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Indicates Matter Stricken
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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
COMMITTEE REPORT
February 5, 2020
H. 4974
Introduced by Reps. Lucas, Simrill, Rutherford, Pope, McCoy, G.M. Smith and Bannister
S. Printed 2/5/20--H.
Read the first time January 21, 2020.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4974) to amend Section 14-5-610, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the division of the state into sixteen judicial circuits and additional, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Section 14-5-610(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B) One judge must be elected from the second, sixth, and twelfth circuits. Two judges must be elected from the first, third, fourth, seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth circuits. Three judges must be elected from the fifth and, ninth, fourteenth, and fifteenth circuits. Four judges must be elected from the thirteenth circuit."
SECTION 2. Section 63-3-40(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A) The General Assembly shall elect a number of family court judges from each judicial circuit as follows:
First Circuit Three Four Judges
Second Circuit Two Judges
Third Circuit Three Judges
Fourth Circuit Three Judges
Fifth Circuit Four Judges
Sixth Circuit Two Judges
Seventh Circuit Three Judges
Eighth Circuit Three Judges
Ninth Circuit Six Judges
Tenth Circuit Three Judges
Eleventh Circuit Three Judges
Twelfth Circuit Three Judges
Thirteenth Circuit Six Judges
Fourteenth Circuit Three Judges
Fifteenth Circuit Three Judges
Sixteenth Circuit Two Three Judges"
SECTION 3. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall begin the process of nominating candidates for the judicial offices authorized by the provisions of SECTIONS 1 and 2, except that the additional judicial office in Section 1 added in the fourteenth judicial circuit is not effective until January 1, 2022. The General Assembly then shall elect these judges from the nominees of the commission; except that, the nominating process may not begin until funding for the additional judges is provided in the general appropriations act.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval of the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
PETER M. MCCOY, JR. for Committee.
TO AMEND SECTION 14-5-610, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DIVISION OF THE STATE INTO SIXTEEN JUDICIAL CIRCUITS AND ADDITIONAL AT-LARGE JUDGES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AT-LARGE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES FROM SIXTEEN TO SEVENTEEN; AND TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-40, RELATING TO FAMILY COURT JUDGES ELECTED FROM EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT AND ADDITIONAL AT-LARGE JUDGES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AT-LARGE FAMILY COURT JUDGES FROM EIGHT TO TEN.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 14-5-610(C) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(C) In addition to the above judges authorized by this section, there must be sixteen seventeen additional circuit judges elected by the General Assembly from the State at large for terms of office of six years. These additional judges must be elected without regard to county or circuit of residence. Each office of the at-large judges is a separate office and is assigned numerical designations of Seat No. 1 through Seat No. 16 17, respectively."
SECTION 2. Section 63-3-40(D) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(D) In addition to the judges authorized by this section, there must be eight ten additional family court judges elected by the General Assembly from the State at large for terms of office of six years. These additional judges must be elected without regard to county or circuit of residence. Each office of the at-large judges is a separate office and is assigned numerical designations of Seat No. 1 through Seat No. 8 10, respectively."
SECTION 3. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall begin the process of nominating candidates for the judicial offices authorized by the provisions of SECTIONS 1 and 2, and the General Assembly then shall elect these judges from the nominees of the commission; except that, the nominating process may not begin until funding for the additional judges is provided in the general appropriations act.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on February 5, 2020 at 4:38 PM