S 0558 General Bill, By Passailaigue, McConnell, Mescher, L.E. Richter and 
M.T. Rose
 A Bill to amend Section 13-12-10 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the creation of the Trident Economic Development Authority, so as
 to prohibit the implementation of the Authority unless Berkeley, Charleston,
 and Dorchester Counties agree to participate in the Authority; to amend
 Section 13-12-15 of the 1976 Code, relating to the approval procedure to
 participate in the Authority, so as to provide another approval procedure; to
 amend Section 13-12-220 of the 1976 Code, relating to the implementation of
 the provisions of Chapter 12 of Title 13, so as to implement the provisions of
 this Chapter only upon the approval of each of the respective counties.

   03/16/93  Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference SJ-11
   03/17/93  Senate Read second time SJ-20
   03/17/93  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-20
   03/18/93  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-18
   03/23/93  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-17
   03/23/93  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-17

INTRODUCED

March 16, 1993

S. 558

Introduced by SENATORS Passailaigue, Rose, McConnell, Mescher and Richter

S. Printed 3/16/93--S.

Read the first time March 16, 1993.

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 13-12-10 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CREATION OF THE TRIDENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUTHORITY UNLESS BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AUTHORITY; TO AMEND SECTION 13-12-15 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE APPROVAL PROCEDURE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ANOTHER APPROVAL PROCEDURE; TO AMEND SECTION 13-12-220 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 12 OF TITLE 13, SO AS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER ONLY UPON THE APPROVAL OF EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE COUNTIES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 13-12-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 13-12-10. here is created the Trident Economic Development Finance Authority. The jurisdictional area of the authority shall consist of two or more of the counties of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester which counties qualified electors have each approved their participation in the authority by referendum if each of the respective counties agree to participate as provided in this chapter. The governing body of the authority is a board of not more than seven members whose members shall serve for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualify. The governing bodies of Berkeley and Dorchester Counties counties shall each elect two members of the board and the governing body of Charleston County shall elect three members of the board upon approval of their county's participation by referendum the approval of each of the counties as provided in this chapter. Vacancies on the board must be filled for the unexpired term in the manner of the original election. The authority is a local political subdivision as contemplated by Section 11-35-310(18)."

SECTION 2. Section 13-12-15 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 13-12-15. Upon the implementation of the The provisions of this chapter, should only two of the three may not be implemented unless the counties of Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston have elected elect to participate by approval of the initial referendum, the governing body of the nonparticipating county may thereafter call a referendum in such county on the question of participation in the authority. as provided herein. The respective county governing bodies may either agree to participate in the authority by ordinance or by passage of a referendum to be placed on the ballot at the next general election or at a special election called for the purpose of considering the question. After one referendum has been held under the provisions of this section, no more than one such referendum may thereafter be held within a two-year period. The referendum question shall read as follows:

`Shall [insert name of county] join in the Trident Economic Development Finance Authority which shall have the power, among other things, with the approval of the governing bodies of Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston counties, to issue general obligation bonds for the purpose of promoting economic development in the area of the authority?

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

If this question receives a majority of the votes cast in the county, as certified by the Board of State Canvassers, the jurisdictional area of the authority shall be expanded to include the approving county on the date on which written evidence of this fact is transmitted to the Secretary of State. the county is deemed to be part of the authority if the remaining county or counties have also agreed to participate in the authority."

SECTION 3. Section 13-12-220 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 13-12-220. The provisions of Title 13, Chapter 12 shall take effect upon approval by the Governor, but these The provisions of this chapter may not be implemented until the question of whether to establish such an authority receives a favorable vote of a majority of the qualified electors residing in two or more of the counties of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester as provided in this chapter. or unless each county agrees to participate in the authority through one of the approval procedures provided in this chapter."

SECTION 4. SECTION 3 of Act 518 of 1992 is repealed.

SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.