TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 25, TITLE 17 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO JUDGMENT AND EXECUTION, TO PROVIDE THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, A PERSON MUST NOT BE SENTENCED TO DEATH OR A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE IF THAT PERSON WAS LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AT THE TIME THE OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 25, Title 17 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 17-25-40.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person must not be sentenced to death or a term of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole if that person was less than eighteen years of age at the time the offense was committed."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. This act is retroactive and constitutes sufficient grounds for the reconsideration of sentences imposed as the result of convictions rendered before the effective date of this act.