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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "METAL DETECTORS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-485 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR, WALK-THROUGH METAL DETECTORS MUST BE INSTALLED AND OPERATED AT ALL PUBLIC ENTRANCES OF EACH PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THE STATE; TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMINOLOGY; TO PROVIDE RELATED TRAINING IN THE USE OF THESE METAL DETECTORS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF RELATED REGULATIONS; AND TO MAKE THESE PROVISIONS CONTINGENT UPON APPROPRIATIONS BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. This act must be known and may be cited as the "Metal Detectors in Public Schools Act".
SECTION 2. Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-1-485. (A)(1) Beginning with the 2020-2021 School Year, walk-through metal detectors must be installed and operated at all public entrances of each public elementary school, middle school, high school, and institution of higher learning in the State.
(2) For purposes of this section:
(a) 'Public entrance' means the main entrance to each public school building, gymnasium, and football stadium, but does not include service entrances, secondary doors, and school bus loading-zone entrances.
(b) 'Public institution of higher learning' means all state-supported, post-secondary educational institutions, including technical and comprehensive educational institutions.
(B) In consultation and cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General and the State Law Enforcement Division, the State Department of Education shall provide training in the use of walk-through metal detectors to school officials who shall use the equipment and protocol for responding when contraband is detected.
(C) The State Board of Education, through the State Department of Education, shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.
(D) The provisions of this section are contingent upon the appropriation of necessary funding by the General Assembly for the equipment and personnel training."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on November 20, 2019 at 4:01 PM