PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT BY ADDING SECTION 28, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, SHALL APPROPRIATE, OUT OF THE ESTIMATED REVENUE OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR FOR WHICH THE APPROPRIATIONS ARE MADE, TO THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO ONE PERCENT OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE OF THE LATEST COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS IN REGARD TO THIS REQUIREMENT.

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

SECTION    1.    It is proposed that Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 28.    (A)    The General Assembly, in the annual general appropriations act, shall appropriate, out of the estimated revenue of the general fund for the fiscal year for which the appropriations are made, to the Judicial Department an amount equal to one percent of the general fund revenue of the latest completed fiscal year.

(B)    This appropriation must be contained in the Ways and Means Committee report on the general appropriations bill, the general appropriations bill at the time of third reading in the House of Representatives, the Senate Finance Committee report on the general appropriations bill, the general appropriations bill at the time of a third reading in the Senate, and in any conference report on the general appropriations bill.

(C)    This appropriation shall be excluded from the calculation of any across the board agency base reductions mandated by the Budget and Control Board or the General Assembly."

SECTION    2.    The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding Section 28 so as to provide that the General Assembly, in the annual general appropriations act, shall appropriate, out of the estimated revenue of the general fund for the fiscal year for which the appropriations are made, to the Judicial Department an amount equal to one percent of the general fund revenue of the latest completed fiscal year, and to provide for related procedural provisions in regard to this requirement?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.