H 4739 Session 112 (1997-1998)
H 4739 General Bill, By Simrill and Kirsh
A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
56-5-2946 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURES AND CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH BLOOD
TESTS OF A DEFENDANT'S BLOOD OBTAINED AND TESTED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL SHALL BE
ACCEPTED INTO EVIDENCE IN THIS STATE IN DUI AND FELONY DUI CASES.
03/02/98 House Introduced and read first time HJ-3
03/02/98 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-3
A BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-2946 SO AS TO PROVIDE
THE PROCEDURES AND CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH
BLOOD TESTS OF A DEFENDANT'S BLOOD OBTAINED AND
TESTED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL SHALL BE ACCEPTED
INTO EVIDENCE IN THIS STATE IN DUI AND FELONY DUI
CASES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 56-5-2946. In cases involving a violation of Section
56-5-2930 or 56-5-2945, tests of the defendant's blood shall be
accepted into evidence by a court of competent jurisdiction of this
State where the blood of the defendant was obtained and tested by
appropriate medical personnel due to necessity of transporting the
defendant immediately after the accident or incident for emergency
medical reasons, if the blood tests were performed in accordance with
established hospital protocols and were done at the request of a
physician for diagnostic purposes, if testimony is offered as to the
requirements of the hospital protocol, and if that protocol was
followed. In this event, no formal chain of custody is required to be
established. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a
criminal defendant from attacking the protocol or method in which
the test was performed for purposes of undermining the credibility of
the test before a jury."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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