Sen. Michael Johnson

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO AMEND ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, JUDGES ON THE COURT OF APPEALS, AND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE RATHER THAN BEING ELECTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO REPEAL PROVISIONS REQUIRING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ESTABLISH A JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-80(A), RELATING TO THE NOMINATION OF QUALIFIED JUDICIAL CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE JUDICIAL MERIT SCREENING COMMISSION MUST SUBMIT THE NAMES OF ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-10, RELATING TO JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION, APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATIONS, AND TERM OF OFFICE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TWO MEMBERS MUST BE APPOINTED FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND ONE MEMBER MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WHO SHALL SERVE AS CHAIRMAN; TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LEGISLATIVE DELEGATIONS; TO LIMIT COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP TO TWO TERMS; TO PROHIBIT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM SERVING ON THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL ELECT OFFICERS; TO PROVIDE THAT FORMER MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MUST BE OUT OF OFFICE FOR FIVE YEARS BEFORE SERVING ON THE COMMISSION; AND TO PROVIDE THAT CURRENT JUDGES AND FORMER JUDGES MAY NOT SERVE ON THE COMMISSION; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-80, RELATING TO THE NOMINATION OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 27, ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF JUDGES BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE BY WHICH THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS JUDGES AND JUSTICES RATHER THAN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTING JUDGES AND JUSTICES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-10, RELATING TO JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND TERMS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF SEVEN MEMBERS APPOINTED FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND AT LEAST TWO OF THE MEMBERS MUST NOT BE LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-20, RELATING TO INVESTIGATION BY COMMISSION; PUBLICATION OF VACANCIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN INCUMBENT JUDGE SHALL NOTIFY THE SUPREME COURT OF HIS INTEREST IN CONTINUING TO SERVE ON THE BENCH RATHER THAN SEEKING RE-ELECTION AND MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-30, RELATING TO HEARINGS; EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED AT THE HEARING AND FINDINGS OF FACT BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT AND ALSO PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNOR; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-70, RELATING TO PROHIBITION AGAINST DUAL OFFICES, PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, AND PLEDGES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CANDIDATES MAY BE APPOINTED, RATHER THAN ELECTED; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-80, RELATING TO NOMINATION OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-90, RELATING TO APPROVAL OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR SHALL TRANSMIT JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE SENATE FOR ITS ADVICE AND CONSENT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 2-19-100, RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY OF RETIRED JUDGES FOR APPOINTMENT, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 42-17-20, RELATING TO A HEARING BEFORE COMMISSION ON COMPENSATION PAYABLE, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN THE COUNTY SEAT WITHIN A DISTRICT UNLESS AN ALTERNATIVE COURTHOUSE IS PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY CLERK.

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE CLAUDE R. MCMILLAN III UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SECURITY FOR THE L. MARION GRESSETTE BUILDING, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE MARTHA CASTO UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HER FOR HER FORTY-ONE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-220, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY OF A NONPROFIT HOUSING CORPORATION ONLY APPLIES TO THE PERCENTAGE OF PROPERTY THAT EQUALS THE CORPORATION'S OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY, TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION, AND TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CERTIFICATION AND NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.

AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 470 OF 2000, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ELECTION DISTRICTS OF MEMBERS OF ROCK HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 IN YORK COUNTY, SO AS TO REAPPORTION THESE ELECTION DISTRICTS, TO UPDATE THE MAP NUMBER ON WHICH THESE SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS ARE DELINEATED, AND TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION REGARDING THESE REVISED ELECTION DISTRICTS. - RATIFIED TITLE