H*3268(Rat #0377, Act #0317 of 1996)  General Bill, By Richardson, Bailey, 
C.D. Chamblee, Cotty, Harrison, Harvin, W.D. Keyserling, L.H. Limbaugh, Lloyd, 
Sandifer, J.S. Shissias, Stuart, P.H. Thomas, Vaughn, Walker, C.C. Wells, 
Witherspoon, S.S. Wofford and Young-Brickell
 A Bill to amend Section 16-3-20, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, relating to the punishment for murder, so as to include the murder of a
 witness or potential witness committed at any time during the criminal process
 for the purpose of impeding or deterring prosecution of any crime as an
 aggravating circumstance in consideration of imposing the death
 penalty.-amended title

   01/17/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-8
   01/17/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-8
   02/08/95  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-4
   02/09/95  House  Read second time HJ-8
   02/09/95  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-8
   02/10/95  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2
   02/14/95  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-11
   02/14/95  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-11
   04/10/96  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-14
   04/25/96  Senate Amended SJ-57
   04/25/96  Senate Read second time SJ-57
   04/29/96  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-21
   05/01/96  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-70
   05/14/96         Ratified R 377
   05/20/96         Signed By Governor
   05/20/96         Effective date 05/20/96
   05/31/96         Copies available
   05/31/96         Act No. 317

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE MURDER OF A WITNESS OR POTENTIAL WITNESS COMMITTED AT ANY TIME DURING THE CRIMINAL PROCESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPEDING OR DETERRING PROSECUTION OF ANY CRIME AS AN AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE IN CONSIDERATION OF IMPOSING THE DEATH PENALTY.

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

Aggravating circumstance

SECTION 1. Section 16-3-20(C)(a) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 83 of 1995, is further amended by adding at the end:

"( ) The murder of a witness or potential witness committed at any time during the criminal process for the purpose of impeding or deterring prosecution of any crime."

Time effective

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

Approved the 20th day of May, 1996.