H*3314(Rat #0510, Act #0423 of 1996)  General Bill, By T.F. Rogers
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 7-13-75 so as to prohibit a member of a county or municipal election
 commission, voter registration board, or combined election and voter
 registration commission from participating in political management or in a
 political campaign during the member's term of office, to prohibit a member of
 the commission or board from making a contribution to a candidate or knowingly
 attend a fundraiser held for the benefit of a candidate, and to provide that
 the member may be removed for a violation of this Section; and to amend
 Section 7-3-10, as amended, relating to the State Election Commission, so as
 to prohibit a member of the Commission from participating in political
 management or in a political campaign during the member's term of office, to
 prohibit a member of the Commission from making a contribution to a candidate
 or knowingly attend a fundraiser held for the benefit of a candidate, and to
 provide that the member may be removed for a violation of this
 Section.-amended title

   01/18/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-27
   01/18/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-27
   02/15/95  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary HJ-4
   02/21/95  House  Amended HJ-16
   02/21/95  House  Read second time HJ-17
   02/22/95  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-10
   02/23/95  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-4
   02/23/95  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-4
   05/21/96  Senate Recalled from Committee on Judiciary SJ-37
   05/30/96  Senate Read second time SJ-119
   05/30/96  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-120
   05/31/96  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-1
   06/13/96         Ratified R 510
   06/18/96         Signed By Governor
   06/18/96         Effective date 06/18/96
   07/02/96         Copies available
   07/02/96         Act No. 423

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-75 SO AS TO PROHIBIT A MEMBER OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSION, VOTER, REGISTRATION BOARD, OR COMBINED ELECTION AND VOTER REGISTRATION COMMISSION FROM PARTICIPATING IN POLITICAL MANAGEMENT OR IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN DURING THE MEMBER'S TERM OF OFFICE, TO PROHIBIT A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION OR BOARD FROM MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO A CANDIDATE OR KNOWINGLY ATTEND A FUNDRAISER HELD FOR THE BENEFIT OF A CANDIDATE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBER MAY BE REMOVED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-3-10, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROHIBIT A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION FROM PARTICIPATING IN POLITICAL MANAGEMENT OR IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN DURING THE MEMBER'S TERM OF OFFICE, TO PROHIBIT A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION FROM MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO A CANDIDATE OR KNOWINGLY ATTEND A FUNDRAISER HELD FOR THE BENEFIT OF A CANDIDATE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBER MAY BE REMOVED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.

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

Members of local election commissions; political activity prohibited

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-13-75. No member of a county or municipal election commission, voter registration board, or combined election and voter registration commission may participate in political management or in a political campaign during the member's term of office. No member may make a contribution to a candidate or knowingly attend a fundraiser held for the benefit of a candidate over whose election the member has jurisdiction. Violation of this section subjects the member to removal by the Governor or appropriate appointive authority."

Member of State Election Commission prohibition of political activity

SECTION 2. Section 7-3-10 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 276 of 1992, is further amended by adding:

"(e) No member of the commission may participate in political management or in a political campaign during the member's term of office. No member of the commission may make a contribution to a candidate or knowingly attend a fundraiser held for the benefit of a candidate. Violation of this subsection subjects the commissioner to removal by the Governor."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 18th day of June, 1996.