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COMMITTEE REPORT
April 11, 2007
S. 156
Introduced by Senators Campsen, McConnell, Leatherman, Vaughn, Courson, Hayes, Richardson, Ritchie, McGill, Knotts, Elliott, Alexander, Verdin and Fair
S. Printed 4/11/07--H.
Read the first time January 24, 2007.
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 156) to ratify an amendment to Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, relating to sessions of the General Assembly, so as to provide that, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
JAMES H. HARRISON for Committee.
TO RATIFY AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT, AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES ON THE SECOND TUESDAY IN JANUARY OF EACH YEAR, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY RECEDE FOR A TIME PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY CALENDAR DAYS BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE RECEDING BODY OR FOR MORE THAN THIRTY DAYS BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE RECEDING BODY, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH BODY MAY PROVIDE FOR MEETINGS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS IT CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE AND TO AUTHORIZE AN ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION FOLLOWING THE ELECTION OF SENATORS; AND TO RATIFY AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III BY DELETING SECTION 21, WHICH PROVIDES THAT NEITHER HOUSE, DURING THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SHALL WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE OTHER ADJOURN FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS, NOR TO ANY OTHER PLACE THAN THAT IN WHICH IT SHALL BE AT THE TIME SITTING.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The amendment to Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, prepared under the terms of Joint Resolution 178 of 2005, having been submitted to the qualified electors at the General Election of 2006 as prescribed in Section 1, Article XVI of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, and a favorable vote having been received on the amendment, is ratified and declared to be a part of the constitution so that Section 9, Article III is amended to read:
"Section 9. The annual session of the General Assembly shall convene at the State Capitol Building in the City of Columbia on the second Tuesday of January of each year. After the convening of the General Assembly, nothing in this section shall prohibit the Senate or the House of Representatives, or both, from receding for a time period not to exceed thirty consecutive calendar days at a time by a majority vote of the members of the body of the General Assembly seeking to recede for a time period not to exceed thirty consecutive calendar days, or from receding for a time period of more than thirty consecutive calendar days at a time by a two-thirds vote of the members of the body of the General Assembly seeking to recede for more than thirty consecutive calendar days at a time. Each body shall sit in session at the State Capitol Building in the City of Columbia and may provide for meetings during the legislative session as it shall consider appropriate. Furthermore, the Senate or the House of Representatives, or both, may meet on the first Tuesday following the certification of the election of its members for not more than three days following the general election in even-numbered years for the purpose of organizing. If the casualties of war or contagious disease render it unsafe to meet at the seat of government, the Governor, by proclamation, may appoint a more secure and convenient place of meeting. Members of the General Assembly shall not receive any compensation for more than forty days of any one session."
SECTION 2. The amendment deleting Section 21, Article III of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, prepared under the terms of Joint Resolution 178 of 2005, having been submitted to the qualified electors at the General Election of 2006 as prescribed in Section 1, Article XVI of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, and a favorable vote having been received on the amendment, is ratified and declared to be a part of the constitution deleting Section 21, Article III which read:
"Section 21. Neither house, during the session of the General Assembly, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which it shall be at the time sitting."
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