Bill H. 3046 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to strengthen legal protections against the sexual exploitation of minors, particularly concerning morphed images. Key provisions include the introduction of definitions for "identifiable minor" and "morphed image" in Section 16-15-375, which clarifies the legal context for offenses involving visual depictions of minors. The bill expands the definitions of first, second, and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor to explicitly include morphed images, thereby increasing the legal consequences for such offenses. Offenders will be classified as Tier II on the sex offender registry, and the bill also allows for minors charged with related offenses to have their cases heard in family court as misdemeanors, with the possibility of mandating behavioral health counseling.

Additionally, the bill revises the termination requirements for sex offender registration, specifying conditions for Tier I and Tier II offenders, including those with out-of-state or federal convictions. It establishes that Tier III offenders are prohibited from requesting termination of their registration with SLED unless they meet certain criteria, such as completing treatment programs and having no recent convictions for failure to register. The bill also clarifies prohibitions against criminal solicitation of minors and the employment of minors in sexually explicit situations, aiming to enhance protections for minors and improve the legal framework surrounding sexual offenses. The act will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 16-15-375, 16-15-395, 16-15-405, 16-15-410, 23-3-430, 23-3-462, 16-15-342, 16-15-387, 44-48-30
Latest Version: 16-15-375, 16-15-395, 16-15-405, 16-15-410, 23-3-430, 23-3-462, 16-15-342, 16-15-387, 44-48-30
12/06/2024: 16-15-375, 16-15-395, 16-15-405, 16-15-410, 23-3-430, 23-3-462, 16-15-342, 16-15-387, 44-48-30