S*0173(Rat #0067, Act #0046 of 2017)  General Bill, By Sheheen, Turner and 
Timmons

Similar(H 3466)
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 23-23-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CLASS 1-LE, CLASS 2-LCO, OR CLASS 3-SLE LAW
 ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST COMPLETE CONTINUING LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION CREDITS
 IN MENTAL HEALTH OR ADDICTIVE DISORDERS DURING THE RECERTIFICATION PERIOD, AND
 TO PROVIDE THE CONTENT OF THE TRAINING; TO AMEND SECTION 23-23-80, AS AMENDED,
 RELATING TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY,
 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL IS AUTHORIZED TO
 PROVIDE TRAINING FOR OFFICERS TO RECOGNIZE TRAUMA AND STRESS-RELATED DISORDERS
 IN OTHER OFFICERS AND RECOMMEND PARTICIPATION IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT RESULTING IN DEATH OR
 SERIOUS BODILY INJURY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 23-3-65, RELATING TO THE LAW
 ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONE PURPOSE OF THE
 PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES TO OFFICERS EXPERIENCING
 STRESS-RELATED DISORDERS. - ratified title

   12/13/16  Senate Prefiled
   12/13/16  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/10/17  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 92)
   01/10/17  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 92)
   02/23/17  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Hutto (ch), Shealy,
                     McLeod, Rice, Timmons
   03/08/17  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 19)
   03/09/17         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/16/17  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 25)
   03/16/17  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 25)
   03/16/17  Senate Roll call Ayes-41  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 25)
   03/21/17  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 14)
   03/22/17  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 10)
   03/22/17  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 10)
   04/26/17  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 115)
   05/02/17  House  Debate adjourned until Wed., 5-3-17
                     (House Journal-page 44)
   05/03/17  House  Amended (House Journal-page 12)
   05/03/17  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 12)
   05/03/17  House  Roll call Yeas-101  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 90)
   05/04/17  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments (House Journal-page 12)
   05/10/17  Senate House amendment amended (Senate Journal-page 75)
   05/10/17  Senate Returned to House with amendments
                     (Senate Journal-page 75)
   05/11/17  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
                     (House Journal-page 22)
   05/11/17  House  Roll call Yeas-90  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 22)
   05/15/17         Ratified R 67
   05/19/17         Signed By Governor
   05/25/17         Effective date 5/19/17
   05/31/17         Act No. 46

(A46, R67, S173)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 23-23-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CLASS 1-LE, CLASS 2-LCO, OR CLASS 3-SLE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST COMPLETE CONTINUING LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION CREDITS IN MENTAL HEALTH OR ADDICTIVE DISORDERS DURING THE RECERTIFICATION PERIOD, AND TO PROVIDE THE CONTENT OF THE TRAINING; TO AMEND SECTION 23-23-80, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR OFFICERS TO RECOGNIZE TRAUMA AND STRESS-RELATED DISORDERS IN OTHER OFFICERS AND RECOMMEND PARTICIPATION IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT RESULTING IN DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 23-3-65, RELATING TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES TO OFFICERS EXPERIENCING STRESS-RELATED DISORDERS.

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

Continuing law enforcement education credits

SECTION    1.    Chapter 23, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 23-23-55.    A law enforcement officer who is Class 1-LE, Class 2-LCO, or Class 3-SLE certified in this State is required to complete Continuing Law Enforcement Education Credits (CLEEC) in mental health or addictive disorders over a three-year recertification period. The number of required annual CLEEC hours in mental health or addictive disorders shall be determined by the council, but must be included in the forty CLEEC hours required over the three-year recertification period. The training must be provided or approved by the academy and must include, but is not limited to, the following curriculum: crime scene response, crisis situation response in which an individual is experiencing a mental health or addictive disorder crisis, Fourth Amendment issues, incident report writing, determination of primary aggressors, dual arrests, victim and offender dynamics, victims' resources, victims' rights issues, interviewing techniques, mental health courts and mental health court programs, offender treatment programs, and recognition of special needs populations."

Trauma and stress-related disorder training

SECTION    2.    Section 23-23-80 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 225 of 2014, is further amended to read:

"Section 23-23-80.    The South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council is authorized to:

(1)    receive and disburse funds, including those hereinafter provided in this chapter;

(2)    accept any donations, contributions, funds, grants, or gifts from private individuals, foundations, agencies, corporations, or the state or federal governments, for the purpose of carrying out the programs and objectives of this chapter;

(3)    consult and cooperate with counties, municipalities, agencies, or official bodies of this State or of other states, other governmental agencies, and with universities, colleges, junior colleges, and other institutions, concerning the development of police training schools, programs, or courses of instruction, selection, and training standards, or other pertinent matters relating to law enforcement;

(4)    publish or cause to be published manuals, information bulletins, newsletters, and other materials to achieve the objectives of this chapter;

(5)    make such regulations as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter, including the issuance of orders directing public law enforcement agencies to comply with this chapter and all regulations so promulgated;

(6)    certify and train qualified candidates and applicants for law enforcement officers and provide for suspension, revocation, or restriction of the certification, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the council;

(7)    require all public entities or agencies that employ or appoint law enforcement officers to provide records in the format prescribed by regulation of employment information of law enforcement officers;

(8)    provide by regulation for mandatory continued training of certified law enforcement officers, this training to be completed within each of the various counties requesting this training on a regional basis; and

(9)    provide by regulation for mandatory continued training of certified law enforcement officers to recognize post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma and stress-related disorders in other officers. The council also is authorized to establish a mechanism to recommend participation in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program (SC LEAP) for officers involved in an incident resulting in death or serious bodily injury."

Trauma and stress-related disorder counseling

SECTION    3.    Section 23-3-65 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 23-3-65.    The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division shall administer the South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program (SC LEAP). The purpose of this program includes, but is not limited to, responding to and providing counseling services to all requesting law enforcement agencies and departments in the State which have experienced deaths or other tragedies involving law enforcement officers or other employees as well as providing counseling services to law enforcement officers experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma and stress-related disorders, and providing any other critical incident support services for all South Carolina law enforcement agencies and departments upon their request. The SC LEAP also may utilize local critical incident support service providers including, but not limited to, chaplains, mental health professionals, and law enforcement peers. In consultation with the professional staff of the SC LEAP and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Chaplains' Association, the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy shall develop a course of training for the critical incident stress debriefing and peer support team."

Time effective

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 15th day of May, 2017.

Approved the 19th day of May, 2017.