Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 27, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
Section 7-27-110. Those counties that do not have combined boards of registration and election commissions must have their members appointed and powers of their boards and commissions as provided by Sections 7-5-10 and 7-13-70, unless and until the boards choose to combine pursuant to Section 7-27-115.
Section 7-27-115. (A) Those counties that do not have combined boards of registration and election may combine the boards upon the unaimous vote of the members of the county board of registration and the members of the county board of elections meeting publicly in joint session soley for the purpose of determining whether to combine. At least one week prior to the meeting: (1) the chairmen of the respective boards must give joint notice of the meeting to the members of the county legislative delegation and (2) notice of the meeting must be posted on the county's internet website. The chairmen of the respective boards must jointly file notice of a unaimous vote with the State Election Commission. Upon the filing of the notice, the boards are considered combined and must be governed by the provisions of subsection (C). The separate county boards of registration and election are abolished upon the filing of the notice with the State Election Commission, and the functions, duties, and powers of the separate boards are devolved upon the combined board.
(B) Those counties with a combined board of registration and election established pursuant to former Article 2 of this title are reconstituted as the combined board of registration and election pursuant to this section and must be governed by the provisions of subsection (C). A combined board established by former Article 2 of this title is abolished upon the effective date of this section and the functions, duties, and powers of the previous combined boards is devolved upon the combined board established pursuant to this section.
(C)(1) The membership of a combined board established pursuant to subsection (A) must initially be composed of the members of the separate boards of registration and election. The membership of a combined board established pursuant to subsection (B) must initially be composed of the members of the combined board established by former Article 2 of this title. If the combining of a board pursuant to this section initially results in an even number of members, then an additional seat must be added to the board and an additional member must be appointed to that seat for a four-year term in the manner provided by item (2). The total number of initial members, including an additional member that must be added pursuant to this item, establishes the total number of seats for the particular combined board. The terms of the initial members shall expire at such time as their terms on their prior boards would have otherwise expired. Any member serving in an expired term on the previous board shall continue to serve on the newly combined board until their successor is appointed and qualifies.
(2) Members of the combined board must be appointed by the county legislative delegation. The State Law Enforcement Division shall assist the county legislative delegation in conducting criminal background and credit checks on prospective appointees. Upon expiration of the terms of the initial members, the term of office for the members of the combined board is four years, and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Members may succeed themselves. In the case of a vacancy on the board, the vacancy must be filled in the same manner as an original appointment, as provided in this item, for the unexpired term. A majority of the members of the combined board must elect a chairman. The chairman shall serve a term of two years and may be reelected to that office for any number of successive terms without limitation.
(3) The board may choose to elect a vice chair, a secretary, and other officers the board considers appropriate. The board shall employ a director, determine the compensation, and determine the number and compensation of other staff positions. Salaries must be consistent with the compensation schedules established by the county for similar positions.
(4) The director is responsible for the hiring and management of the staff positions established by the board that report to the director. Staff positions are subject to the personnel system policies and procedures by which all county employees are regulated, except that the director serves at the pleasure of the board.
(5) The county legislative delegation shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments made pursuant to item (2).
(6) A member who misses three consecutive meetings of the board is considered to have resigned his office, and a vacancy on the board exists, which must be filled in the manner provided in item (2). This item does not apply to a member who presents a verifiable doctor's certificate that illness prevented his attendance at a meeting.
(7) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this subsection, the provisions of law contained in Title 7, relating to county boards of voter registration and county election commissions, apply to a combined board established by this subsection.
Section 7-27-120. By codifying the provisions for county boards of registration and election commissions, the General Assembly intends to provide greater public access to the statutory provisions for registering voters and coordinating elections in this State.
Section 7-27-130. The codification of the county boards of registration and election commissions as provided in Article 2 of this chapter does not create new statutory authority, but is a continuation of acts passed by the General Assembly to combine the election and registration functions in order to provide a unified commission for the traditional state functions of conducting elections and registering electors by county."
SECTION 2. Article 2, Chapter 27, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval of the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.