Bill 4274

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               4274
Ratification Number:       813
Act Number                 768
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Election of members

(A768, R813, H4274)

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 593 OF 1986, RELATING TO THE ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 IN CLARENDON COUNTY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR FIVE ELECTED AND TWO APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WITH THE FIVE ELECTED MEMBERS ELECTED AT LARGE RATHER THAN FROM SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, AND PROVIDE A TRANSITION PERIOD FOR THE ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE CLARENDON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND EMPLOYEES OF THE BOARD MAY BE PAID EXPENSES FROM FUNDS FORWARDED TO THE BOARD FOR THE POSITION OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.

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

Election of members

SECTION 1. Sections 1 and 2 of Act 593 of 1986 are amended to read:

"Section 1. Each member of the Board of Trustees of School District 1 in Clarendon County must be elected in nonpartisan elections to be held and conducted in the manner provided by this act, except for two members who must be appointed in the manner provided by this act.

The board of trustees must consist of nine members after the election in 1986, after the expiration of one appointed member's term and after the appointment in 1987, and after the expiration of two appointed members' terms and after the election in 1988, and seven members after the expiration of four appointed members' terms and after the election and the appointments in 1989 and each year after 1989.

Section 2. The elected members of the board of trustees must be elected from the school district at large in a nonpartisan election to be conducted at the same time as the general election in the manner provided by this act.

Of the initial elections, two members must be elected in 1986, two members must be elected in 1988, and one member must be elected in 1990 for terms of office of four years each. One member must be appointed by the county board of education subsequent to the expiration of the appointed member's term in 1987 and two members must be appointed by the county board of education subsequent to the election in 1989 for terms of office of three years each. After the initial elections and appointments, all members must be elected or appointed for terms of office of four years each. The members shall serve until their successors are elected or appointed and qualify.

Vacancies occurring on the board of trustees must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by appointment by the county board of education."

Qualification of candidates

SECTION 2. The first paragraph of Section 4 of Act 593 of 1986 is amended to read:

"The elected members of the board of trustees must be residents of the school district and must be elected from the district at large by the qualified electors of the district. All persons desiring to qualify as candidates and be elected to the board of trustees shall file written notice of candidacy with the county board of education at least sixty days before the date set for the election but not earlier than ninety days prior to the election. This notice of candidacy must be a sworn statement and must include the candidate's name, age, voting precinct, period of residence in the district, and other information the county board of education requires. No filing fee may be required of any person desiring to qualify as a candidate."

Expenses may be paid

SECTION 3. Members of the Clarendon County Board

of Education and employees of the board may be paid expenses from funds forwarded to the board for the position of county superintendent of education.

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.