TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 10 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY, BY ADDING SECTION 10-1-220 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE NAMING OF PUBLIC PROPERTY PURCHASED OR CONSTRUCTED WITH STATE FUNDS OR OWNED BY THE STATE FOR ANY ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL, COMMISSIONER, DIRECTOR, OR JUDGE UNTIL AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AFTER THE PERSON HAS DIED, TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC PROPERTY PURCHASED OR CONSTRUCTED WITH STATE FUNDS OR OWNED BY THE STATE MAY BE NAMED FOR A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE; TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC PROPERTY NAMED AFTER AN ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL, COMMISSIONER, DIRECTOR, OR JUDGE AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2015 MAY RETAIN THE NAME, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A LIVING PERSON AFTER WHOM PUBLIC PROPERTY IS NAMED WHO IS SUBSEQUENTLY CONVICTED OF OR HAS PLED GUILTY TO A FELONY OR CRIME OF MORAL TURPITUDE SHALL HAVE THEIR NAME REMOVED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 10 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 10-1-220.    (A)    No public area of the State, any of its political subdivisions, or public property including, but not limited to, a park, street, intersection, bridge, any portion of the state highway system, a building, a part thereof, or an addition to any of them, purchased, leased, or constructed with state funds or otherwise acquired or owned by this State, may be named for any current or former elected or appointed official, commissioner, director, or judge until at least five years after the person has died. The naming prohibition contained in this section does not apply to members of the public at large.

(B)    Any public area of the State, any of its political subdivisions, or public property including, but not limited to, a park, street, intersection, bridge, any portion of the state highway system, a building, a part thereof, or an addition to any of them, purchased, leased, or constructed with state funds or otherwise acquired or owned by this State named for a living person may retain the name unless the person is subsequently convicted of or has pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or crime of moral turpitude. Upon conviction or a plead of nolo contendere as provided in this subsection, the person's name and all official designations, signs or other markers must be removed.

(C)    Any public area of the State, any of its political subdivisions, or public property including, but not limited to, a park, street, intersection, bridge, any portion of the state highway system, a building, a part thereof, or an addition to any of them, purchased, leased, or constructed with state funds or otherwise acquired or owned by this State named for a current or former elected or appointed official, commissioner, director, or judge as of February 1, 2015 may retain the name unless the person for whom it was named is subsequently convicted of or has pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or crime of moral turpitude. Upon conviction or a plead of nolo contendere as provided in this subsection, the person's name and all official designations, signs or other markers must be removed."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.