Subcommittee advances bill shielding judges’ and officers’ contact information with exceptions and implementation concerns

The Constitutional Law Subcommittee voted unanimously to give a favorable report to S.126, a bill that clarifies and narrows existing protections for the personal contact information of judges and law enforcement officers held by state and local government agencies.

Sponsor materials and testimony before the panel said the bill limits the disclosure restriction to publicly available internet sites operated by government agencies and creates specified exceptions, including allowing disclosure to title insurers, title insurance agencies and attorneys in good standing with the South Carolina Bar. The bill also directs the Office of Court Administration and the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy to create a designated form that officers and judges may use to request restricted access to their personal contact information. The legislation sets…