2005-2006 Bill 475: Employee of Court May Not Release Information to the Public Relating

South Carolina General Assembly

116th Session, 2005-2006

S. 475

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill

Sponsors: Senator Reese

Document Path: l:\council\bills\ms\7105ahb05.doc

Introduced in the Senate on February 10, 2005

Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Employee of court may not release information to the public relating to an ongoing investigation

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

DateBodyAction Description with journal page number

2/10/2005SenateIntroduced and read first time SJ9

2/10/2005SenateReferred to Committee on JudiciarySJ9

2/17/2005SenateReferred to Subcommittee: Moore (ch), Ford, Mescher, Rankin, Scott

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/10/2005

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 141240 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A JUDGE, COURT PERSONNEL, OR ANOTHER PERSON EMPLOYED BY A COURT IN THIS STATE MAY NOT RELEASE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC RELATING TO AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

SECTION 1.Chapter 1, Title 14 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

“Section 141240.(A)A judge may not release information to the public concerning an ongoing investigation of which he has knowledge as a result of the performance of his official duties as an officer of the court.

(B)Court personnel or another person employed by a court in this State may not release information to the public concerning an ongoing investigation of which he has knowledge as a result of the performance of his occupational duties.

(C)A judge or court personnel who willfully violates the provisions of subsection (A) is subject to investigation by the Commission on Judicial Conduct and is subject to the full range of sanctions available to the Supreme Court for the misconduct of a judicial officer or court personnel.

(D)A person who willfully violates the provisions of subsection (B) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.”

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

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