A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws BY ADDING SECTION 16-17-780 SO AS TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS, PROHIBIT THE DISTRIBUTION OF SENSITIVE CRIME SCENE IMAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR THROUGH OTHER SIMILAR MEANS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

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

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

   Section 16-17-780.   (A) As used in this section, the term:

      (1) "Sensitive crime scene image" means a photograph or video recording taken at a crime scene, contained in or part of a criminal case, that depicts a person, whether deceased or not, in a state of dismemberment, decapitation, or similar mutilation or that depicts the person's genitalia.

      (2) "Social media" means a category of Internet sites based on user participation and user-generated content centered on user interaction.

   (B) It is unlawful for a person, in connection with a social media service, or through other similar means, to utilize a social media service to knowingly post or otherwise publish a sensitive crime scene image. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

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

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