Bill 3721

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    3721
Primary Sponsor:                Keyserling
Committee Number:               25
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Medical facility, prohibited
                                to prevent entrance, exit
Residing Body:                  House
Current Committee:              Judiciary
Computer Document Number:       JIC/5563HC.93
Introduced Date:                19930316    
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              19930316    
Last History Type:              Introduced, read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Keyserling
                                Houck
                                Rogers
                                Cobb-Hunter
                                Rudnick
                                Canty
                                Neal
                                Richardson
                                Waites
                                Shissias
                                Inabinett
                                Hines
                                J. Bailey
                                Stille
                                Breeland
                                Scott
                                M.O. Alexander
                                Holt
                                Whipper
                                Snow
                                Wilkes
                                Askins
                                Byrd
                                Kirsh
                                Stone
                                Thomas
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

3721  House   19930316      Introduced, read first time,    25
                            referred to Committee

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-5-135 SO AS TO MAKE IT A CRIME FOR A PERSON TO PREVENT A PERSON FROM ENTERING OR EXITING A MEDICAL FACILITY AND PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-5-135. (A) As used in this section:

(1) `Act' does not include speech.

(2) `Medical facility' means a health care facility as defined in Section 44-7-130 or a building in which a licensed physician provides services.

(3) `Person' does not include:

(a) the chief executive officer of the medical facility;

(b) a designee of the chief executive officer of the medical facility;

(c) an agent of the medical facility; or

(d) a law enforcement officer.

(B) It is unlawful for a person acting alone, or in concert with others, intentionally to prevent an individual from entering or exiting a medical facility by physically:

(1) detaining the individual; or

(2) obstructing, impeding, or hindering the individual's passage.

(C) A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both."

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