Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:415 Primary Sponsor:Martin Committee Number:11 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Murder, punishment for Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Computer Document Number:BBM/10215DW.93 Introduced Date:19930211 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:19930211 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Martin Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
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415 Senate 19930211 Introduced, read first time, 11
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SENTENCE FOR A PERSON CONVICTED OF MURDER WHERE AN AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE IS FOUND AND WHERE THE IMPOSITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT RECOMMENDED MUST BE LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR PAROLE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 16-3-20(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A) A person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to murder must be punished by death or by imprisonment for life and is not eligible for parole until the service of twenty years; provided, however, except that when the State seeks the death penalty and an aggravating circumstance is specifically found beyond a reasonable doubt pursuant to subsections (B) and (C), and a recommendation of death is not made, the court must impose a sentence of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole until the service of thirty years. Provided, further, that Under no circumstances may a female who is pregnant with child be executed so long as she is in that condition. When the Governor commutes a sentence of death under the provisions of Section 14 of Article IV of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895 this State, the commutee is not eligible for parole. No person sentenced under the provisions of this subsection may receive any work-release credits, good-time credits, or any other credit that would reduce the mandatory imprisonment required by this subsection."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.