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TO DIRECT THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO HOLD A REFERENDUM AT THE TIME OF THE 2004 GENERAL ELECTION FOR REPRESENTATIVES TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTORS FAVOR ELIMINATING THE FIVE PERCENT STATE SALES TAX ON FOOD BY PHASING OUT THE TAX OVER FIVE YEARS AND TO EXPRESS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ACT IN ITS NEXT SESSION TO PROCEED TO ELIMINATE THE SALES TAX ON FOOD IF A MAJORITY OF THOSE VOTING IN THE REFERENDUM FAVOR SUCH ELIMINATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The State Election Commission shall hold a referendum at the 2004 general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:
"Do you favor eliminating the five percent state sales tax on food by phasing it out over five years?
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'."
The election laws of this State apply to this referendum, mutatis mutandis, and the State Election Commission shall certify the results of the referendum to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Governor.
SECTION 2. Mindful that the Constitution of this State does not allow for a binding referendum on statewide legislation, the General Assembly, by this joint resolution expresses its intention in its next session to eliminate the state sales tax on food by phasing it out over five years if a majority of the electors voting in advisory referendum held pursuant to SECTION 1 of this joint resolution favor such elimination.
SECTION 3. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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