TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 24-21-705 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT, UPON RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE OF A PAROLE HEARING, THE VICTIM AND MEMBERS OF THE VICTIM'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY MAY SUBMIT WRITTEN STATEMENTS TO THE BOARD OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATEMENTS MUST BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN MAKING ITS DETERMINATION OF PAROLE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATEMENTS MUST BE RETAINED BY THE BOARD AND MUST BE SUBMITTED AT SUBSEQUENT PAROLE HEARINGS.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 7, Chapter 21, Title 24 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 24-21-705.    (A)    Upon receipt of the notice required by Section 24-21-221, the victim of the crime for which the prisoner has been sentenced and members of the victim's immediate family may submit written statements to the Board of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

(B)    The statements must be considered by the board in making its determination of parole.

(C)    The statements must be retained by the board and must be submitted at subsequent parole hearings, unless the submitting person provides a subsequent written statement declaring that the information no longer represents the present position of the person who is submitting the information.

(D)    Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit submission of information in other forms as provided by law."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.