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Circuit Riders: Updating South Carolina Statutes

Basic Legal Research Guide

Updating SC Statutes in Print

 

South Carolina Code Annotated; main volumes shelved alongside softbound supplements; pocket part supplements are included in the back of main volumes for which there is not a softbound supplement.

Each hardbound volume of the South Carolina Code Annotated is updated annually by either a supplement inserted in the back of the book called a pocket part or a separate softbound supplement shelved next to the hardbound volume. 


Softbound supplement and pocket part supplement for the SC Code Annotated.Supplements include any amendments or repeals of statutes as well as additional research materials and cases decided since the hardbound volume was last revised. Supplements also contain new laws that do not yet appear in the hardbound volumes.

Updating SC Statutes Using the South Carolina Legislature's Website

Because supplements to the South Carolina Code Annotated are published only once a year, the South Carolina General Assembly could amend or repeal a statute before a new supplement or hardbound volume is printed. Therefore, you should compare the language of the statute in the print South Carolina Code Annotated to the statute on the South Carolina Legislature's website.

The history line at the end of each statute shows when it was last amended. For example, the following Payment of Wages statute on the South Carolina Legislature website was enacted in 1986 and amended in 1990.

SECTION 41-10-50. Payment of wages due discharged employees. When an employer separates an employee from the payroll for any reason, the employer shall pay all wages due to the employee within forty-eight hours of the time of separation or the next regular payday which may not exceed thirty days. HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 380, Section 1, eff April 21, 1986; 1990 Act No. 463, Section 3, eff May 7, 1990.

Also, you should use the South Carolina Legislature website to search for current legislation (pending or recently passed bills) that may affect a statute.

Updating SC Statutes Using Citators--KeyCite & Shepard's

Citators use flags and signals to notify you:

  • that there is pending legislation that might affect a statute;
  • that a statute has in fact been recently amended or repealed; or
  • that a court has ruled a statute to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid.

Citators also provide secondary sources and cases that cite a statute. 

KeyCite is the citator for Westlaw. Shepard's is the citator for Lexis.  Some public libraries in South Carolina provide access to Westlaw for their patrons, while some South Carolina colleges and universities, including the University of South Carolina, provide access to Nexis Uni (by Lexis).