South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

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H. 3917

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Cotty
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ms\7265ahb07.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 127

Introduced in the House on April 18, 2007
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Criminal sexual conduct in first degree

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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   4/18/2007  House   Introduced and read first time HJ-32
   4/18/2007  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-32

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/18/2007

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

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-655, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A MINOR, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT IN THE FIRST DEGREE OCCURS WHEN COMMITTED AGAINST A VICTIM LESS THAN SEVENTEEN, RATHER THAN SIXTEEN, WHEN THE ACTOR PREVIOUSLY HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF, PLEAD NOLO CONTENDERE TO, OR ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT FOR CERTAIN SPECIFIED OFFENSES, TO INCREASE THE AGE OF A VICTIM FROM LESS THAN SIXTEEN TO LESS THAN SEVENTEEN WHEN THE ACTOR IS IN A POSITION OF FAMILIAL, CUSTODIAL, OR OFFICIAL AUTHORITY TO COERCE THE VICTIM OR IS OLDER THAN THE VICTIM, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PERSONS MAY NOT BE CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A MINOR IN THE SECOND DEGREE BASED ON THE AGE OF THE PARTIES, AND TO REMOVE MISTAKE OF AGE AS A DEFENSE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 16-3-655(A)(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 346 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"(2)    the actor engages in sexual battery with a victim who is less than sixteen seventeen years of age and the actor has previously been convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or adjudicated delinquent for an offense listed in Section 23-3-430(C) or has been ordered to be included in the sex offender registry pursuant to Section 23-3-430(D)."

SECTION    2.    Section 16-3-655(B)(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 346 of 2006, is further amended to read:

"(2)    the actor engages in sexual battery with a victim who is at least fourteen years of age but who is less than sixteen seventeen years of age and the actor is in a position of familial, custodial, or official authority to coerce the victim to submit or is older than the victim. However, a person the actor may not be convicted of a violation of the provisions of this item if he is eighteen years of age or less when he engages in illicit but consensual sexual conduct with another person who is less than seventeen years of age but who is a least fourteen years of age, the actor is no more than two years older than the other person, and the sole basis for charges being filed against the actor pursuant to this item is that the actor is older than the person with whom he engaged in sexual conduct. at least fourteen years of age. In addition, mistake of age may be used as a defense."

SECTION    3.    The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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