H 4670 General Bill, By Wilkins, H. Brown, J. Brown, Cato, Harrison, Haskins, 
Sharpe, D. Smith and Townsend
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-11-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN THE GENERAL
 ELECTION, SO AS TO CHANGE THE TIME FOR FILING FOR OFFICE; AND TO AMEND SECTION
 7-11-210, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE NOTICE OF CANDIDACY AND PLEDGE BY A
 CANDIDATE FOR SELECTION AS A NOMINEE OF A POLITICAL PARTY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE
 DATE FOR FILING THE NOTICE OR PLEDGE.

   02/19/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-4
   02/19/98  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-5
   04/01/98  House  Committee report: Majority favorable, minority
                     unfavorable Judiciary HJ-3
   04/08/98  House  Read second time HJ-39
   04/08/98  House  Roll call Yeas-95  Nays-12 HJ-39
   04/15/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-39
   04/21/98  Senate Introduced and read first time
   04/21/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary

COMMITTEE REPORT

April 1, 1998

H. 4670

Introduced by Reps. Wilkins, Haskins, D. Smith, Cato, J. Brown, Townsend, Harrison, H. Brown and Sharpe

S. Printed 4/1/98--H.

Read the first time February 19, 1998.

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4670), to amend Section 7-11-15, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to qualifications to run as a candidate in the general election, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

Majority favorable. Minority unfavorable.

JAMES H. HARRISON JAMES L.M. CROMER, JR.

For Majority. For Minority.

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 7-11-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, SO AS TO CHANGE THE TIME FOR FILING FOR OFFICE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-11-210, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE NOTICE OF CANDIDACY AND PLEDGE BY A CANDIDATE FOR SELECTION AS A NOMINEE OF A POLITICAL PARTY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DATE FOR FILING THE NOTICE OR PLEDGE.

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

SECTION 1. The first paragraph of Section 7-11-15 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 226 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"In order to qualify as a candidate to run in the general election, all candidates seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention must file a statement of intention of candidacy between noon on March sixteenth February first and noon on March thirtieth February sixteenth as provided in this section."

SECTION 2. Section 7-11-15(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 226 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"(2) Candidates seeking nomination for the state Senate or House of Representatives must file their statements of intention of candidacy with the county executive committee of their respective party in the county of their residence. The county committees must, within five days of the receipt of the statements, transmit them along with the applicable filing fees to the respective State Executive Committees. Provided, however, the county committees must report all filings to the state committees no later than five p.m. on March thirtieth February sixteenth. The State Executive Committees must certify candidates pursuant to Section 7-13-40."

SECTION 3. The first and second paragraphs of Section 7-11-210 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 226 of 1996, are further amended to read:

"Every candidate for selection as a nominee of any political party for any state office, United States Senator, member of Congress or solicitor, to be voted for in any party primary election, shall file with and place in the possession of the treasurer of the state committee by twelve o'clock noon on March thirtieth February sixteenth a notice or pledge in the following form, the blanks being properly filled in and the notice or pledge signed by the candidate: 'I hereby file my notice as a candidate for the nomination as __________ in the primary election to be held on __________. I affiliate with the __________ Party, and I hereby pledge myself to abide by the results of the primary and I authorize the issuance of an injunction upon ex parte application by the party chairman, as provided by law,; should I violate this pledge by offering or campaigning in the ensuing general election for election to this office or any other office for which a nominee has been elected in the party primary election, unless the nominee for the office has become deceased or otherwise disqualified for election in the ensuing general election'.

Every candidate for selection in a primary election as the nominee of any political party for member of the Senate, member of the House of Representatives, and all county and township offices shall file with and place in the possession of the county chairman or other officer as may be named by the county committee of the county in which they reside by twelve o'clock noon on March thirtieth February sixteenth a like notice and pledge."

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.