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TO AMEND SECTION 17-30-125, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO INCIDENCES WHEN THE SUPERVISING AGENT OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY ORDER CERTAIN PERSONS TO CUT, REROUTE, OR DIVERT TELEPHONE LINES FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SUPERVISING AGENT OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY ISSUE ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA TO A TELEPHONE COMPANY, INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, OR ANOTHER COMMUNICATIONS ENTITY WHEN IT RECEIVES INFORMATION THAT INDICATES THAT A PERSON'S LIFE IS THREATENED, A PRISONER MAY ESCAPE, A PERSON IS BEING HELD AS A HOSTAGE, A PERSON MAY RESIST ARREST WHILE USING A WEAPON, OR AN ARMED PERSON MAY COMMIT SUICIDE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOOD FAITH RELIANCE BY A TELEPHONE COMPANY, INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, OR ANOTHER COMMUNICATIONS ENTITY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION SPECIFIED IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA IS A COMPLETE DEFENSE TO A CIVIL, CRIMINAL, OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ARISING OUT OF THE ORDER OR ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 17-30-125 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 339 of 2002, is amended to read:
"Section 17-30-125. (A) The supervising agent of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division or the supervising law enforcement officer of a political subdivision of this State at the scene of an incident where there is reasonable cause to believe:
(1) that it involves immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person or the danger of escape of a prisoner;
(2) that a person is holding one or more hostages;
(3) that there is the probability that a subject about to be arrested will resist with the use of weapons; or
(4) that a person has barricaded himself and is armed and is threatening suicide;
may order law enforcement or telephone company personnel to cut, reroute, or divert telephone lines solely for the purpose of preventing telephone communications between the suspect and any person other than a law enforcement officer or the law enforcement officer's designee, if the cutting, rerouting, or diverting of telephone lines is technically feasible and can be performed without endangering the lives of telephone company or other utility personnel.
(B) The Director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, or his designee, when in receipt of information indicating that a situation:
(1) involves a threat of death or serious physical injury to a person or the danger of the escape of a prisoner;
(2) involves a person who is holding one or more hostages;
(3) exists where there is the probability that a person about to be arrested will resist arrest with the use of weapons; or
(4) exists where a person has barricaded himself, is armed, and is threatening to commit suicide;
may issue an administrative subpoena to a telephone company, an Internet Service Provider, or another communications entity to provide information needed to resolve a situation contained in this subsection.
(C) The good faith reliance by a telephone company on an oral or written order to cut, reroute, divert, or intercept telephone lines given by a supervising law enforcement officer under pursuant to subsection (A), or good faith reliance by a telephone company, Internet Service Provider, or another communications entity to provide information specified in an administrative subpoena pursuant to subsection (B), constitutes a complete defense to any civil, criminal, or administrative action arising out of the order or administrative subpoena."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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