South Carolina General Assembly
122nd Session, 2017-2018

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A64, R97, H3215

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. J.E. Smith
Document Path: l:\council\bills\bh\7060ahb17.docx

Introduced in the House on January 10, 2017
Introduced in the Senate on March 29, 2017
Last Amended on May 9, 2017
Passed by the General Assembly on May 11, 2017
Governor's Action: May 19, 2017, Signed

Summary: Impersonating a lawyer

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12/15/2016  House   Prefiled
  12/15/2016  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   1/10/2017  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 114)
   1/10/2017  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (House Journal-page 114)
   3/22/2017  House   Committee report: Favorable Judiciary 
                        (House Journal-page 51)
   3/28/2017  House   Read second time (House Journal-page 40)
   3/28/2017  House   Roll call Yeas-100  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 40)
   3/29/2017  House   Read third time and sent to Senate 
                        (House Journal-page 11)
   3/29/2017  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 10)
   3/29/2017  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (Senate Journal-page 10)
   4/13/2017  Senate  Referred to Subcommittee: Young (ch), Sabb, Talley
   4/26/2017  Senate  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary 
                        (Senate Journal-page 9)
    5/9/2017  Senate  Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 69)
    5/9/2017  Senate  Amended (Senate Journal-page 69)
   5/10/2017  Senate  Read second time (Senate Journal-page 51)
   5/10/2017  Senate  Roll call Ayes-34  Nays-1 (Senate Journal-page 51)
   5/11/2017  Senate  Read third time and returned to House with amendments 
                        (Senate Journal-page 42)
   5/11/2017  House   Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled 
                        (House Journal-page 25)
   5/11/2017  House   Roll call Yeas-92  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 25)
   5/15/2017          Ratified R 97
   5/19/2017          Signed By Governor
   5/25/2017          Effective date 5/19/17
   5/31/2017          Act No. 64

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/15/2016
3/22/2017
4/26/2017
5/9/2017


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

(A64, R97, H3215)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-17-770 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF IMPERSONATING A LAWYER AND PROVIDE GRADUATED PENALTIES.

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

Impersonating a lawyer, penalties

SECTION    1.    Article 7, Chapter 17, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-17-770.    (A)    It is unlawful for a person other than a lawyer, who is licensed to practice law in this State or in another state or jurisdiction in the United States and not disbarred or suspended from the practice of law in any state or jurisdiction, to represent to any person that he is a lawyer for the purpose of soliciting business, obtaining anything of value, or providing legal advice or assistance. A person who violates the provisions of this section:

(1)    for a first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both;

(2)    for a second offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both; and

(3)    for a third or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.

(B)    The provisions of this section do not alter the provisions of Chapter 5, Title 40, regulating the practice of law."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 15th day of May, 2017.

Approved the 19th day of May, 2017.

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This web page was last updated on June 21, 2017 at 3:47 PM