Bill > H3620

This bill creates a new law in South Carolina that criminalizes the production, distribution, receipt, and possession of obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, including AI-generated or digitally created images of minors in sexually explicit situations, even if no real child is involved. Under the new law, producing such images is a felony punishable by 2-10 years in prison with no possibility of parole before serving the minimum sentence, while possessing such images is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. For minors creating or possessing such images, the offense is treated as a misdemeanor in family court, with potential behavioral health counseling. The bill also amends the Sex Offender Registry to include this new offense as a Tier I sex offense, meaning offenders may be required to register, with some exceptions for minors. Additionally, the bill modifies the rules for when registered sex offenders can request removal from the registry, clarifying the waiting periods and conditions for Tier I and Tier II offenders. Law enforcement and prosecutorial employees are explicitly exempted from these restrictions when handling such materials in the course of official investigations or legal proceedings.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3620&session=126&summary=B