The bill H. 3599 proposes an amendment to Section 22-3-545 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which governs the transfer of certain criminal cases from general sessions court. The key change in this legislation is the increase in the maximum penalty for cases eligible for transfer from one year to three years of imprisonment. This means that criminal cases where the penalty does not exceed three years, rather than the previous limit of one year, may be transferred from general sessions court, provided that the necessary procedures are followed.

This amendment aims to provide greater flexibility in the judicial process by allowing more cases to be transferred to potentially more appropriate venues for resolution. The bill is set to take effect upon approval by the Governor, reflecting the legislative intent to streamline the handling of lower-level criminal cases within the South Carolina court system.

Statutes affected:
12/12/2024: 22-3-545
Latest Version: 22-3-545