Indicates Matter Stricken

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Committee Report

February 6, 2025

 

H. 3529

 

Introduced by Reps. W. Newton, Bannister, Caskey, Wooten, Spann-Wilder, Calhoon, Ballentine, Robbins and Mitchell

 

S. Printed 2/6/25--H.

Read the first time January 14, 2025

 

________

 

The committee on House Judiciary

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3529) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 63-3-40, relating to family court judges elected from each judicial circuit, so as to increase by one, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

 

W. NEWTON for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill creates three new family court judge seats. One seat each in the ninth, the eleventh, and the fourteenth circuit. The nomination process for these judges may not begin until funding for these additional judges is appropriated. 

 

Judicial anticipates the need for 9.0 additional FTEs due to this bill. This includes three family court judges, with a salary for each of $211,849 and fringe of $154,711, three administrative assistants, with a salary for each of $44,000 and fringe of $20,240; and three court reporters, with a salary for each of $70,000 and fringe of $32,200, totaling $1,599,000 annually. The remaining $201,000 will be used for supplies, monthly allowances for the judges, and other general operating costs. Therefore, this bill will result in an increase in General Fund expenditures of $1,800,000 annually beginning in the year in which the General Assembly appropriates funding for the additional judges.  Judicial will request a General Fund appropriation increase to cover these expenses.

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-3-40, RELATING TO FAMILY COURT JUDGES ELECTED FROM EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SO AS TO INCREASE BY ONE THE NUMBER OF FAMILY COURT JUDGES IN THE NINTH, ELEVENTH, AND FOURTEENTH CIRCUITS.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 63-3-40(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (A) The General Assembly shall elect a number of family court judges from each judicial circuit as follows:

22	First Circuit	Four Judges
23	Second Circuit	Two Judges
24	Third Circuit	Three Judges
25	Fourth Circuit	Three Judges
26	Fifth Circuit	Four Judges
27	Sixth Circuit	Two Judges
28	Seventh Circuit	Four Judges
29	Eighth Circuit	Three Judges
30	Ninth Circuit	SixSeven Judges
31	Tenth Circuit	Three Judges
32	Eleventh Circuit	ThreeFour Judges
33	Twelfth Circuit	Three Judges
34	Thirteenth Circuit	Six Judges
35	Fourteenth Circuit	ThreeFour Judges
36	Fifteenth Circuit	Three Judges
37	Sixteenth Circuit	Three Judges.

SECTION 2.  The Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall begin the process of nominating candidates for the judicial offices authorized by the provisions of SECTION 1. 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 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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