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TO AMEND SECTION 24-3-580, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF THE IDENTITY OF A MEMBER OF AN EXECUTION TEAM, SO AS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, TO PROVIDE THAT IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF A PERSON OR ENTITY THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PLANNING OR ADMINISTRATION OF THE EXECUTION OF A DEATH SENTENCE IS CONFIDENTIAL WITHOUT EXCEPTION, TO DELETE THE EXCEPTION FOR COURT ORDERED RELEASE OF SUCH INFORMATION UNDER SEAL FOR PENDING LITIGATION, TO EXEMPT THE PURCHASE OR ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN DRUGS OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES NECESSARY TO EXECUTE A DEATH SENTENCE FROM THE STATE PROCUREMENT CODE, AND TO EXEMPT THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN DRUGS OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES OBTAINED FROM OUT OF STATE NECESSARY TO EXECUTE A DEATH SENTENCE FROM LICENSING PROCESSES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY OF THE STATE, OR BY THE BOARD OF PHARMACY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 24-3-580 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 203 of 2010, is amended to read:
"Section 24-3-580. (A) As used in this section, the term:
(1) 'Execution team' must be construed broadly to include any person or entity that participates in the planning or administration of the execution of a death sentence, including any person or entity that prescribes, compounds, tests, uses, manufactures, imports, transports, distributes, supplies, prepares, or administers the drugs, medical supplies, or medical equipment utilized in the execution of a death sentence.
(2) 'Identifying information' must be construed broadly to include any record or information that reveals a name, date of birth, social security number, personal identifying information, personal or business contact information, or professional qualifications. The term 'identifying information' also includes any residential or business address; any residential, personal, or business telephone number; any residential, personal, or business facsimile number; any residential, personal, or business email address; and any residential, personal, or business social media account or username.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any identifying information of a person or entity that participates in the planning or administration of the execution of a death sentence is confidential and, without exception, is not subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion or process for disclosure to any person or entity in any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding in the courts, administrative agencies, boards, commissions, legislative bodies, or quasi-legislative bodies of this State, or in any other similar body that exercises any part of the sovereignty of the State.
(C) A person may not knowingly disclose the identity identifying information of a current or former member of an execution team or disclose a record or any identifying information that would identify a person as being a current or former member of an execution team. However, this information may be disclosed only upon a court order under seal for the proper adjudication of pending litigation. Any person or entity whose identity is disclosed in violation of this section shall have may bring a civil cause of action against the person who is in violation of this section and may recover actual damages and, upon a showing of a wilful violation of this section, punitive damages.
(D) Any purchase or acquisition of drugs, medical supplies, and medical equipment necessary to execute a death sentence is exempt from the entirety of the South Carolina Procurement Code and all of its attendant regulations.
(E) The out-of-state acquisition of any drug intended for use by the department in the administration of the death penalty is exempt from all licensing processes and requirements administered by the Department of Health and Environmental Control or by any other department or agency of the State of South Carolina. Furthermore, the out-of-state acquisition of any drug intended for use by the department in the administration of the death penalty is exempt from all regulations promulgated by the Board of Pharmacy.
(F) Any pharmacy or pharmacist, whether located in or outside the State, involved in the supplying, manufacturing, or compounding of any drug intended for use by the department in the administration of the death penalty is exempt from all licensing processes and requirements of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
(G) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, no department or agency of this State, no political subdivision, and no other governmental or quasi-governmental entity may disclose the identifying information of any execution team member or any details regarding the procurement and administrative processes referenced in subsections (D) through (F)."
SECTION 2. The provisions of this act must be broadly construed by the courts of this State so as to give effect to the General Assembly's intent to ensure the absolute confidentiality of the identifying information of any person or entity directly or indirectly involved in the planning or execution of a death sentence within this State.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on March 17, 2015 at 2:04 PM