Bill Text: SC H3225 | 2019-2020 | 123rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: 911 call abuse, false reporting

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-06 - Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Stavrinakis, McCoy [H3225 Detail]

Download: South_Carolina-2019-H3225-Introduced.html

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A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 23-47-80, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR 911 CALL ABUSE INCLUDING FALSE REPORTING, SO AS TO INCLUDE 911 CALL ABUSE VIA TEXT MESSAGING.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 23-47-80 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 23-47-80.    (A)    It is unlawful for a person anonymously or otherwise to:

(1)    use any words or language of a profane, vulgar, lewd, lascivious, or indecent nature on an emergency 911 number with the intent to intimidate or harass a dispatcher;

(2)    telephone or text the emergency 911 number, whether or not conversation ensues for the purpose of annoying or harassing the dispatcher or interfering with or disrupting emergency 911 service;

(3)    make a telephone call to a 911 dispatcher and intentionally fail to hang up or disengage the connection for the purpose of interfering with or disrupting emergency service;

(4)    text 911 in such a volume to disrupt the emergency service;

(5)    telephone or text the emergency 911 number and intentionally make a false report.

(B)    A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than six months or fined not more than two hundred dollars, or both."

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