(A83, R98, H3532)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 17-15-270 SO AS TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL OFFENSE PUNISHABLE BY UP TO FIVE YEARS IF A PERSON COMMITS A SUBSEQUENT VIOLENT CRIME WHILE SUBJECT TO A BOND ORDER OR PRETRIAL RELEASE ORDER FOR A PREVIOUS VIOLENT CRIME; BY AMENDING SECTION 17-15-15, RELATING TO CASH DEPOSITS IN LIEU OF BOND, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE COURT FINDS THAT A DEFENDANT MAY BE RELEASED ON BOND WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A VIOLENT OFFENSE OR ANY FELONY OFFENSE INVOLVING A FIREARM WHILE OUT ON BOND OR OTHER PRETRIAL RELEASE, THE BOND MUST BE SET AT THE FULL UNITED STATES CASH CURRENCY BOND RATHER THAN TEN PERCENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 17-15-30, RELATING TO MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING CONDITIONS OF RELEASE, SO AS TO INCLUDE WHETHER A PERSON IS CURRENTLY OUT ON BOND FOR ANOTHER OFFENSE; BY ADDING SECTION 17-15-35 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR COURT-ORDERED ELECTRONIC MONITORING IN LIEU OF SETTING BOND OR AS AN ADDITIONAL CONDITION OF BOND; BY ADDING SECTION 17-15-37 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS REGARDING ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND TO PROVIDE PARAMETERS FOR WHICH AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING AGENCY MUST OPERATE WITHIN; BY AMENDING SECTION 17-15-55, RELATING TO RECONSIDERATION OF BOND BY THE CIRCUIT COURT SET BY A SUMMARY COURT, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFENDANT MUST BE ADVISED OF HIS RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES RELATED TO SPEEDY TRIALS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REVOCATION OF PREVIOUS BOND IF A PERSON COMMITS A VIOLENT OFFENSE OR A FELONY OFFENSE INVOLVING A FIREARM WHICH WAS COMMITTED WHILE THE PERSON WAS ALREADY OUT ON BOND FOR A PREVIOUS VIOLENT OFFENSE OR FELONY OFFENSE INVOLVING A FIREARM, TO REQUIRE A FULL BOND UNDER CERTAIN REPEAT OFFENDER CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE CONFORMING PROCEDURES; BY AMENDING SECTION 22-5-510, RELATING TO BAIL AND BOND HEARINGS AND CONDITIONS OF RELEASE, SO AS TO INCLUDE WHETHER A PERSON IS CURRENTLY OUT ON BOND FOR ANOTHER OFFENSE; BY AMENDING SECTION 24-13-40, RELATING TO THE COMPUTATION OF TIME SERVED BY PRISONERS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED PRIOR TO TRIAL AND SENTENCING WHEN THE PRISONER COMMITTED A SUBSEQUENT CRIME WHILE OUT ON BOND OR HAD BOND REVOKED ON ANY CHARGE PRIOR TO TRIAL OR PLEA; BY AMENDING SECTION 24-13-425, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF TAMPERING WITH AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICE, SO AS TO DELETE AN UNNECESSARY DEFINITION AND EXEMPT CERTAIN AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS FROM THE PURVIEW OF THE STATUTE; BY ADDING SECTION 17-15-500 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRETRIAL REFORM COMMISSION, PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES, AND TERMINATE THE COMMISSION ON A DATE CERTAIN; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-53-10, RELATING TO DEFINTIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE CHAPTER ON BAIL BONDSMEN AND RUNNERS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "SURETY BONDSMAN" AND DEFINE THE TERM "ELECTRONIC MONITORING"; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-53-50, RELATING TO SURETY RELIEVED ON BOND, SO AS TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CHANGE REGARDING NONPAYMENT OF PREMIUM FEES ALONE NOT BEING SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT IMMEDIATE INCARCERATION OF THE DEFENDANT; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-53-70, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF BENCH WARRANTS FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR, SO AS TO REVISE THE STATUTE TO APPLY MORE BROADLY WHEN A DEFENDANT VIOLATES THE CONDITIONS OF BOND AND REVISE TIME FRAMES PROVIDED FOR THE NOTICE OF THE BENCH WARRANT; BY ADDING SECTION 38-53-84 SO AS TO REQUIRE NOTIFICATION TO THE APPROPRIATE SOLICITOR IF A DEFENDANT VIOLATES AN ORDER FOR ELECTRONIC MONITORING, TO PROVIDE FOR RELIEF FROM THE BOND IF THE DEFENDANT FAILS TO PAY FOR THE MONITORING, AND TO PROVIDE FOR POSSIBLE REVOCATION OF A BONDSMAN'S LICENSE FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-53-170, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL ACTS BY BONDSMEN AND RUNNERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PAYMENT PROCEDURES AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-53-310, RELATING TO WRITTEN BAIL BOND REPORTS THAT MUST BE FILED EACH MONTH WITH THE CLERK OF COURT, SO AS TO INCLUDE CURRENT DATA RETAINED AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION OF BOND, AND TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF A DATA MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM IN LIEU OF THE WRITTEN REPORT; AND BY ADDING SECTION 38-53-55 SO AS TO REQUIRE A PERSON ENGAGED IN ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF A DEFENDANT CHARGED WITH A VIOLENT OFFENSE TO REPORT TO THE COURT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IF THE DEFENDANT HAS CONTACT WITH THE ALLEGED VICTIM.

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

Additional offense for persons violating bond, violent crimes

SECTION 1.    Chapter 15, Title 17 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 17-15-270.    (A) It is unlawful for a person to commit a violent crime while under a bond order or other pretrial release order for a previous violent crime. If the person is convicted of the subsequent violent crime, and is thereafter convicted of a violation of this section, the person is guilty of a felony and must be imprisoned not more than five years. The sentence may be imposed concurrently or consecutively to the punishment for the principal offense.

(B) For purposes of this section:

(1) a violent crime is defined as those contained in Section 16-1-60;

(2) a subsequent violent crime is one that occurs at a later date and time than the offense that resulted in the imposition of the bond order or other pretrial release order.

Full cash bonds

SECTION 2.    Section 17-15-15 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 17-15-15.    (A) Except as provided in subsection (D), in lieu of requiring actual posting of bond as provided in Section 17-15-10(A), the court setting bond may permit the defendant to deposit in cash with the clerk of court an amount not to exceed ten percent of the amount of bond set, which amount, when the defendant fulfills the condition of the bond, must be returned to the defendant by the clerk except as provided in subsection (C).

(B) The cash deposit provided for in subsection (A) must be assignable at any time after it is posted with the clerk of court by written assignment executed by the defendant and delivered to the clerk. After assignment and after the defendant fulfills the condition of his bond, the clerk shall return the cash deposit to the assignee.

(C) In the event the cash deposit is not assigned but the defendant is required by the court to make restitution to the victim of his crime, the deposit may be used for the purpose of restitution.

(D) The provisions of this section do not apply if the defendant is charged with a violent offense, as defined by Section 16-1-60, or any felony offense involving a firearm while out on bond or other pretrial release. If the court, pursuant to the limitations of Section 17-15-30, finds that such defendant may be released pending trial, bond must be set at the full United States currency cash bond to the exclusion of all other forms of bond whether the bond is posted by the defendant or with a bondsman. After the defendant fulfills the conditions of the bond, the clerk shall return the cash bond amount paid to the defendant. However, in the event the defendant is required by the court to make restitution to the victim of his crime, the cash bond may be used for the purpose of such restitution.

Any currency cash bond must be conditioned on the person charged personally appearing before the court specified to answer the charge or indictment and to do and receive what is enjoined by the court, and not to leave the State, and be of good behavior toward all the citizens of the State, or especially toward a person or persons specified by the court. Additionally, the court may impose any other conditions allowed under Chapter 15, Title 17, and any other provision of law.

Conditions of release

SECTION 3.    Section 17-15-30 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 17-15-30.    (A) In determining conditions of release that will reasonably assure appearance, or if release would constitute an unreasonable danger to the community or an individual, a court may, on the basis of the following information, consider the nature and circumstances of an offense charged and the charged person's:

(1) family ties;

(2) employment;

(3) financial resources;

(4) character and mental condition;

(5) length of residence in the community;

(6) record of convictions; and

(7) record of flight to avoid prosecution or failure to appear at other court proceedings.

(B) A court must consider:

(1) a person's criminal record;

(2) any current charges pending against a person and any prior charges against a person at the time release is requested;

(3) all incident reports generated as a result of an offense charged;

(4) whether a person is an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and poses a substantial flight risk due to this status;

(5) whether the charged person appears in the state gang database maintained at the State Law Enforcement Division; and

(6) whether a person is currently out on bond for another offense.

(C)(1) Prior to or at the time of a hearing, the arresting law enforcement agency must provide the court with the following information:

(a) a person's criminal record;

(b) any charges pending against a person at the time release is requested;

(c) all incident reports generated as a result of the offense charged; and

(d) any other information that will assist the court in determining conditions of release to include, but not be limited to, notification of any existing bonds for another offense.

(2) The arresting law enforcement agency shall inform the court if any of the information is not available at the time of the hearing and the reason the information is not available. Failure on the part of the law enforcement agency to provide the court with the information does not constitute grounds for the postponement or delay of the person's hearing. Notwithstanding the provisions of this item, when a person is charged with a violation of Chapter 25, Title 16, the bond hearing may not proceed without the person's criminal record and incident report or the presence of the arresting officer. The bond hearing for a violation of Chapter 25, Title 16 must occur within twenty-four hours after the arrest.

(D) A court hearing these matters has contempt powers to enforce the provisions of this section.

Definitions, electronic monitoring as condition of bond

SECTION 4.    Chapter 15, Title 17 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 17-15-35.    (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Approved active electronic monitoring device" and "monitoring device" means a body worn or non-body worn device or mobile phone application approved by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division which records or transmits oral or wire communications or an auditory sound, visual images, or information regarding the person's location and activities, that must verify live biometric, photographic, or videographic identification information, and that timely records and reports the person's location.

(2) "Approved electronic monitoring agency" means a law enforcement agency, licensed bondsman or bonding company, or electronic monitoring company that is certified by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to supply, maintain, and monitor electronic monitoring devices to participants ordered by the court to wear electronic monitoring devices under the provisions of this section.

(3) "SLED" means the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

(4) "Monitoring agency" or "agency" means an approved electronic monitoring agency.

(5) "Participant" means a person, ordered by the court or as a condition of bond to wear or possess an approved electronic monitoring device.

(B)(1) The court, in its discretion, may, for a person charged with a violation of criminal offense under the jurisdiction of the court of general sessions or any offense where the court finds sufficient evidence of a concern for the victim's safety or the safety of any member of the public, order that the person be placed on surveillance via an approved active electronic monitoring device which must be worn or possessed at all times for the duration specified by the court, either in lieu of setting or requiring the posting of bond or as an additional condition of the release on bond.

(2) For pretrial bond consideration, the judge is not limited to nonviolent offenses, but must take into consideration all concerns relating to the setting of an appropriate bond under Section 22-5-510, Sections 17-15-10, et seq., and Section 16-25-120. The device must be capable of recording the person's location at all times. If the court orders a device, before the participant is allowed to leave custody, the detention facility where the defendant is located, in coordination with the approved monitoring agency, must ensure the participant is fitted with an approved active electronic monitoring device, and that all appropriate bond paperwork, including the agreement with the bonding and electronic monitoring companies acknowledging the terms and restrictions of the bond, is completed.

(3) The participant who is ordered on supervision must:

(a) wear an approved device at all times to verify his compliance with the conditions of his detention or if the device is not body worn, must maintain possession of his approved device on or near his person at all times for the duration of the detention and must verify his identity and location at any time required by the order of the court and must maintain the monitoring device on or near his person at all times for the duration of the detention, subject to the order of the court and reasonable orders of an agent or employee of the monitoring agency in order to effectuate the conditions of the monitoring order. For purposes of this subsection, "near" means within hearing distance of the device's notification or call alerts but not farther than thirty feet. In areas of the State where cellular coverage requires the use of an alternate device, the approved electronic monitoring company may use an alternate approved device with approval of the court;

(b) charge and maintain the monitoring device in working order and must report any damage, destruction, or noticeable malfunction of the active monitoring device, whether the incident was accidental or intentional, and including the device having a dead battery, to at least one of the following parties within two hours of the incident: the monitoring agency, the appropriate law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the underlying offense, or any other party specified in the order;

(c) abide by other terms and conditions set forth by the approved electronic monitoring agency with regard to the monitoring device and electronic monitoring program;

(d) turn himself in to custody of the appropriate detention facility upon the order of the monitoring agency, or the appropriate law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the offense; and

(e) pay for the cost of the approved active electronic monitoring device and the operation of the monitoring device for the duration of the time the person is required to be electronically monitored, subject to an order of indigency by the court. The summary court or circuit court has jurisdiction upon motion of the defendant to consider exempting a person from the payment of a part or all of the cost during a part or all of the duration of the time the person is required to be electronically monitored, if it is determined that exceptional circumstances exist such that these payments cause a severe hardship to the person who is deemed indigent. If the indigency hearing is held at a time and date separate from the initial bond hearing, the defense must notify the prosecutor, the bondsman, and the monitoring agency of the date, time, and location of the hearing subject to the notice requirements of the court.

The payment of the cost must be a condition of supervision of the person and a delinquency of two weeks or more in making payments may operate as a violation of a term or condition of the electronic monitoring and bond. No person shall be denied the privilege of electronic monitoring under this statute based on inability to pay upon a finding by the court that the defendant meets the qualifications for indigency. The State shall allocate funds to be housed in an indigency fund under the control of the Department of Public Safety to be distributed to the monitoring companies as appropriate to cover the cost of indigent participants.

(C) A participant ordered by the court to be monitored under the provisions of this section, who fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section or who fails to comply with any additional condition of the court order including location restrictions, may have his bond revoked or may be punished for contempt at the discretion of the court.

(D) It is unlawful for any person, knowingly and without authority, to remove, tamper with, damage, destroy, shield the signal from, or otherwise circumvent an active electronic monitoring device, or to aid or assist a person ordered by the court to be electronically monitored under the provisions of this section to remove, tamper with, damage, destroy, shield the signal from, or otherwise circumvent a monitoring device and, upon conviction, the person must be punished under the provisions of Section 24-13-425. This subsection does not apply to a person or agent of the electronic monitoring agency or bonding company, or a member of law enforcement acting under the authority of and with compliance to the court order.

(E)(1)    Upon violation of any of these requirements and a showing by affidavit and supporting records by the electronic monitoring company on a domestic violence bond or general sessions bond or where emergency circumstances exist on any other bond, the approved electronic monitoring company may approach a summary court judge for a bench warrant if one is not already provided for in the bond paperwork or other court order. Law enforcement shall immediately attempt to locate and in