Bill Text: SC S0469 | 2019-2020 | 123rd General Assembly | Introduced

South Carolina Senate Bill 469 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Protections from Domestic Abuse Act

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-05 - Referred to Committee on Judiciary [S0469 Detail]

Download: South_Carolina-2019-S0469-Introduced.html

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 20-4-20 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR THE "PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT", TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "HOUSEHOLD MEMBER" BY ADDING COHABITANTS, FORMER COHABITANTS, AND PERSONS WHO ARE PRESENTLY IN OR HAVE FORMERLY BEEN IN A DATING RELATIONSHIP AND TO DEFINE "DATING RELATIONSHIP".

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

SECTION 1. Section 20-4-20(b) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(b) 'Household member' means:

(i) a spouse;

(ii) a former spouse;

(iii) persons who have a child in common;

(iv) ~~a male and female who are cohabiting or formerly have cohabited~~ persons who are cohabiting or formerly have cohabited; or

(v) persons who are presently in or have formerly been in a dating relationship together."

SECTION 2. Section 20-4-20 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately lettered new item to read:

"( )(i) 'Dating relationship' means a romantic, courtship, or engagement relationship between two individuals that need not include sexual involvement. In addition to any other factors the court deems relevant, the court may consider the following factors in making a determination of whether a relationship exists or existed:

(A) the length of the relationship;

(B) the nature or type of the relationship;

(D) the time since termination of the relationship, if applicable.

(ii) 'Dating relationship' does not include a casual relationship or ordinary fraternization between two individuals in a business or social context."

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