Bill 1322

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       1322
Type of Legislation:               Joint Resolution JR
Introducing Body:                  Senate
Introduced Date:                   19960403
Primary Sponsor:                   Judiciary Committee SJ 11
All Sponsors:                      Judiciary Committee
Drafted Document Number:           jud6078.11
Residing Body:                     Senate
Subject:                           Legislative sessions,
                                   adjournments

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

Senate  19960523  Continued the Joint Resolution
Senate  19960509  Made Special Order
Senate  19960501  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  19960403  Introduced, read first time,
                  placed on Calendar without reference

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

INTRODUCED

April 3, 1996

S. 1322

S. Printed 4/3/96--S.

Read the first time April 3, 1996.

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO AMEND ARTICLE III, SECTION 9 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES ON THE SECOND TUESDAY IN JANUARY OF EACH YEAR, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY RECEDE FOR A TIME PERIOD TO BE DETERMINED BY EACH BODY, AND TO PROVIDE THAT EACH BODY MAY BY APPROPRIATE RULE PROVIDE FOR MEETINGS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS IT SHALL CONSIDER EXPEDIENT; AND TO AMEND ARTICLE III BY DELETING SECTION 21, WHICH PROVIDES THAT NEITHER HOUSE, DURING THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SHALL WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE OTHER ADJOURN FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS, NOR TO ANY OTHER PLACE THAN THAT IN WHICH IT SHALL BE AT THE TIME SITTING.

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

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article III, Section 9 of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 9. The annual session of the General Assembly heretofore elected, fixed by the Constitution of the year Eighteen hundred and Sixty-eight to convene on the fourth Tuesday of November, in the year Eighteen hundred and Ninety-five, is hereby postponed, and the same shall be convened and held in the city of Columbia on the second Tuesday of January, in the year Eighteen hundred and Ninety-six. The first session of the General Assembly elected under this Constitution shall convene in Columbia on the second Tuesday in January, in the year Eighteen hundred and Ninety-seven, and thereafter annually at the same time and place shall convene at the State Capitol in the City of Columbia on the second Tuesday of January of each year. After the convening of the General Assembly, nothing in this section shall prohibit the Senate or the House of Representatives from receding for a time period not to exceed thirty days, unless this time period is extended by a majority vote. Each body by appropriate rule may provide for meetings during the legislative session as it shall consider expedient. Provided, That the However, the Senate and the House of Representatives shall meet on the first Tuesday following the certification of the election of its members for not more than three days following the general election in even-numbered years for the purpose of organizing. Should If the casualties of war or contagious disease render it unsafe to meet at the seat of government, then the Governor may, by proclamation, may appoint a more secure and convenient place of meeting. Members of the General Assembly shall not receive any compensation for more than forty days of any one session. Provided, That this limitation shall not affect the first four sessions of the General Assembly under this Constitution."

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:

"Shall Article III, Section 9 of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide that the annual session of the General Assembly shall commence on the second Tuesday in January, but that each body shall be authorized to recede for a period of time to be determined by that body, and by appropriate rule to provide for meetings as each body shall consider expedient, and to provide for an organizational session for the Senate in those years in which the membership of the Senate is elected and to delete obsolete language relating to earlier sessions of the General Assembly?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `Yes' and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `No'."

SECTION 3. It is proposed that Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended by deleting Section 21, which reads:

"Section 21. Neither house, during the session of the General Assembly, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which it shall be at the time sitting."

SECTION 4. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:

"Shall Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended by deleting Section 21 which provides that neither house of the General Assembly shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which it shall be at the time sitting?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `Yes' and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `No'."