Current Status Bill Number:4976 Ratification Number:437 Act Number:356 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19960424 Primary Sponsor:Rhoad All Sponsors:Rhoad and Cave Drafted Document Number:jic\5904cm.96 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19960515 Date of Last Amendment:19960509 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19960529 Subject:Arson of a building of worship, church
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
------ 19960606 Act No. A356
------ 19960529 Signed by Governor
------ 19960523 Ratified R437
House 19960515 Concurred in Senate amendment,
enrolled for ratification
Senate 19960510 Read third time, returned to House
with amendment
Senate 19960509 Unanimous consent for third
reading on Friday, 19960510
Senate 19960509 Amended, read second time
Senate 19960508 Committee report: Favorable with 11 SJ
amendment
Senate 19960429 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ
referred to Committee
House 19960426 Read third time, sent to Senate
House 19960425 Read second time, unanimous consent
for third reading on the next
Legislative day
House 19960424 Introduced, read first time
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A356, R437, H4976)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 16-11-110, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ARSON, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION THAT APPLY TO BUILDINGS ALSO APPLY TO BUILDINGS OF WORSHIP, AND TO AMEND SECTION 16-11-535, RELATING TO MALICIOUS INJURY TO A PLACE OF WORSHIP, SO AS TO REVISE THE PENALTY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Arson
SECTION 1. Section 16-11-110 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 16-11-110. (A) A person who wilfully and maliciously causes an explosion, sets fire to, burns, or causes to be burned or aids, counsels, or procures:
(1) the burning of a building or structure which results in the destruction or damage to the building, or
(2) the burning of a building or structure, which results, either directly or indirectly, in death or serious bodily injury to a person is guilty of arson in the first degree and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than five nor more than twenty-five years.
(B) Any person who wilfully and maliciously causes an explosion, sets fire to, burns, or causes to be burned or aids, counsels, or procures the burning of a dwelling house or any kitchen, shop, barn, stable, or other outhouse that is parcel to or belonging to or adjoining to it, whether the property belongs to him or another person, is guilty of arson in the second degree and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than two nor more than twenty years.
(C) A person who wilfully and maliciously causes an explosion, sets fire to, burns, or causes to be burned or aids, counsels, or procures the burning of a building other than those specified in subsections (A) or (B) with intent to destroy or damage the building, whether his own or another's, is guilty of arson in the third degree and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than one and not more than ten years.
(D) A building or structure, as used in subsections (A) or (C), includes a building of worship such as a church, mosque, masjid, or synagogue."
Defacing a house of worship
SECTION 2. Section 16-11-535 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 16-11-535. Whoever shall wilfully, unlawfully, and maliciously vandalize, deface, damage, or destroy or attempt to vandalize, deface, damage, or destroy any place, structure, or building of worship or aid, agree with, employ, or conspire with any person to do or cause to be done any of the acts mentioned above is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than six months nor more than ten years or fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or both."
Time effective
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 29th day of May, 1996.