Bill > H3533

This bill amends South Carolina's assault and battery laws to expand the definition of "assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature" to specifically include incidents involving injuries to federal, state, or local law enforcement officers, corrections officers, firefighters, or emergency medical services (EMS) workers when the assault occurs during or because of their official duties. Under the revised law, if someone unlawfully injures one of these public servants in the course of their work, they can be charged with a felony punishable by up to twenty years in prison. The bill clarifies that this type of assault is considered a lesser-included offense of attempted murder and maintains existing legal principles regarding pending legal actions and rights. By adding these specific protections for public safety workers, the legislation aims to provide enhanced legal consequences for those who assault professionals performing critical public service roles, recognizing the inherent risks and importance of their work.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3533&session=126&summary=B