H*2940(Rat #0275, Act #0287 of 1987)  General Bill, By P. Evatt
 A Bill to provide that the Richland County Trustees of the Board of Trustees
 of Lexington County School District No. 5 must be elected in nonpartisan
 elections and provide the manner in which these trustees are elected.

   04/14/87  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-1830
   04/14/87  House  Referred to delegation from Richland HJ-1830
   05/14/87  House  Delegation report: Favorable Richland HJ-1707
   05/14/87  House  Read second time HJ-1707
   05/14/87  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-1707
   05/15/87  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2838
   05/19/87  Senate  Intd. & placed on loc. & uncontested cal. w/o
                     referenc SJ-1965
   06/03/87  Senate Read second time SJ-2672
   06/03/87  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-2672
   06/04/87  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-2834
   06/25/87         Ratified R 275
   06/30/87         Signed By Governor
   07/14/87         Effective date 06/30/87
   07/14/87         Act No. 287
   07/14/87         Copies available

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE RICHLAND COUNTY TRUSTEES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 5 MUST BE ELECTED IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS AND PROVIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE TRUSTEES ARE ELECTED.

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

Election required of Richland County Trustees of Lexington County School District No. 5 Board

SECTION 1. The members of the Board of Trustees of Lexington County School District No. 5 who reside in Richland County must be elected in nonpartisan elections to be held and conducted in the manner provided by this act.

Manner of elections

SECTION 2. In Lexington County School District No. 5 all trustees residing in Richland County must be elected at large by the registered electors who are residents of the Richland County portion of the district. In 1988, and every four years thereafter, successors to Richland County members of the Board of Trustees of School District No. 5 whose terms expire in 1988 must be elected. In 1990, and every four years thereafter, successors to the Richland County members of the Board of Trustees of School District No. 5 whose terms expire in 1990 must be elected.

Terms; vacancies

SECTION 3. (A) The Richland County trustees must be elected for terms of office of four years each and shall serve until their successors are selected and qualify. They must also be elected in nonpartisan elections to be conducted at the same time as the general election of the applicable year in the manner provided in this act.

(B) Vacancies on both school boards must be filled in the same manner that vacancies on the county council are filled.

Notice of candidacy; conduct of elections; certification

SECTION 4. (A) Any person desiring to qualify as a candidate and be elected to the board shall file written notice of candidacy with the Richland County Election Commission at least sixty days before the date set for the election but not earlier than ninety days prior to the election. This notice of candidacy must be a sworn statement and include the candidate's name, age, voting precinct, period of residence in the district, single-member election district of residence if applicable, and other information as the county election commission shall require.

(B) The county commissioners of election shall conduct and supervise the elections for members of the board in the manner governed by the election laws of this State mutatis mutandi. The commissioners shall prepare the necessary ballots, appoint managers for the voting precincts, and do all things necessary to carry out the election, including the counting of ballots and declaring the results. The commissioners shall advertise the date of the election ninety days preceding the election in a newspaper of general circulation published in

the district and shall publish a second notice thirty days before the election. The costs of the election must be borne by the district.

(C) The results of the election must be determined in accordance with the nonpartisan plurality method prescribed by Section 5-15-61 of the 1976 Code.

(D) The members of the board elected in this nonpartisan election shall take office one week following certification of their election. The current members of the board shall continue to serve in office until their present terms expire at which time the members elected in the manner specified in this act shall take office.

Time effective

SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 30th day of June, 1987.