Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Committee Report

March 26, 2026

 

H. 3873

 

Introduced by Reps. Erickson, Crawford, Bernstein, Calhoon and Teeple

 

S. Printed 3/26/26--H.

Read the first time January 30, 2025

 

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The committee on House Education and Public Works

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3873) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 59-3-35, relating to the distribution of fingerprint and DNA identification kits through public schools, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

 

   Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-3-35(A) and inserting:

    (A) The Department of Education shall provide Office of the Attorney General shall have available to all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools inkless, in-home fingerprint and DNA identification kits to be distributedfor distribution throughout the district or school on request to the parent or legal custodian of any kindergarten, elementary, middle, or high school student. The kits must be provided to the parent or legal custodian of any kindergarten, elementary, middle, or high school student upon their request. The Department of Education shall provide student counts by district to inform the number of kits needed each year.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

 

SHANNON ERICKSON for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

The bill makes the distribution of inkless in-home fingerprint and DNA identification kits to all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools mandatory instead of upon request.

S.C. Department of Education. This bill will have no expenditure impact on SCDE. Section 59-3-35(C) provides that unless expressly appropriated by the General Assembly in order to meet the provisions of this act, the department shall not expend funds to procure kits. Additionally, SCDE indicates that any costs to deliver the kits to all school districts and charter schools can be managed with existing appropriations.

 

State Agency Schools. This bill will have no expenditure impact on the Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe, the Governor's School for Arts and Humanities, the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, and the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School. The agencies indicate that they can manage the provisions of the bill with existing appropriations. Based upon these responses, we do not anticipate that this bill will have an expenditure impact on the School for the Deaf and the Blind.

 

Local Expenditure

The bill makes the distribution of inkless in-home fingerprint and DNA identification kits to all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools mandatory instead of upon request.

SCDE surveyed the seventy-two regular school districts and three charter school districts and received responses from sixteen districts. Twelve districts indicate that this bill will have no expenditure impact. Two districts indicate that any costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill can be managed with existing appropriations. The two remaining districts indicate that the bill may increase costs. One charter district reports that it will need to ship the kits to each of its fifty-nine charter schools at a cost of approximately $250 per school. One district estimates that the district will incur administrative costs in the amount of $1-$3 per kit for staff time to request kits, track inventory, distribute kits to students, handle replacements, print forms, communicate with parents, and store the kits.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-3-35, RELATING TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF FINGERPRINT AND DNA IDENTIFICATION KITS THROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO AS TO MAKE THE DISTRIBUTION MANDATORY INSTEAD OF UPON REQUEST.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 59-3-35(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (A) The Department of Education shall provide to all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools inkless, in-home fingerprint and DNA identification kits to be distributed throughout the district or school on request to the parent or legal custodian of any kindergarten, elementary, middle, or high school student.

 

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

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