The bill S. 126 aims to enhance the privacy protections for personal contact information of law enforcement officers and judges in South Carolina. It amends existing laws to expand the definition of "personal contact information" to include additional details such as property tax map numbers and introduces the term "disclosed records." The bill establishes that personal contact information held by state or local government agencies must be kept confidential and not disclosed on publicly available internet websites. It also outlines the procedures for law enforcement officers and judges to request the restriction of their personal contact information, including the requirement for a notarized affidavit to verify their status.

Additionally, the bill introduces new sections that allow eligible parties to petition the court for compliance with these privacy protections and ensures that state or local government employees are not held liable for claims arising from the public record of personal contact information. The Office of Court Administration and the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy are tasked with creating a designated form for these requests. The effective date of the related "Law Enforcement Personal Privacy Protection Act" and "Judicial Personal Privacy Protection Act" is postponed to January 1, 2026, aligning with the implementation of this bill.

Statutes affected:
12/11/2024: 30-2-500, 30-2-510, 30-2-515, 30-2-700, 30-2-710, 30-2-715
Latest Version: 30-2-500, 30-2-510, 30-2-515, 30-2-700, 30-2-710, 30-2-715