TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-5000, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT A HUSBAND AND WIFE HAVE THE SAME STATE FILING STATUS AS FEDERAL STATUS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE TERMS "HUSBAND", "WIFE", AND "SPOUSE" INCLUDE LEGAL SAME-SEX MARRIAGES FROM ANOTHER STATE AND MUST NOT BE CONSTRUED TO BE GENDER SPECIFIC.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 12-6-5000 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately lettered subsection to read:

"( )    For purposes of this chapter, the terms 'husband', 'wife', and 'spouse' include legal same-sex marriages from another state and must not be construed to be gender specific."

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