S 0538 General Bill, By Ritchie
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 5-3-105 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY TO ANNEX AN
 AREA BY ORDINANCE IF THE AREA IS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE MUNICIPALITY.

   02/24/05  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   02/24/05  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-7
   03/04/05         Scrivener's error corrected

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 5-3-105 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY TO ANNEX AN AREA BY ORDINANCE IF THE AREA IS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE MUNICIPALITY.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 3, Title 5 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 5-3-105.    (A)    The governing body of a municipality may annex by ordinance an area that is completely surrounded by the municipality, unless the area:

(1)    contains more than fifty acres;

(2)    contains more than twenty-five registered electors; and

(3)    has been completely surrounded by the municipality for less than three years.

(B)    Not less than thirty days before first reading of an ordinance to annex an area completely surrounded by the municipality, the municipality shall give notice of a public hearing by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the community, and by written notification to the taxpayer of record of all properties within the area proposed to be annexed. The public hearing must include a map of the proposed annexation area, a complete legal description of the proposed annexation area, a statement as to what public services are to be assumed or provided by the municipality, the taxes and fees required for these services, and the projected timetable for the provision or assumption of these services."

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