South Carolina § 2-20-340 - Public hearings concerning candidates; testimony; executive sessions; findings; publication; withdrawal of candidacy.

§ 2-20-340. Public hearings concerning candidates; testimony; executive sessions; findings; publication; withdrawal of candidacy.

(A) Upon completion of the investigation, the chairman of the commission shall schedule a public hearing concerning the qualifications of the candidates. Any person other than the candidate who desires to testify at the hearing shall furnish a written statement of his proposed testimony to the chairman of the commission no later than two weeks prior to the date and time set for the hearing unless the commission determines that sufficient cause exists for allowing the submitting individual's testimony after the deadline. The commission shall determine the persons who may testify at the hearing. All testimony, including documents furnished to the commission, must be submitted under oath and persons knowingly furnishing false information either orally or in writing are subject to the penalties provided by law for perjury and false swearing.

(B) During the course of the investigation, the commission may schedule an executive session at which each candidate, and other persons whom the commission wishes to interview, may be interviewed by the commission on matters pertinent to the candidate's qualification for the office to be filled.

(C)(1) A reasonable time after the completion of the investigation and public hearing, the commission shall render its tentative findings as to whether the candidate is qualified for the office to be filled and its reasons therefore as to each candidate.

(2) As soon as possible after the completion of the hearing, a verbatim copy of the testimony, documents submitted at the hearing, and findings of fact shall be transcribed and published or otherwise made available in a reasonable number of copies to members of the General Assembly prior to the date of the scheduled election. Also, a copy must be furnished to each candidate and anyone else upon request. A charge for these copies may be made as authorized in the Freedom of Information Act.

(D) A candidate may withdraw at any stage of the proceedings, and in this event, no further inquiry or consideration of his candidacy may be made.

HISTORY: 2017 Act No. 17 (S.213), SECTION 1, eff May 9, 2017.