COLUMBIA -- Repeat child rapists could get the death penalty in South Carolina under legislation enacted Wednesday by lawmakers.

After a seesaw battle between senators and House members over the legislation, the House on Wednesday voted 84-27 to agree with the Senate's version of the bill. It includes a provision allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty for those convicted at least twice of criminal sexual conduct with a child 10 years of age or younger.

The legislation now goes to Gov. Mark Sanford. A companion House bill that prevents prosecutors from using the bill against teens engaged in consensual sex also passed Wednesday and will get a third reading today before being sent to the Senate.

South Carolina joins Louisiana and Mississippi in offering the death penalty for those convicted of sexually assaulting children, Rep. Murrell Smith, a Sumter Republican, told lawmakers. The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the case of a Louisiana death row inmate convicted under that state's law, he said.

Advertisement

Some House members derided the bills Wednesday as political "feel-good" legislation that will ultimately be found unconstitutional. But Smith said the legislation shows the state is taking a stand against child molesters.

The legislation is known as Jessica's Law for a Florida girl who was abducted and killed last year by a registered sex offender.

Support for the death-penalty clause gained support after a Hartsville man was charged earlier this year with kidnapping two teenaged girls and sexually assaulting them in an underground room near his home.