South Carolina S 808: Luis Rodriguez Retirement

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 808 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 25, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 808

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

As Passed By The Senate

March 25, 2026

S. 808

Introduced 
by Senators Rankin, Alexander and Zell 

S. Printed 3/25/26--S.

Read the first time January 14, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 16-7-10, RELATING TO ILLEGAL ACTS DURING STATE OF EMERGENCY, SO AS TO 
INCLUDE THAT HARASSING OR THREATENING A WORKER RESTORING CRITICAL SERVICES IS A 
MISDEMEANOR, AND THAT ASSAULTING OR ENDANGERING A WORKER RESTORING OR 
DESTROYING OR TAMPERING WITH AN ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM IS A FELONY, AND TO 
DEFINE CRITICAL SERVICES.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Section 16-7-10 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
16-7-10. (A) In any area designated 
by the Governor in his proclamation that a state of emergency exists, and 
during the duration of the proclamation, it is unlawful for a person to:

 (1)(a) violate a provision in the 
proclamation including, but not limited to, any curfew set forth by the 
proclamation;

 (b) 
congregate, unless authorized or in their homes, in groups of three or more and 
to refuse to disperse upon order of a law enforcement officer; or

 (c) 
wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any law 
enforcement officer.

 A person violating 
the provisions of this item is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, 
must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than 
thirty days.

 (2)(a) enter into the property of another, 
without lawful authority and with criminal intent;

 (b) 
damage the property of another; or

 (c) 
take possession or otherwise disturb the property of another in any manner.

 A person violating 
a provision of this item is guilty of the felony of looting and, upon 
conviction, must be fined or imprisoned, or both, in the discretion of the 
court. The court must order restitution pursuant to Section 17-25-322;

 (3) 
charge unconscionable prices during a declared state of emergency or disaster, 
as described in Section 39-5-145, or knowingly and wilfully use a misleading 
practice or device to solicit the contribution or sale of goods or services for 
charitable purposes in connection with a declared state of emergency or 
disaster, as described in Section 39-5-147.;

 (4)(a) 
wilfully and knowingly harass or threaten a worker restoring critical services. 
A person violating a provision of this item shall be guilty of a misdemeanor 
and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to not more than thirty days' 
imprisonment or a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or both;

 (b) wilfully and knowingly assault or 
engage in behavior that could endanger a worker restoring critical services or 
destroy, damage, or tamper with an electric utility system, as defined by 
Section 16-11-740. A person violating a provision of this item shall be guilty 
of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined or imprisoned or both in 
the discretion of the court.

 (B) 
Penalties provided in this article are cumulative of and in addition to those 
provided in Sections 39-5-145 and 39-5-147.

 (C) For the purposes of this section, 
"critical services" include:

 (1) electric and gas services;

 (2) water and sewer services;

 (3) road and highway repair;

 (4) telephone or cell service; or

 (5) satellite or internet service.

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

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This web page was last updated on March 25, 2026 at 06:53 PM