S 0448 General Bill, By Ravenel, McGill and D. Williams
 A BILL TO AMEND ACT 733 OF 1967, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE GEORGETOWN COUNTY
 WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING
 BODY MUST RESIDE IN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS AND BE ELECTED AT-LARGE FROM THE
 DISTRICT IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TIME OF THE ELECTION
 AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ELECTION MUST BE CONDUCTED.

   02/27/97  Senate Intd. & placed on local & uncontested cal. w/o
                     reference SJ-4
   03/05/97  Senate Read second time SJ-28
   03/06/97  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-27
   03/11/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-15
   03/11/97  House  Referred to delegation from Georgetown HJ-15

INTRODUCED

February 27, 1997

S. 448

L. Printed 2/27/97--S.

Read the first time February 27, 1997.

TO AMEND ACT 733 OF 1967, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE GEORGETOWN COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY MUST RESIDE IN SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS AND BE ELECTED AT-LARGE FROM THE DISTRICT IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TIME OF THE ELECTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ELECTION MUST BE CONDUCTED.

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

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Act 733 of 1967, as last amended by Act 387 of 1975, is further amended to read:

"Section 2. (A) The district shall be is comprised of seven members, who shall must be resident electors of Georgetown County. All members of the district shall be appointed by the Governor, upon the recommendation of a majority of the Legislative Delegation of Georgetown County. Of those recommended for original appointment, two shall be appointed for terms of two years, two for terms of four years and one for a term of six years. Upon the termination of the terms of the original members, their successors shall be appointed by the Governor, in the same manner as is provided for the original appointment, for terms of six years. Each member must reside in a single-member election district which is identical to an election district from which members of the Georgetown County Council are elected. They must be elected at-large by the qualified electors of the district. Members of the district must be elected for four-year terms in a nonpartisan election held at the same time as the general election. Initially, to stagger the terms, the four members receiving the highest number of votes must be elected for four-year terms and the three members receiving the lowest number of votes must be elected for terms of two years. At the expiration of the two-year terms, those members must be elected for terms of four years. Any A vacancy occurring by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise shall must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by appointment of the Governor upon the recommendation of a majority of the Georgetown County Legislative Delegation a special election called by the county board of elections and registration. All members of the district shall hold office until their successors shall have been appointed and shall have qualified.

(B) In order to qualify as a candidate for a seat in the district, a person shall file a statement of candidacy with the county election commission no earlier than August first, or if August first falls on Sunday, no earlier than the following Monday, and no later than twelve o'clock noon on September first, or if September first falls on Sunday, no later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. The statement of candidacy must be a sworn statement and must include the candidate's name, age, voting precinct, and any other information the county board of elections and registration requires. A candidate also must indicate for which single-member election district seat he is filing. When more than one person is seeking election to a single seat in the district, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes is declared the winner of the seat. Members take office one week following the certification of the election. The county board of elections and registration shall conduct and supervise the elections for trustees in the manner governed by the election laws of this State, mutatis mutandis.

(C) As soon as convenient, the district shall convene and shall organize by electing one of their number as chairman, a second as vice-chairman, and a third as secretary. The terms of office of the foregoing officers of the district shall must be for such period as the district shall determine determines in its by-laws.

(D) The secretary of the district shall from time to time file in the office of the Clerk of Court for Georgetown County appropriate certificates showing the personnel of the district and the duration of the terms of the respective members.

(E) The members of the district shall receive no compensation, but shall must be reimbursed for any actual expenses incurred in connection with the business of the district."

SECTION 2. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are repealed.

SECTION 3. This act applies to the 1998 general election for all members. Those existing members serving on the effective date of this act may offer as a candidate for the district, but their term expires when those elected to the district take office.

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