Bill 239

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               239
Ratification Number:       461
Act Number                 423
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   State conventions

(A423, R461, S239)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-9-100, CODE OF LA&S OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE CONVENTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES, SO AS TO PERMIT THE CONVENTION TO BE HELD IN ANY LOCATION THE STATE COMMITTEE DETERMINES TO HAVE ADEQUATE FACILITIES, TO REQUIRE THE STATE COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS INFORMATION TO DELEGATES, AND TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF STATE FUNDS FOR HOLDING CONVENTIONS.

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

State conventions

SECTION 1. The first paragraph of Section 7-9-100 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"The state convention shall meet at a location in this State determined by the state committee to have adequate facilities during a twelve-month period ending April fifteenth of every general election year on a day and at a time fixed by the state committee and announced publicly at least ten days before the meeting. The state committee shall notify the delegates to the state convention of the accommodations that are available for the delegates during the convention. This listing must be as complete as practicable and must include the accommodations in close proximity to the convention site as well as any other accommodations that are chosen by the state committee. This notice must include the name and location of the accommodations, the cost per day, and any discounts or surcharges that are applicable during the period of the convention. Should the state committee fix the date for the state convention in a nongeneral election year, it must be held for the purpose of reorganization only. The convention to be held for the purpose of nominating candidates for public office to be filled in the general election must be held in the general election year. At the time that the state committee sets the date for the state convention it shall set what month during the twelve-month period ending March thirty-first of every general election year that the county convention must be held. If it sets a month in a nongeneral election year for the county conventions to be held for the purpose of reorganization, it must also set a month during the general election year for the county convention to be reconvened for the purpose of nominating candidates for public office to be filled in the general election. Sufficient advance notice of the month set for county conventions must be given to county executive committees so that the public notices required by law may be met. The convention must be composed of delegates elected by the county conventions. Each county is entitled to one delegate for each six thousand residents of the county, according to the latest official United States Census, plus two additional members. If a county has a fractional portion of population of at least three thousand residents above its last six thousand resident figure it is entitled to an additional delegate. When the state convention assembles, it must be called to order by the chairman of the state committee. A temporary president must be nominated and elected by the convention, and after its organization the convention shall proceed immediately to the election of permanent officers and to the transaction of business. When the business has concluded it shall adjourn sine die, or may recess. But the state chairman may recall the state convention into special session at any time he determines appropriate."

State funds prohibited

SECTION 2. No state funds shall in any manner be used for the purpose of holding conventions pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-9-100 of the 1976 Code, as amended.

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.