H 3754 Joint Resolution, By Wilkins, Harrell, Quinn and W.D. Smith
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A STATE GOVERNMENT GROWTH AND SPENDING JOINT
 STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF STRICTER CONTROL
 ON THE RATE OF GROWTH OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND TO EXAMINE THE ADEQUACY AND
 EFFICACY OF THE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY MAY APPROPRIATE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT; TO PROVIDE FOR
 THE STUDY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP; AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE STUDY COMMITTEE REPORT
 ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE JUNE 1, 2001,
 AT WHICH TIME THE STUDY COMMITTEE IS ABOLISHED.

   03/20/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-32
   03/20/01  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-33

TO CREATE A STATE GOVERNMENT GROWTH AND SPENDING JOINT STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF STRICTER CONTROL ON THE RATE OF GROWTH OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND TO EXAMINE THE ADEQUACY AND EFFICACY OF THE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY APPROPRIATE FOR THE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT; TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP; AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE STUDY COMMITTEE REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE JUNE 1, 2001, AT WHICH TIME THE STUDY COMMITTEE IS ABOLISHED.

Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina is constitutionally prohibited from spending more monies annually than the State raises annually in revenue; and

Whereas, the budget process instituted by the General Assembly to limit spending on appropriations for the operation of state government accordingly provides that annual increases in appropriations may not exceed the average growth rate of the economy of the State; and

Whereas, the spending limitation is subject to required review and possible modification; and

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Whereas, the review of the spending limitation and any appropriate modification of it as contemplated by Section 7, Article X of the Constitution of South Carolina, demands an examination of the rate of growth of the economy of the State and, by extension, the rate of growth of state government. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is created a State Government Growth and Spending Joint Study Committee to study the feasibility and advisability of stricter control on the rate of growth of state government and to examine the adequacy and efficacy of the constitutionally mandated limitation on the amount the General Assembly may appropriate for the operation of state government.

    (B)    The committee is composed of the following fourteen members:

        (1)    two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

        (2)    two members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

        (3)    two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee;

        (4)    two members of the Senate, appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee;

        (5)    two representatives from the Department of Commerce, appointed by the director;

        (6)    three representatives from the Budget and Control Board, appointed by the director; and

        (7)    one representative from the Governor's Office, appointed by the Governor.

    (C)    The members of the committee shall serve until the date on which the committee dissolves upon the rendering of its report before June 1, 2001, or on June 1, 2001. All members of the committee serve until their successors are appointed and qualify and vacancies must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner of the original appointment. The committee is co-chaired by the senior majority member of the Senate and the senior majority member of the House of Representatives who are serving on the committee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8-13-770 of the 1976 Code, members of the General Assembly may serve on this committee.

    (D)    The staffing for the committee must be provided by the appropriate standing committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and employees of the Department of Commerce, the Budget and Control Board, and the Governor's Office as the committee determines appropriate.

    (E)    The committee shall render its report and recommendations to the General Assembly before June 1, 2001, at which time it shall dissolve.

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor, and the committee established in SECTION 1 shall dissolve upon the filing of its report or on June 1, 2001.