Bill 3891

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    3891
Primary Sponsor:                Tucker
Committee Number:               25
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Moral turpitude
Residing Body:                  House
Current Committee:              Judiciary
Computer Document Number:       DKA/4533AL.93
Introduced Date:                19930407
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              19930407
Last History Type:              Introduced, read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Tucker
                                Jennings
                                Martin
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

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

3891  House   19930407      Introduced, read first time,    25
                            referred to Committee

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 19-11-65 SO AS TO PROVIDE A LIST OF CRIMES INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE THAT MAY BE USED TO IMPEACH A WITNESS.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 19-11-65. Only a crime involving moral turpitude may be used to impeach a witness. Moral turpitude involves an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the social duties which a man owes to his fellow man or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary role of right and duty between men.

A crime of moral turpitude includes one that involves an element of fraud, dishonest behavior, or a breach of one's duty to society. This includes:

(1) arson;

(2) assault with intent to ravish;

(3) assault and battery with intent to kill;

(4) auto theft;

(5) breaking into vehicles with intent to steal;

(6) burning an untenanted or unoccupied building;

(7) conspiracy to distribute marijuana;

(8) criminal sexual conduct with a minor;

(9) distribution of marijuana;

(10) forgery;

(11) fraudulent check;

(12) grand larceny;

(13) hit and run driving;

(14) housebreaking;

(15) larceny;

(16) lewd and lascivious conduct with children;

(17) making illegal whiskey;

(18) malicious destruction of personal property;

(19) manufacture of marijuana;

(20) mistreatment of a child;

(21) peeping tom;

(22) possession of cocaine;

(23) possession of heroin;

(24) possession of marijuana with intent to distribute;

(25) rape;

(26) receiving stolen goods;

(27) resisting arrest;

(28) robbery;

(29) trafficking in marijuana, including conspiracy to import."

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