Current Status Bill Number:3268 Ratification Number:377 Act Number:317 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19950117 Primary Sponsor:Richardson All Sponsors:Richardson, Vaughn, Harvin, Bailey, Cotty, Limbaugh, Chamblee, Wofford, A. Young, Shissias, Stuart, Lloyd, Sandifer, Thomas, Witherspoon, Wells, Keyserling, Walker and Harrison Drafted Document Number:PT\1520HTC.95 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19960501 Date of Last Amendment:19960425 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19960520 Subject:Murder, punishment for
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ ------ 19960530 Act No. A317 ------ 19960520 Signed by Governor ------ 19960514 Ratified R377 House 19960501 Concurred in Senate amendment, enrolled for ratification Senate 19960429 Read third time, returned to House with amendment Senate 19960425 Amended, read second time Senate 19960410 Committee report: Favorable with 11 SJ amendment Senate 19950214 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ referred to Committee House 19950210 Read third time, sent to Senate House 19950209 Unanimous consent for third reading on the next Legislative day House 19950209 Read second time House 19950208 Committee report: Favorable 25 HJ House 19950117 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A317, R377, H3268)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE MURDER OF A WITNESS OR POTENTIAL WITNESS COMMITTED AT ANY TIME DURING THE CRIMINAL PROCESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPEDING OR DETERRING PROSECUTION OF ANY CRIME AS AN AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE IN CONSIDERATION OF IMPOSING THE DEATH PENALTY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Aggravating circumstance
SECTION 1. Section 16-3-20(C)(a) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 83 of 1995, is further amended by adding at the end:
"( ) The murder of a witness or potential witness committed at any time during the criminal process for the purpose of impeding or deterring prosecution of any crime."
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 20th day of May, 1996.