Bill 3645

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3645
Ratification Number:       398
Act Number                 549
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Abolish the Hampton County Board of
                           Education on June 30, 1982

(A549, R398, H3645)

AN ACT TO ABOLISH THE HAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ON JUNE 30, 1982, TO ABOLISH THE OFFICE OF HAMPTON COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION ON JUNE 30, 1985, TO DEVOLVE THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTIES UPON THE TRUSTEES FOR HAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOS. 1 AND 2; TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTION RATHER THAN APPOINTMENT OF SUCH TRUSTEES; TO MAKE ALL THE FOREGOING CONTINGENT UPON A FAVORABLE VOTE OF THE ELECTORS OF HAMPTON COUNTY AT A REFERENDUM; AND TO PROVIDE FOR SUCH A REFERENDUM IN HAMPTON COUNTY IN MAY, 1982.

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

Board of education abolished, trustees elected

Section 1. Contingent upon approval of the total proposal by a majority of the qualified electors voting in a referendum to be held in May, 1982, as hereafter provided for, the following shall occur:

(a) The Hampton County Board of Education shall be abolished at midnight on June 30, 1982; the office of the Hampton County Superintendent of Education shall be abolished at midnight on June 30, 1985; upon abolition their respective duties shall devolve upon the trustees for Hampton County School Districts Nos. 1 and 2; and after June 30, 1982, the Hampton County Treasurer shall pay any proper claim approved by a majority of the trustees of either School District No. 1 or School District No. 2, on behalf of their respective districts, provided sufficient funds are on deposit in the proper district account.

(b) Beginning with the general election in November, 1982, trustees for Hampton County School Districts Nos. 1 and 2 shall be elected by a plurality vote of the electors within their respective district qualified and voting at the general election for representatives. The number of trustees shall be five for each school district and their terms of office shall begin January 1, 1983. The three candidates in each district receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for terms of four years and the remaining two trusts shall have initial terms of two years, after which all terms shall be for four years. In each case trustees shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify and each school board shall elect its chairman annually. Trustees shall receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred. A candidate for membership on a school board must reside in the school district he seeks to represent and all candidates offering for election in November, 1982, must file during the period August 16-31, 1982.

Referendum conducted

Section 2. The Hampton County Commissioners of Election shall conduct a referendum within the respective county school districts during May, 1982, to determine whether the provisions of Section 1 of this act shall be implemented. The specific date for the referendum shall be determined by the county election commission. The county election commission shall thrice publish notice of the referendum in a newspaper of countywide circulation, the last publication to be not less than one nor more than two weeks before the referendum. All election laws contained in Title 7 of the 1976 Code applicable to county referendum shall apply. Ballots shall be prepared and distributed to the various voting precincts of the county with the following printed thereon:

"Shall the Hampton County Board of Education be abolished on June 30, 1982, and its duties placed upon the trustees for Hampton County School Districts Nos. 1 and 2; shall the office of the Hampton County Superintendent of Education be abolished on June 30, 1985, and its duties placed upon the trustees for Hampton County School Districts Nos. 1 and 2; and shall the trustees for Hampton County School Districts Nos. 1 and 2 (five trustees per district), rather than being appointed, be elected by plurality vote during general elections for representatives beginning with the election in November, 1982, with their terms to begin January 1, 1983, and with terms of office to be four years, except that of those initially elected two from each district shall have initial terms of two years?

I agree to the above proposals __ Yes __ No

Place a check or cross mark in the block which expresses your answer."

Results certified

Section 3. The Hampton County Commissioners of Election shall certify the results of the referendum directed in Section 2 of this act to the Hampton County Legislative Delegation and to the South Carolina Code Commissioner.

Time effective

Section 4. This act shall take effect upon the approval by the Governor.