A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 14-23-1040, relating to qualifications of probate judges, so as to REVISE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND RESTRUCTURE THE STATUTE.

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

SECTION 1.   Section 14-23-1040 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   Section 14-23-1040.   No person is eligible to hold the office of judge of probate who is not at the time of his election:

   (1) a citizen of the United States and of this State,;

   (2) has not attained the age of twenty-one years upon his election,;

   (3) has not become a qualified elector of the county in which he is to be a judge,; and

   (4) has not received a four-year bachelor's bachelor of science or arts degree from an accredited post-secondary institution or if he has not received no a four-year bachelor of science or arts degree he must have four years' experience as an employee in a probate judge's office in this State.

SECTION 2.   The provisions of this act do not apply to a probate judge currently serving in office on or before the effective date of this act.

SECTION 3.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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