H*4958(Rat #0570, Act #0477 of 1990)  General Bill, By Wilkins, Bailey, 
H. Brown, H.M. Hallman, T.T. Mappus, A.C. McGinnis, E.L. Nettles, J. Rama, 
Sharpe, C.C. Wells and S.S. Wofford
 A Bill to amend Section 24-3-550, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the witnesses at an execution under the direction of the
 Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, so as to revise the provisions
 pertaining to who may serve as a witness, provide for the promulgation of
 regulations, and prohibit audio recorders, cameras, and recording devices in
 the capital punishment facility during an execution

   04/05/90  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-65
   04/05/90  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-66
   04/18/90  House  Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-10
   04/25/90  House  Read second time HJ-78
   04/26/90  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-11
   04/26/90  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-16
   04/26/90  Senate Referred to Committee on Corrections and Penology SJ-17
   05/01/90  Senate Recalled from Committee on Corrections and
                     Penology SJ-7
   05/02/90  Senate Read second time SJ-8
   05/02/90  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-8
   05/03/90  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-30
   05/08/90         Ratified R 570
   05/14/90         Signed By Governor
   05/14/90         Effective date 05/14/90
   05/14/90         Act No. 477
   06/13/90         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 24-3-550, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE WITNESSES AT AN EXECUTION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO WHO MAY SERVE AS A WITNESS, PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS, AND PROHIBIT AUDIO RECORDERS, CAMERAS, AND RECORDING DEVICES IN THE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FACILITY DURING AN EXECUTION.

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

Execution; witnesses; recorders

SECTION 1. Section 24-3-550 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 24-3-550. At an execution the executioner and necessary staff, at the discretion of the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, to carry out the execution properly, a group of not more than two respectable citizens of the State designated by the commissioner, and a group of not more than five representatives of the South Carolina media, one of whom shall represent the dominant wire service, two of whom shall represent the print media, and two of whom shall represent the electronic news media, must be present. The counsel for the convict and a minister of the gospel may be present. The department shall promulgate regulations to govern the selection of media representatives. No audio recorders, cameras, or recording devices are allowed in the Capital Punishment Facility during an execution."

Time effective

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

Approved the 14th day of May, 1990.