The Commission shall not exceed twenty-seven members and shall be so constituted that (1) one third of the members of the Commission are public officials, or their representatives, unless the number of such officials reasonably available or willing to serve is less than one third of the membership of the Commission; (2) at least one third of the members are persons chosen in accordance with democratic selection procedures adequate to assure that they are representative of the poor in the area served; and (3) the remainder of the members are officials or members of business, industry, labor, religious, welfare, education, or other major groups and interests in the counties. Each member of the Commission selected to represent a specific geographic area within the counties must reside in the area he represents and at least ten qualified electors of each county shall be members of the commission.

All members shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of a majority of the members of the legislative delegations from Berkeley and Dorchester Counties, including the Senators representing the districts of which these counties are a part. The members shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed the usual per diem, mileage and subsistence as provided by law for members of boards, commissions and committees.

Any petition containing two hundred signatures of persons who feel that they are inadequately represented on the Commission shall require a prompt and fair hearing by the Commission. Upon receipt of such a petition, a description of the action taken to insure a prompt and fair hearing to the petitioners, and a statement of any action taken as a result of such a petition shall be promptly recorded in the records of the Commission.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 14-700.13; 1973 (58) 150.

Editor's Note

In Dorchester County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 512 of 1996.

In Georgetown County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 515 of 1996.

By Resolution 96-07, dated July 15, 1996, the Dorchester County Council has notified the Code Commissioner that it accepts the responsibility and authority for making the appointments provided in Act 512 of 1996 which were formerly made by the Dorchester County Legislative Delegation pursuant to the authority of this section.

By a resolution dated August 13, 1996, the Georgetown County Council has notified the Code Commissioner that it accepts the responsibility and authority for making the appointments provided in Act 515 of 1996 which were formerly made by the Georgetown County Legislative Delegation pursuant to the authority of this section.