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S. 751
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Verdin
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\20655sl03.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3780
Introduced in the Senate on June 5, 2003
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Unborn Victims Act of 2003
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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6/5/2003 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-54
6/5/2003 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-54
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 15, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CIVIL REMEDIES AND PROCEDURES, BY ADDING SECTION 15-5-5 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION "PERSON" INCLUDES AN UNBORN CHILD AT EVERY STAGE OF GESTATION IN UTERO FROM CONCEPTION UNTIL LIVE BIRTH; TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 16, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST A PERSON, BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-90 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF OFFENSES ARISING OUT OF THE UNLAWFUL KILLING OR BATTERY OF A PERSON, THE TERM "PERSON" INCLUDES AN UNBORN CHILD AT EVERY STAGE OF GESTATION IN UTERO FROM CONCEPTION UNTIL LIVE BIRTH, AND TO PROVIDE FOR EXCLUSIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 50-21-10, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO EQUIPMENT AND OPERATION OF WATERCRAFT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF OFFENSES ARISING OUT OF THE DEATH OR INJURY OF A PERSON IN ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 21, TITLE 50, "PERSON" INCLUDES AN UNBORN CHILD AT EVERY STAGE OF GESTATION IN UTERO FROM CONCEPTION UNTIL LIVE BIRTH; TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES AND REGULATING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAYS, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-2915 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF OFFENSES ARISING OUT OF THE DEATH OR INJURY OF A "PERSON" IN ARTICLE 23, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, THE TERM "PERSON" INCLUDES AN UNBORN CHILD AT EVERY STAGE OF GESTATION IN UTERO FROM CONCEPTION UNTIL LIVE BIRTH.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. This act may be cited and referred to as the "Unborn Victims Act of 2003".
SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 5, Title 15 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 15-5-5. For purposes of a civil cause of action, 'person' includes an unborn child at every stage of gestation in utero from conception until live birth."
SECTION 3. Article 1, Chapter 3, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 16-3-90. (A) For purposes of offenses arising out of the unlawful killing or battery of a 'person' or of 'another' in this chapter, the terms 'person' and 'another' include an unborn child at every stage of gestation in utero from conception until live birth.
(B) This section does not apply to a mother's right to privacy, to a lawful medical procedure performed by a physician or other licensed medical professional at the request of the mother of an unborn child or the mother's legal guardian, or to the lawful dispensation or administration of lawfully prescribed medication."
SECTION 4. Section 50-21-10(20) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 124 of 1999, is further amended to read:
"(20) 'Person' means an individual, a partnership, a firm, a corporation, an association, or other legal entity. For purposes of offenses arising out of the death or injury of a 'person' in this article, 'person' also includes an unborn child at every stage of gestation in utero from conception until live birth."
SECTION 5. Article 1, Chapter 21, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 50-21-180. For purposes of offenses arising out of the death or injury of a 'person' in this article, the term 'person' includes an unborn child at every stage of gestation in utero from conception until live birth."
SECTION 6. Article 23, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 56-5-2915. For purposes of offenses arising out of the death or injury of a 'person' in this article, the term 'person' includes an unborn child at every stage of gestation in utero from conception until live birth."
SECTION 7. If a section, or provision of this act is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, it does not affect the remaining provisions of this act and all provisions of this act are severable from other provisions.
SECTION 8. The repeal or amendment by this act of a law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release, or extinguish a penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision so expressly provides. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.
SECTION 9. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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