Bill 286

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               286
Ratification Number:       24
Act Number                 281
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Election of board

(A281, R24, S286)

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 535 OF 1982, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SUMMERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 OF DORCHESTER COUNTY MUST BE ELECTED RATHER THAN APPOINTED AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE TRUSTEES MUST BE ELECTED, SO AS TO DELETE THE LIMITATION ON ANY TRUSTEE SERVING MORE THAN TWO SUCCESSIVE FOUR-YEAR TERMS AND PROVIDE FOR THE NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES TO THE BOARD BY PETITION INSTEAD OF STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY.

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

Election of board

SECTION 1. Section 2(b) of Act 535 of 1982, as last amended by Act 536 of 1986, is further amended to read:

"(b) Beginning January 1, 1983, the board of trustees of Summerville School District No. 2 shall consist of seven members who must be residents of the district they represent and who must be elected at large by the qualified electors of that district. Members of the board must be elected in a nonpartisan election conducted by the county election commission at the time of the 1982 general election. The seven candidates receiving the highest number of votes are elected. The four elected members of the board receiving the highest vote shall serve terms of four years and the three elected members receiving the next highest vote serve initial terms of two years each. Thereafter, their successors must be elected in nonpartisan elections held at the time of the general election every two years, as terms expire, for terms of four years. All members of the board shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify. Vacancies on the board must be filled by appointment of the county legislative delegation until the next general election at which time a successor must be elected in the same manner provided in this act for the unexpired term or for a full term as the case may be. Any person who wishes to become a candidate for election to the board shall file a petition containing the signatures of at least two hundred fifty qualified electors residing in the district with the Dorchester County Election Commission at least sixty days before the date set for the election but not earlier than ninety days prior to the election. Except for the number of signatures required, the petition must meet the requirements of Article 1, Chapter 11, Title 7. When certified, the commission shall place the name of the candidate on the ballot without regard to party affiliation.

A separate, nonpartisan ballot must be used for the election of the board. It shall comply substantially with the provisions of Article 3, Chapter 13, Title 7 of the 1976 Code, mutatis mutandi. The expenses of the election must be borne by the district."

Time effective

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