H 3781 Joint Resolution, By Putnam
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE VI OF THE
 CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
 OF THIS STATE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION OF
 2022, THERE MUST BE ELECTED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THIS STATE A SECRETARY
 OF TRANSPORTATION WHO SHALL HOLD THIS OFFICE FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS,
 COTERMINOUS WITH THAT OF THE GOVERNOR WHOSE DUTIES AND COMPENSATION MUST BE
 PRESCRIBED BY LAW.

   02/16/17  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 13)
   02/16/17  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 13)

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE VI OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS OF THIS STATE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 2022, THERE MUST BE ELECTED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THIS STATE A SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WHO SHALL HOLD THIS OFFICE FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS, COTERMINOUS WITH THAT OF THE GOVERNOR WHOSE DUTIES AND COMPENSATION MUST BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW.

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

SECTION    1.    It is proposed that Section 7, Article VI of the Constitution of this State, as last amended by Act 1 of 2015, be amended by adding the following new paragraph at the end to read:

"Beginning with the general election of 2022, there must be elected by the qualified voters of the State a Secretary of Transportation who shall hold this office for a term of four years, coterminous with that of the Governor. The duties and compensation of this office must be prescribed by law and its compensation may not be increased or diminished during the period for which the secretary is elected."

SECTION    2.    The proposed amendment in Section 1 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 ballot:

"Must Section 7, Article VI of the Constitution of this State, relating to state constitutional officers be amended to update references to this title; to provide that beginning with the general election of 2022, there must be elected by the qualified voters of the State a Secretary of Transportation who shall hold this office for a term of four years, coterminous with that of the Governor; to provide that the duties and compensation of this office must be prescribed by law and its compensation may not be increased or diminished during the period for which the secretary is elected?

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'."