South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016

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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

H. 3219

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Lucas, Long, Douglas, Hixon, G.R. Smith and McKnight
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11005cz15.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3145

Introduced in the House on January 13, 2015
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Civil liability immunity

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12/18/2014  House   Prefiled
  12/18/2014  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   1/13/2015  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 153)
   1/13/2015  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (House Journal-page 153)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/18/2014

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 15-1-315 SO AS TO PROVIDE CIVIL LIABILITY IMMUNITY FOR A PERSON WHO FORCIBLY ENTERS A MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMOVING A MINOR FROM THE VEHICLE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 15 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 15-1-315.    (A)    A person who forcibly enters a motor vehicle to remove a minor from the vehicle is immune from civil liability for damages resulting from the forcible entry if he:

(1)    determines the vehicle is locked or no other reasonable method exists for the minor to exit the vehicle;

(2)    has a good faith and reasonable belief that forcible entry is necessary because the minor is in imminent danger of suffering harm if not immediately removed from the vehicle;

(3)    contacts a local or state law enforcement agency or emergency medical services provider regarding the forcible entry into a motor vehicle to remove a minor;

(4)    remains with the minor in a safe location that is reasonably close to the vehicle until a local or state law enforcement agency or emergency medical services provider responds; and

(5)    uses no more force than necessary to the enter vehicle and remove the minor under the circumstances.

(B)    The responding local or state law enforcement agency or emergency medical services provider, as soon as practicable, must place a notice on the vehicle stating the current location of the minor.

(C)    The provisions of this section do not apply to a person whose acts or omissions amount to gross negligence or wilful or wanton misconduct.

(D)    This section may not be construed to affect immunity from civil liability for a person who attempts to render emergency care pursuant to Section 15-1-310."

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

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This web page was last updated on January 14, 2015 at 12:54 PM