districts plus an at-large chairman to six members from defined election districts plus an at-large chairman. The advisory referendum for this purpose must be conducted by the election commission of Horry County at the same time as the 1998 general election. The county commissioners of election shall conduct and supervise the advisory referendum in the manner governed by the election laws of this State, mutatis mutandi. The commissioners shall frame the question for the ballot, prepare the necessary ballots, appoint managers for the voting precincts, and do all things necessary to carry out the advisory referendum, including the counting of ballots and declaring the results. The commissioners shall advertise the date of the advisory referendum sixty days preceding it in a newspaper of general circulation in the county and shall publish a second notice thirty days before the advisory referendum. The cost of the advisory referendum shall be paid by the Horry County school system.

(B) The question put before the qualified electors of the county at the 1998 advisory referendum shall read as follows:

"Do you favor reducing the size of the Horry County Board of Education from eleven members from defined election districts plus an at-large chairman to six members from defined election districts plus an at-large chairman?

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'."

(C) The results of the 1998 advisory referendum may be considered by the Horry County legislative delegation when deciding whether or not to reduce the size of the Horry County Board of Education as stipulated in this resolution but the results of the 1998 advisory referendum shall not require the size of the Horry County Board of Education to be so reduced.

SECTION 2. (A) An advisory referendum shall be held at the same time as the 1998 general election in Horry County on the question of whether or not the qualified electors of the county favor nonpartisan elections of the members of the Horry County Board of Education. The advisory referendum for this purpose must be conducted by the election commission of Horry County at the same time as the 1998 general election. The county commissioners of election shall conduct and supervise the advisory referendum in the manner governed by the election laws of this State, mutatis mutandi. The commissioners shall frame the question for the ballot, prepare the necessary ballots, appoint managers for the voting precincts, and do all things necessary to carry out the advisory referendum, including the counting of ballots and declaring the results. The commissioners shall advertise the date of the advisory referendum sixty days preceding it in a newspaper of general circulation in the county and shall publish a second notice thirty days before the advisory referendum. The cost of the advisory referendum shall be paid by the Horry County school system.

(B) The question put before the qualified electors of the county at the 1998 advisory referendum shall read as follows:

"Do you favor nonpartisan elections of the members of the Horry County Board of Education?

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'."

(C) The results of the 1998 advisory referendum may be considered by the Horry County legislative delegation when deciding whether or not members of the Horry County Board of Education shall be chosen by nonpartisan elections as stipulated in this resolution, but the results of the 1998 advisory referendum shall not require nonpartisan elections of the members of the Horry County Board of Education.

SECTION 3. Section 1 of Act 239 of 1983 is amended by adding a new paragraph at the end to read:

"Beginning with the year 1999 the following procedure applies with regard to millage levied for school operating purposes. Beginning in year 1999, the county board in any year may increase the millage levy for school operating purposes by not more than two and one-half mills above that levied for the previous year, after the previous year's levy has been adjusted in the current year for the EFA inflation factor and sufficiently to meet the requirements of Section 59-21-1030 of the 1976 Code, if applicable. Any increase above two and one-half mills, but not exceeding five mills, must first be approved by the county legislative delegation. Any increase above five mills must first be approved by the qualified electors of the district in a referendum called for this purpose by the county board. Millage levied for school bonded indebtedness is considered a separate part from operating millage."

SECTION 4. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.