Current Status Bill Number:404 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19970220 Primary Sponsor:Thomas All Sponsors:Thomas and Wilson Drafted Document Number:res1225.dlt Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Corrections and Penology Committee 03 SCP Subject:Prison Overcrowding Relief Act of 1997, tents to house inmates, Prisons and Prisoners, Corrections Department
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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Senate 19970220 Introduced, read first time, 03 SCP
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND TITLE 24, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CORRECTIONS, JAILS, PROBATIONS, PAROLES, AND PARDONS, BY ADDING CHAPTER 10, SO AS TO PERMIT THE USE OF TENTS TO HOUSE INMATES INCARCERATED IN THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM AND IN COUNTY JAILS; TO PROVIDE FOR INSPECTIONS THEREOF; AND TO REPEAL CHAPTER 9, TITLE 24 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE JAIL AND PRISON INSPECTION PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Title 24 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 24-10-10. This chapter may be cited as the `Prison Overcrowding Relief Act of 1997.'
Section 24-10-20. The Department of Corrections may use tents to house prisoners eligible for minimum custody confinement or work release, subject to the requirements of Sections 24-10-40 and 24-10-50 of this chapter.
Section 24-10-30. The person charged with the operation of county jails may use tents to house prisoners convicted of nonviolent offenses, subject to the provisions of Sections 24-10-40 and 24-10-50 of this chapter.
Section 24-10-40. No release of prisoners shall be ordered under Section 24-22-40 or any other provision of law regarding the reduction in prison capacity unless the Department of Corrections, or the person charged with the operation of a county jail, has erected tents as provided in Sections 24-10-20 and 24-10-30.
Section 24-10-50. If the Department of Corrections, or the person charged with the operation of a county jail elects to make use of tents to house inmates as provided in Sections 24-10-20 and 24-10-30 herein, respectively, any tents so constructed or used shall be subject to fire safety inspections by the State Fire Marshall under appropriate fire safety codes for structures housing the numbers of persons to be housed in each tent; such tents shall also be subject to food service, sanitation and health and safety inspections by the Department of Health and Environmental Control under appropriate food service, sanitation and health and safety regulations for structures housing the numbers of persons to be housed in each tent."
SECTION 2. Chapter 9, Title 24 of the 1976 Code is hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.