A bill

TO AMEND the south carolina code of laws by amending SECTION 7-25-210, RELATING TO the removal of CAMPAIGN SIGNS, SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR CANDIDATES TO LEAVE CAMPAIGN SIGNS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY MORE THAN TWENTY-ONE CALENDAR DAYS AFTER AN ELECTION.

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

SECTION 1.   Section 7-25-210 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   Section 7-25-210.   (A) It is unlawful to deface, vandalize, tamper with, or remove a lawfully placed political campaign sign prior to the election without the permission of the candidate or party.

   (B) This section does not apply to a governmental entity when a political campaign sign is removed because of noncompliance with applicable law, or because an employee of the governmental entity removing the sign is working within the course and scope of his employment.

   (C)(1) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a candidate for elective office is responsible for the timely removal of the candidate's campaign signs from all public property following an election. It is unlawful for a candidate to allow his campaign signs to remain on or affixed to any public property more than twenty-one calendar days following the applicable election or second race or runoff resulting from that election, if any.

      (2) Campaign signs not timely removed from public property as provided in this subsection may be removed by the appropriate state, county, or municipal maintenance or law enforcement entity.

   (D) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A) or (C)(1) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

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

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