A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 14-1-250 SO AS TO REQUIRE JUDGES AND OTHER JUDICIAL OFFICIALS OF ThE UNIFIED JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO REPORT ALL CASES OF SUSPECTED FALSE STATEMENTS OR MISREPRESENTATIONS TO THE INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 38-55-570, RELATING TO NOTIFICATION OF INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION OF KNOWLEDGE OR BELIEF OF FALSE STATEMENTS OR MISREPRESENTATIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE OBLIGATION OF JUDGES AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE UNIFIED JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO REPORT SUSPECTED FALSE STATEMENTS OR MISREPRESENTATIONS TO THE INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION.

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

SECTION 1.   Chapter 1, Title 14 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

   Section 14-1-250.   Judges and other judicial officials of the unified judicial system shall report all cases of suspected false statement or misrepresentation, as defined in Section 38-55-530(D), to the Insurance Fraud Division of the Office of Attorney General for investigation and prosecution, if warranted, pursuant to the Omnibus Insurance Fraud and Reporting Immunity Act.

SECTION 2.   Section 38-55-570(C) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   (C) Any authorized agency provided with or obtaining information relating to a suspected false statement or misrepresentation as provided for above may release or provide the information to any other authorized agency. The Department of Insurance, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall report, but not adjudicate, all cases of suspected or reported false statement or misrepresentation to the Insurance Fraud Division of the Office of Attorney General of South Carolina for appropriate investigation or prosecution, or both. The Workers' Compensation Commission may must refer such cases as provided in Section 42-9-440. Judges and other judicial officials of the unified judicial system must refer such cases as provided in Section 14-1-250.

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

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