Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Amendment Adopted

March 21, 2023

S. 112

Introduced by Senators Allen, Hembree and Shealy

S. Printed 03/21/23--S.

Read the first time January 10, 2023

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 34-11-90, RELATING TO JURISDICTION FOR OFFENSES INVOLVING CHECKS AND PENALTIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE A METHOD TO EXPUNGE CONVICTIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 17-22-910, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR EXPUNGEMENT, SO AS TO ADD MULTIPLE MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES OF CHECK FRAUD TO THOSE OFFENSES ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT.

    Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1.  Section 34-11-90 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    (f) notwithstanding another provision of law, if a defendant receives multiple convictions within a three-year period of time in magistrates court for a violation of this section, the defendant may, after ten years from the date of the last conviction, apply or cause someone acting on his behalf to apply, to the court for an order expunging the records of arrest and the multiple convictions. This provision does not apply to any crime classified as a felony. If the defendant receives no other convictions during the ten-year period following the last conviction under this section and full restitution has been made on all checks that are the subject of the convictions, the court must issue an order expunging the records. No person may take advantage of the rights permitted by this subsection more than once. Neither the application for nor successful expungement of a qualifying applicant's record as authorized by subsection (e) precludes application for and expungement of a qualifying applicant's record under this subsection. After the expungement, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is required to keep a nonpublic record of the offense and the date of its expungement to ensure that no person takes advantage of the rights permitted by this subsection more than once. This nonpublic record is not subject to release under Section 34-11-95, the Freedom of Information Act, or any other provision of law except to those authorized law or court officials who need this information in order to prevent the rights afforded by this subsection from being taken advantage of more than once.

SECTION 2.  Section 17-22-910(A)(1) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (1) Section 34-11-90(e), first offense misdemeanor fraudulent check or Section 34-11-90(f), multiple misdemeanor offenses of fraudulent check;

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

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