The Committee on Judiciary proposes the following amendment (LC-3530.AHB0002H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 3, by striking Section 22-1-15(D) and inserting:

 (D) The provisions of Section 22-1-10(B)(2)(c) do not apply to a magistrate serving on June 30, 20252026, during his tenure in office including subsequent reappointments.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 4, by striking the first sentence of Section 22-3-10 and inserting:

 Section 22-3-10. (A) Magistrates have concurrent civil jurisdiction in the following cases:

Amend the bill further, SECTION 4, Section 22-3-10, by adding a subsection to read:

 (B) Limited discovery is allowed in magistrates court in actions provided in this section. The discovery allowed is limited to potential witness disclosures, records intended to be produced at trial, and self-authenticating medical records and bills.

Amend the bill further, by adding appropriately numbered SECTIONS to read:

SECTION X. Section 22-3-20 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 22-3-20. No magistrate shall have cognizance of a civil action:
 (1) Inin which the State is a party, except an action for a penalty and not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars; or
 (2) Whenwhen the title to real property shall come in question, except as provided in Article 11 of this chapter.

SECTION X. Article 1, Chapter 7, Title 18 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 Section 18-7-95. If a magistrate fails to comply with Sections 18-7-60, 18-7-70, or 18-7-80, or orders issued pursuant to these sections, an appellate court, in its discretion, may declare a magistrate unavailable as contemplated pursuant to Section 18-7-90.

Amend the bill further, by striking Section 7 and inserting:

SECTION 7. This act takes effect on July 1, 20252026; except that SECTION 4 takes effect on July 1, 2028, and SECTION 5 takes effect on July 1, 2030.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.