Bill 3197

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    3197
Ratification Number:            447
Act Number:                     386
Primary Sponsor:                J. Brown
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Security devices, rental
                                accommodations
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   Apr 29, 1992
Computer Document Number:       BBM/9097.JM
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      May 15, 1992
Introduced Date:                Jan 09, 1991
Date of Last Amendment:         Apr 23, 1992
Last History Body:              ------
Last History Date:              May 15, 1992
Last History Type:              Act No. 386
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   J. Brown
                                Scott
                                Glover
                                Cato
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

 Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN
 ----  ------  ------------  ------------------------------  ---
 3197  ------  May 15, 1992  Act No. 386
 3197  ------  May 15, 1992  Signed by Governor
 3197  ------  May 13, 1992  Ratified R 447
 3197  Senate  Apr 29, 1992  Concurred in House amendment,
                             enrolled for ratification
 3197  House   Apr 23, 1992  Senate amendments amended,
                             returned to Senate
 3197  House   Apr 22, 1992  Debate adjourned on Senate
                             amendments until Thursday,
                             April 23, 1992
 3197  House   Apr 15, 1992  Debate adjourned on Senate
                             amendments until Wednesday,
                             April 22, 1992
 3197  House   Apr 09, 1992  Reconsidered vote whereby
                             concurred in Senate amendments
 3197  House   Apr 09, 1992  Debate adjourned until
                             Wednesday, April 15, 1992
 3197  House   Apr 08, 1992  Recalled from Legislative
                             Council
 3197  House   Apr 08, 1992  Concurred in Senate
                             amendment, enrolled for
                             ratification
 3197  Senate  Apr 06, 1992  Read third time, returned
                             with amendment
 3197  Senate  Mar 31, 1992  Amended, read second time
 3197  Senate  Mar 30, 1992  Committee Report: Favorable     12
                             with amendment
 3197  Senate  May 15, 1991  Introduced, read first time,    12
                             referred to Committee
 3197  House   May 14, 1991  Read third time, sent to
                             Senate
 3197  House   May 09, 1991  Read second time
 3197  House   May 01, 1991  Committee Report: Favorable     26
 3197  House   Jan 09, 1991  Introduced and read first       26
                             time, referred to Committee

(A386, R447, H3197)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT WHEREVER FEES ARE CHARGED IN THIS STATE FOR ANY ROOMS, LODGINGS, OR ACCOMMODATIONS FURNISHED TO TRANSIENTS BY ANY HOTEL OR MOTEL, THE ROOMS, LODGINGS, OR ACCOMMODATIONS SO FURNISHED MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN SECURITY DEVICES; TO PROVIDE THAT THESE PROVISIONS DO NOT APPLY TO TOURIST CAMPS OR CAMPGROUNDS OR TO RESIDENCES OF ANY NATURE; TO MAKE THE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT A MISDEMEANOR AND PROVIDE PENALTIES; TO PROVIDE THAT EVERY INSTANCE IN WHICH THE REQUIRED SECURITY DEVICES ARE NOT PROVIDED CONSTITUTES A SEPARATE OFFENSE FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROSECUTION AND CONVICTION; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT APPLY TO ANY HOTEL OR MOTEL HAVING TWENTY OR MORE ROOMS, LODGINGS, OR ACCOMMODATIONS FURNISHED TO TRANSIENTS FOR A FEE.

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

Hotels, motels; room security devices; penalties; etc.

SECTION 1. (A) Wherever fees are charged in this State for any rooms, lodgings, or accommodations furnished to transients by any hotel or motel, the rooms, lodgings, or accommodations so furnished must be equipped with:

(1) a lock system such as, but not limited to, a deadbolt, security chain, bar lock, or other state of the art security system which may be activated from the inside by the transient and which cannot be unlocked or removed from the outside except by an emergency key (E-key) or other management-controlled access plan; and

(2) a device such as view ports, side windows, or any other device which allows sight outside the door without opening the door or by opening the door not more than three inches.

The provisions of this subsection do not apply to tourist camps or campgrounds or to residences of any nature.

(B) Whoever fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than sixty days or by both fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. Every instance in which the required security devices are not provided as required under items (1) and (2) of subsection (A) constitutes a separate offense under this section for the purposes of prosecution and conviction.

(C) The requirements of this section apply to any hotel or motel having twenty or more rooms, lodgings, or accommodations furnished to transients for a fee.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect one hundred eighty days after approval by the Governor.

Approved the 15th day of May, 1992.