H 3018 General Bill, By Simrill, J.L.M. Cromer, Gamble, Harrell, Kirsh, Meacham, 
Phillips, Robinson, J.S. Shissias, Spearman, Vaughn and C.C. Wells
 A Bill to amend Section 16-3-20, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, relating to punishment for murder, so as to require the trial judge to
 explain to a jury impaneled to render a verdict in the case that a defendant
 receiving a sentence of life imprisonment is eligible for parole after serving
 either twenty or thirty years, depending of the circumstances of the case.

   12/14/94  House  Prefiled
   12/14/94  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/10/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-11
   01/10/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-12

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE TRIAL JUDGE TO EXPLAIN TO A JURY IMPANELED TO RENDER A VERDICT IN THE CASE THAT A DEFENDANT RECEIVING A SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AFTER SERVING EITHER TWENTY OR THIRTY YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE.

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

SECTION 1. Section 16-3-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 488 of 1992, is further amended by adding:

"(F) In any trial conducted under the provisions of this section the trial judge is required to explain to the jury impaneled to render a verdict that a defendant receiving a sentence of life imprisonment is eligible for parole after serving either twenty or thirty years, depending on the circumstances of the case."

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