H*3032(Rat #0230, Act #0201 of 2002)  General Bill, By Kirsh
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 33-1-103 SO AS TO ALLOW SPECIFIED CORPORATIONS OR PARTNERSHIPS TO DESIGNATE IN
 WRITING AN EMPLOYEE OR PRINCIPAL WHO MAY REPRESENT THE CORPORATION OR
 PARTNERSHIP IN MAGISTRATES' COURT AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PERSON DESIGNATED,
 WHILE REPRESENTING THE CORPORATION OR PARTNERSHIP IN COURT, IS NOT ENGAGED IN
 THE UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW.-amended title

   12/06/00  House  Prefiled
   12/06/00  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/09/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-25
   01/09/01  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-25
   02/01/01  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary HJ-8
   02/07/01  House  Amended HJ-22
   02/07/01  House  Read second time HJ-23
   02/08/01  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-21
   02/13/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-4
   02/13/01  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-4
   03/06/02  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-15
   03/07/02  Senate Amended SJ-32
   03/07/02  Senate Read second time SJ-32
   03/20/02  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-38
   03/26/02  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-39
   04/04/02         Ratified R 230
   04/11/02         Became law without Governor's signature
   04/23/02         Effective date 4/11/02
   04/23/02         Copies available
   04/24/02         Act No. 201

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 33-1-103 SO AS TO ALLOW SPECIFIED CORPORATIONS OR PARTNERSHIPS TO DESIGNATE IN WRITING AN EMPLOYEE OR PRINCIPAL WHO MAY REPRESENT THE CORPORATION OR PARTNERSHIP IN MAGISTRATES' COURT AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PERSON DESIGNATED, WHILE REPRESENTING THE CORPORATION OR PARTNERSHIP IN COURT, IS NOT ENGAGED IN THE UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW.

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

Designation of representative in magistrates' court

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 33-1-103. A corporation or partnership, as defined in this section, may designate an employee or principal of the corporation or partnership to represent it in magistrates' court. This designation must be in writing and must be submitted to the magistrate at the time the initial pleading in the case is filed by the party. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 40 or any other provision of law, the person so designated, while representing the corporation or partnership in magistrates' court, is not engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.

As used in this section, a corporation or partnership is defined as a general partnership, a limited liability partnership, a limited liability company, a limited partnership, a professional association, a professional corporation, a nonprofit corporation, a business corporation, or a statutory close corporation."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 4th day of April, 2002.

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 4/11/02.