The bill H. 4151 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws, specifically Section 63-19-20, which defines terms in the "Juvenile Justice Code." The primary change is the definition of "child" or "juvenile," which is now specified as a person under eighteen years of age. However, the bill introduces exceptions for minors who are charged with certain serious offenses. Specifically, it states that individuals who are seventeen years old and charged with Class A, B, C, or D felonies, or felonies with a maximum imprisonment of fifteen years or more, are not considered juveniles. Similarly, it outlines that sixteen-year-olds charged with felonies that carry a potential thirty-year sentence, first-degree burglary, or attempted murder are also excluded from the juvenile classification.

Additionally, the bill allows for the possibility of remanding these minors to family court for disposition of their charges at the discretion of the solicitor, despite their exclusion from the juvenile definition. This legislative change aims to address the handling of serious crimes committed by minors while still providing a pathway for potential rehabilitation through family court. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
03/05/2025: 63-19-20
Latest Version: 63-19-20