Bill 4958

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               4958
Ratification Number:       570
Act Number                 477
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Execution; witnesses; recorders

(A477, R570, H4958)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 24-3-550, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE WITNESSES AT AN EXECUTION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO WHO MAY SERVE AS A WITNESS, PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS, AND PROHIBIT AUDIO RECORDERS, CAMERAS, AND RECORDING DEVICES IN THE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FACILITY DURING AN EXECUTION.

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

Execution; witnesses; recorders

SECTION 1. Section 24-3-550 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 24-3-550. At an execution the executioner and necessary staff, at the discretion of the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, to carry out the execution properly, a group of not more than two respectable citizens of the State designated by the commissioner, and a group of not more than five representatives of the South Carolina media, one of whom shall represent the dominant wire service, two of whom shall represent the print media, and two of whom shall represent the electronic news media, must be present. The counsel for the convict and a minister of the gospel may be present. The department shall promulgate regulations to govern the selection of media representatives. No audio recorders, cameras, or recording devices are allowed in the Capital Punishment Facility during an execution."

Time effective

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

Approved the 14th day of May, 1990.