(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

AMENDED

February 19, 2015

S. 8

Introduced by Senators L. Martin, Campsen, Hembree, Setzler and Gregory

S. Printed 2/19/15--H.

Read the first time January 28, 2015.

            

A BILL

TO RATIFY AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE VI OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS OF THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE THAT UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL SERVING IN OFFICE ON THE DATE OF THE RATIFICATION OF THIS PROVISION THE ADJUTANT GENERAL MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE FOR A TERM NOT COTERMINOUS WITH THE GOVERNOR, MAY BE REMOVED ONLY FOR CAUSE, AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL PROVIDE BY LAW FOR THE TERM, DUTIES, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE, THE PROCEDURES BY WHICH THE APPOINTMENT IS MADE, AND THE PROCEDURES BY WHICH THE ADJUTANT GENERAL MAY BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE; AND TO RATIFY AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4, ARTICLE XIII, RELATING TO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL AND HIS STAFF OFFICERS, TO UPDATE REFERENCES TO HIS TITLE AND PROVIDE THAT THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S MILITARY RANK IS MAJOR GENERAL AS OPPOSED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL, AND TO PROVIDE THAT UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL SERVING IN OFFICE ON THE DATE OF THE RATIFICATION OF THIS PROVISION, HE MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY SECTION 7, ARTICLE VI.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    A.        The amendment to Section 7, Article VI of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, prepared under the terms of Joint Resolution 297 of 2014, having been submitted to the qualified electors at the General Election of 2014 as prescribed in Section 1, Article XVI of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, and a favorable vote having been received on the amendment, is ratified and declared to be a part of the Constitution so that Section 7, Article VI of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding the following new paragraph at the end:

"Beginning upon the expiration of the term of the Adjutant General serving in office on the date of the ratification of the provisions of this paragraph, the Adjutant General must be appointed by the Governor, upon the advice and consent of the Senate. The appointed Adjutant General shall serve for a term not coterminous with the Governor and may be removed only for cause. The General Assembly shall provide by law for the term, duties, compensation, and qualifications for office, the procedures by which the appointment is made, and the procedures by which the Adjutant General may be removed from office."

B.        The amendment to Section 4, Article XIII of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, prepared under the terms of Joint Resolution 297 of 2014, having been submitted to the qualified electors at the General Election of 2014 as prescribed in Section 1, Article XVI of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, and a favorable vote having been received on the amendment, is ratified and declared to be a part of the Constitution so that Section 4, Article XIII of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 4.    There must be an Adjutant General. The position of Adjutant General is recognized as holding the rank of Major General, and the Adjutant General's duties and compensation must be prescribed by law. The Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint staff officers as the General Assembly may direct.

Beginning upon the expiration of the term of the Adjutant General serving in office on the date of the ratification of the provisions of this paragraph, the Adjutant General must be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, in the manner provided in Section 7, Article VI."