Current Status Bill Number:3018 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19950110 Primary Sponsor:Simrill All Sponsors:Simrill, Cromer, Vaughn, Meacham, Kirsh, Wells, Harrell, Gamble, Phillips, Spearman, Robinson and Shissias Drafted Document Number:DKA\3539CM.95 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Murder, sentence for
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19950110 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
House 19941214 Prefiled, referred to Committee 25 HJ
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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.