Victims' Services and Compensation

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 14-1-211.5, RELATING TO TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES REGARDING CRIME VICTIM FUNDS, SO AS TO CHANGE A REFERENCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-1200, RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF CRIME VICTIMS AND CONDUCT OF A VICTIM OR INTERVENOR CONTRIBUTING TO INFLICTION OF INJURY, SO AS TO UPDATE A REFERENCE TO THE DEFINITION OF "INTERVENOR"; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-1420, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE ARTICLE ON CRIME VICTIM SERVICES TRAINING, PROVIDER CERTIFICATION, AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, SO AS TO REMOVE AN UNNECESSARY DEFINITION OF "WITNESS"; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-1430, RELATING TO VICTIM ASSISTANCE SERVICES, SO AS TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO SPOUSE ABUSE AND REFERENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND UPDATE THE STATUTE TO REFLECT VICTIM SERVICES, TO REPLACE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OFFICE OF VICTIM ASSISTANCE WITH REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY THE CHAIR OF THE VICTIM SERVICES COORDINATING COUNCIL, AND TO MAKE OTHER TECHNICAL CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-3-1510, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF VICTIM AND WITNESS SERVICES, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "CRIMINAL OFFENSE"; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 17-25-45, RELATING TO LIFE SENTENCES FOR PERSONS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES AND THE LIST OF "MOST SERIOUS OFFENSE," SO AS TO DELETE AN OBSOLETE REFERENCE.