H 4719 General Bill, By D.A. Wright, Quinn and Riser
 A Bill to revise the manner in which members of the Board of Trustees of
 School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties must be elected in
 nonpartisan elections beginning in 1994, to establish seven numbered election
 seats, to provide for the terms of these members elected, the method by which
 the results of the election are to be determined, and to extend and terminate
 terms of persons affected by these provisions.

   04/09/92  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-87
   04/09/92  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-88
   04/15/92  House  Committee report: Favorable Education and Public
                     Works HJ-12
   04/29/92  House  Objection by Rep. Scott HJ-297
   04/29/92  House  Amended HJ-298
   04/29/92  House  Read second time HJ-298
   04/29/92  House  Objection withdrawn by Rep. Scott HJ-323
   04/30/92  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-21
   05/05/92  Senate Introduced and read first time
   05/05/92  Senate  Referred to local delegation

April 29, 1992

H. 4719

S. Printed 4/29/92--H.

Read the first time April 9, 1992.

A BILL

TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 5 OF LEXINGTON AND RICHLAND COUNTIES MUST BE ELECTED IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS BEGINNING IN 1994, TO ESTABLISH SEVEN NUMBERED ELECTION SEATS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE TERMS OF THESE MEMBERS ELECTED, THE METHOD BY WHICH THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION ARE TO BE DETERMINED, AND TO EXTEND AND TERMINATE TERMS OF PERSONS AFFECTED BY THESE PROVISIONS.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. (A) Beginning with the 1994 election, the Board of Trustees of School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties shall consist of seven members who must be elected in nonpartisan elections to be held in the manner provided in this act. Members of the board must be qualified electors and residents of and elected at-large from the geographical area comprising the district. There are created seven-numbered seats to which each member must be elected. The members of the board shall elect a chairman and those other officers they consider necessary to serve terms of one year each in these capacities. A member may be re-elected to an office. The seven members must be elected in a nonpartisan election to be conducted at the same time as the 1994 general election for terms of office of four years each. However, the members elected in 1994 from seats five, six and seven shall serve initial terms of two years each. After that, their successors must be elected in a nonpartisan election to be conducted at the same time as the general election every four years after that time for terms of four years each. All members of the board shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify. In the event of a vacancy on the board occurring for any reason other than expiration of a term, the board shall call a special election to fill the unexpired term. If the vacancy occurs within six months of a regular trustee election, the seat must be left vacant and filled at the next regular election.

(B) All persons desiring to qualify as a candidate and be elected to the board shall file written notice of candidacy with the county election commission not later than noon, September first, nor earlier than noon, August first, together with a filing fee of twenty dollars to be remitted to the county general fund. This notice of candidacy must be a sworn statement and shall include the candidate's name, age, voting precinct, period of residence in the county or election district from which election is sought, if applicable, and other information as the county election commission requires.

(C) The county commissioners of election shall conduct and supervise the elections for members of the board in the manner governed by the election laws of this State, mutatis mutandis. The commissioners shall prepare the necessary ballots, appoint managers for the voting precincts, and do all things necessary to carry out the elections, including the counting of ballots and declaring the results. The commissioners shall advertise the date of the election pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-13-35 of the 1976 Code. The costs of the election must be borne by the school district.

(D) The results of the election must be determined in accordance with the nonpartisan election and runoff method prescribed by Section 5-15-62 of the 1976 Code.

(E) The members of the board elected in these nonpartisan elections shall take office one week following certification of their election as provided in Section 59-19-315 of the 1976 Code. (F) The election provided for in this act must be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Title 7, of the 1976 Code, mutatis mutandis, except as otherwise provided in this act.

SECTION 2. Section 21-199 of the 1962 Code and Act 287 of 1987 are repealed.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.