S*0532(Rat #0340, Act #0317 of 2004)  Joint Resolution, By Senate Judiciary
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1, ARTICLE VIII-A OF THE
 CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY PERTAINING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS AND BEVERAGES, SO AS TO REGULATE
 THEIR SALE IN CONTAINERS OF SUCH SIZE AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS
 APPROPRIATE. - ratified title

   03/27/03  Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference SJ-30
   03/31/03         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/17/03  Senate Special order SJ-15
   04/23/03  Senate Read second time SJ-58
   04/23/03  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-58
   05/29/03  Senate Special order SJ-132
   01/21/04  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-19
   01/22/04  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-24
   01/29/04  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-21
   02/03/04  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-26
   02/11/04  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-58
   02/12/04  Senate Debate interrupted SJ-29
   02/25/04  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-40
   02/26/04  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   02/26/04  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-6
   05/19/04  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-5
   05/25/04  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Scott, Harrison, JE
                     Smith, Cotty, Littlejohn, Walker, Thompson,
                     Bailey, Lloyd, J Brown, Scarborough, Skelton,
                     Moody-Lawrence, Toole, Weeks, Lee, Davenport,
                     Kirsh, R Brown, Freeman, Anthony, Kennedy,
                     Herbkersman, Koon, and Mahaffey HJ-38
   05/26/04  House  Read second time HJ-81
   05/26/04  House  Roll call Yeas-72  Nays-34 HJ-82
   05/26/04  House  Reconsidered HJ-292
   05/26/04  House  Read second time HJ-298
   05/26/04  House  Roll call Yeas-65  Nays-44 HJ-298
   05/27/04  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, June 1, 2004
   06/01/04  House  Debate adjourned HJ-30
   06/01/04  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-55
   06/01/04  House  Roll call Yeas-84  Nays-25 HJ-55
   06/02/04         Ratified R 340
   06/02/04         No signature required
   08/04/04         Copies available
   08/04/04         Effective date 06/02/04
   10/20/04         Act No. 317

(A317, R340, S532)

A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1, ARTICLE VIII-A OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PERTAINING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS AND BEVERAGES, SO AS TO REGULATE THEIR SALE IN CONTAINERS OF SUCH SIZE AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE.

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

Alcoholic liquors and beverages

SECTION    1.    It is proposed that Section 1, Article VIII-A of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 1.    In the exercise of the police power the General Assembly has the right to prohibit and to regulate the manufacture, sale, and retail of alcoholic liquors or beverages within the State. The General Assembly may license persons or corporations to manufacture, sell, and retail alcoholic liquors or beverages within the State under the rules and restrictions as it considers proper, including the right to sell alcoholic liquors or beverages in containers of such size as the General Assembly considers appropriate. The General Assembly may prohibit the manufacture, sale, and retail of alcoholic liquors and beverages within the State, and may authorize and empower state, county, and municipal officers, all or either, under the authority and in the name of the State, to buy in any market and retail within the State liquors and beverages in such packages and quantities, under such rules and regulations, as it considers expedient. However, a license must not be granted to sell alcoholic beverages in less quantities than one ounce in licensed retail stores, or to sell them between seven o'clock p. m. and nine o'clock a. m., or to sell them to be drunk on the premises; however, the General Assembly shall not delegate to any municipal corporation the power to issue licenses to sell alcoholic liquors or beverages. However, licenses may be granted to sell and consume alcoholic liquors and beverages on the premises of businesses which engage primarily and substantially in the preparation and serving of meals or furnishing of lodging or on the premises of certain nonprofit organizations with limited membership not open to the general public, during such hours as the General Assembly may provide."

Proposed constitutional amendment ballot question

SECTION    2.    The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Section 1, Article VIII-A of the Constitution of this State, relating to the powers of the General Assembly pertaining to alcoholic liquors and beverages, be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to determine the size of containers in which alcoholic liquors or beverages are sold and to delete the provision requiring the sale of alcoholic liquors for consumption on the premises only in sealed containers of two ounces or less?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."

Ratified the 2nd day of June, 2004.