H*3819 (Rat #0353, Act #0278 of 2002) General Bill, By Delleney, Simrill, McGee, Barfield, Barrett, Davenport, Emory, Hamilton, Kirsh, Littlejohn, Loftis, McCraw, J.M. Neal, Ott, Phillips, F.N. Smith, Snow, Whatley and Witherspoon
Summary: Life imprisonment, judge to define term when charging juries in death penalty trial
    A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROCEEDINGS OF A DEATH PENALTY TRIAL, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "LIFE IMPRISONMENT" AND PROVIDE THAT, WHEN REQUESTED BY THE STATE OR THE DEFENDANT, THE JUDGE MUST CHARGE THE JURY IN HIS INSTRUCTIONS THAT LIFE IMPRISONMENT MEANS UNTIL THE DEATH OF THE DEFENDANT WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE, AND IN CASES WHERE THE DEFENDANT IS ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE, THE JUDGE MUST CHARGE THE APPLICABLE PAROLE ELIGIBILITY STATUTE.-amended title
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03/27/01	House	Introduced and read first time HJ-73
03/27/01	House	Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-73
05/09/01	House	Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-3
05/15/01	House	Read second time HJ-17
05/16/01	House	Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-26
05/17/01	Senate	Introduced and read first time SJ-11
05/17/01	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-11
05/08/02	Senate	Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary SJ-8
05/09/02	Senate	Amended SJ-36
05/09/02	Senate	Read second time SJ-36
05/14/02	Senate	Read third time and returned to House with amendments SJ-49
05/16/02	House	Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-30
05/22/02		Ratified R 353
05/28/02		Signed By Governor
06/13/02		Effective date 5/28/2002
06/13/02		Copies available
06/17/02		Act No. 278