S*1213(Rat #0201, Act #0175 of 2012)  General Bill, By Alexander, L. Martin, 
Scott, Knotts, Peeler, Cromer, Setzler, Leventis, Hayes, Nicholson, Ryberg and 
Ford
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 67
 TO TITLE 2 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR ACT OF 2012", TO
 RECOGNIZE SOUTH CAROLINIANS, OR INDIVIDUALS WITH CERTAIN TIES TO SOUTH
 CAROLINA, WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO PROVIDE FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR
 ROLL, AND TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD CRITERIA. -
 ratified title

   02/14/12  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)
   02/14/12  Senate Referred to Committee on General
                     (Senate Journal-page 5)
   02/22/12  Senate Committee report: Favorable General
                     (Senate Journal-page 16)
   02/23/12  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 42)
   02/23/12  Senate Roll call Ayes-29  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 42)
   02/28/12  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 23)
   02/29/12  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 8)
   02/29/12  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 11)
   03/28/12  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 6)
   04/19/12  House  Debate adjourned until Tues., 04-24-12
                     (House Journal-page 40)
   04/24/12  House  Debate adjourned until Tues., 05-01-12
                     (House Journal-page 27)
   05/01/12  House  Amended (House Journal-page 19)
   05/01/12  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 19)
   05/01/12  House  Roll call Yeas-99  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 20)
   05/02/12  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments (House Journal-page 5)
   05/09/12  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
                     (Senate Journal-page 16)
   05/09/12  Senate Roll call Ayes-43  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 16)
   05/23/12         Ratified R 201
   05/25/12         Signed By Governor
   05/31/12         Effective date 05/25/12
   06/01/12         Act No. 175

(A175, R201, S1213)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 67 TO TITLE 2 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR ACT OF 2012"TO RECOGNIZE SOUTH CAROLINIANS, OR INDIVIDUALS WITH CERTAIN TIES TO SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO PROVIDE FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR ROLL, AND TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD CRITERIA.

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

South Carolina Medal of Valor

SECTION    1.    Title 2 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 2-67-10.    This chapter must be known and may be cited as the 'South Carolina Medal of Valor Act of 2012'.

Section 2-67-20.    (A)    There is created the South Carolina Medal of Valor to be awarded to a South Carolinian, or an individual with certain ties to South Carolina, who was killed either while serving in or deploying to a combat zone. The South Carolina Medal of Valor is awarded on behalf of the people of the State of South Carolina and is presented to the families of these fallen service members.

(B)    The South Carolina Medal of Valor may be awarded, on behalf of the people of the State of South Carolina, to an individual who was killed in action or died while:

(1)    engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(2)    engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force;

(3)    served with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; or

(4)    served in, or was in the process of deploying to, an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay was authorized pursuant to federal law or regulation.

(C)    Recipients of the South Carolina Medal of Valor shall have their names entered on the South Carolina Medal of Valor roll, which is to be maintained by the Adjutant General of the State of South Carolina.

(D)    Individuals eligible to receive the South Carolina Medal of Valor include:

(1)    members of the South Carolina National Guard who were legal residents of South Carolina at the time of their death;

(2)    members of a Reserve Component of the United States Armed Forces who were legal residents of South Carolina at the time of their death;

(3)    members of the regular United States Armed Forces who were:

(a)    legal residents of South Carolina at the time of their death; or

(b)    stationed in South Carolina by a proper order of the United States Department of Defense at the time they were killed in action; or

(4)    members of the South Carolina National Guard, a regular or reserve component of the United States Armed Forces who:

(a)    attended a public or private educational institution in South Carolina at some period during their lives; and

(b)    were killed or died as described in subsection (B).

(E)    The South Carolina Medal of Valor shall be awarded solely by a concurrent resolution:

(1)    introduced by:

(a)    the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; or

(b)    the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(2)    adopted by both houses of the General Assembly.

(F)    The Adjutant General shall develop the appropriate design and appearance of the medal. However, nothing in this section requires the Adjutant General to provide or pay for the medal or its design."

Time effective

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 23rd day of May, 2012.

Approved the 25th day of May, 2012.