S 0519 General Bill, By Rice and McLeod
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 59-117-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS CONCERNING THE PUBLIC
 INTERESTS SERVED BY SAFEGUARDING AND PROTECTING STUDENT ACTIVITIES, TO PROVIDE
 SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY CONTRACT FOR ACCREDITED OR CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT
 SERVICES FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL, THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, AND
 COMMISSIONED STATE CONSTABLES TO PROTECT AND POLICE FACILITIES OWNED OR USED
 BY THE DISTRICT, AND TO PROVIDE QUALIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF AUTHORITY FOR SUCH
 OFFICERS IN THEIR CONTRACT CAPACITY.

   03/08/17  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 11)
   03/08/17  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 11)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-117-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS CONCERNING THE PUBLIC INTERESTS SERVED BY SAFEGUARDING AND PROTECTING STUDENT ACTIVITIES, TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY CONTRACT FOR ACCREDITED OR CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, AND COMMISSIONED STATE CONSTABLES TO PROTECT AND POLICE FACILITIES OWNED OR USED BY THE DISTRICT, AND TO PROVIDE QUALIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF AUTHORITY FOR SUCH OFFICERS IN THEIR CONTRACT CAPACITY.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 117, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-117-160.    (A)    The General Assembly finds that the public interest requires the safeguarding and protection of K-12 student educational activities in South Carolina. The health, safety, and protection of human life is dependent, in part, upon these facilities being properly protected from attack by those who would harm our children and staff, or disrupt any activity provided for K-12 students in South Carolina.

(B)    A school district, upon approval of its governing board, is authorized to contract for accredited or certified law enforcement services from county sheriffs, highway patrol, the Department of Natural Resources, local governments, institutions of higher learning, or commissioned state constables to protect and police the facilities owned by or used by the district under such reasonable rules and regulations as the school board may from time to time promulgate. An officer used by school districts, regardless of the agency by whom they are commissioned, has concurrent jurisdiction and is fully authorized to execute law enforcement duties on any property or conveyance owned or used by a school district. An officer also is vested with all powers and duties conferred by law in addition to duties imposed upon them by the governing body of the district. The jurisdiction of these officers includes property of the school district and the streets and roads through and contiguous to the property, and any conveyance used to transport students to and from properties used by the district within the borders of this State.

(C)    An officer used by a school district must be a law enforcement officer trained and certified pursuant to Chapter 23, Title 23 in accordance with the training and certification standards established for officers performing similar duties."

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