South Carolina General Assembly

117th Session, 2007-2008

A314, R360, S1172

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill

Sponsors: Senators Knotts, Ford, Fair, Elliott, Thomas, Short, O'Dell, Reese and Anderson

Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\20565sd08.doc

Companion/Similar bill(s): 4698

Introduced in the Senate on March 4, 2008

Introduced in the House on April 30, 2008

Passed by the General Assembly on June 5, 2008

Governor's Action: June 11, 2008, Signed

Summary: Coroner's office

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

DateBodyAction Description with journal page number

3/4/2008SenateIntroduced and read first time SJ6

3/4/2008SenateReferred to Committee on JudiciarySJ6

3/17/2008SenateReferred to Subcommittee: Martin (ch), Malloy, Campsen, Williams, Massey

4/23/2008SenateCommittee report: Favorable with amendment JudiciarySJ22

4/24/2008SenateCommittee Amendment Adopted SJ81

4/24/2008SenateRead second time SJ81

4/29/2008SenateRead third time and sent to House SJ55

4/30/2008HouseIntroduced and read first time HJ9

4/30/2008HouseReferred to Committee on JudiciaryHJ9

6/3/2008HouseRecalled from Committee on JudiciaryHJ35

6/4/2008HouseRead second time HJ73

6/5/2008HouseRead third time and enrolled HJ54

6/5/2008Ratified R 360

6/11/2008Signed By Governor

6/20/2008Copies available

6/20/2008Effective date 06/11/08

7/11/2008Act No.314

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

3/4/2008

4/23/2008

4/24/2008

6/3/2008

(A314, R360, S1172)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17550, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FILLING OF VACANCIES IN THE OFFICE OF THE CORONER, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE VACANCIES SHALL BE FILLED AND FOR THE PERSON WHO SHALL ACT IN THE CORONER’S PLACE IF A VACANCY OR SUSPENSION IN THE OFFICE EXISTS.

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

Vacancies; person to act in place

SECTION1.Section 17550 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 52 of 2007, is further amended to read:

“Section 17550.(A)Except as provided in subsection (B), in the event of a vacancy in the office of coroner, the Governor shall fill the office by appointing a qualified replacement to serve until the earlier of the following:

(1)the next general election for the office of coroner; or

(2)the next general election, in which case an election shall be to fill the unexpired term.

In either circumstance, the person appointed by the Governor shall hold office until his successor shall qualify.

(B)If a county coroner is suspended by the Governor upon the coroner’s indictment or for other reasons, the chief magistrate of that county shall act as coroner until the suspended coroner is reinstated or until a coroner is elected and qualifies in the next general election for coroners, whichever occurs first.

(C)Except as provided in subsection (B), the chief deputy or second in command of the coroner’s office shall act as coroner until the vacancy is filled by the Governor’s appointment. While acting as coroner, the chief deputy or second in command is subject to the duties and liabilities incident to the office of coroner and shall receive the same salary as the former coroner at the time of the vacancy.”

Time effective

SECTION2.This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 5th day of June, 2008.

Approved the 11th day of June, 2008.

______

1