S*1172(Rat #0360, Act #0314 of 2008)  General Bill, By Knotts, Ford, Fair, 
Elliott, Thomas, Short, O'Dell, Reese and Anderson

Similar(H 4698)
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-5-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO FILLING OF VACANCIES IN THE OFFICE OF THE CORONER, SO AS TO
 FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE VACANCIES SHALL BE FILLED AND
 FOR THE PERSON WHO SHALL ACT IN THE CORONER'S PLACE IF A VACANCY OR SUSPENSION
 IN THE OFFICE EXISTS. - ratified title

   03/04/08  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-6
   03/04/08  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-6
   03/17/08  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Martin (ch), Malloy,
                     Campsen, Williams, Massey
   04/23/08  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-22
   04/24/08  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted SJ-81
   04/24/08  Senate Read second time SJ-81
   04/29/08  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-55
   04/30/08  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-9
   04/30/08  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-9
   06/03/08  House  Recalled from Committee on Judiciary HJ-35
   06/04/08  House  Read second time HJ-73
   06/05/08  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-54
   06/05/08         Ratified R 360
   06/11/08         Signed By Governor
   06/20/08         Copies available
   06/20/08         Effective date 06/11/08
   07/11/08         Act No. 314

(A314, R360, S1172)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-5-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FILLING OF VACANCIES IN THE OFFICE OF THE CORONER, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE VACANCIES SHALL BE FILLED AND FOR THE PERSON WHO SHALL ACT IN THE CORONER'S PLACE IF A VACANCY OR SUSPENSION IN THE OFFICE EXISTS.

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

Vacancies; person to act in place

SECTION    1.    Section 17-5-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 52 of 2007, is further amended to read:

"Section 17-5-50.    (A)    Except as provided in subsection (B), in the event of a vacancy in the office of coroner, the Governor shall fill the office by appointing a qualified replacement to serve until the earlier of the following:

(1)    the next general election for the office of coroner; or

(2)    the next general election, in which case an election shall be to fill the unexpired term.

In either circumstance, the person appointed by the Governor shall hold office until his successor shall qualify.

(B)    If a county coroner is suspended by the Governor upon the coroner's indictment or for other reasons, the chief magistrate of that county shall act as coroner until the suspended coroner is reinstated or until a coroner is elected and qualifies in the next general election for coroners, whichever occurs first.

(C)    Except as provided in subsection (B), the chief deputy or second in command of the coroner's office shall act as coroner until the vacancy is filled by the Governor's appointment. While acting as coroner, the chief deputy or second in command is subject to the duties and liabilities incident to the office of coroner and shall receive the same salary as the former coroner at the time of the vacancy."

Time effective

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 5th day of June, 2008.

Approved the 11th day of June, 2008.