(A) There is established the South Carolina Sentencing Guidelines Commission composed of thirteen voting members as follows:

(1) a justice of the Supreme Court, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

(2) two circuit court judges, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

(3) three members of the Senate to be designated by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee;

(4) three members of the House designated by the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee;

(5) an attorney, experienced in the practice of criminal law, appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates submitted by the President of the South Carolina Bar;

(6) the Dean of the Law School of the University of South Carolina or his designee;

(7) the South Carolina Attorney General, or his designee, to serve ex officio;

(8) a solicitor appointed by the Chairman of the South Carolina Circuit Solicitors' Association.

(B) In addition, there are four nonvoting members of the commission as follows:

(1) the Chief of the State Law Enforcement Division, or his designee, to serve ex officio;

(2) the Chairman of the Commission on Indigent Defense, or his designee who must be a member of that commission or who must be the director of the commission;

(3) the Chairman of the State Board of Corrections, or his designee who must be a member of that board or who must be the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections;

(4) the Chairman of the Board of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, or his designee who must be a member of that board or who must be the Commissioner or Executive Director of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

The appointed members of the commission shall serve for a term of four years. The members of the commission who are designated to serve by a particular person or official shall serve at the pleasure of that person or official making the designation and also only so long as the designated member holds the official position entitling him to membership on the commission. Members are eligible for reappointment, and any vacancy must be filled in the manner of original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

The members of the commission shall elect one member to serve as chairman for a term of one year. The members of the commission may also elect any additional officers they consider necessary for the efficient discharge of their duties. Members are eligible for reelection as officers of the commission.

HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 152, Section 2; 1995 Act No. 7, Part IV, Section 71(B).