S 0648 General Bill, By Hutto
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1410, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF FAMILY COURT JUDGES FOR EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SO AS
 TO PROVIDE THAT IN THOSE JUDICIAL CIRCUITS MADE UP OF FIVE COUNTIES, AT LEAST
 ONE FAMILY COURT JUDGE MUST BE A RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE THREE COUNTIES WITH
 THE SMALLEST POPULATION IN THE CIRCUIT AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIREMENT
 DOES NOT APPLY TO INCUMBENTS SEEKING REELECTION.

   04/15/97  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-6
   04/15/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-6

TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1410, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF FAMILY COURT JUDGES FOR EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN THOSE JUDICIAL CIRCUITS MADE UP OF FIVE COUNTIES, AT LEAST ONE FAMILY COURT JUDGE MUST BE A RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE THREE COUNTIES WITH THE SMALLEST POPULATION IN THE CIRCUIT AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO INCUMBENTS SEEKING REELECTION.

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

SECTION 1. Section 20-7-1410 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 20-7-1410. The General Assembly shall elect a number of Family Court Judges from each judicial circuit as follows:

First Circuit Two Judges

Second Circuit Two Judges

Third Circuit Three Judges

Fourth Circuit Three Judges

Fifth Circuit Four Judges

Sixth Circuit Two Judges

Seventh Circuit Three Judges

Eighth Circuit Three Judges

Ninth Circuit Five Judges

Tenth Circuit Three Judges

Eleventh Circuit Three Judges

Twelfth Circuit Three Judges

Thirteenth Circuit Five Judges

Fourteenth Circuit Three Judges

Fifteenth Circuit Three Judges

Sixteenth Circuit Two Judges

In the following judicial circuits at least one Family Court Judge must be a resident of each county in the circuit: fifth, seventh, ninth, tenth, twelfth, thirteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth. In those judicial circuits made up of three or more counties at least one Family Court Judge must be a resident of one of the counties which does not have the largest population in the circuit. In those judicial circuits made up of five counties, at least one family court judge must be a resident of one of the three counties with the smallest population in the circuit, except that this requirement does not apply to incumbent family court judges seeking reelection in those judicial circuits made up of five counties.

No county in the sixth circuit shall have more than one resident Family Court Judge."

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