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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 42 TO TITLE 40 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSURE OF LOCKSMITHS; TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMINOLOGY; TO CREATE THE BOARD OF LOCKSMITHS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION, FUNCTION, AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD; TO REQUIRE APPLICANTS FOR LICENSURE TO SATISFY CERTAIN CRITERIA, COMPLETE WRITTEN TESTING REQUIREMENTS, AND SUBMIT TO FINGERPRINT-BASED NATIONAL CRIMINAL BACKGROUND RECORDS CHECKS; AND TO REQUIRE LOCKSMITHS TO COMPLETE CERTAIN CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN LICENSURE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 40-42-110. For purposes of this chapter:
(1) 'Department' means the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
(2) 'Lock' means a mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, or electromagnetic device or similar device, including peripheral hardware, that is designed to control access from one area to another or that is designed to control the use of a device. These devices if operated by electrical current shall include both alternating current and direct current low voltage.
(3) 'Locksmith' means a person who directly or indirectly engages in the business of rekeying, installing, repairing, opening, or modifying locks or who originates keys for locks.
(4) 'Permanent employee registration card' means a card issued by the department to an individual who has applied to the department and has been found to be employable by an agency licensed under this chapter.
Section 40-42-120. (A) There is created the South Carolina State Board of Locksmiths composed of seven members appointed by the Governor, five of whom must be licensed locksmiths pursuant to this chapter, and two public members who are not locksmiths or do not have a pecuniary interests in an entity engaged in the locksmith practices.
(B) The term of a member is for four years and until his successor is appointed and qualified. A member of the board may be reappointed for one term consecutive to his initial term, regardless of whether the first term was a full term or an appointment to fulfill the remainder of an unexpired term of another member. A member who serves two consecutive terms may not serve as a member of the board for a period of four years after this second term expires.
(C) A vacancy on the board is filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term.
(D) The board is responsible for examining applicants for certification as locksmiths and investigating complaints and prosecuting violations of this chapter.
(E) The board may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
Section 40-42-130. (A) In order to safeguard public welfare, health, and property and to promote public good, a person seeking to provide or offer to provide locksmith services to the public must submit to the board evidence that he is qualified to provide locksmith services and must obtain licensure as a locksmith as provided in this chapter. It is unlawful for a person to provide or offer to provide locksmith services to the public or to use the term or title 'locksmith' unless licensed under the provisions of this chapter.
(B) To be qualified for licensure as a locksmith in this State, an applicant must:
(1) be at least eighteen years of age;
(2) pass the written examination provided in Section 40-42-140;
(3) comply with insurance and bonding requirements established by the board through regulation;
(4) pay the application fee established by the board through regulation; and
(5) meet other qualifications established by the board through regulation.
(C) An applicant for licensure shall submit his application on forms prescribed by the department and pay applicable registration fee.
(D) An applicant for licensure shall submit to a fingerprint-based, national criminal background check at his expense. The department may not issue a license to a person who:
(1) is a registered sex offender or is convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or been adjudicated delinquent for an offense for which he is required to register as a sex offender as enumerated in Section 23-3-430(C); or
(2) has had a prior license to do business as a locksmith revoked for fraud or misrepresentation.
(E) Upon issuing the license, the department also shall issue a license number that must be noted in all advertising for that locksmith's business and a photographic identification card indicating the name, contact information, status as a licensed locksmith, and license number. A licensee shall, on demand, provide this identification card for inspection at the request of any person to whom he seeks to provide locksmith services.
Section 40-42-140. The board shall adopt a written examination that applicants for licensure must pass to demonstrate a mastery of the skills, best safety practices, and best ethical business practice concepts required of a locksmith. If the board elects to use an examination prepared by a national entity, a section specific to South Carolina must be developed by the board and included in the examination.
Section 40-42-150. (A) A license issued under this chapter must be renewed every two years on or before a date set by the department upon the payment of a renewal fee established by the board through regulation, and evidence of ten hours of continuing education as established by the board in regulation.
(B) A licensee who allows his license to lapse for less than one year by failing to renew the license in accordance with this section may be reinstated by the department upon satisfactory explanation by the licensee of failure to renew the license and upon payment of a reinstatement fee and the current renewal fee, as established by the board through regulation.
(C) If a license has lapsed for more than two years, the applicant must reapply for licensure. A person who provides locksmith services in this State during the time that his license is lapsed is engaging in unlicensed practice and is subject to penalties provided in this chapter.
Section 40-42-160. Nothing in this chapter prohibits any of the following:
(1) servicing, installing, repairing, or rebuilding automotive locks by automotive service dealers if they do not hold themselves out to the public as locksmiths;
(2) police or fire departments from opening a lock in an emergency situation if they do not hold themselves out to the public as locksmiths;
(3) a merchant, retail, or hardware store from duplicating keys or from selling locks or other security accessories not prohibited from sale by the State if they do not hold themselves out to the public as locksmiths;
(4) the installation or removal of complete locks or locking devices by members of the building trades when doing so in the course of residential or commercial new construction or remodeling if they do not hold themselves out to the public as locksmiths;
(5) the employees of towing services or repossessors from opening automotive locks in the normal course of their duties if they do not hold themselves out to the public as locksmiths; additionally, this chapter does not prohibit employees of towing services from opening motor vehicles to be moved without towing if they use the work order form required by this chapter and if the towing service does not hold itself out to the public as a locksmith or locksmith agency by way of yellow page advertisement, through a sign at the facilities of the service, or by any other advertisement;
(6) the practice of locksmithing by a student in the course of study in programs approved by the department if the student does not hold himself out to the public as a locksmith;
(7) servicing, installing, repairing, or rebuilding locks by a lock manufacturer or anyone employed by a lock manufacturer if he does not hold himself out to the public as a locksmith;
(8) the provision of a product or service in the practice of locksmithing by a business licensed by the State as a private alarm contractor agency if the principal purpose of the services provided to a customer is not the practice of locksmithing and the business does not hold itself out to the public as a locksmith agency; or
(9) a maintenance employee of a property management company at a multifamily residential building from servicing, installing, or repairing locks for tenants if the maintenance employee does not hold himself out to the public as a locksmith."
SECTION 2. The initial professional members of the South Carolina Board of Locksmiths will be appointed and qualified before the licensure process exists and are consequently not required to be licensed as professional members as otherwise required by this act for professional members of the board, but instead must have at least five years of experience as locksmiths in this State and meet the other criteria of the act and for public officials in this State. Within six months after establishing the written test for licensure under this act, an initial professional member successfully must complete the written test and obtain licensure under this act or his seat will be vacated.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on December 15, 2016 at 5:52 PM