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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 50 TO TITLE 23 SO AS TO ENACT THE SOUTH CAROLINA CRIMESTOPPERS ACT, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CRIMESTOPPER ORGANIZATIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR DEFINITIONS OF VARIOUS TERMS CONTAINED IN THIS CHAPTER, TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA CRIMESTOPPERS COUNCIL AND ITS DUTIES, TO PROVIDE THAT A COURT MAY ORDER A DEFENDANT TO REPAY TO A CRIMESTOPPERS ORGANIZATION OR TO THE CRIMESTOPPERS COUNCIL A REWARD ISSUED BY EITHER ENTITY, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID BY CRIMESTOPPERS ORGANIZATION OR THE CRIMESTOPPERS COUNCIL FOR INFORMATION THAT RESULTS IN THE ARREST OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHERE MONIES ARE CONFISCATED AND FORFEITED PURSUANT TO AN ARREST, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS REIMBURSED TO A CRIMESTOPPERS ORGANIZATION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN EVIDENCE, PROTECTED INFORMATION, AND PROTECTED IDENTITIES IN A COURT PROCEEDING, TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WHO COMMUNICATE WITH, ACT ON PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION, OR ARE OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES OF A CRIMESTOPPERS ORGANIZATION OR THE CRIMESTOPPERS COUNCIL; AND TO AMEND SECTION 30-4-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO MATTERS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE BY A PUBLIC BODY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PUBLIC BODY MAY NOT DISCLOSE A PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION, PROTECTED INFORMATION, OR A PROTECTED IDENTITY EXCEPT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 44-53-583, RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN MONIES TO A CRIMESTOPPERS ORGANIZATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 23-50-10. Crimestopper organizations provide the opportunity for citizens to report crime tips to law enforcement agencies anonymously by using a crimestopper organization as an intermediary to receive the tips. The ability to report anonymous crime tips enhances the quality of life for the citizens of South Carolina by increasing the efficiency of law enforcement. Crimestoppers is a collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement, the media, and the citizenry to remove the criminal elements from the streets of South Carolina.
Section 23-50-15. As used in this chapter:
(A) 'Council' means the South Carolina Crimestoppers Council.
(B) 'Crimestoppers organization' means a private, nonprofit corporation that is organized under the laws of South Carolina that is operated on a local or statewide level, that accepts and expends donations for rewards to persons who report to the organization information about suspected criminal activity, that forwards the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency, is a member of the council, and that is qualified to receive reimbursed funds pursuant to Section 23-50-30.
(C) 'Privileged communication' means a statement by any person, in any manner whatsoever, to a crimestoppers organization or to the council for the purpose of reporting alleged criminal activity and a communication from a crimestoppers organization or the council relaying the information received to a law enforcement agency.
(D) 'Protected information' means any records, oral, written, or recorded statements, papers, documents, or any materials utilized by a crimestoppers organization or the council in reporting suspected criminal activity or in processing such information, whether such information is in the possession of a crimestoppers organization, the council, or a law enforcement agency receiving such information from a crimestoppers organization or the council.
(E) 'Protected identity' means the identity of any person reporting suspected criminal activity to a crimestoppers organization or to the council.
(F) 'Reimbursed funds' means funds reimbursed pursuant to Section-23-50-30.
Section 23-50-20. (A) The council shall be a South Carolina nonprofit corporation in good standing and shall operate in accordance with the laws governing corporations in the State of South Carolina.
(B) The council may adopt rules and certification standards to carry out its functions under this chapter.
(C) The council shall send a report to the Attorney General not later than April 15 of each year that shall, at a minimum, report on the activities carried out by the council in carrying out its duties as set forth in Section-23-50-25.
Section 23-50-25. The council shall:
(1) encourage, advise, and assist in the creation of crimestoppers organizations;
(2) foster the detection of crime and encourage persons to report information about criminal acts;
(3) encourage news and other media to broadcast reenactments and to inform the public of the functions of crimestoppers organizations' operations and programs;
(4) promote the process of crimestoppers organizations to forward information about criminal acts to the appropriate law enforcement agencies;
(5) help law enforcement agencies detect and combat crime by increasing the flow of information to and between law enforcement agencies;
(6) approve applicants to become members of the council as crimestoppers organizations;
(7) foster creation of crimestoppers organizations; and
(8) certify crimestoppers organizations to receive reimbursed funds.
Section 23-50-30. (A) The council shall certify a crimestoppers organization to receive reimbursed funds if, considering the organization, continuity, leadership, community support, and general conduct of the crimestoppers organization, the council determines that the repayments or payments will be spent to further the crime prevention purposes of the organization.
(B) Certification of a crimes stoppers organization to receive reimbursed funds is valid for a period of two years. The council shall decertify a crimestoppers organization to receive reimbursed funds if the council determines that the crimestoppers organization no longer meets the certification requirements to receive reimbursed funds.
Section 23-50-35. (A) After a defendant has been convicted of a criminal offense or as a condition of placing a person on probation, or both, the judge of any court of applicable jurisdiction may order a defendant to repay all or part of a reward, not to exceed two thousand dollars, paid by a crimestoppers organization or the council.
In determining whether the defendant must repay the reward or part of the reward, the court shall consider:
(1) the ability of the defendant to make the payment and the financial hardship on the defendant to make the required payment; and
(2) the importance of the information to the prosecution of the defendant as provided by the arresting officer or the attorney for the State with due regard for the confidentiality of the crimestoppers organization records.
(B) Monies paid by a crimestoppers organization or the council for information that results in the arrest of any individual or individuals where monies are also confiscated and subsequently forfeited pursuant to Section 44-53-520 must be reimbursed from the forfeited monies to the crimestoppers organization making the payment or to the council upon a determination that the money paid was used for information that resulted in the arrest and forfeiture. If the forfeiture is the result of:
(1) a court proceeding, the determination that the money paid was used for information that resulted in the arrest and forfeiture must be made by the presiding judge;
(2) an agreement, the determination that the money paid was used for information that resulted in the arrest and forfeiture must be made by the Attorney General or his designee.
(C) Reimbursements must be for the amount paid, not to exceed two thousand dollars.
(D) Reimbursements to the council or to a crimestoppers organization are subordinate to payments that may be ordered to be paid to victims of crimes as restitution.
Section 23-50-40. (A) Except as provided by subsection (D), a crimestoppers organization may not use more than twenty percent of the reimbursed funds received annually to pay costs incurred in administering the organization and shall use the remainder of the reimbursed funds, including any interest earned on the reimbursed funds, only to reward persons who report information concerning criminal activity. Not later than January 31 of each year, a crimestoppers organization that receives or expends reimbursed funds shall file a detailed report with the council.
(B) A crimestoppers organization shall establish a separate reward account for reimbursed funds received.
(C) Not later than the sixtieth day after the date of dissolution or decertification of a funds-certified crimestoppers organization, a dissolved or decertified organization shall forward all unexpended reimbursed funds to the council. The council shall distribute any funds received pursuant to this section in furtherance of its duties as set forth in Section 23-50-25.
(D) If the amount of the reimbursed funds received by a crimestoppers organization exceeds three times the amount of rewards paid during a fiscal year based on the average amount of funds used to pay rewards during each of the preceding three fiscal years, the organization may deposit the excess amount of funds in a separate interest-bearing account to be used by the organization for law enforcement purposes relating to crimestoppers or juvenile justice, including intervention, apprehension, and adjudication. An organization that deposits excess funds in an account as provided by this subsection may use any interest earned on the funds to pay costs incurred in administering the organization.
Section 23-50-45. (A) Except as otherwise provided by this section, evidence of privileged communications, protected information, and protected identities is not admissible in a court proceeding.
(B) In a criminal proceeding, the defendant may seek release of the protected information or privileged communication by motion to the court of general sessions having jurisdiction. For criminal matters pending in magistrate and municipal courts, the request must be made to the court of general sessions for the circuit in which the magistrate or municipal court is located. The defendant must allege that the protected information or privileged communication contains evidence that is exculpatory to the defendant in the trial of the offense.
(C) In a civil matter pending in the court of common pleas, the plaintiff may seek release of the protected information or privileged communication by motion to the court of common pleas having jurisdiction. Protected information and privileged communications may not be released for matters pending in any civil courts other than the court of common pleas. The plaintiff must allege that denying access to the protected information or privileged communication prevents the plaintiff from being able to prove an element of a cognizable cause of action. The plaintiff may seek release of protected information or privileged communication only if the plaintiff:
(1) was charged with or convicted of a criminal offense based at least partially on the privileged communication or the protected information and the charges were dismissed, the plaintiff was acquitted, or the conviction was overturned, as applicable; and
(2) sets forth a prima facie case that the plaintiff's claim is based on injuries from the criminal charge or conviction caused by the wrongful acts of another performed in connection with the protected information or privileged communication.
(D) When a request is made for the release of protected information or a privileged communication:
(1) the court may issue an order requiring the privileged communication or protected information to be turned over to the court. The court shall conduct an in camera inspection of materials provided to determine whether the materials contain:
(a) evidence that is exculpatory to the defendant; or
(b) information necessary to a plaintiff.
(2) if the court determines that the materials produced contain evidence that is exculpatory to the defendant or necessary to a plaintiff, the court shall issue an order finding that the materials disclosed represent the evidence the requesting party is entitled to receive;
(3) the court will provide the evidence to the parties in a form that does not disclose a protected identity, unless the state or federal constitution requires the disclosure of that protected identity. The court may issue such additional protective orders as it deems appropriate;
(4) the court shall return to the council or crimestoppers organization the materials that are produced but not disclosed. The council or crimestoppers organization shall store the materials at least until the first anniversary of the following appropriate date:
(a) the date of expiration of the time for all direct appeals in a criminal case; or
(b) the date a plaintiff's right to appeal in a civil case is exhausted.
(E) Nothing contained in this section creates a duty for a crimestoppers organization or the council to maintain records in a form that identifies a privileged identity.
Section 23-50-50. (A) A person who is a member or employee of the council, a crimestoppers organization, or a law enforcement agency who has knowledge of, or the contents of, or both of (1) a privileged communication, (2) protected information, or (3) a protected identity, or all three, commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly divulges to a person not employed by a law enforcement agency the content or existence of (1) a privileged communication, (2) protected information, or (3) a protected identity, or all three, without the consent of the person who made the privileged communication.
(B) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars or up to one year in jail, or both, for each occurrence. However, an offense under this section is a Class F felony punishable by not more than five years imprisonment if the offense is committed with intent to obtain monetary gain or other benefit.
(C) Disclosing information pursuant to a valid court order is not an offense under this section.
Section 23-50-55. (A) A person who communicates a privileged communication to the council or a crimestoppers organization is immune from civil liability for damages resulting from the privileged communication unless the communication was intentionally, wilfully, or grossly negligent or done with conscious indifference or reckless disregard for the rights of others.
(B) A person who in the course and scope of the person's duties or functions receives, forwards, or acts on a privileged communication or protected record is immune from civil liability for damages resulting from an act or omission in the performance of the person's duties or functions unless the act or omission was intentional, wilfully or grossly negligent, or done with conscious indifference or reckless disregard for the rights of others.
(C) Members, officers, directors, employees, and agents of the council and certified crimestoppers organizations are immune from civil liability for damages resulting from an act or omission in the performance of the person's duties or functions unless the act or omission was intentional, wilfully or grossly negligent, or done with conscious indifference or reckless disregard for the rights of others.
(D) Only crimestopper organizations that are members of and in good standing with the council are the beneficiaries of the immunities contained in this section.
(E) Crimestopper organizations that fail to meet the requirements set forth by the council, fail to maintain membership in the council, or fail to maintain their nonprofit status under applicable statutes and regulations and their members, officers, directors, employees, and agents lose their immunity from civil liability as set forth in this section from the point in time that any of the above listed events occurs. The immunities for actions taken prior to a listed event occurring remain."
SECTION 2. Section 30-4-40 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 125 of 2005, is further amended by adding at the end:
"(d) A public body may not disclose a 'privileged communication', 'protected information', or a 'protected identity', or both, as defined in Section 23-50-15 pursuant to a request under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. These matters may only be disclosed pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 23-50-45."
SECTION 3. Section 44-53-583 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 2:37 P.M.