South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 156

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

AMENDED

March 6, 2019

S. 156

Introduced by Senators Allen, Turner and Martin

S. Printed 3/6/19--S.

Read the first time January 8, 2019.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 24-3-975 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS WITHIN OR INTRODUCE UPON THE GROUNDS OF A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY A TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE, TO DEFINE THE TERM "TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE", AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Article 9, Chapter 3, Title 24 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 24-3-975.    (A)    For purposes of this section, a 'telecommunication device' means a device, an apparatus associated with a device, or a component of a device that enables, or may be used to enable, communication with a person inside or outside of a place of incarceration. Such devices include, but are not limited to, portable two-way pagers, handheld radios, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants or PDAs, laptop computers, or any components of these devices. 'Telecommunication device' also includes any new technology that is developed or used for similar purposes.

(B)    Except as authorized by the appropriate official in charge of the correctional institution, it is unlawful to possess within or to introduce into or upon the grounds of any state correctional institution, county jail, municipal jail, regional detention facility, prison camp, work camp, or overnight lockup facility any telecommunication device. This prohibition does not apply to devices contained within vehicles that are in designated parking areas or vehicles traveling on the grounds.

(C)    A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than three years and forfeits all earned work credits, education credits, and good conduct credits."

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

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