South Carolina H 4650: Green Energy Resources

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4650 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4650

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 16-17-495, RELATING TO CUSTODIAL INTERFERENCE, SO AS TO CHANGE THE AGE 
OF THE CHILD TO WHICH THE CRIME OF CUSTODIAL INTERFENCE APPLIES; TO ADD CERTAIN 
CONDUCT THAT CONSTITUTES CUSTODIAL INTERFERENCE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 16-17-495 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
16-17-495. (A)(1) When a court of 
competent jurisdiction in this State or another state has awarded custody of a 
child under the age of sixteeneighteen 
years or when custody of a child under the age of sixteeneighteen years is established pursuant to Section 
63-17-20(B), it is unlawful for a person with the intent to violate the court 
order or Section 63-17-20(B) to:

 (a) take or transport, or cause 
to be taken or transported, the child from the legal custodian for the purpose 
of concealing the child, or circumventing or avoiding the custody order or 
statute;

 (b) refuse to return the child as 
required under the terms of the court custody or visitation order; or

 (c) retain the child beyond the 
expiration of visitation time without cause or communication.

 (2) 
When a pleading has been filed and served seeking a determination of custody of 
a child under the age of sixteeneighteen, it is unlawful for a person with the intent to 
circumvent or avoid the custody proceeding to take or transport, or cause to be 
taken or transported, the child for the purpose of concealing the child, or 
circumventing or avoiding the custody proceeding. It is permissible to infer 
that a person keeping a child outside the limits of this State for more than 
seventy-two hours without notice to a legal custodian intended to violate this 
subsection.

 (B) 
A person who violates subsection (A)(1) or (2) is guilty of a felony and, upon 
conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more 
than five years, or both.

 (C) 
If a person who violates subsection (A)(1) or (2) returns the child to the 
legal custodian or to the jurisdiction of the court in which the custody 
petition was filed within three days of the violation, the person is guilty of 
a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the 
court or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

 (D) 
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the taking or transporting 
of a child in violation of subsectionssubsection (A)(1) or (2), is by physical force or the 
threat of physical force, the person is guilty of a felony and, upon 
conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more 
than ten years, or both.

 (E) 
A person who violates the provisions of this section may be required by the 
court to pay necessary travel and other reasonable expenses including, but not 
limited to, attorney's fees incurred by the party entitled to the custody or by 
a witness or law enforcement.

SECTION 2. The repeal or amendment by this act 
of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect 
pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, 
discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred 
under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision 
shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all 
laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in 
full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested 
right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal 
existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of 
rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the 
repealed or amended laws.

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

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