Bill > S0156

This bill creates a new criminal offense called "fentanyl-induced homicide" in South Carolina, which makes it a felony for a person to knowingly deliver, dispense, or provide fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances that directly cause another person's death. If convicted, the offender can be imprisoned for up to thirty years. The bill specifically states that it is not a defense that the deceased person willingly took the substance or contributed to their own death, unless there is clear evidence the person intended to commit suicide. Importantly, the law does not apply if two consenting persons take fentanyl together and one dies. The bill also adds this new offense to the state's list of criminal offenses, ensuring it can be prosecuted under existing legal frameworks. The legislation aims to hold drug providers accountable for deaths caused by fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has been responsible for a significant number of overdose deaths in recent years. The new law will take effect immediately upon approval by the Governor.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0156&session=126&summary=B