A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-19-20, RELATING TO TERMS DEFINED IN THE "JUVENILE JUSTICE CODE," SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF "CHILD" OR "JUVENILE," TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS FOR MINORS WHO COMMIT CERTAIN VIOLENT CRIMES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 63-19-20(1) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (1) "Child" or "juvenile" means a person less than eighteen years of age. "Child" or "juvenile" does not mean:

       (a) a person seventeen years of age or older who is charged with a Class A, B, C, or D felony as defined in Section 16-1-20 or, a felony which provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen years or more, or any offense in Chapter 23, Title 16. However, a person seventeen years of age who is charged with a Class A, B, C, or D felony as defined in Section 16-1-20 or, a felony which provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen years or more, or any offense in Chapter 23, Title 16 may be remanded to the family court for disposition of the charge at the discretion of the solicitor.; or

       (b) a person sixteen years of age or older who is charged with a felony that provides for a term of imprisonment of thirty years or more, the offense of burglary in the first degree as defined in Section 16-11-311, or the offense of attempted murder as defined in Section 16-3-29. However, a person sixteen years of age or older who is charged with a felony that provides for a term of imprisonment of thirty years or more, the offense of burglary in the first degree as defined in Section 16-11-311, or the offense of attempted murder as defined in Section 16-3-29 may be remanded to the family court for disposition of the charge at the discretion of the solicitor.

    An additional or accompanying charge associated with the charges contained in this item must be heard by the court with jurisdiction over the offenses contained in this item.

 

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

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