South Carolina General Assembly
109th Session, 1991-1992

Bill 3101


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    3101
Primary Sponsor:                Wofford
Committee Number:               25
Type of Legislation:            JR
Subject:                        Victims' and Witnesses' Bill of
                                Rights
Residing Body:                  House
Current Committee:              Judiciary
Companion Bill Number:          476
Computer Document Number:       3101
Introduced Date:                Jan 08, 1991
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              Jan 08, 1991
Last History Type:              Introduced and read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Wofford
Type of Legislation:            Joint Resolution



History


 Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN
 ----  ------  ------------  ------------------------------  ---
 3101  House   Jan 08, 1991  Introduced and read first       25
                             time, referred to Committee
 3101  House   Dec 27, 1990  Prefiled, referred to           25
                             Committee

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE VICTIMS' AND WITNESSES' BILL OF RIGHTS.

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

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article I of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 24. This section is known as the `Victims' and Witnesses' Bill of Rights' and is further defined by law. Victims and witnesses of crime have the right to:

1. be treated with dignity and compassion;

2. protection from intimidation and harm;

3. be informed concerning the criminal justice process;

4. reparations;

5. preservation of property and employment;

6. due process in criminal court proceedings;

7. special recognition and attention by all criminal justice, medical, and social agencies if the victim or witness is very young, elderly, handicapped, or has special needs."

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Article I of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide for a victims' and witnesses' bill of rights?

Yes []

No []

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `No'."

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