Bill 591

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               591
Ratification Number:       173
Act Number                 293
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Commission, appointed by governor

(A293, R173, S591)

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 879 OF 1966, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LAURENS COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE TEN RESIDENT ELECTORS COMPOSING THE COMMISSION MUST BE APPOINTED AT LARGE BY THE GOVERNOR.

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

Commission, appointed by Governor

SECTION 1. Sections 1 through 8 of Act 879 of 1966, as last amended by Act 966 of 1970, are further amended to read:

"Section 1. There is created the Laurens County Historic Preservation Commission.

Section 2. The commission may exercise and enjoy all rights and privileges of a body politic and corporate.

Section 3. The commission must be composed of eleven resident electors of the county, to be appointed at large by the Governor upon the recommendation of a majority of the Laurens County Legislative Delegation, including the Senator. The members shall serve for terms of five years and until their successors are appointed and qualify.

Immediately upon the appointment of the commission, it shall organize by electing one of its number as chairman, a second as vice-chairman, a third as secretary, and a fourth as treasurer. The officers of the commission shall hold office for terms of one year and until their successors are elected and qualify; provided, officers may succeed themselves. It is the duty of the commission to see that a record of the appointees to the commission is filed in the office of the clerk of court for Laurens County, so as to indicate the persons holding office and the duration of their terms. No member of the commission may receive compensation for his services as a member. Membership on the commission must not be construed to be an office of honor or profit.

Section 4. The commission is empowered to:

(1) sue and be sued;

(2) adopt, use, and alter a corporate seal;

(3) contract with others in furtherance of its purposes and charge admission fees to its facilities;

(4) make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs;

(5) acquire, own, hold in trust, preserve, restore, maintain, suitably mark, develop, advertise, and operate buildings and structures of historic significance, and the land upon which the same may be situated, in Laurens County, and to receive funds, grants, donations, and appropriations for the accomplishment of these purposes;

(6) prescribe regulations governing the use of the facilities;

(7) appoint agents, employees, and servants, prescribe their duties, fix their compensation, and determine if and to what extent they are bonded for the performance of their duties;

(8) authorize and create advisory committees and special memberships and societies in furtherance of its purposes;

(9) remove and store in the vault at the old Bailey Bank Building, 200 West Pitts Street, Laurens, any old records which have been authorized by law to be destroyed and, in its discretion, other records as it may decide to remove for the purpose of preserving.

Section 5. All property of the commission is exempt from all ad valorem taxes levied by the State, county, and any municipality, division, or agency, direct or indirect.

Section 6. The commission shall conduct its affairs on the fiscal year basis employed by Laurens County. As shortly after the close of its fiscal year as is practicable an audit of its affairs must be made by a certified public accountant of good standing, to be designated by the commission. Copies of the audit, incorporated into an annual report of the commission, must be filed with the Senator from Laurens County, the secretary of the House Delegation from Laurens County, and in the office of the clerk of court for the county.

Section 7. The commission has the power and authority to borrow money and to mortgage or pledge its real and personal property. However, it does not have the power to assume an obligation or incur any indebtedness binding upon the State of South Carolina or Laurens County.

Section 8. Any action required of the commission may be taken at any meeting of the commission, regular or special, and at a meeting of the commission, a majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the purpose of transacting business."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.