S*0158(Rat #0002, Act #0127 of 2003)  General Bill, By Ravenel and Grooms

Similar(H 3779)
 AN ACT TO CREATE THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND VOTER REGISTRATION OF CHARLESTON
 COUNTY, ABOLISH THE CHARLESTON COUNTY BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION, AND DEVOLVE
 THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES UPON THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND VOTER REGISTRATION. -
 ratified title

   01/08/03  Senate Prefiled
   01/08/03  Senate Referred to delegation from Charleston
   01/14/03  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-87
   01/14/03  Senate Referred to delegation from Charleston SJ-87
   01/28/03  Senate Recalled from delegation Charleston SJ-3
   01/29/03  Senate Read second time SJ-19
   01/30/03  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-15
   02/04/03  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-9
   02/04/03  House  Referred to Charleston Delegation HJ-9
   02/05/03  House  Delegation report: Favorable Charleston
                     Delegation HJ-17
   02/11/03  House  Objection by Rep. Mack, Breeland, Miller and R
                     Brown HJ-20
   02/11/03  House  Objection by Rep. Harrell, Altman, Limehouse, and
                     Scarborough HJ-20
   02/11/03  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). JR Smith HJ-20
   02/12/03  House  Read second time HJ-28
   02/13/03  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-21
   02/18/03         Ratified R 2
   02/21/03         Vetoed by Governor
   02/25/03  Senate Veto overridden by originating body Yeas-45 
                     Nays-0 SJ-3
   02/27/03  House  Debate adjourned on veto consideration HJ-23
   03/04/03  House  Debate adjourned on veto consideration HJ-87
   03/05/03  House  Debate adjourned on veto consideration HJ-19
   03/06/03  House   Veto sustained Yeas-8 Nays-6 HJ-18
   03/06/03  House   Vote to override: Yeas-6  Nays-8--failed to
                     receive the necessary 2/3 vote to override HJ-18
   03/06/03  House  Motion noted- Reconsider vote whereby the Veto
                     was sustained HJ-34
   03/19/03  House  Debate adjourned on motion to reconsider until
                     Tuesday, March 25, 2003 HJ-28
   03/25/03  House  Debate adjourned on motion to reconsider until
                     Tuesday, April 1, 2003 HJ-36
   04/01/03  House   Reconsider vote whereby veto was sustained HJ-32
   04/01/03  House  Veto overridden Yeas-14  Nays-0 HJ-32
   04/04/03         Copies available
   04/04/03         Effective date 04/01/03
   10/23/03         Act No. 127

(A127, R2, S158)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND VOTER REGISTRATION OF CHARLESTON COUNTY, ABOLISH THE CHARLESTON COUNTY BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION, AND DEVOLVE THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES UPON THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND VOTER REGISTRATION.

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

Establish board, terms, appointments

SECTION    1.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law:

(A)(1)    There is established the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Charleston County to be composed of nine members appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of a majority of the senators representing the county and a majority of the members of the House of Representatives representing the county.

(2)    The term of office for the members of the board is two years commencing on the fifteenth day of March in each odd-numbered year. In case of a vacancy from any cause on the board, the vacancy must be filled in the same manner of original appointment, as provided in this section, for the unexpired term. A majority of the senators representing the county and a majority of the members of the House of Representatives representing the county shall appoint the board's chairman, and the chairman shall serve a term of two years and may be reappointed to that office for any number of successive terms without limitation. The board may choose to elect a vice chair, a secretary, and other officers as the board considers appropriate. The board shall employ a director, determine the compensation, and determine the number and compensation of other staff positions. Salaries must be consistent with the compensation schedules established by the county for similar positions. The director is responsible for hiring and management of the staff positions established by the board that report to the director. Staff positions are subject to the personnel system policies and procedures by which all county employees are regulated, except that the director serves at the pleasure of the board.

(B)    The Governor shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments made pursuant to subsection (A) of this section.

(C)    The Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Charleston County shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the name of the person elected as chairman of the board pursuant to subsection (A) of this section.

(D)    A member who misses three consecutive meetings of the board is considered to have resigned his office and a vacancy on the board exists which must be filled in the manner provided in subsection (A) of this section. This section does not apply to a member who presents a verifiable doctor's certificate that illness prevented his attendance at a meeting.

(E)    Except as otherwise specifically provided in subsections (A), (B), (C), and (D) of this section, the provisions of law contained in Title 7 of the 1976 Code of Laws relating to county boards of voter registration and county election commissions apply to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Charleston County, mutatis mutandis.

Abolish Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Charleston County Election Commission

SECTION    2.    (A)    The Charleston County Board of Voter Registration is abolished effective ninety days after this act is approved by the Governor, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Charleston County as established pursuant to Section 1 of this act.

(B)    The Charleston County Election Commission is abolished effective ninety days after this act is approved by the Governor, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Charleston County as established pursuant to Section 1 of this act.

Expiration of terms of members of Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Charleston County Election Commission

SECTION    3.    (A)    The terms of the members of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration, regardless of when these members were appointed to office or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon the abolishment of that board pursuant to subsection (A) of Section 2 of this act.

(B)    The terms of the members of the Charleston County Election Commission, regardless of when these members were appointed to office or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon abolishment of that commission pursuant to subsection (B) of Section 2 of this act.

(C)     Notwithstanding subsections (A) and (B) of this section or any other provision of this act, a person serving as a member of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration or the Charleston County Election Commission may not be removed from office, nor may that board and that commission be abolished, until this act has been given final approval by the United States Department of Justice.

Time effective

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect ninety days after approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 18th day of February, 2003.

Vetoed by the Governor -- 2/21/03.

Veto overridden by Senate -- 2/25/03.

Veto overridden by House -- 4/1/03.