H 3226 General Bill, By J.E. Smith
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 7-13-870 SO AS TO REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER TO GIVE AN EMPLOYEE REASONABLE TIME OFF
 FROM WORK TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS.

   01/08/13  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 134)
   01/08/13  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 134)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-870 SO AS TO REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER TO GIVE AN EMPLOYEE REASONABLE TIME OFF FROM WORK TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 7, Chapter 13, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-13-870.    An employee in this State is permitted, upon reasonable notice to his employer, to take any necessary time off from his employment to vote in a municipal, county, state, or federal political party primary or election for which the employee is qualified and registered to vote on the day on which the primary or election is held. This time off may not exceed two hours. If the hours of work of the employee begin at least two hours after the opening of the polls or end at least two hours before the closing of the polls, then the time off for voting as provided for in this section is not available. The employer may specify the hours during which the employee may absent himself as provided in this section."

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