Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:1206 Primary Sponsor:Ryberg Committee Number:11 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Ethics, screening of candidates Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Computer Document Number:1206 Introduced Date:19940222 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:19940222 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Ryberg Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
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1206 Senate 19940222 Introduced, read first time, 11
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-910 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE FILING OF STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS BY CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS SECTION SHALL ALSO APPLY TO PERSONS SEEKING AN OFFICE ELECTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION OF A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OR JUDICIAL CIRCUIT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 8-13-920, RELATING TO THE REPORTING OF CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES BY CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND 8-13-930, RELATING TO THE SEEKING OR OFFERING OF PLEDGES BY CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THESE SECTIONS SHALL ALSO APPLY TO PERSONS CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE OR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND PERSONS SEEKING AN OFFICE ELECTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION OF A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OR JUDICIAL CIRCUIT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 57-1-325 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE MEETING OF LEGISLATORS TO ELECT A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT'S TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF A SCREENING PROCESS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 8-13-910 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an item:
"(C) No person who is a candidate for public office which is filled by election by the legislative delegation of a congressional district or a judicial circuit, may be voted upon by a legislative delegation of a congressional district or judicial circuit until at least ten days following the date on which the candidate files a statement of economic interests with the Ethics Commission and with the chairman of the legislative delegation of the congressional district or judicial circuit."
SECTION 2. Section 8-13-920 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 8-13-920. A person running for an office elected by the General Assembly, confirmed by the Senate or the General Assembly or elected by the legislative delegation of a congressional district or judicial circuit must file a report with the Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ethics Committee or chairman of the legislative delegation, of money in excess of one hundred dollars spent by him or in his behalf in seeking the office. The report must include the period beginning with the time he first announces his intent to seek the office. The report must not include travel expenses or room and board while campaigning. Contributions made to members of the General Assembly during the period from announcement of intent to election date must be included. The report must be updated quarterly with an additional report filed five days before the election and the final report filed thirty days after the election. Persons soliciting votes on behalf of candidates must submit expenses in excess of one hundred dollars to the candidate which must be included on the candidate's report. A copy of all reports received by the Senate Ethics Committee and the House of Representatives Ethics Committee and chairman of the legislative delegation must be forwarded to the State Ethics Commission within two business days of receipt."
SECTION 3. Section 8-13-930 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 8-13-930. No candidate for an office elected by the General Assembly, confirmed by the Senate or the General Assembly or elected by the legislative delegation of a congressional district or judicial circuit may seek directly the pledge of a member of the General Assembly's vote until the qualifications of all candidates for that office have been determined by the appropriate joint or other screening committee to review candidates for that office. No member of the General Assembly may offer a pledge until the qualifications of all candidates for that office have been determined by the appropriate joint or other screening committee to review candidates for that office."
SECTION 4. Section 57-1-325 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 57-1-325. Legislators residing in the congressional district shall meet upon written call of a majority of the members of the delegation of each district at a time and place to be designated in the call for the purpose of organizing and selecting the membership of a committee to screen applicants for the position of commissioner for the congressional district. Prior to conducting a screening hearing, the screening committee shall advertise any vacancy for a minimum of two weeks in newspapers of general circulation throughout the congressional district. Not earlier than one week after the screening committee has made a public report on the qualifications of all candidates who have applied, the chairman of the delegation shall call a meeting for the purpose of electing a commissioner to represent the district. A majority present, either in person or by written proxy, of the delegation from a given congressional district constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing a district commissioner. No person may be elected commissioner who fails to receive a majority vote of the members of the delegation.
The delegation must be organized by the election of a chairman and a secretary, and the delegations of each congressional district shall adopt such rules as they consider proper to govern the election. Any absentee may vote by written proxy. When the election is completed, the chairman and the secretary of the delegation shall immediately transmit the name of the person elected to the Secretary of State who shall issue to the person, after he has taken the usual oath of office, a certificate of election as commissioner. The Governor shall thereupon issue a commission to the person, and pending the issuance of the commission the certificate of election is sufficient warrant to the person to perform all of the duties and functions of his office as commissioner. Each commissioner shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified."
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.