H 4503 General Bill, By S.S. Wofford, J.J. Bailey, D.M. Beasley, H. Brown, 
D.M. Bruce, H.H. Clyborne, Cobb-Hunter, R.S. Corning, B. Council, R.C. Fulmer, 
H.M. Hallman, Harrison, T.E. Huff, K.G. Kempe, Koon, Lanford, Littlejohn, 
M. McLeod, Meacham, J. Rama, Riser, Sharpe, J.S. Shissias, R. Smith, J.J. Snow, 
C.H. Stone, Vaughn, C.C. Wells and Young-Brickell
 A Bill to amend Section 19-11-30, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the competency of a husband or wife to testify as to
 communications with one another, so as to include in the exceptions requiring
 disclosure of communications, those proceedings involving child abuse or
 neglect and the death of a child.

   03/04/92  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-22
   03/04/92  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-22

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 19-11-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE COMPETENCY OF A HUSBAND OR WIFE TO TESTIFY AS TO COMMUNICATIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER, SO AS TO INCLUDE IN THE EXCEPTIONS REQUIRING DISCLOSURE OF COMMUNICATIONS, THOSE PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND THE DEATH OF A CHILD.

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

SECTION 1. The second paragraph of Section 19-11-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Notwithstanding the above provisions, a husband or wife is required to disclose any communication, confidential or otherwise, made by one to the other during their marriage where the suit, action, or proceeding concerns or is based on child abuse or neglect, the death of a child, criminal sexual conduct involving a minor, or the commission or attempting to commit a lewd act upon a minor."

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