S 0480 General Bill, By Jackson, Ryberg and Wilson
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 2-1-180, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE MANDATORY SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT DATE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER CONVENING OF THE ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL MEET IN REGULAR SESSION ONLY FOR A PERIOD
 OF NINETY CONSECUTIVE CALENDAR DAYS, SHALL ADJOURN SINE DIE NOT LATER THAN
 5:00 P.M. ON THE NINETIETH DAY, TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS WHICH AUTHORIZE THE
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO EXTEND THE SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT DATE, AND TO DESIGNATE
 EACH WEDNESDAY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS IN SESSION AS CITIZENS' DAY AT WHICH
 TIME THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL MEET AT 7:00 P.M.

   03/22/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   03/22/01  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-7

TO AMEND SECTION 2-1-180, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MANDATORY SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT DATE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER CONVENING OF THE ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL MEET IN REGULAR SESSION ONLY FOR A PERIOD OF NINETY CONSECUTIVE CALENDAR DAYS, SHALL ADJOURN SINE DIE NOT LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON THE NINETIETH DAY, TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS WHICH AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO EXTEND THE SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT DATE, AND TO DESIGNATE EACH WEDNESDAY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS IN SESSION AS CITIZENS' DAY AT WHICH TIME THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL MEET AT 7:00 P.M.

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

SECTION 1. Section 2-1-180 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 2-1-180. (A) After the convening of the annual session of the General Assembly on the second Tuesday in January of each year as provided in Article III, Section 9 of the Constitution of this State, the General Assembly shall meet in regular session only for a period of ninety consecutive calendar days.

(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, the regular annual session of the General Assembly shall adjourn sine die each year not later than 5:00 p.m. on the first Thursday in June ninetieth consecutive calendar day after the convening of the annual session. In any year that the House of Representatives fails to give third reading to the annual general appropriation bill by March thirty-first, the date of sine die adjournment is extended by one statewide day for each statewide day after March thirty-first that the House of Representatives fails to give the bill third reading. The session may also be extended by concurrent resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of both the Senate and House of Representatives. During the time between 5:00 p.m. on the first Thursday in June and the extended sine die adjournment date, as set forth herein, no legislation or other business may be considered except the general appropriation bill and any matters approved for consideration by a concurrent resolution adopted by two-thirds vote in both houses.

(C) During the period each year in which the General Assembly is in regular session, the General Assembly shall designate each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. as 'Citizens' Day', at which time it shall meet.

(D) Under the provisions of Article IV, Section 19 of the Constitution of this State, the Governor has the authority otherwise to call an extra session of the General Assembly."

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