Bill > H4662

This bill amends South Carolina's law on "homicide by child abuse" to increase the age of a child under this section from under the age of 11 to under the age of 18. The key provisions include: (1) defining "child abuse or neglect" as an act or omission that causes harm to a child's physical health or welfare, such as inflicting physical injury or failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or healthcare; (2) establishing penalties for homicide by child abuse, with a potential life sentence for those convicted under subsection (A)(1) and a term of 10 to 20 years for those convicted under subsection (A)(2); and (3) requiring judges to consider aggravating and mitigating circumstances during sentencing, while specifying that a child's crying does not constitute provocation.