Criminal Justice

in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 14, 2025

H 3128: Parole, pardon, and clemency hearings

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 24-21-50, RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF PAROLE, PARDON, AND CLEMENCY HEARINGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE POTENTIAL PAROLEES BEING CONSIDERED FOR PAROLE OR THEIR COUNSEL HAVE A RIGHT TO CONFRONT WITNESSES THAT APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD DURING THEIR HEARINGS, AND ALL TESTIMONY PRESENTED AT PAROLE HEARINGS MUST BE TAKEN UNDER OATH.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill grants parolees right to confront witnesses & requires sworn testimony, enhancing due process and civil rights in parole hearings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 14, 2025

H 3398: Qualifications to register to vote

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-120, RELATING TO PERSONS DISQUALIFIED FROM REGISTERING OR VOTING, SO AS TO DELETE LANGUAGE DISQUALIFYING PERSONS CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR OFFENSE AGAINST THE ELECTION LAWS; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-170, RELATING TO INFORMATION CONTAINED ON VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN APPLICANT AFFIRM, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR OFFENSE AGAINST THE ELECTION LAWS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-185, RELATING TO ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves felony conviction disqualification for voter registration, advancing voting rights reform for formerly incarcerated individuals, a key criminal justice reform indicator.95% confidence

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in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 14, 2025

H 3006: Felon voting rights

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S BELIEF THAT A FELONY CONVICTION SHOULD NO LONGER DISQUALIFY A PERSON FROM BEING REGISTERED OR VOTING WHO IS NO LONGER INCARCERATED.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restores voting rights for non-incarcerated felons, advancing civil rights and criminal justice reform by removing a barrier to civic participation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 14, 2025

H 3177: Inmate voting rights

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 24-3-185 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE INMATES CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE RESTORATION OF THEIR VOTING RIGHTS UPON THEIR RELEASE FROM CUSTODY.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for released inmates, advancing criminal justice reform through civil rights protection and reintegration efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 14, 2025

S 3: Felon voting rights

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-120, RELATING TO PERSONS DISQUALIFIED FROM REGISTERING OR VOTING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DISQUALIFICATION DUE TO A FELONY CONVICTION IS REMOVED, AND THE PERSON'S VOTING RIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY RESTORED, UPON RELEASE FROM PRISON; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-170, RELATING TO INFORMATION CONTAINED ON VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN APPLICANT AFFIRM, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR OFFENSE AGAINST THE ELECTION LAWS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-185, RELATING TO ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for felons upon prison release, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and aiding reintegration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

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in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 14, 2025

H 3193: Trump Criminal Background Records Check Ban Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "TRUMP CRIMINAL BACKGROUND RECORDS CHECK BAN ACT"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-35 SO AS TO ENCOURAGE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE REHABILITATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS AND TO ASSIST THEM IN THE RESUMPTION OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP BY PROVIDING THAT NO PERSON MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, NOR MAY A PERSON BE DISQUALIFIED FROM PURSUING, PRACTICING, OR ENGAGING IN ANY OCCUPATION FOR WHICH A LICENSE IS REQUIRED SOLELY OR IN PART BECAUSE OF A PRIOR CONVICTION OF A CRIME, UNLESS THE CRIME FOR WHICH HE WAS CONVICTED DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE POSITION OF EMPLOYMENT SOUGHT OR THE OCCUPATION FOR WHICH THE LICENSE IS SOUGHT, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED DEFINITIONS, EXCEPTIONS, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves employment/licensing barriers for criminal offenders, directly promoting rehabilitation and reintegration - core criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves criminal background as sole disqualifier for public employment/licensed occupations, promoting rehabilitation and expanding employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated workers, advancing labor & employment rights.95% confidence

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 300: Firearms Criminal Background Checks

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 2 TO CHAPTER 31, TITLE 23 SO AS TO REQUIRE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS BEFORE ANY SALE, EXCHANGE, OR TRANSFER OF FIREARMS IN THIS STATE AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE BACKGROUND CHECKS; TO REQUIRE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AT GUN SHOWS AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE BACKGROUND CHECKS; AND TO EXEMPT RECORDS KEPT FROM DISCLOSURE AS PUBLIC RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE ARTICLE.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires background checks for firearm sales/transfers, aligning with criminal justice reform to prevent gun violence by blocking prohibited transfers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 14, 2025

S 120: NCIC

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 23-23-60, RELATING TO CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE, INFORMATION TO BE SUBMITTED RELATED TO QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES FOR CERTIFICATION, AND EXPIRATION OF CERTIFICATES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, SO AS TO PERMIT SLED TO CONDUCT STATE- AND FEDERAL-LEVEL CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECKS ON INDIVIDUALS SEEKING CERTIFICATION.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows SLED to conduct criminal background checks on law enforcement candidates, enhancing officer vetting and accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · South Carolina · House Jan 16, 2025

H 3775: Ban the Box Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "BAN THE BOX ACT OF 2025" BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-23 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO JOB APPLICATION MAY INCLUDE QUESTIONS RELATED TO CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS UNLESS THE CONVICTION DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE EMPLOYMENT OR LICENSURE SOUGHT, TO PROVIDE A RELATED POLICY STATEMENT, AND TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, EXCLUSIONS, AND RELATED REQUIREMENTS.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans pre-employment questions about criminal convictions, reducing barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated individuals and supporting rehabilitation efforts.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves criminal history questions from job applications, reducing employment discrimination and advancing workers' rights under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Jan 14, 2025

S 140: Voting Rights Notification

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 24-3-180, RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION AND CLOTHES FOR DISCHARGED INMATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE INMATE MUST BE PROVIDED WITH WRITTEN NOTICE THAT THE INMATE IS ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE; BY ADDING SECTION 24-13-190 SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 24-21-280, RELATING TO THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF PROBATION AGENTS AND THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE CRIMINAL LAWS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON CONVICTED OF A FELONY WHO, BY COMPLETING SUPERVISION, HAS COMPLETED ALL TERMS OF HIS SENTENCE MUST BE PROVIDED WITH THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION BOARD; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-5-120, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AND PERSONS DISQUALIFIED FROM REGISTERING OR VOTING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON FORMERLY DISQUALIFIED FROM VOTING MUST PROVIDE VERIFICATION AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION THAT HE HAS SERVED HIS SENTENCE.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires written voting registration notice for discharged inmates, promoting reintegration and civil rights in corrections, a key criminal justice reform measure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Probation & Parole

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