H*3976(Rat #0326, Act #0435 of 2002)  General Bill, By Coates, J. Hines, Askins and 
McGee
 A BILL TO ESTABLISH THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION FOR FLORENCE
 COUNTY, TO ABOLISH THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION AND THE
 REGISTRATION BOARD FOR FLORENCE COUNTY AND DEVOLVE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF
 THE COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION AND THE REGISTRATION BOARD UPON THE REGISTRATION
 AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION, PROVIDE FOR THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE
 COMMISSION, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION, AND PROVIDE THAT THE CURRENT
 MEMBERS OF THE FLORENCE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE FLORENCE COUNTY
 REGISTRATION BOARD SHALL ACT AS THE GOVERNING COMMISSION OF THE NEW FLORENCE
 COUNTY REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION UNTIL THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW
 COMMISSION APPOINTED AS PROVIDED BY THIS ACT TAKE OFFICE, AT WHICH TIME THE
 TERMS OF THE FORMER COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION AND REGISTRATION BOARD MEMBERS
 SHALL EXPIRE, PROVIDE FOR REMOVAL OF COMMISSIONS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND
 TO DIRECT THE CODE COMMISSIONER TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO CERTAIN REFERENCES IN
 THE CUMULATIVE SUPPLEMENT TO THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976.

   04/19/01  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-45
   04/24/01  House  Read second time HJ-15
   04/25/01  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-16
   04/25/01  Senate Intd. & placed on local & uncontested cal. w/o
                     reference SJ-9
   05/07/02  Senate Read second time SJ-30
   05/09/02  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-25
   05/14/02         Ratified R 326
   05/21/02         Became law without Governor's signature
   06/19/02         Effective date 05/21/02
   06/19/02         Copies available
   10/11/02         Act No. 435

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION FOR FLORENCE COUNTY, TO ABOLISH THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION AND THE REGISTRATION BOARD FOR FLORENCE COUNTY AND DEVOLVE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION AND THE REGISTRATION BOARD UPON THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION, PROVIDE FOR THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION, AND PROVIDE THAT THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE FLORENCE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE FLORENCE COUNTY REGISTRATION BOARD SHALL ACT AS THE GOVERNING COMMISSION OF THE NEW FLORENCE COUNTY REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION UNTIL THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW COMMISSION APPOINTED AS PROVIDED BY THIS ACT TAKE OFFICE, AT WHICH TIME THE TERMS OF THE FORMER COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION AND REGISTRATION BOARD MEMBERS SHALL EXPIRE, PROVIDE FOR REMOVAL OF COMMISSIONS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO DIRECT THE CODE COMMISSIONER TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO CERTAIN REFERENCES IN THE CUMULATIVE SUPPLEMENT TO THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976.

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

Registration and Elections Commission created

SECTION 1. (A) There is created the Registration and Elections Commission for Florence County. There are seven members of the commission who must be appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of a majority of the Florence County Legislative Delegation, including the Senators, who are appointed for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify.

(B) However, of those initially appointed, three members must be appointed for terms of two years each. The initial terms of all members must be designated by the appointing authority. At the expiration of their terms their successors must be appointed for terms of four years.

(C) Vacancies on the commission may be filled by appointment in the manner of original appointment for the unexpired term only.

(D) The members of the commission and staff shall receive compensation as may be appropriated by the county council.

(E) The commission shall appoint a voter registration officer who shall supervise the administrative and election responsibilities of the commission.

Commission and board abolished

SECTION 2. The Office of Commissioners of Election and the Registration Board for Florence County are abolished. The powers and duties of the Commissioners of Election and the Registration Board are devolved upon the commission created in Section 1.

Current members to act as commission

SECTION 3. The current members of the Florence County Election Commission and the Florence County Registration Board shall act as the governing commission of the new Florence County Registration and Elections Commission established in this act until such time as the seven members of this commission appointed in the manner provided by this act take office. At this time, the terms of these former commissioners of election and registration board members shall expire.

Governor may remove member

SECTION 4. The Governor shall remove any member of the commission who in the opinion of the delegation fails to attend a sufficient number of meetings of the commission.

Code Commissioner to make corrections

SECTION 5. The Code Commissioner shall make corrections to references in the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to reflect changes consistent with the provisions of this act when the next cumulative supplement is printed.

Time effective

SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 14th day of May, 2002.

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 5/21/02.