A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 23-3-463 so as to PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE TO ALLOW CERTAIN REGISTERED JUVENILE SEX OFFENDERS' NAMES TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY, AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE TO ALLOW CERTAIN JUVENILES WHO HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT BY THE FAMILY COURT FOR COMMITTING CERTAIN OFFENSES TO BE PLACED ON THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY.

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

SECTION 1.   Article 7, Chapter 3, Title 23 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

   Section 23-3-463.   (A) When a registered juvenile sex offender reaches twenty-one years of age and is released from the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, or the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the person may petition the family court to remove the person's requirement to register as a sex offender. In the first year after this section takes effect, the Family Court is limited to hearing only one petition each month. If the Family Court determines at a hearing that the person who is registered as a juvenile sex offender is likely to or does pose an ongoing serious or aggressive threat to the public, the court shall order that the delinquent act be deemed an adult criminal conviction for the purpose of registration, notification, and public information access pursuant to Article 7, Chapter 3, Title 23. If the Family Court determines the person is not likely to or does not pose an ongoing serious or aggressive threat to the public, the juvenile is no longer required to register as a sex offender and his information must be deleted from the sex offender registry. The Attorney General or Circuit Solicitor shall have the right to be heard and the right to have the person assessed. The burden of proof is on the petitioner which must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. The court shall have the discretion to order treatment or any other relevant items as a condition of removal. The petitioner cannot reapply for three years if denied unless otherwise ordered by the court.

   In considering the petition, the court shall consider:

      (1) the likelihood the petitioner will reoffend, based on a risk assessment or an evaluation by a mental health professional, the cost of which shall be borne by the petitioner unless the petitioner is indigent;

      (2) the age of the petitioner at the time of the offense;

      (3) mitigating factors, including whether the petitioner has completed any treatment programs;

      (4) aggravating factors including, but not limited to, use of force or weapons;

      (5) any assessments of the person performed at the request of the Attorney General or Circuit Solicitor; and

      (6) other factors the court considers relevant.

   (B) Notwithstanding Section 23-3-430, a child thirteen years of age or older who has been adjudicated delinquent by a family court in this State for an offense described in Section 23-3-430, with the exception of Sections 16-3-652, 16-3-653, 16-3-654 and Section 16-3-656 when the assault was with the intent to commit, Sections 16-3-652, 16-3-653, and 16-3-654 which require mandatory sex offender registration, may be required to register pursuant to the provisions of this article. The family court shall use its discretion to determine whether a juvenile is placed on the sex offender registry and required to comply with registration requirements. The determination to place the juvenile on the sex offender registry may be after adjudication and held in abeyance until a sex offender treatment program is completed. In making this determination, the court shall consider:

      (1) the likelihood the juvenile will reoffend, based on a psycho-sexual risk assessment and evaluation by a licensed clinical psychologist or licensed psychiatrist employed by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The Circuit Solicitor's Office, Attorney General's Office, or the juvenile also may have an independent psycho-sexual risk assessment evaluation by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist;

      (2) the age of the juvenile at the time of the offense;

      (3) mitigating factors;

      (4) aggravating factors including, but not limited to, use of force or weapons;

      (5) prior adjudications; and

      (6) other factors the court considers relevant.

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

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