South Carolina General Assembly
119th Session, 2011-2012

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H. 5246

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Howard and King
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5314cm12.docx

Introduced in the House on May 9, 2012
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Neighborhood and Crime Watch Programs

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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    5/9/2012  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 17)
    5/9/2012  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (House Journal-page 17)

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

5/9/2012

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

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 8 TO TITLE 23 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO PARTICIPATES AS A MEMBER OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH OR CRIME WATCH MUST SUCCESSFULLY UNDERGO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK AND A MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

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

SECTION    1.    Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"CHAPTER 8

Neighborhood and Crime Watch Programs

Section 23-8-10.        Notwithstanding another provision of law, before a person may participate as a member of a neighborhood watch or crime watch, he must, at his expense, successfully undergo a SLED criminal background check, and a mental health evaluation conducted by the Department of Mental Health.

Section 23-8-20.        A person who violates a provision contained in this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars.

Section 23-8-30.        As used in this chapter, 'neighborhood watch' and 'crime watch' means an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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