Bill 3879

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    3879
Ratification Number:            475
Act Number:                     388
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19950328
Primary Sponsor:                Witherspoon 
All Sponsors:                   Witherspoon 
Drafted Document Number:        PFM\7323BDW.95
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19960528
Date of Last Amendment:         19960117
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19960604
Subject:                        Natural Resources Enforcement
                                Division, deputy officers

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19960613  Act No. A388
------  19960604  Signed by Governor
------  19960530  Ratified R475
Senate  19960528  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
Senate  19960523  Unanimous consent for third reading
                  on Friday, 19960524
Senate  19960523  Read second time, ordered to third
                  reading with notice of general
                  amendments
Senate  19960523  Reconsidered vote whereby Committee
                  amendment adopted; amendment tabled
Senate  19960523  Committee amendment adopted
Senate  19960228  Committee report: Favorable with         07 SFGF
                  amendment
Senate  19960123  Introduced, read first time,             07 SFGF
                  referred to Committee
House   19960118  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19960117  Amended, read second time
House   19960116  Debate adjourned until
                  Wednesday, 19960117
House   19960110  Committee report: Favorable with         20 HANR
                  amendment
House   19950328  Introduced, read first time,             20 HANR
                  referred to Committee

(A388, R475, H3879)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-3-315, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEPUTY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, SO AS TO REVISE THEIR AUTHORITY, POWERS, AND REQUIREMENTS; AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN DEPUTY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

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

Deputy enforcement officers

SECTION 1. Section 50-3-315 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Section 1258, Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-3-315. (A) The director may appoint deputy enforcement officers who serve at the pleasure of the director without pay. The officers have statewide police power. However, the director may restrict their territorial jurisdiction. No person may be appointed as an officer who holds another public office. The Secretary of State shall transmit to the director the commissions of all officers. The officers, except for designated department employees, shall obtain the bonds required by Section 50-3-330.

(B) Except for specially designated department employees, deputy enforcement officers are volunteers covered by Chapter 25 of Title 8 and not employees entitled to coverage or benefits in Title 42.

(C) Except for specially designated department employees, deputy enforcement officers shall furnish their own equipment but may not equip privately owned vehicles with blue lights, sirens, or police-type markings.

(D) Deputy enforcement officers must be of good character.

(E) The department shall administer the deputy enforcement officers through its Natural Resources Enforcement Division.

(F) The number of deputy enforcement officers appointed is in the discretion of the director.

(G) All deputy enforcement officers:

(1) must be certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy or successfully shall complete the `Basic State Constables Course' at their own expense at one of the state technical schools;

(2) successfully shall complete required refresher training;

(3) promptly shall comply with all directives by the Deputy Director of the Natural Resources Enforcement Division and the supervisor of enforcement officers within whose area the officer is acting.

(H) The department by regulation shall establish a training program for deputy enforcement officers commissioned after July 1, 1980."

Compliance

SECTION 2. Deputy enforcement officers appointed by the Director of the Department of Natural Resources before July 1, 1996, must comply with Section 50-3-315(G) of the 1976 Code, as added by Section 1 of this act, before July 1, 1997.

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 1996.

Approved the 4th day of June, 1996.