H 4678

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 4678
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION 23-23-60, RELATING TO CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE ISSUED TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL, SO
AS TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT CANDIDATES MUST HOLD DRIVERS' LICENSEs ISSUED BY
ANY JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES; TO PROVIDE FINDINGS OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY; AND TO PROVIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY SHALL REMOVE ANY
REQUIREMENT THAT OFFICERS HOLD SOUTH CAROLINA DRIVERS' LICENSES OR RESIDE IN
THE STATE AS CONDITIONS OF CERTIFICATION OR EMPLOYMENT.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly finds that:
    (1) South Carolina
communities along the state border face unique challenges in recruiting law
enforcement officers due to licensing and residency restrictions;
    (2) neighboring
states such as North Carolina permit cross-border employment without residency
limitations; and
    (3) allowing
qualified officers from any state to work in South Carolina will enhance public
safety, expand the talent pool, and provide flexibility to municipalities such
as the Town of Fort Mill that face workforce shortages.
SECTION 2.  Section 23-23-60(B)(5)(b) of the S.C. Code is amended
to read:
    (b) evidence satisfactory to the
director that the candidate holds a valid current state
driver's license issued by any jurisdiction of the United
States with no record during the previous five years for suspension of driver's
license as a result of driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or
dangerous drugs, driving while impaired (or the equivalent), reckless homicide,
involuntary manslaughter, or leaving the scene of an accident. Candidates for certification as state or local correctional
officers may hold a valid current driver's license issued by any jurisdiction
of the United States;
SECTION 3.  The
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy shall revise all certification
standards, rules, and application procedures to remove any requirement that an
officer holds a South Carolina driver's license or resides within the state as
a condition of certification or employment.
SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:27 PM