S 0184 General Bill, By H.S. Stilwell, Bryan, Hayes, Waldrep and Washington
 A Bill to amend Section 23-11-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the time of the election of sheriffs, so as to provide that
 sheriffs must be elected in nonpartisan elections held at the time of the
 general election; to provide for nomination by petitions and the method of
 declaring the result; to prohibit certain political activity by candidates for
 sheriff; and to provide a penalty for violations.

   01/13/93  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-5
   01/13/93  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-5
   02/17/93  Senate Committee report: Majority favorable, minority
                     unfavorable Judiciary SJ-11
   03/18/93  Senate Special order SJ-23
   03/23/93  Senate Read second time SJ-22
   03/23/93  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-22
   03/24/93  Senate Special order SJ-17
   04/20/93  Senate Debate adjourned SJ-53
   04/27/93  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-66
   04/28/93  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-39
   04/29/93  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-6
   04/29/93  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-6
   02/01/94  House  Tabled in committee

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 17, 1993

S. 184

Introduced by SENATORS Stilwell, Bryan, Washington, Hayes and Waldrep

S. Printed 2/17/93--S.

Read the first time January 13, 1993.

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 184), to amend Section 23-11-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the time of the election of sheriffs, so as to provide that sheriffs must be elected in nonpartisan elections held at the time of the general election, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

Majority favorable. Minority unfavorable.

THEO W. MITCHELL ADDISON WILSON

For Majority. For Minority.

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 23-11-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE TIME OF THE ELECTION OF SHERIFFS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SHERIFFS MUST BE ELECTED IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS HELD AT THE TIME OF THE GENERAL ELECTION; TO REQUIRE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL A VACANCY FOR SHERIFF TO BE A NONPARTISAN ELECTION; TO PROVIDE FOR NOMINATION BY PETITIONS AND THE METHOD OF DECLARING THE RESULT; TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN POLITICAL ACTIVITY BY CANDIDATES FOR SHERIFF; AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.

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

SECTION 1. Section 23-11-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 23-11-10. (A) There shall be an election for sheriff held in each county at the general election in each presidential election year. County sheriffs must be elected in nonpartisan elections held at the time of the general election. When a vacancy in the office of sheriff must be filled in a special election, this special election must be a nonpartisan election as provided in this section. Nomination for the office of sheriff is by petition as provided in Section 7-11-70. The results of elections for sheriff must be determined by the nonpartisan election and runoff election method prescribed in Section 5-15-62, mutatis mutandis.

(B) A candidate for election or re-election as sheriff may not: (1) campaign as a member of a political party;

(2) publicly represent or advertise himself as a member of a political party;

(3) accept contributions from a political party;

(4) solicit contributions from a political party;

(5) accept or retain a place on a political party committee;

(6) make a contribution to a person, group, or organization for its endorsement;

(7) agree to pay all or a part of an advertisement sponsored by a person, group, or organization in which the candidate may be endorsed by the person, group, or organization.

(C) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (B) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished as provided in Section 8-13-1520."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies with respect to elections and special elections for sheriff scheduled after 1993.