South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 3529
Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter
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Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee Report February 6, 2025 H. 3529 Introduced by Reps. W. Newton, Bannister, Caskey, Wooten, Spann-Wilder, Calhoon, Ballentine, Robbins and Mitchell S. Printed 2/6/25--H. Read the first time January 14, 2025 ________ The committee on House Judiciary To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3529) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 63-3-40, relating to family court judges elected from each judicial circuit, so as to increase by one, etc., respectfully Report: That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass: W. NEWTON for Committee. statement of estimated fiscal impact Explanation of Fiscal Impact State Expenditure This bill creates three new family court judge seats. One seat each in the ninth, the eleventh, and the fourteenth circuit. The nomination process for these judges may not begin until funding for these additional judges is appropriated. Judicial anticipates the need for 9.0 additional FTEs due to this bill. This includes three family court judges, with a salary for each of $211,849 and fringe of $154,711, three administrative assistants, with a salary for each of $44,000 and fringe of $20,240; and three court reporters, with a salary for each of $70,000 and fringe of $32,200, totaling $1,599,000 annually. The remaining $201,000 will be used for supplies, monthly allowances for the judges, and other general operating costs. Therefore, this bill will result in an increase in General Fund expenditures of $1,800,000 annually beginning in the year in which the General Assembly appropriates funding for the additional judges. Judicial will request a General Fund appropriation increase to cover these expenses. Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office _______
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Committee Report
February 6, 2025
H. 3529
Introduced by Reps. W. Newton, Bannister, Caskey, Wooten, Spann-Wilder, Calhoon, Ballentine, Robbins and Mitchell
S. Printed 2/6/25--H.
Read the first time January 14, 2025
________
The committee on House Judiciary
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3529) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 63-3-40, relating to family court judges elected from each judicial circuit, so as to increase by one, etc., respectfully
Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
W. NEWTON for Committee.
statement of estimated fiscal impact
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
State Expenditure
This bill creates three new family court judge seats. One seat each in the ninth, the eleventh, and the fourteenth circuit. The nomination process for these judges may not begin until funding for these additional judges is appropriated.
Judicial anticipates the need for 9.0 additional FTEs due to this bill. This includes three family court judges, with a salary for each of $211,849 and fringe of $154,711, three administrative assistants, with a salary for each of $44,000 and fringe of $20,240; and three court reporters, with a salary for each of $70,000 and fringe of $32,200, totaling $1,599,000 annually. The remaining $201,000 will be used for supplies, monthly allowances for the judges, and other general operating costs. Therefore, this bill will result in an increase in General Fund expenditures of $1,800,000 annually beginning in the year in which the General Assembly appropriates funding for the additional judges. Judicial will request a General Fund appropriation increase to cover these expenses.
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
_______
A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-3-40, RELATING TO FAMILY COURT JUDGES ELECTED FROM EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SO AS TO INCREASE BY ONE THE NUMBER OF FAMILY COURT JUDGES IN THE NINTH, ELEVENTH, AND FOURTEENTH CIRCUITS. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: SECTION 1. Section 63-3-40(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read: (A) The General Assembly shall elect a number of family court judges from each judicial circuit as follows: 22 First Circuit Four Judges 23 Second Circuit Two Judges 24 Third Circuit Three Judges 25 Fourth Circuit Three Judges 26 Fifth Circuit Four Judges 27 Sixth Circuit Two Judges 28 Seventh Circuit Four Judges 29 Eighth Circuit Three Judges 30 Ninth Circuit SixSeven Judges 31 Tenth Circuit Three Judges 32 Eleventh Circuit ThreeFour Judges 33 Twelfth Circuit Three Judges 34 Thirteenth Circuit Six Judges 35 Fourteenth Circuit ThreeFour Judges 36 Fifteenth Circuit Three Judges 37 Sixteenth Circuit Three Judges.
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-3-40, RELATING TO FAMILY COURT JUDGES ELECTED FROM EACH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, SO AS TO INCREASE BY ONE THE NUMBER OF FAMILY COURT JUDGES IN THE NINTH, ELEVENTH, AND FOURTEENTH CIRCUITS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 63-3-40(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
(A) The General Assembly shall elect a number of family court judges from each judicial circuit as follows:
22 First Circuit Four Judges
23 Second Circuit Two Judges
24 Third Circuit Three Judges
25 Fourth Circuit Three Judges
26 Fifth Circuit Four Judges
27 Sixth Circuit Two Judges
28 Seventh Circuit Four Judges
29 Eighth Circuit Three Judges
30 Ninth Circuit SixSeven Judges
31 Tenth Circuit Three Judges
32 Eleventh Circuit ThreeFour Judges
33 Twelfth Circuit Three Judges
34 Thirteenth Circuit Six Judges
35 Fourteenth Circuit ThreeFour Judges
36 Fifteenth Circuit Three Judges
37 Sixteenth Circuit Three Judges.
22
First Circuit
Four Judges
23
Second Circuit
Two Judges
24
Third Circuit
Three Judges
25
Fourth Circuit
Three Judges
26
Fifth Circuit
Four Judges
27
Sixth Circuit
Two Judges
28
Seventh Circuit
Four Judges
29
Eighth Circuit
Three Judges
30
Ninth Circuit
SixSeven Judges
31
Tenth Circuit
Three Judges
32
Eleventh Circuit
ThreeFour Judges
33
Twelfth Circuit
Three Judges
34
Thirteenth Circuit
Six Judges
35
Fourteenth Circuit
ThreeFour Judges
36
Fifteenth Circuit
Three Judges
37
Sixteenth Circuit
Three Judges.
SECTION 2. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall begin the process of nominating candidates for the judicial offices authorized by the provisions of SECTION 1. The General Assembly then shall elect these judges from the nominees of the commission; except that, the nominating process may not begin until funding for the additional judges is provided in the general appropriations act. SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. ----XX----
SECTION 2. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall begin the process of nominating candidates for the judicial offices authorized by the provisions of SECTION 1. The General Assembly then shall elect these judges from the nominees of the commission; except that, the nominating process may not begin until funding for the additional judges is provided in the general appropriations act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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