H*3527(Rat #0287, Act #0234 of 2012)  General Bill, By Gilliard, McEachern, 
Spires, Butler Garrick, King, Jefferson, Sabb, Munnerlyn, V.S. Moss, 
Cobb-Hunter, Herbkersman, Willis, Harrell, Pope, D.C. Moss, Norman, Hearn, 
Horne, Murphy, Bikas, Viers, Whipper and R.L. Brown
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 24-3-970 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR AN INMATE INCARCERATED IN A
 STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITY, OR A PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF OR
 ENABLING SUCH AN INMATE, TO USE AN INTERNET-BASED SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITE TO
 HARASS, INTIMIDATE, OR CONTACT A CRIME VICTIM AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES. -
 ratified title

   02/02/11  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 9)
   02/02/11  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 9)
   03/02/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Harrell
   03/29/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pope,
                     D.C.Moss, Norman, Hearn, Horne, Murphy
   04/05/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bikas
   04/13/11  House  Recalled from Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 40)
   04/18/11         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/26/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Viers,
                     Whipper, R.L.Brown
   04/26/11  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Rutherford,
                     Herbkersman, Erickson, Viers, Daning, Brannon,
                     Bannister, King, Gilliard, Gambrell, Harrell,
                     Weeks, Pinson, and Weeks (House Journal-page 84)
   04/28/11  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 77)
   04/28/11  House  Roll call Yeas-92  Nays-6 (House Journal-page 77)
   04/28/11  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 79)
   04/29/11  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 5)
   05/03/11  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 22)
   05/03/11  Senate Referred to Committee on Corrections and Penology
                     (Senate Journal-page 22)
   03/06/12  Senate Committee report: Favorable Corrections and
                     Penology (Senate Journal-page 16)
   03/07/12         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/08/12  Senate Committee Amendment Amended and Adopted
                     (Senate Journal-page 11)
   03/08/12  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 11)
   03/08/12  Senate Roll call Ayes-37  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 11)
   03/14/12  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments (Senate Journal-page 21)
   03/21/12  House  Non-concurrence in Senate amendment
                     (House Journal-page 40)
   03/21/12  Senate Senate insists upon amendment and conference
                     committee appointed Hutto, Campbell, and
                     Shoopman (Senate Journal-page 23)
   03/22/12  House  Conference committee appointed Gilliard,
                     Rutherford, and Herbkersman (House Journal-page 2)
   05/31/12  Senate Free conference powers granted (Senate Journal-page 88)
   05/31/12  Senate Roll call Ayes-35  Nays-1 (Senate Journal-page 88)
   05/31/12  Senate Free conference committee appointed Setzler,
                     Ryberg, and Alexander (Senate Journal-page 89)
   05/31/12  Senate Free conference report adopted (Senate Journal-page 90)
   05/31/12  Senate Roll call Ayes-35  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 90)
   06/06/12  House  Free conference powers granted (House Journal-page 85)
   06/06/12  House  Roll call Yeas-100  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 85)
   06/06/12  House  Free conference committee appointed Gilliard,
                     Rutherford, Herbkersman (House Journal-page 86)
   06/06/12  House  Free conference report received and adopted
                     (House Journal-page 86)
   06/06/12  House  Roll call Yeas-101  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 87)
   06/06/12  House  Ordered enrolled for ratification
                     (House Journal-page 89)
   06/12/12         Ratified R 287
   06/18/12         Signed By Governor
   06/20/12         Effective date 06/18/12
   06/26/12         Act No. 234

(A234, R287, H3527)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 24-3-970 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR AN INMATE INCARCERATED IN A STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITY, OR A PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF OR ENABLING SUCH AN INMATE, TO USE AN INTERNET-BASED SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITE TO HARASS, INTIMIDATE, OR CONTACT A CRIME VICTIM AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Misdemeanor created for Department of Corrections inmate using Internet-based social networking site to be in contact with victim

SECTION    1.    Article 9, Chapter 3, Title 24 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 24-3-970.    It is unlawful for an inmate, or a person acting on behalf of or enabling an inmate, to utilize any Internet-based social networking website for purposes of harassing, intimidating, or otherwise contacting a crime victim. An inmate or person acting on behalf of an inmate utilizing an Internet-based social networking website for purposes described herein is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

The provisions of this section apply only to inmates incarcerated in a State Department of Corrections facility."

Time effective

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 12th day of June, 2012.

Approved the 18th day of June, 2012.