RECALLED

April 3, 2014

S. 900

S. Printed 4/3/14--H.

Read the first time April 2, 2014.

TO CREATE THE "STUDY COMMITTEE ON EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES" TO REVIEW THE CRIMINAL LAWS OF THE STATE AND DETERMINE CRIMINAL OFFENSES APPROPRIATE FOR EXPUNGEMENT, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP AND STAFFING OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S TERMINATION.

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

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is created the "Study Committee on Expungement of Criminal Offenses" to review the state's criminal laws for the purpose of determining criminal offenses which may be appropriate for expungement after a certain time period and under certain circumstances and to make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding proposed changes to the expungement laws affecting adults and juveniles. The study committee shall review information, including, but not limited to, statistics and other information available from the courts, the South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination, and the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense regarding current expungement rates and types of criminal offenses that may be appropriate for expungement, in addition to expungement laws in other states.

(B)    The study committee must be composed of three members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, and three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the House Judiciary Committee Chairman. Vacancies in the study committee's membership must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner of original appointment.

(C)    The Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees shall provide appropriate staffing for the study committee.

(D)    The study committee shall make a report of the study committee's recommendations to the General Assembly by October 13, 2014, at which time the study committee must be dissolved.

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