Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4938 Primary Sponsor:Simrill Committee Number:25 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Murder, jury instructions regarding parole Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Computer Document Number:PT/1115DW.94 Introduced Date:19940317 Last History Body:House Last History Date:19940317 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Simrill Wofford Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________
4938 House 19940317 Introduced, read first time, 25
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE TRIAL JUDGE TO EXPLAIN TO A JURY IMPANELED TO RENDER A VERDICT IN THE CASE THAT A DEFENDANT RECEIVING A SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AFTER SERVING EITHER TWENTY OR THIRTY YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 16-3-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 488 of 1992, is further amended by adding:
"(F) In any trial conducted under the provisions of this section the trial judge is required to explain to the jury impaneled to render a verdict that a defendant receiving a sentence of life imprisonment is eligible for parole after serving either twenty or thirty years, depending on the circumstances of the case.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.