H 5031 General Bill, By Dillard, Robinson-Simpson, G.R. Smith, Burns, Bannister, 
Bedingfield, Hamilton, Loftis, Nanney and Stringer
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 5-15-60, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO METHODS OF NOMINATING CANDIDATES IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO
 PROVIDE THAT BEFORE A MUNICIPALITY MAY ADOPT AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE METHOD
 OF NOMINATING CANDIDATES, THE MUNICIPALITY MUST ADOPT AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING
 AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM ON THE PROPOSED CHANGE, AND A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED
 ELECTORS VOTING IN THE ADVISORY REFERENDUM MUST APPROVE THE PROPOSED CHANGE.

   04/02/14  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 16)
   04/02/14  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 16)
   04/10/14  House  Recalled from Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 111)
   04/30/14  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 94)
   04/30/14  House  Roll call Yeas-99  Nays-9 (House Journal-page 94)
   05/01/14  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 29)
   05/01/14  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 13)
   05/01/14  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 13)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

RECALLED

April 10, 2014

H. 5031

Introduced by Reps. Dillard, Robinson-Simpson, G.R. Smith, Burns, Bannister, Bedingfield, Hamilton, Loftis, Nanney and Stringer

S. Printed 4/10/14--H.

Read the first time April 2, 2014.

TO AMEND SECTION 5-15-60, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO METHODS OF NOMINATING CANDIDATES IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEFORE A MUNICIPALITY MAY ADOPT AN ORDINANCE CHANGING THE METHOD OF NOMINATING CANDIDATES, THE MUNICIPALITY MUST ADOPT AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM ON THE PROPOSED CHANGE, AND A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS VOTING IN THE ADVISORY REFERENDUM MUST APPROVE THE PROPOSED CHANGE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 5-15-60 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 5-15-60.    (A)    Each municipality in this State shall adopt by ordinance one of the following alternative methods of nominating candidates for and determining the results of its nonpartisan elections:

(1)    the nonpartisan plurality method prescribed in Section 5-15-61;

(2)    the nonpartisan election and runoff election method prescribed in Section 5-15-62;

(3)    the nonpartisan primary election and general election method prescribed in Section 5-15-63.

(B)    If nonpartisan elections are not provided for pursuant to subsection (A), nomination of candidates for municipal offices may be by party primary, party convention or by petition in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the applicable provisions of the state election laws and the rules of municipal political party organizations not in conflict therewith.

(C)    Before a municipality may adopt an ordinance changing the method of nominating candidates, the municipality must adopt an ordinance requiring an advisory referendum on the proposed change, and a majority of the qualified electors voting in the advisory referendum must approve the proposed change. The advisory referendum must be held at the time of the general election. The state election laws apply to the advisory referendum mutatis mutandis."

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