TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-570, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO INTERFERENCE WITH FIRE ALARMS AND GIVING FALSE ALARMS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE FINE FOR A VIOLATION AND PROVIDE A GREATER PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION COMMITTED INSIDE A STATE OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 16-17-570 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "Section 16-17-570.    (A)    Any A person who shall wilfully, maliciously, or mischievously interfere interferes with, cut cuts or injure injures, or breaks any pole, wire, insulator, glass key protector, fire-detection, smoke-detection, or fire-extinguishing system, or alarm box, give gives a false alarm from such box or by use of a telephone, or break breaks the glass in such box of any fire or police alarm system in this State or any of the appliances or apparatus which are connected therewith shall be is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall must be sentenced to hard labor in the State Penitentiary or on the chain gang in a county having a chain gang for a term of not less than sixty days or the payment of a fine of not more than two hundred dollars fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than sixty days.

    (B)    A person who violates the provisions of this section in a local or state correctional institution is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than ninety days nor more than two years."

SECTION    2.    The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.