H 3127 Joint Resolution, By Wilkins, Alexander, D.M. Beasley, Boan, T.E. Huff, 
J.W. Johnson, H.H. Keyserling, J.T. McElveen and Sheheen
 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to Section 9, Article III of the
 Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, relating to sessions of the General
 Assembly, so as to provide that the annual session of the General Assembly
 shall commence on the second Tuesday in February instead of the second Tuesday
 in January and that the Senate shall have organizational meetings in the years
 following the election of its members and to delete obsolete language relating
 to earlier session of the General Assembly.

   12/27/90  House  Prefiled
   12/27/90  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/08/91  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-73
   01/08/91  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-73
   01/17/91  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-2
   01/22/91  House  Objection by Rep. Carnell, McAbee, Keegan,
                     Shirley & D. Williams HJ-22
   01/30/91  House  Objection withdrawn by Rep. Keegan HJ-24
   01/30/91  House  Objection by Rep. Townsend HJ-24
   01/30/91  House  Read second time HJ-33
   02/05/91  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, February 6,
                     1991 HJ-18
   02/07/91  House  Rejected HJ-35
   02/07/91  House  Reconsidered HJ-37
   02/07/91  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-38
   02/12/91  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-13
   02/12/91  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-13
   03/04/92  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-18
   03/12/92  Senate Special order SJ-36
   03/17/92  Senate Amended SJ-35
   05/28/92  Senate  Bill remains in special order SJ-108
   06/02/92  Senate  Carried over SJ-21

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED

March 17, 1992

H. 3127

Introduced by REPS. Wilkins, Sheheen, J.W. Johnson, T.C. Alexander, Keyserling, Beasley, Boan, Huff and McElveen

S. Printed 3/17/92--S.

Read the first time February 12, 1991.

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL COMMENCE ON THE SECOND TUESDAY IN FEBRUARY INSTEAD OF THE SECOND TUESDAY IN JANUARY AND THAT THE SENATE SHALL HAVE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE ELECTION OF ITS MEMBERS AND TO DELETE OBSOLETE LANGUAGE RELATING TO EARLIER SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 9. The annual session of the General Assembly heretofore elected, fixed by the Constitution of the year Eighteen hundred and Sixty-eight to convene on the fourth Tuesday of November, in the year Eighteen hundred and Ninety-five, is hereby postponed, and the same shall be convened and held in the city of Columbia on the second Tuesday of January, in the year Eighteen hundred and Ninety-six. The first session of the General Assembly elected under this Constitution shall convene in Columbia on the second Tuesday in January, in the year Eighteen hundred and Ninety-seven, and thereafter annually at the same time and place shall convene at the state capitol in the City of Columbia on the second Tuesday of February of each year, except that each house of the General Assembly may meet upon the call of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House, respectively, for any period of time between the second Tuesday of January and the second Tuesday of February of that year. Provided, That the The Senate and the House of Representatives shall meet on the first Tuesday following the certification of the election of its members for not more than three days following the general election in even-numbered years for the purpose of organizing. Should If the casualties of war or contagious disease render it unsafe to meet at the seat of government, then the Governor may, by proclamation, may appoint a more secure and convenient place of meeting. Members of the General Assembly shall not receive any compensation for more than forty days of any one session. Provided, That this limitation shall not affect the first four sessions of the General Assembly under this Constitution."

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 ballots:

"Shall Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide that the annual session of the General Assembly shall convene at the state capitol in the City of Columbia on the second Tuesday of February of each year, except that each house of the General Assembly may meet upon the call of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House, respectively, for any period of time between the second Tuesday of January and the second Tuesday of February of that year and to provide for an organizational session for the Senate in those years in which the membership of the Senate is elected and to delete obsolete language relating to earlier sessions of the General Assembly?

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'."