Journal of the Senate
of the Second Session of the 111th General Assembly
of the State of South Carolina
being the Regular Session Beginning Tuesday, January 9, 1996

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| Printed Page 1510, Apr. 4 | Printed Page 1530, Apr. 4 |

Printed Page 1520 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

licensed attorney at law for Supreme Court justices and judges of the Court of Appeals and the circuit court./.

Amend title to conform.

Senator McCONNELL explained the amendment.

Senator HOLLAND spoke on the Bill.

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time and ordered placed on the third reading Calendar with notice of general amendments.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT AMENDED, READ THE SECOND

TIME WITH NOTICE OF GENERAL AMENDMENTS

PASSED BY "AYES" AND "NAYS"

H. 3962 -- Reps. Wilkins, Harrison, D. Smith, Huff, Wells, Witherspoon, H. Brown, Sharpe, Meacham, Fulmer, Fleming, Mason, Wright, A. Young, Keegan, Cain, Tripp, Rice, Riser, Herdklotz, Seithel, Kelley, Trotter, Haskins, Simrill, Hutson, Wofford, Marchbanks, Cotty, Fair, R. Smith, Harrell, Stuart, Klauber, Walker and Sandifer: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3, ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE SUPREME COURT; SECTION 8, ARTICLE V, RELATING TO THE COURT OF APPEALS; SECTION 13, ARTICLE V, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL CIRCUITS AND THE COURTS THEREOF; SECTION 17, ARTICLE V, RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OR RETIREMENT OF JUDGES OF THE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM; AND SECTION 18, ARTICLE V, RELATING TO VACANCIES IN THE SUPREME COURT, COURT OF APPEALS, AND THE CIRCUIT COURT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT JUDGES OF THESE COURTS MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FROM A LIST OF NOMINEES SUBMITTED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT BY ADDING SECTION 27 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR THE ABOVE JUDICIAL OFFICES AND FOR JUDGES OF OTHER COURTS OF UNIFORM JURISDICTION AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY PROVIDE BY LAW.


Printed Page 1521 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

Senator MOORE asked unanimous consent to take the Joint Resolution up for immediate consideration.

There was no objection.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Joint Resolution. The question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

The Judiciary Committee proposed the following amendment (JUD3962.001), which was adopted:

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

/SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article V, Section 15 of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, is amended to read:

"Section 15. No person shall be eligible to the office of Chief Justice, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, or judge of the Circuit Court circuit court who is not at the time of his election a citizen of the United States and of this State, and has not attained the age of at least twenty-six thirty-two years, has not been a licensed attorney at law for at least five ten years, and has not been a resident of this State for five years next preceding his election.

Any justice or judge serving in office on the effective date of the provisions of this section requiring a justice or judge to be at least thirty-two years of age and to have at least ten years of service as a licensed attorney at law who is not of that age or who has not been licensed for this required period of time may continue to serve for the remainder of his current term and is considered to have the requisite age and years of service as a licensed attorney for purposes of future reelections to that judicial office."

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:

"Shall Section 15 of Article V of the Constitution of this State relating to qualifications for justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals and the circuit court be amended so as to increase from twenty-six to thirty-two the age requirement for election to these offices, to increase from five to ten the number of years which a person must have been a licensed attorney at law in order to be eligible for election to these offices, and to provide that any justice or judge serving in office on the effective date of the provisions of this section requiring a justice or judge


Printed Page 1522 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

to be at least thirty-two years of age and to have at least ten years of service as a licensed attorney at law who is not of that age or who has not been licensed for this required period of time may continue to serve for the remainder of his current term and is considered to have the requisite age and years of service as a licensed attorney at law for purposes of future reelections to that judicial office?

Yes []

No []

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'."

SECTION 3. It is proposed that Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 27. In addition to the qualifications for circuit court and Court of Appeals judges and Supreme Court justices contained in this article, the General Assembly by law shall establish a Judicial Merit Selection Commission to consider the qualifications and fitness of candidates for all judicial positions on these courts and on other courts of this State which are filled by election of the General Assembly. The General Assembly must elect the judges and justices from among the nominees of the commission to fill a vacancy on these courts.

No person may be elected to these judicial positions unless he or she has been found qualified by the commission. Before a sitting member of the General Assembly may submit an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of the General Assembly must first resign his office and have been out of office at least one year. Before a member of the commission may submit an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of the commission must not have been a member of the commission for a period of at least two years."

SECTION 4. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:

"Shall Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding Section 27 so as to provide that the General Assembly by law shall establish a judicial merit selection commission to nominate candidates for election to judicial positions on the courts of this State which are filled by


Printed Page 1523 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

election of the General Assembly, to provide that the General Assembly must elect judges and justices for these courts from among these nominees, to provide that no person may be elected to these judicial positions unless he or she has been found qualified by the commission, and to provide that before a sitting member of the General Assembly may submit an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of the General Assembly must first resign his office and have been out of office at least one year. Before a member of the commission may submit an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of the commission must not have been a member of the commission for a period of at least two years?

Yes []

No []

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'."/

Amend title to conform.

Senator MOORE explained the amendment.

The amendment was adopted.

Senator COURSON spoke on the Joint Resolution.

Senator MOORE moved that the text of the Joint Resolution be printed upon the pages of the Journal and that the Joint Resolution be given a second reading with notice of general amendments:

H. 3962 -- Reps. Wilkins, Harrison, D. Smith, Huff, Wells, Witherspoon, H. Brown, Sharpe, Meacham, Fulmer, Fleming, Mason, Wright, A. Young, Keegan, Cain, Tripp, Rice, Riser, Herdklotz, Seithel, Kelley, Trotter, Haskins, Simrill, Hutson, Wofford, Marchbanks, Cotty, Fair, R. Smith, Harrell, Stuart, Klauber, Walker and Sandifer: A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3, ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE SUPREME COURT; SECTION 8, ARTICLE V, RELATING TO THE COURT OF APPEALS; SECTION 13, ARTICLE V, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL CIRCUITS AND THE COURTS


Printed Page 1524 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

THEREOF; SECTION 17, ARTICLE V, RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OR RETIREMENT OF JUDGES OF THE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM; AND SECTION 18, ARTICLE V, RELATING TO VACANCIES IN THE SUPREME COURT, COURT OF APPEALS, AND THE CIRCUIT COURT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT JUDGES OF THESE COURTS MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FROM A LIST OF NOMINEES SUBMITTED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT BY ADDING SECTION 27 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR THE ABOVE JUDICIAL OFFICES AND FOR JUDGES OF OTHER COURTS OF UNIFORM JURISDICTION AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY PROVIDE BY LAW.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article V, Section 15 of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, is amended to read:

"Section 15. No person shall be eligible to the office of Chief Justice, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, or judge of the Circuit Court circuit court who is not at the time of his election a citizen of the United States and of this State, and has not attained the age of at least twenty-six thirty-two years, has not been a licensed attorney at law for at least five ten years, and has not been a resident of this State for five years next preceding his election.

Any justice or judge serving in office on the effective date of the provisions of this section requiring a justice or judge to be at least thirty-two years of age and to have at least ten years of service as a licensed attorney at law who is not of that age or who has not been licensed for this required period of time may continue to serve for the remainder of his current term and is considered to have the requisite age and years of service as a licensed attorney for purposes of future reelections to that judicial office."

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:

"Shall Section 15 of Article V of the Constitution of this State relating to qualifications for justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals and the circuit court be amended so as to increase from


Printed Page 1525 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

twenty-six to thirty-two the age requirement for election to these offices, to increase from five to ten the number of years which a person must have been a licensed attorney at law in order to be eligible for election to these offices, and to provide that any justice or judge serving in office on the effective date of the provisions of this section requiring a justice or judge to be at least thirty-two years of age and to have at least ten years of service as a licensed attorney at law who is not of that age or who has not been licensed for this required period of time may continue to serve for the remainder of his current term and is considered to have the requisite age and years of service as a licensed attorney at law for purposes of future reelections to that judicial office?

Yes []

No []

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'."

SECTION 3. It is proposed that Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 27. In addition to the qualifications for circuit court and Court of Appeals judges and Supreme Court justices contained in this article, the General Assembly by law shall establish a Judicial Merit Selection Commission to consider the qualifications and fitness of candidates for all judicial positions on these courts and on other courts of this State which are filled by election of the General Assembly. The General Assembly must elect the judges and justices from among the nominees of the commission to fill a vacancy on these courts.

No person may be elected to these judicial positions unless he or she has been found qualified by the commission. Before a sitting member of the General Assembly may submit an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of the General Assembly must first resign his office and have been out of office at least one year. Before a member of the commission may submit an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of the commission must not have been a member of the commission for a period of at least two years."

SECTION 4. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots


Printed Page 1526 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:

"Shall Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding Section 27 so as to provide that the General Assembly by law shall establish a judicial merit selection commission to nominate candidates for election to judicial positions on the courts of this State which are filled by election of the General Assembly, to provide that the General Assembly must elect judges and justices for these courts from among these nominees, to provide that no person may be elected to these judicial positions unless he or she has been found qualified by the commission, and to provide that before a sitting member of the General Assembly may submit an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of the General Assembly must first resign his office and have been out of office at least one year. Before a member of the commission may submit an application with the commission for his nomination to a judicial office, and before the commission may accept or consider such an application, the member of the commission must not have been a member of the commission for a period of at least two years?

Yes []

No []

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 "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:

Ayes 45; Nays 0

AYES
Alexander           Boan                Bryan
Cork                Courson             Courtney
Drummond            Elliott             Fair
Ford                Giese               Glover
Gregory             Hayes               Holland
Jackson             Land                Lander
Leatherman          Leventis            Martin
Matthews            McConnell           McGill
Mescher             Moore               O'Dell
Passailaigue        Patterson           Peeler
Rankin              Reese               Richter

Printed Page 1527 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

Rose                Russell             Ryberg
Saleeby             Setzler             Short
Smith, G.           Smith, J.V.         Thomas
Waldrep             Washington          Wilson
TOTAL--45

NAYS
TOTAL--0

The Joint Resolution was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading with notice of general amendments.

AMENDED, READ THE SECOND TIME

WITH NOTICE OF GENERAL AMENDMENTS

S. 128 -- Senator Rankin: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-460 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR DRIVING WHILE LICENSE IS CANCELED, SUSPENDED, OR REVOKED, SO AS TO DECREASE THE PERIOD OF INCARCERATION FROM SIXTY TO THIRTY DAYS FOR A SECOND OFFENSE, WHEN THE SUSPENSION IS NOT PURSUANT TO SECTION 56-5-2990, RELATING TO SUSPENSIONS FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill. The question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

The Judiciary Committee proposed the following amendment (JUD0128.001), which was adopted:

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

/SECTION 1. Section 56-1-460 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-1-460. Any person who drives a motor vehicle on any a public highway of this State when his license to drive is canceled, suspended, or revoked is guilty of a misdemeanor and must, upon conviction, must be:

(1) for a first offense, fined two hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days for the first violation,;


Printed Page 1528 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

(2) for the a second violation offense, fined five hundred dollars and or imprisoned for sixty thirty consecutive days,; and

(3) for the a third and subsequent violation offense, imprisoned for not less than ninety days nor more than six months, no portion of which may be suspended by the trial judge.

The Department of Public Safety, upon receiving a record of the conviction of any a person under violating this section upon a charge of driving a vehicle while his license was suspended for a definite period of time, shall extend the period of the suspension for an additional like period. If the original period of suspension has expired or terminated before trial and conviction, the Department of Public Safety shall again shall suspend the license of the person for an additional like period of time. If the time of suspension is not for a definite period of time, the suspension must be for an additional three months. If the license of a person cited for a violation of this section is suspended solely pursuant to the provisions of Section 56-25-20, then the additional period of suspension pursuant to this section is thirty days and the person does not have to offer proof of financial responsibility as required under Section 56-9-500 prior to before his license being is reinstated. If the conviction was upon a charge person was convicted of driving while a his license was revoked, the department shall not issue a new license for an additional period of one year from the date the person could otherwise have applied for a new license. Only those violations offenses which occurred within a period of five years including and immediately preceding the date of the last violation constitute prior violations offenses within the meaning of this section.

If the license of the person convicted was suspended pursuant to the provisions of Section 56-5-2990, then he must be punished as follows and no part of the minimum sentence may be suspended:

(1) for a first offense, imprisoned for not less than ten nor more than thirty days;

(2) for a second offense, imprisoned for not less than sixty days nor more than six months;

(3) for a third and subsequent offense, not less than six months nor more than three years."

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

Amend title to conform.

Senator COURTNEY explained the amendment.


Printed Page 1529 . . . . . Thursday, April 4, 1996

There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the second time and ordered placed on the third reading Calendar with notice of general amendments.

AMENDED, READ THE SECOND TIME

WITH NOTICE OF GENERAL AMENDMENTS

H. 3557 -- Rep. Kirsh: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 33-56-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE NOT REQUIRED TO FILE REGISTRATION STATEMENTS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE UNDER THE SOLICITATION OF CHARITABLE FUNDS ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY CIVIC ORGANIZATION WHICH IS TAX EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 501(c)(4) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE IS ALSO NOT REQUIRED TO FILE THESE REGISTRATION STATEMENTS.

The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill. The question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the Committee on Judiciary.

The Judiciary Committee proposed the following amendment (JUD3557.002), which was adopted:

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

/SECTION 1. Section 33-56-50 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 461 of 1994, is amended to read:

"Section 33-56-50. The following are not required to file registration statements with the Secretary of State, provided none of its fund-raising activities are carried on by professional solicitors:

(1) an educational institution which solicits contributions only from its students and their families, alumni, faculty, friends and other constituencies, trustees, corporations, foundations, and individuals who are interested in and supportive of the programs of the institution;

(2) persons requesting contributions for the relief of an individual specified by name at the time of the solicitation when all of the contributions collected without any deductions of any kind are turned over to the named beneficiary for his use, provided that a person soliciting the contributions is not a named beneficiary;

(3) charitable organizations which (a) do not intend to solicit nor receive contributions from the public in excess of five twenty thousand dollars during a calendar year or do not receive contributions from more than ten persons during a calendar year and (b) have received letters of tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service, if all of their functions,


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