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Bill

S 1128

Sex Offenders

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Richard Cash and 1 co-sponsor

The bill bars sex offenders from municipal, county, and district parks without park-permission, criminalizing violations as a misdemeanor with fines or up to 30 days in jail.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 1128

Summary of Bill S. 1128 (2025-2026) — South Carolina

Purpose and intent

  • Proposes to restrict access to municipal, county, and special purpose district parks for individuals registered as sex offenders.
  • The bill aims to prohibit registered sex offenders from entering, remaining in, or loitering on park grounds unless they have explicit permission from the park’s governing authority.
  • Establishes penalties for violations.

Key provisions

  • New statute: Section 23-3-537 added to the South Carolina Code.

    • Prohibition: It is unlawful for a person registered as a sex offender under Article 7, Chapter 3, Title 23 to enter upon, remain in, or loiter upon the grounds of municipal, county, or special purpose district parks without expressed permission from the park’s governing authority.
    • Enforcement and penalties: A violator who is a registered sex offender commits a misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the offender faces:
    • A fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500, and/or
    • Imprisonment for up to 30 days.

  • Effective date: The act becomes effective upon approval by the Governor.

Who is affected

  • Individuals registered as sex offenders under South Carolina law (Article 7, Chapter 3, Title 23).
  • Park authorities and governing bodies for municipal, county, and special purpose district parks, which would be responsible for granting or denying permission for restricted individuals to be on park grounds.
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors, who would enforce the prohibition and adjudicate violations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and first reading: April 16, 2026.
  • Referral: Committee on Judiciary (for study, hearings, and possible amendments).
  • No further action details provided in the current text; passage would require standard legislative process (committee passage, floor votes, and gubernatorial approval).

Practical impact and considerations

  • The bill creates a new discretionary access control mechanism for park spaces, shifting some authority to park governing bodies to permit access on a case-by-case basis.
  • It introduces criminal penalties (misdemeanor) for violations, with relatively modest fines and potential jail time (up to 30 days).
  • Potential questions for stakeholders:
    • How “expressed permission” is defined and documented (e.g., written permission, permit systems).
    • Whether existing conditions or court orders (e.g., probation terms, special conditions) interact with park access.
    • Consistency with other sex offender notification and restrictions and any constitutional considerations regarding restrictions on movement or public spaces.

Overall assessment

  • The bill adds a targeted public-safety measure focused on park access for registered sex offenders, balancing park governance discretion with specific criminal penalties for noncompliance. If enacted, it would enable park authorities to control, on a permission-based basis, entry to park areas by registered offenders.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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