A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-11-740, RELATING TO MALICIOUS INJURY TO UTILITY SYSTEMs, SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF MALICIOUS INJURY OF A GASOLINE, NATURAL GAS, PROPANE, OR ELECTRIC UTILITY BY USE OF A FIREARM OR DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE AND TO establish APPROPRIATE PENALTIES.

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

SECTION 1.   Section 16-11-740 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   Section 16-11-740.   (A) It is unlawful for a person, without the consent of the owner, to wilfully:

      (1) destroy, damage, or in any way injure a telegraph, telephone, electric utility system, satellite dish, or cable television system, including poles, cables, wires, fixtures, antennas, amplifiers, or other apparatus, equipment, or appliances;

      (2) obstruct, impede, or impair their services or transmissions or;

      (3) aid, agree with, employ, or conspire with a person to do or cause to be done any of the acts mentioned in this section subsection.

      (4) A person who violates the provisions of this section subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than ten years.

   (B) It is unlawful for a person, without the consent of the owner, to wilfully:

      (1) destroy, damage, or in any way injure a gasoline, natural gas, propane, or electric utility system including poles, cables, wires, pipelines, storage containers, fixtures, or other apparatus, equipment, or appliances by means of or use of a firearm or destructive device as defined by Section 16-23-710;

      (2) obstruct, impede, or impair their services or transmissions, by means of or use of a firearm or destructive device as defined by Section 16-23-710; or

      (3) to aid, agree with, employ, or conspire with a person to do or cause to be done any of the acts mentioned in this subsection.

      (4) A person who violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not less than ten years nor more than twenty-five years.

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

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