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S. 1053

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators McConnell, Ford, Campsen, Malloy and Knotts
Document Path: l:\s-jud\bills\mcconnell\jud0044.kw.doc

Introduced in the Senate on January 31, 2008
Introduced in the House on March 5, 2008
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Bail

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/31/2008  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-5
   1/31/2008  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-5
    2/5/2008  Senate  Referred to Subcommittee: Malloy (ch), Ford, Rankin, 
                        Knotts, Cleary SJ-9
   2/27/2008  Senate  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary SJ-9
   2/28/2008  Senate  Committee Amendment Amended and Adopted SJ-9
   2/28/2008  Senate  Read second time SJ-9
   2/29/2008          Scrivener's error corrected
    3/5/2008  Senate  Read third time and sent to House SJ-21
    3/5/2008  House   Introduced and read first time HJ-101
    3/5/2008  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-101

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/31/2008
2/27/2008
2/28/2008
2/29/2008

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT AMENDED AND ADOPTED

February 28, 2008

S. 1053

Introduced by Senators McConnell, Ford, Campsen, Malloy and Knotts

S. Printed 2/28/08--S.    [SEC 2/29/08 12:21 PM]

Read the first time January 31, 2008.

TO AMEND SECTION 17-15-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING CONDITIONS OF RELEASE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS RELEASED ON BAIL PENDING TRIAL, AND IS SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGED WITH A VIOLENT OFFENSE, SHALL BE DENIED BAIL WHEN THE PROSECUTOR CAN PROVE BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT NO CONDITION OR COMBINATION OF CONDITIONS REASONABLY ASSURES THE SAFETY OF ANY OTHER PERSON OR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY IF THE PERSON IS RELEASED.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Section 17-15-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 17-15-30.    (A)    In determining conditions of release that will reasonably assure appearance, or if release would constitute an unreasonable danger to any other person or the community, the court may, on the basis of available information, consider the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, the accused's family ties, employment, financial resources, character and mental condition, the length of his residence in the community, his record of convictions, and his record of flight to avoid prosecution or failure to appear at other court proceedings.

(B)    The court shall consider:

(1)    the accused's criminal record, if any, including, but not limited to, any charges pending against the accused at the time release is requested;

(2)    The court shall consider, if available, all incident reports generated as a result of the offense charged, if available; and

(3)    whether the accused is not lawfully present in the United States in violation of the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act or another federal law relating to illegal immigration and poses a substantial flight risk due to this status.

(C)    If a person has previously been released on bail pending trial and during his release is charged with a violent offense as defined by Section 16-1-60, and the court finds that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required or the safety of any other person and the community, then the court shall deny release of the person pending trial."

SECTION    2.    Section 22-5-510 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 22-5-510.    (A)    Magistrates may admit to bail a person charged with an offense, the punishment of which is not death or imprisonment for life; provided, however, with respect to violent offenses as defined by the General Assembly pursuant to Section 15, Article I of the Constitution of South Carolina, magistrates may deny bail giving due weight to the evidence and to the nature and circumstances of the event, including, but not limited to, any charges pending against the person requesting bail. 'Violent offenses' as used in this section means the offenses contained in Section 16-1-60. If a person under lawful arrest on a charge not bailable is brought before a magistrate, the magistrate shall commit the person to jail. If the offense charged is bailable, the magistrate shall take recognizance with sufficient surety, if it is offered, in default whereof the person must be incarcerated.

(B)    A person charged with a bailable offense must have a bond hearing within twenty-four hours of his arrest and must be released within a reasonable time, not to exceed four hours, after the bond is delivered to the incarcerating facility."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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