South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

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Bill 1338

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

INTRODUCED

March 31, 2010

S. 1338

Introduced by Senator Fair

L. Printed 3/31/10--S.    [SEC 4/1/10 3:40 PM]

Read the first time March 31, 2010.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND ACT 432 OF 1947, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE GREENVILLE HOSPITAL SYSTEM, ITS CREATION, BOARD, POWERS, AND DUTIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GREENVILLE HOSPITAL SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY ESTABLISH A POLICE DEPARTMENT, EMPLOY POLICE AND SECURITY OFFICERS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND JURISDICTION.

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

SECTION    1.    Act 432 of 1947, as last amended by Act 379 of 2008, is further amended by adding the following appropriately numbered section:

"SECTION    __.    (A)(1)    The Board of Trustees of the Greenville Hospital System may establish a police department and appoint and employ police and security officers to carry out the functions of the department. While on duty, uniformed police and security officers shall wear distinctive uniforms prescribed by the board of trustees or its designees.

(2)    The police 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.

(3)    The jurisdiction of a police officer is limited to the grounds and streets and roads through and contiguous to the property of the Greenville Hospital System and not more than one hundred yards beyond its boundary.

(B)    While performing his duties, a Greenville Hospital System police officer has all the powers of municipal and county law enforcement officers to make arrests for both felonies and misdemeanors and possess all of the common law and statutory powers, privileges, and immunities of police officers. A Greenville Hospital System police officer shall:

(1)    preserve the peace, maintain order, and prevent unlawful use of force or violence or other unlawful conduct on the hospital grounds and protect all persons and property located there from injury, harm, and damage;

(2)    enforce and assist hospital officials in the enforcement of the laws of the State and county and municipal ordinances, and the lawful regulations of the institution, and assist and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies and officers.

(C)    Greenville Hospital System police officers may arrest a person outside the territory described in subsections (A) and (B) when the person arrested has committed a criminal offense within that territory, and the arrest is made during the person's immediate and continuous flight from that territory.

(D)    Greenville Hospital System police officers may designate and operate emergency vehicles and patrol cars in the manner provided by law for municipal and county law enforcement officers. These regular assigned patrol vehicles or units must bear distinctive and conspicuous lettering and markings on the sides and rear of the vehicle which provide clear identification of the institution. The Chief Law Enforcement Executive for the Greenville Hospital System may designate unmarked vehicles assigned to administrative, special, or investigative duties which must be operated in the manner provided by law for municipal and county law enforcement officers.

(E)    The chief law enforcement executive or other appropriate official, with the approval of the board of trustees shall establish within the police department a system of ranks and grades and a promotion policy to insure efficient operation of the department and the establishment of responsibility within it.

(F)    The police department may install, maintain, and operate radio systems on radio frequencies under licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission, or its successor.

(G)    It is unlawful for a person to falsely represent himself to be a Greenville Hospital System police officer, agent, or employee of its police department and act upon its representation to arrest, detain, search, or question the person or property of a person, nor may a person without the authority of the board of trustees wear its official uniform, insignia, badge, or identification.

(H)    A person arrested by a Greenville Hospital System police or security officer must be processed in the manner in which a person arrested is processed by municipal and county law enforcement officers."

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

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This web page was last updated on April 1, 2010 at 3:40 PM