South Carolina General Assembly
104th Session, 1981-1982

Bill 3272

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3272
Ratification Number:       330
Act Number                 485
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Provide for the election of seven members
                           of the Public Service Commission from the six
                           congressional districts as constituted on
                           January 1, 1981
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A485, R330, H3272)

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FROM THE SIX CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AS CONSTITUTED ON JANUARY 1, 1981, FOR THE TERMS OF OFFICE FOR THOSE MEMBERS ELECTED DURING THE 1982 SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND FOR THE FILING OF VACANCIES IN SUCH SEATS.

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

Legislative findings

Section 1. The General Assembly finds that pursuant to Section 58-3-20 of the 1976 Code it is required to provide for the election of seven members of the Public Service Commission during the 1982 session, one from each of the six congressional districts established according to the official United States Census of 1980, and one to be elected at large. The candidates for election by the General Assembly must be nominated by the Public Service Commission Merit Selection Panel and screened by the Joint Legislative Screening Committee.

The General Assembly further finds that, because a congressional reapportionment plan for South Carolina based upon the 1980 census has not been enacted, the Merit Selection Panel has been substantially delay in its screening and nomination of candidates for consideration by the General Assembly. In order to eliminate the confusion surrounding the screening and nominating of candiates for the Public Service Commission due to the uncertainty of the new congressional districts, the General Assembly, by the adoption of this Joint Resolution, has determined to establish the election districts for the purpose of electing members of the Public Service Commission during 1982 only.

Election of members of Public Service Commission

Section 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 58-3-20 of the 1976 Code and only for purposes of the 1982 election, those members of the Public Service Commission to be elected in 1982 shall be elected from the six congressional districts as they were constituted on January 1, 1981, and one member from the State at large. The term of each of the seven commissioners elected in 1982 shall be for four years and until their successors are elected and qualify.

In the event vacancies occur on the Commission during the term of those commission members elected in 1982, successors shall be elected from the six congressional districts as those districts were constituted on January 1, 1981, and one member from the State at large, for the remainder of the unexpired term or terms. Members of the Commission whose terms expire July 1, 1982, shall continue to serve as commissioners until their successors are elected and qualify pursuant to the provisions of this resolution for terms extending until the General Assembly provides for the election of members of the Commission based upon the seven public service commission districts as they were constituted on January 1, 1981.

Time effective

Section 3. This act shall take effect upon the approval by the Governor.