S*0230(Rat #0013, Act #0009 of 2013)  General Bill, By Johnson
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-27-275, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE CLARENDON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND VOTER
 REGISTRATION, SO AS TO ADJUST THE MEMBERSHIP AND COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD. -
 ratified title

   01/15/13  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 9)
   01/15/13  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 9)
   03/06/13  Senate Recalled from Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 49)
   03/07/13  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 17)
   03/07/13  Senate Roll call Ayes-40  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 17)
   03/12/13  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 14)
   03/13/13  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 13)
   03/13/13  House  Referred to Clarendon Delegation
                     (House Journal-page 13)
   03/20/13  House  Recalled from Clarendon Delegation
                     (House Journal-page 20)
   03/21/13  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 26)
   03/21/13  House  Roll call Yeas-96  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 26)
   03/21/13  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 27)
   03/22/13  House  Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 1)
   04/09/13         Ratified R 13
   04/12/13         Signed By Governor
   04/19/13         Effective date 04/12/13
   04/24/13         Act No. 9

(A9, R13, S230)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-27-275, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CLARENDON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND VOTER REGISTRATION, SO AS TO ADJUST THE MEMBERSHIP AND COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD.

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

Clarendon County Board of Elections and Voter Registration

SECTION    1.    Section 7-27-275 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 214 of 2012, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-27-275.    Notwithstanding another provision of law:

(A)(1) There is established the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Clarendon County, to be composed of nine members appointed by a majority of the Clarendon County Legislative Delegation.

(2)    Four of the initial appointees shall serve two-year terms, and five of the initial appointees shall serve four-year terms. Upon expiration of the terms of those members initially appointed, the term of office for the members of the board is four years, and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Members may succeed themselves.

(3)    In case of a vacancy on the board, the vacancy must be filled in the same manner as an original appointment, as provided in this section, for the unexpired term.

(4)    A majority of senators representing the county and a majority of members of the House of Representatives representing the county shall appoint the board's chairman. The chairman shall serve a term of four years and may be reappointed to that office for any number of successive terms without limitation.

(5)    The board may choose to elect a vice chair, a secretary, and other officers the board considers appropriate. The initial director must be employed by a majority of the Clarendon County Legislative Delegation. Subsequently, the board shall employ the director, determine the compensation, and determine the number and compensation of other staff positions. Salaries must be consistent with the compensation schedules established by the county for similar positions.

(6)    The director is responsible for hiring and management of the staff positions established by the board that report to the director. Staff positions are subject to the personnel system policies and procedures by which all county employees are regulated, except that the director serves at the pleasure of the board.

(B)    The Clarendon County Legislative Delegation shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments made pursuant to subsection (A).

(C)    The Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Clarendon County shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the name of the person elected as chairman of the board pursuant to subsection (A).

(D)    A member who misses three consecutive meetings of the board is considered to have resigned his office, and a vacancy on the board exists, which must be filled pursuant to subsection (A). This section does not apply to a member who presents a verifiable doctor's certificate that illness prevented his attendance at a meeting.

(E) Except as otherwise specifically provided in subsections (A), (B), (C), and (D), the provisions of law contained in Title 7, relating to county boards of voter registration and county election commissions, apply to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Clarendon County, mutatis mutandis.

(F)(1)    The Clarendon County Board of Voter Registration is abolished effective within sixty days after this section is approved by the Governor, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Clarendon County as established pursuant to subsection (A).

(2)    The Clarendon County Election Commission is abolished effective within sixty days after this section is approved by the Governor, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Clarendon County as established pursuant to subsection (A).

(G)(1)    The terms of the members of the Clarendon County Board of Voter Registration, regardless of when these members were appointed to office, or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon the abolishment of that board pursuant to subsection (F)(1).

(2)    The terms of the members of the Clarendon County Election Commission, regardless of when these members were appointed to office, or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon abolishment of that commission pursuant to subsection (F)(2).

(3)    Notwithstanding items (1) and (2) of this subsection or another provision of law, a person serving as a member of the Clarendon County Board of Voter Registration or the Clarendon County Election Commission may not be removed from office, and neither the board nor the commission may be abolished until this section has been given final approval by the United States Department of Justice."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 9th day of April, 2013.

Approved the 12th day of April, 2013.