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TO AMEND SECTIONS 59-116-10 AND 59-116-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CAMPUS SECURITY DEPARTMENTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THESE PROVISIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 116 OF TITLE 59 ONLY APPLY TO PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND NOT TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-116-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-116-10. As used in this chapter:
(1) 'Campus' means the grounds and buildings owned and occupied by a private college or university for education purposes and streets and roads through and contiguous to the grounds.
(2) 'College or university' means a state chartered two or four-year private educational institution of higher learning located in this State. State of South Carolina public institutions of higher learning are specifically excluded from the provisions of this chapter. The authority and jurisdiction of law enforcement officers of the State public institutions of higher learning shall remain that as set forth in Section 23-1-60.
(3) 'Campus police officer' means an employee of a private college or university whose duties include the enforcement of the laws of this State; the preservation of public order; the protection of life and property; the prevention, detection, or investigation of crime; or a combination of those duties. It does not include personnel of a private company which provides security services on a contract basis for the institution concerned."
SECTION 2. Section 59-116-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-116-20. The board of trustees of each private college or university may establish a safety and security department and appoint and employ campus police officers to carry out the functions of the department. While on duty, campus police officers shall wear distinctive uniforms prescribed by the board of trustees or its designees.
The officers must be commissioned as constables pursuant to Section 23-1-60 and take the oath of office prescribed by law and the state Constitution for those officers. The jurisdiction of such a constable is limited to the campus grounds and streets and roads through and contiguous to them."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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