South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

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S. 871

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Elliott
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ms\7086mm04.doc

Introduced in the Senate on January 28, 2004
Currently residing in the Senate

Summary: Public officers, members of Public Service Authority, removal of by Governor for misconduct only

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/28/2004  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-10
   1/28/2004  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-10
   3/30/2004  Senate  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary 
                        SJ-10
   3/31/2004          Scrivener's error corrected

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/28/2004
3/30/2004
3/31/2004

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 30, 2004

S. 871

Introduced by Senator Elliott

S. Printed 3/30/04--S.    [SEC 3/31/04 3:53 PM]

Read the first time January 28, 2004.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 871) to amend Section 1-3-240, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to removal of state officers by the Governor, so as, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting therein the following:

/    SECTION    1.    Section 1-3-240 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 175 of 2004, is further amended to read:

"Section 1-3-240.    (A)    Any officer of the county or State, except; may be removed by the Governor for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetency, absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct, persistent neglect of duty in office, or incapacity; however, before removing the officer, the Governor shall inform him in writing of the specific charges brought against him and give him an opportunity after reasonable notice to be heard. This subsection does not apply to:

(1)    an officer whose removal is provided for in Section 3 of Article XV of the state Constitution; or

(2)    an officer guilty of the offense named in Section 8 of Article VI of the Constitution; or

(3)    pursuant to subsection (B) of this section, an officer of the State appointed by a Governor, as provided in subsection (B), either with or without the advice and consent of the Senate; who is guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetency, absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct, persistent neglect of duty in office, or incapacity shall be subject to removal by the Governor upon any of the foregoing causes being made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor. But before removing any such officer, the Governor shall inform him in writing of the specific charges brought against him and give him an opportunity on reasonable notice to be heard.

(B)    Any A person appointed to a state office by a Governor, either with or without the advice and consent of the Senate, other than those officers enumerated in subsection (C), may be removed from office by the Governor at his discretion by an Executive Order removing the officer.

(C)(1)    Persons appointed to the following offices of the State may be removed by the Governor for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetency, absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct, persistent neglect of duty in office, or incapacity:

(1)(a)    Workers' Compensation Commission;

(2)(b)    Commission of the Department of Revenue;

(3)(c)    Ethics Commission;

(4)(d)    Election Commission;

(5)(e)    Professional and Occupational Licensing Boards;

(6)(f)    Juvenile Parole Board;

(7)(g)    Probation, Parole and Pardon Board;

(8)(h)    Director of the Department of Public Safety;

(9)(i)    Board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, excepting the Chairman chairman;

(10)(j)    Chief of State Law Enforcement Division;

(11)(k)    South Carolina Lottery Commission; and

(12)(l)    Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff;

(m)    South Carolina Public Service Authority; and

(n)    South Carolina State Ports Authority.

(2)    Upon the expiration of an officeholder's term, the individual may continue to serve until a successor has been is appointed and qualifies."

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

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

WILLIAM MESCHER for Committee.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 1-3-240, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REMOVAL OF STATE OFFICERS BY THE GOVERNOR, SO AS TO ADD PERSONS SERVING ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY TO THE CATEGORY OF STATE OFFICERS WHO CAN BE REMOVED BY THE GOVERNOR ONLY FOR CAUSE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 1-3-240 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 59 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 1-3-240.    (A)    Any officer of the county or State, except; who is guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetency, absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct, persistent neglect of duty in office, or incapacity is subject to removal by the Governor upon any of those causes being made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor; except that, before removing the officer, the Governor shall inform him in writing of the specific charges brought against him and give him an opportunity on reasonable notice to be heard. This subsection does not apply to:

(1)    an officer whose removal is provided for in Section 3 of Article XV of the state Constitution; or

(2)    an officer guilty of the offense named in Section 8 of Article VI of the Constitution; or

(3)    pursuant to subsection (B) of this section, an officer of the State appointed by a Governor, as provided in subsection (B), either with or without the advice and consent of the Senate; who is guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetency, absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct, persistent neglect of duty in office, or incapacity shall be subject to removal by the Governor upon any of the foregoing causes being made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor. But before removing any such officer, the Governor shall inform him in writing of the specific charges brought against him and give him an opportunity on reasonable notice to be heard.

(B) Any A person appointed to a state office by a Governor, either with or without the advice and consent of the Senate, other than those officers enumerated in subsection (C), may be removed from office by the Governor at his discretion by an Executive Order removing the officer.

(C)(1)    Persons appointed to the following offices of the State may be removed by the Governor for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetency, absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct, persistent neglect of duty in office, or incapacity:

(1) (a)    Workers' Compensation Commission;

(2) (b)    Commission of the Department of Revenue;

(3) (c)    Ethics Commission;

(4) (d)    Election Commission;

(5) (e)    Professional and Occupational Licensing Boards;

(6) (f)    Juvenile Parole Board;

(7) (g)    Probation, Parole and Pardon Board;

(8) (h)    Director of the Department of Public Safety;

(9) (i)    Board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, excepting the chairman;

(10)    (j) Chief of State Law Enforcement Division.

(11)    (k) South Carolina Lottery Commission; and

(l) South Carolina Public Service Authority.

(2)    Upon the expiration of an officeholder's term, such the individual may continue to serve until a successor has been is appointed and qualifies."

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

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