The Committee on Judiciary proposes the following amendment (SJ-4813.PB0003S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1.A., by striking Section 8-21-1010(C) and inserting:

 (C) Any increase in fees and costs under subsection (A) which takes effect January 1, 2027, must be used to supplement, and not supplant, existing funds utilized to provide sufficient facilities, and personnel, and security for the necessary and proper operation of the magistrates courts in each county.

Amend the bill further, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

SECTION X. Section 22-2-5(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 (A) The South Carolina Court Administration, in cooperation with the technical college system, shall select and administer an eligibility examination to test basic skills of persons seeking an initial appointment as magistrate on or after July 1, 2001. In determining the persons to be recommended to the Governor for initial appointments as magistrates on or after July 1, 2001, a senatorial delegation must use the results of these eligibility examinations to assist in its selection of nominees. No person is eligible to be appointed as a magistrate unless he receives a passing score on the eligibility examination. The results of these eligibility examinations are valid for sixeighteen months before and sixeighteen months after the time the appointment is to be made.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.