(A) There is created a board to be known as the South Carolina Crime Victim Advisory Board to consist of eleven members to be appointed by the Attorney General. Of the original seven members, at least two of the members shall have been admitted to practice law in this State for not less than five years next preceding their appointment, one member shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine under the laws of this State, and one member shall have at least four years' administrative experience in a court-related Victim's Assistance Fund, provided that such a qualified person is available. Of the four additional members, one must be a law enforcement officer with at least five years' administrative experience, one shall have at least five years' experience in directing sexual assault prevention or treatment services, one shall have at least five years' experience in providing services for domestic violence victims, and one shall have been a victim of crime.

(B) The term of office of each appointed member is five years and until his successor is appointed and qualified. Of those seven members first appointed, two shall serve for a term of one year, two for a term of two years, one for a term of three years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of five years, with the initial terms to be designated by the Attorney General when making the initial appointments. The initial terms of four additional members to be appointed as provided in this section are for two, three, four, and five years, respectively, the initial term of each member to be designated by the Attorney General when making the appointment. The Attorney General shall select a chairman. The board may elect a secretary and other officers as deemed necessary.

(C) Any vacancy must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by appointment in the same manner of the initial appointments. On June 30, 2017, the terms of the members of the board currently serving shall terminate, and members serving on that date, or subsequently appointed by the Attorney General, are eligible for reappointment at the discretion of the Attorney General.

The board shall meet at least twice each year and must be subject to the call of the chairperson, to consider improvements in and monitor the effectiveness of the Victim Compensation Fund, and to review and comment on the budget and approve the regulations pertaining to the Victim Compensation Fund and the Victim/Witness Assistance Program of Article 14. The members of the board shall receive the same subsistence, mileage, and per diem as is provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions, to be paid from the Victim Compensation Fund as created by this article.

HISTORY: 1982 Act No. 455, Section 2; 1984 Act No. 489, Section 1; 2008 Act No. 273, Section 4, eff June 4, 2008; 2017 Act No. 96 (S.289), Section 5.E, eff July 1, 2017.

Effect of Amendment

2017 Act No. 96, Pt. II, Section 5.E, inserted the paragraph identifiers; substituted "Attorney General" for "Governor" throughout the section; in (C), added the second sentence, relating to the termination of board members currently serving; and made nonsubstantive changes.