South Carolina S 247: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO AMEND RULE 10 OF THE RULES OF THE SENATE BY ADDING A PARAGRAPH AT THE END OF THE RULE TO REQUIRE COMMITTEES TO REPORT TO THE FULL SENATE ON ALL PROPOSED REGULATIONS WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF REFERRAL, AND TO PROVIDE THAT, IN THE EVENT A REPORT IS NOT MADE, A JOINT RESOLUTION DISAPPROVING THE RESOLUTION IN THE NAME OF THE COMMITTEE MUST BE INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 247 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 21, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 247

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 ENACTING THE "SENATOR CLEMENTA C. PINCKNEY HATE CRIMES ACT" BY ADDING 
ARTICLE 22 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 16 SO AS TO ENTITLE THE ARTICLE "PENALTY 
ENHANCEMENTS FOR CERTAIN CRIMES," TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR PERSONS 
WHO COMMIT CERTAIN DELINEATED CRIMES WHEN THE VICTIM WAS INTENTIONALLY SELECTED 
BASED ON CERTAIN FACTORS.

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

SECTION 
1. This act may 
be cited as the "Senator Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act."

SECTION 2. Chapter 3, Title 16 of the 
S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Article 22

Penalty 
Enhancements for Certain Crimes

 Section 
16-3-2410. (A) When a person commits 
a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 or commits assault by mob in the 
second degree as defined in Section 16-3-210(C) and the trier of fact 
determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the offense was committed against a 
victim who was intentionally selected, in whole or in part, because of the 
person's belief or perception regarding the victim's race, color, religion, 
sex, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical or mental 
disability, whether or not the perception is correct, the person is subject to 
additional penalties as provided in subsection (B).

 (B) A person who violates the 
provisions of subsection (A) and commits a violent crime as defined in Section 
16-1-60 or commits assault by mob in the second degree as defined in Section 
16-3-210(C), upon conviction, is subject to an additional fine of not more than 
ten thousand dollars and an additional term of imprisonment of up to five years.

 (C) The provisions of this section 
provide for the enhancement of the penalties applicable to underlying offenses. 
The court shall permit the prosecuting agency and the defense to present 
evidence relevant to the determination of whether the defendant intentionally 
selected the person against whom the offense is committed, in whole or in part, 
because of the person's belief or perception regarding one or more of the 
factors provided in subsection (A), whether or not the perception is correct. 
The court with competent jurisdiction over the underlying offense shall 
instruct the trier of fact to find a special verdict as to a violation of the 
provisions of this section.

 (D) The additional penalties described 
in subsection (B) may not be imposed unless the person was indicted, either 
separately or as a separate count in the indictment for the underlying offense, 
for the offense pursuant to this section committed against the victim who was 
intentionally selected, in whole or in part, because of the person's belief or 
perception regarding one or more of the factors provided in subsection (A), 
whether or not the perception is correct, and the person was found guilty of 
the underlying offense.

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

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This web page was last updated on January 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM