Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4980 Primary Sponsor:Rudnick Committee Number:25 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Public Service Commission, election of Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Computer Document Number:GJK/20673SD.94 Introduced Date:19940324 Last History Body:House Last History Date:19940324 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Rudnick Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
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4980 House 19940324 Introduced, read first time, 25
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTION 58-3-20, AS AMENDED, SECTIONS 58-3-30 AND 58-3-40, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE POPULAR ELECTION OF ONE COMMISSIONER FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF THIS STATE AND ONE COMMISSIONER FROM THE STATE AT LARGE WHO SHALL SERVE AS CHAIRMAN; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 58-3-26 RELATING TO A JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO SCREEN CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 58-3-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 1549 of Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 58-3-20. The Public Service Commission shall be composed of seven members to be elected by the General Assembly in the manner prescribed by this chapter for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualify.
The General Assembly shall provide for the election of the seven member commission and elect members thereto based upon the congressional districts established by the General Assembly pursuant to the official United States Census of 1980. If the number of congressional districts is less than seven, additional members shall be elected at large to provide for a seven member commission.
Each of the six congressional districts is established to be a public service commission district, and one commissioner must be elected in the general election from each district beginning in 1994. One member must be elected from the State at large who shall serve as chairman. All members must be elected for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualify. However, the members first elected from districts one, three, and five must be elected for initial terms of two years. Members must be qualified electors of the district from which they are elected and must be elected by the qualified electors of that district. Members shall take office on the first day of January following their election."
SECTION 2. Section 58-3-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-3-30. The commissioners shall take the oath of office provided by the Constitution and the oaths prescribed by law for state officers. The Governor may shall fill vacancies in the office of commissioner until the successor in such office for a full term or an unexpired term, as the case may be, shall have been elected by the General Assembly by appointment for the unexpired term."
SECTION 3. Section 58-3-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-3-40. The commission shall elect one of their number chairman for a period of two years. The commission shall must be furnished with an office and necessary furniture and stationery and may employ a secretary or clerk."
SECTION 4. The terms of all members of the Public Service Commission serving in office on the effective date of this act shall continue until January 1, 1995, at which time they must be succeeded by the seven members elected in the general election of 1994.
SECTION 5. Section 58-3-26 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.