South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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S. 276

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Senn and McLeod
Document Path: l:\s-res\ss\006weap.kmm.ss.docx

Introduced in the Senate on January 8, 2019
Introduced in the House on April 11, 2019
Last Amended on April 10, 2019
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Weapons

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12/12/2018  Senate  Prefiled
  12/12/2018  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
    1/8/2019  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 163)
    1/8/2019  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (Senate Journal-page 163)
   2/27/2019  Senate  Referred to Subcommittee:  Hutto (ch), Shealy, Young, 
                        McLeod, Senn
   3/27/2019  Senate  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary 
                        (Senate Journal-page 12)
    4/3/2019  Senate  Read second time (Senate Journal-page 24)
    4/9/2019  Senate  Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 45)
    4/9/2019  Senate  Amended (Senate Journal-page 45)
   4/10/2019          Scrivener's error corrected
   4/10/2019  Senate  Amended (Senate Journal-page 70)
   4/10/2019  Senate  Read third time and sent to House 
                        (Senate Journal-page 70)
   4/10/2019  Senate  Roll call Ayes-30  Nays-10 (Senate Journal-page 70)
   4/11/2019  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 59)
   4/11/2019  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (House Journal-page 59)
   4/11/2019          Scrivener's error corrected
   4/11/2019          Scrivener's error corrected

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/12/2018
3/27/2019
4/9/2019
4/10/2019
4/10/2019-A
4/11/2019

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

AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

April 10, 2019

S. 276

Introduced by Senators Senn and McLeod

S. Printed 4/10/19--S.    [SEC 4/11/19 12:30 PM].

Read the first time January 8, 2019.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND ARTICLE 5, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 16 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES INVOLVING WEAPONS, BY ADDING SECTION 16-23-540, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO THREATEN, SOLICIT ANOTHER TO THREATEN, OR CONSPIRE TO THREATEN TO CAUSE DAMAGE, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, OR DEATH OR TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO OR DESTROY A BUILDING OR OTHER REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY BY USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON ON ANY PREMISES OR PROPERTY OWNED, OPERATED, OR CONTROLLED BY A PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SCHOOL, COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, TECHNICAL COLLEGE, OR OTHER POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION, IN A CHURCH, IN ANY PUBLICLY OWNED BUILDING OR RECREATIONAL PARK AREAS, OR IN A PUBLIC GATHERING PLACE; TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS CHARGED WITH A VIOLATION MUST UNDERGO A MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION AND, IF NECESSARY, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OR COUNSELING; AND TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-23-540.    (A)    It is unlawful for a person to threaten, solicit another to threaten, or conspire to threaten to cause damage, serious bodily injury, or death to others or to cause damage to or destroy a building or other real or personal property by use of a dangerous weapon if the threat is to occur while:

(1)    on any premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by a private or public school, college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary institution;

(2)    in a church, as defined by Section 61-6-120(A)(1);

(3)    in any publicly owned building or recreational park areas; or

(4)    at a public gathering place.

(B)    A person who is charged with violating subsection (A) may, as a condition of his initial bond hearing and any subsequent bond hearing, be ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. If the mental health evaluation reveals that the person needs mental health treatment or counseling, then the court shall require him to undergo mental health treatment or counseling by a court-approved mental health professional, mental health facility, or facility operated by the State Department of Mental Health as an additional condition of his bond.

(C)    A person who violates subsection (A):

(1)    if the violation does not result in damage to or the destruction of a building or other real or personal property or in the serious bodily injury or death of another person:

(a)    for a first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars, imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and

(b)    for a second or subsequent offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two thousand dollars, imprisoned not more than two years, or both;

(2)    if the violation results in damage to or the destruction of a building or other real or personal property, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three thousand dollars, imprisoned not more than three years, or both; or

(3)    if the violation results in the serious bodily injury or death of another person, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars, imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(D)    Information related to a mental evaluation ordered pursuant to this section shall be strictly protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the results of the evaluation must only be released to relevant parties specified under a protective order signed by the chief administrative judge of general sessions court for the jurisdiction.

(E)    Nothing contained in this section may be construed to repeal, replace, or preclude application of any other criminal statute."

SECTION    2.    The Department of Mental Health shall study the scope of application and financial impact of this act and shall annually make a report to the General Assembly containing its findings by January 1 beginning in 2020.

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on April 11, 2019 at 3:46 PM