South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Bill 4210


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(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 16-17-780 SO AS TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM KNOWINGLY MAKING RESTRICTED PERSONAL INFORMATION PUBLICLY AVAILABLE OF A COVERED PERSON OR THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY WITH THE INTENT TO THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, OR INCITE HARASSMENT OR THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT CRIME.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 7, Chapter 17, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 16-17-780.    (A)    As used in this section:

        (1)    'Covered person' means an active or former:

            (a)    elected official;

            (b)    member or employee of the federal judiciary;

            (c)    member or employee of the judiciary, administrative law court, or a municipal judge in this State;

            (d)    director, acting director, or employee of a state agency;

            (e)    municipal, state, or federal prosecutor who has prosecuted actions in this State;

            (f)    municipal, state, or federal public defender or appellate defender who has served in that capacity in this State; or

            (g)    law enforcement officer who has served in an active capacity in this State.

        (2)    'Restricted personal information' means, with respect to an individual, a social security number, home address, unlisted home phone number, mobile phone number, and personal email of an individual.

        (3)    'Violent crime' has the same meaning as provided in Section 16-1-60.

    (B)    A person may not knowingly make restricted personal information about a covered person or a member of the immediately family of a covered person publicly available with the:

        (1)    intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite harassment or the commission of a violent crime; or

        (2)    with the intent and knowledge that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, incite harassment, or incite the commission of a violent crime against the person.

    (C)    A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than five years."

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

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