Bill 895

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               895
Ratification Number:       408
Act Number:                358
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Entry of guilty plea, forfeiture of bail
                           posted, or entry of plea of nolo contendere
                           shall have the same effect as a
                           conviction

(A358, R408, S895)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-1-135 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN ENTRY OF GUILTY PLEA, FORFEITURE OF BAIL POSTED, OR ENTRY OF PLEA OF NOLO CONTENDERE SHALL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS A CONVICTION.

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

Effect of entry of guilty plea, etc.

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-1-135. The entry of any plea of guilty, the forfeiture of any bail posted, or the entry of plea of nolo contendere for a violation of the fish and game laws of this State has the same effect as a conviction. In any case where bail is posted by the defendant, no forfeiture of bail becomes effective until ten days following the date of arrest nor may the defendant be required to plead prior to the elapse of the ten-day period. The provisions of this section may not be construed to prohibit a defendant from voluntarily entering a plea or forfeiting bail within the ten-day period."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.