H 3721 General Bill, By W.D. Keyserling, M.O. Alexander, Askins, J.J. Bailey, 
Breeland, A.W. Byrd, Canty, Cobb-Hunter, J. Hines, D.N. Holt, W.S. Houck, 
Inabinett, Kirsh, J.H. Neal, Richardson, T.F. Rogers, I.K. Rudnick, Scott, 
J.S. Shissias, J.J. Snow, Stille, C.H. Stone, P.H. Thomas, C.Y. Waites, 
L.S. Whipper and Wilkes
 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.

   03/16/93  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-8
   03/16/93  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-9

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.