Reference is to the bill as introduced.
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
Section 23-53-10. This chapter may be cited as the 'Electronic Data Privacy Protection Act'.
Section 23-53-20. The purpose of this chapter is to clarify requirements for searches of electronic messages, mobile devices incident to arrest, and obtaining geolocation information.
Section 23-53-30. As
used this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
(1) 'Electronic
communication' means any transfer of signs, signals, writing,
images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted
in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic,
photoelectronic, photooptical system, or any other device that
affects intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce, but does
not include:
(a)
any wire or oral communication;
(b)
any communication made through a tone-only paging device;
or
(c)
any communication from an electronic or mechanical device,
except a cell phone, which permits the tracking of the movement
of a person or an object.
(2) 'Electronic
communication service' means a service that provides to users
the ability to send or receive wire or electronic
communications.
(3) 'Electronic device'
means a device that contains electronic data; or enables access
to, or use of, an electronic communication service, remote
computing service, or geolocation information service; or a
radio-frequency identification chip or other transponder.
(4) 'Electronic
storage' means any storage of electronic data on a computer,
computer network, or computer system, regardless of whether the
data is subject to recall, further manipulation, deletion, or
transmission, and includes any storage or electronic
communication by an electronic communications service or a
remote computing service, as well as temporary intermediate
storage of electronic data or information incidental to the
electronic transmission of electronic data or communication.
(5) 'Electronic data'
means data or records that are in the possession, care, custody,
or control of a provider of an electronic communications
service, a remote computing service, or geolocation information
service, that contains:
(a)
information revealing the identity of the owner, operator,
or subscriber of the applicable service, device, or program;
(b)
information about the owner's, operator's, or subscriber's
use of the applicable service, device, or program;
(c)
information that identifies the recipient or destination
of an electronic communication sent to or by the owner,
operator, or subscriber;
(d)
the content of an electronic communication sent to or by
the owner, operator, or subscriber; or
(e)
any data, documents, files, or communications stored by or
on behalf of the owner, operator, or subscriber with the
applicable service provider or on the owner's, operator's, or
subscriber's electronic device.
(6) 'Geolocation
information' means any information that is not the content of a
communication concerning the location of an electronic device
that, in whole or in part, is generated by or derived from the
operation or tracking of that device and that could be used to
determine or infer information regarding the location of the
person, but does not include Internet protocol addresses.
(7) 'Geolocation
information service' means the provision of a global positioning
service or other mapping, locational, or directional information
service to the public, or to such class of users as to be
effectively available to the public, by or through the operation
of any wireless communication device, including any electronic
device, global positioning system receiving device, or other
similar or successor device.
(8) 'Governmental
entity' means the State or any of its political subdivisions,
including school districts.
(9) 'Remote computing
service' means, as defined in 18 U.S.C. Section 2711(2), the
provision to the public of computer storage or processing
services by means of an electronic communications system, as
defined in 18 U.S.C. Section 2510(14).
(10) 'Vulnerable adult'
means a person eighteen years of age or older who has a physical
or mental condition which substantially impairs the person from
adequately providing for his or her own care or protection. This
includes a person who is impaired in the ability to adequately
provide for the person's own care or protection because of the
infirmities of aging including, but not limited to, organic
brain damage, advanced age, and physical, mental, or emotional
dysfunction. A resident of an operated or contracted facility,
as defined in Section 43-35-10, is a vulnerable adult.
Section 23-53-40. (A)
Except as provided in this chapter or
another provision of law a governmental entity may not conduct a
search of an electronic device in the possession of an
individual incident to a lawful custodial arrest without a valid
search warrant issued by a duly authorized judge or justice
using state warrant procedures or by order from a court of
record except:
(1)
with the consent of the owner, operator, or subscriber of
the electronic device;
(2)
in exigent circumstances that would cause a reasonable
person to believe that a search is necessary to prevent physical
harm to the officers or other persons, the destruction of
evidence, or the escape of a suspect; or
(3)
when the electronic device has been abandoned by the
owner, operator, or subscriber.
(B) If an electronic
device is searched pursuant to subsection (A)(2), the law
enforcement agency shall notify a court of record of the search
within two business days of the search being performed.
(C) A governmental
entity may not obtain geolocation information revealing the
past, present, or future location of an electronic device
except:
(1)
with a valid search warrant issued by a duly authorized
judge or justice using state warrant procedures or by order from
a court of record;
(2)
with the consent of a parent or legal guardian of a minor,
vulnerable adult, or person adjudicated to be mentally
incompetent to whom the geolocation information pertains;
(3)
when such geolocation information is accessed through a
system that is configured so that such information is readily
accessible to the general public; or
(4)
when such geolocation information is accessed because of
exigent circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to
believe that a such information is necessary to prevent physical
harm to the officers or other persons or the escape of a
suspect; or
(5)
to locate a stolen electronic device with the consent of
the owner, operator, or subscriber of such device.
(D) If a law enforcement agency
obtains geolocation information pursuant to subsection (C)(4),
the law enforcement agency shall notify a court of record of the
information being obtained within two business days.
(E)(1) A search
warrant, order from a court of record, or a subpoena may be
issued for electronic data, including the contents of and
records and other information related to electronic
communication held in electronic storage, by a provider of an
electronic communications service or a provider of a remote
computing service regardless of whether the owner's, operator's,
or subscriber's data is held at a location in this State or at a
location in another state.
(2)
A search warrant, order from a court of record, or a
subpoena issued pursuant to this chapter may be served only on a
service provider that is a domestic entity or a company or
entity otherwise doing business in the United States under a
contract or terms of service agreement with a resident of the
United States, if any part of that contract or agreement is to
be performed in this State, and the service provider shall
produce all information sought regardless of where the
information is held and within the period allowed for by law for
compliance with the warrant or the order from the court of
record.
Section 23-53-50.
Notice must be given to the owner or subscriber whose
electronic device was searched or whose geolocation information
or electronic data was obtained by a governmental entity unless
the search, geolocation information or electronic data pertains
to a suspect in an investigation or the identity of the owner or
subscriber is not readily known. A law enforcement officer or
prosecutor seeking electronic data pursuant to Section 23-53-40
may apply to a court of record for an order commanding the
service provider to whom a warrant, subpoena, or court order is
directed not to disclose to any person the existence of the
warrant, subpoena, or court order. Also, a law enforcement
entity shall not disclose the existence of the warrant,
subpoena, or court order as ordered by the court. The order is
effective for the period the court considers appropriate. The
court shall enter the order if the court determines that there
is reason to believe that notification of the existence of the
warrant, subpoena, or court order will have an adverse result.
For purposes of this section, an 'adverse result' means:
(1) endangering the
life or physical safety of an individual;
(2) flight from
prosecution;
(3) destruction of or
tampering with evidence;
(4) intimidation of a
potential witness; or
(5) otherwise seriously
jeopardizing an investigation or unduly delaying a trial.
Section 23-53-60. (A)
Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted
to affect the rights and responsibilities of providers of an
electronic communication service, geolocation information
service, remote computing service, or a governmental entity
conferred by 18 U.S.C. Section 2702 (a)-(c), 47 U.S.C. Section
222, or a lawful exception to the warrant requirement.
(B) A provider of
geolocation information service, electronic communication
service, or remote computing services may divulge geolocation
information pertaining to the owner, operator, or subscriber of
such service to a governmental entity, if the provider, in good
faith, believes that an emergency involving danger of death or
serious physical injury to any person requires disclosure
without delay of geolocation information relating to the
emergency.
(C) No later than two
business days after seeking disclosure of information pursuant
to subsection (B), the governmental entity seeking to conduct
the search or obtain the geolocation information shall file with
the appropriate court a written statement setting forth the
facts giving rise to the emergency and the facts as to why the
information sought is believed to be important in addressing the
emergency.
Section 23-53-70. No cause of action shall lie in any court of this State against any provider of an electronic communications service, remote computing service, or geolocation information service, or its officers, employees, agents, or other specified persons for providing information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with the terms of a warrant, order from a court of record or subpoena, or exception pursuant to this chapter.
Section 23-53-80. An original or certified copy of electronic data produced pursuant to a warrant or exception in accordance with this chapter shall be self-authenticating and admissible into evidence as provided.
Section 23-53-90. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division shall promulgate regulations pursuant to this chapter so as to provide uniform guidelines and training programs for law enforcement agencies that perform searches of electronic messages or mobile devices incident to arrest, and that obtain geolocation information. Law enforcement agencies that perform searches of electronic messages or mobile devices incident to arrest, and that obtain geolocation information shall use the regulations developed by the Criminal Justice Academy to provide written guidelines and to provide training programs for its officers and employees regarding the requirements for searches of electronic messages, mobile devices incident to arrest, and obtaining geolocation information.
Section 23-53-100. (A)
Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted
or construed to pertain to the use of electronic monitoring
devices that are pursuant to conditions of bond, home detention,
probation, parole, being categorized as a sex offender, or any
other court ordered or statutory mandate.
(B) Nothing in this
chapter shall restrict or limit agents of the Department of
Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, and Department of
Probation, Parole and Pardon Services from the authority to
conduct searches of electronic devices and receive electronic
data from electronic communication services for offenders under
supervision.
(C) The provisions of
this chapter shall not apply to a government entity's search of
electronic devices determined to be contraband pursuant to
Section 24-3-950."
SECTION 2. The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.