South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

A90, R173, H3713

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Wilkins, W.D. Smith, Harrell, Harrison, Cato, Witherspoon, Chellis, Townsend, J. Brown and Keegan
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11286ac03.doc

Introduced in the House on March 4, 2003
Introduced in the Senate on March 11, 2003
Last Amended on June 5, 2003
Passed by the General Assembly on June 5, 2003
Governor's Action: July 31, 2003, Signed

Summary: Homeland Security; SLED jurisdiction and authority

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3/4/2003  House   Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar without 
                        reference HJ-72
    3/5/2003  House   Read second time HJ-19
    3/6/2003  House   Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-12
   3/11/2003  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-11
   3/11/2003  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-11
    5/7/2003  Senate  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-7
    5/8/2003  Senate  Read second time SJ-10
    5/8/2003  Senate  Ordered to third reading with notice of amendments SJ-10
   5/13/2003  Senate  Amended SJ-34
   5/13/2003  Senate  Read third time and returned to House with amendments 
                        SJ-34
   5/14/2003          Scrivener's error corrected
   5/21/2003  House   Senate amendment amended HJ-44
   5/21/2003  House   Returned to Senate with amendments HJ-45
   5/22/2003  Senate  Non-concurrence in House amendment SJ-19
   5/27/2003  House   House insists upon amendment and conference committee 
                        appointed Reps. McLeod, Coates and Harrison HJ-2
   5/27/2003  Senate  Conference committee appointed McConnell, Kuhn, Drummond 
                        SJ-28
    6/5/2003  House   Free conference powers granted HJ-32
    6/5/2003  House   Free conference committee appointed Reps. McLeod, Coates 
                        and Harrison HJ-34
    6/5/2003  House   Free conference report received and adopted HJ-34
    6/5/2003  Senate  Free conference powers granted SJ-44
    6/5/2003  Senate  Free conference committee appointed McConnell, Kuhn, 
                        Drummond SJ-44
    6/5/2003  Senate  Free conference report received and adopted SJ-44
    6/5/2003  Senate  Ordered enrolled for ratification SJ-44
    6/5/2003          Ratified R 173
   7/31/2003          Signed By Governor
    8/5/2003          Copies available
    8/5/2003          Effective date See Act for Effective Date
   8/18/2003          Act No. 90

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

3/4/2003
3/4/2003-A
5/7/2003
5/13/2003
5/14/2003
5/21/2003
6/5/2003
6/5/2003-A


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

(A90, R173, H3713)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-3-15, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND STATEWIDE AUTHORITY OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION (SLED), SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY INCLUDES ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING TACTICAL RESPONSE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNITS, COORDINATING COUNTER TERRORISM EFFORTS IN OR AFFECTING THIS STATE, COORDINATING FEDERAL GRANTS ASSOCIATED WITH HOMELAND SECURITY, CREATING COUNCILS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS MISSION, AND SERVING AS THE GOVERNOR'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY; AND ADDING CHAPTER 17, TITLE 54 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA MARITIME SECURITY ACT" TO CREATE A MARITIME SECURITY COMMISSION AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP, POWERS, AND DUTIES; TO REESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA NAVAL MILITIA WHICH MUST BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MARITIME SECURITY COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE NAVAL MILITIA IS A VOLUNTEER STATE MARITIME FORCE REGIONALLY ALIGNED TO AUGMENT AND COORDINATE WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL FORCES AND AGENCIES WHICH MAY BE ENGAGED IN A FEDERAL RESPONSE TO TERRORISM AND TO ASSIST WITH THE NEEDS OF HOMELAND SECURITY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL APPOINT THE COMMANDER OF THE NAVAL MILITIA; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DIVISIONS OF THE NAVAL MILITIA AND THAT MILITIA PERSONNEL ARE ENTITLED TO ALL PRIVILEGES PROVIDED IN STATE LAW TO STATE MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS; TO AUTHORIZE A JOINT SERVICE TASK FORCE WITHIN THE NAVAL MILITIA TO COORDINATE REGIONAL SECURITY MISSIONS RELATING TO WATERWAYS SHARED WITH CONTIGUOUS STATES AND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMISSION; AND TO AUTHORIZE SLED TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF HOMELAND SECURITY MEASURES FOR MARITIME PROTECTION; AND TO ADD SECTION 23-6-493 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER EMPLOYED WITH THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE MAY BE TRAINED AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY AT THE EMPLOYER'S EXPENSE.

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

Additional authority granted to SLED

SECTION    1.    Section 23-3-15(A)(5) through (8) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 181 of 1993, is amended to read:

"(5)    establishment and operation of highly specialized, tactical response law enforcement units within the division;

(6)    operation and regulation of state polygraph examination services;

(7)    law enforcement, regulation enforcement, and inspections under Title 61;

(8)    the coordination of counter terrorism efforts, including prevention against, preparation for, response to, and crisis management of acts of terrorism, in or affecting this State; coordination of federal grants associated with homeland security; creation of councils appropriate to its mission; and service as the Governor's representative to the United States Department of Homeland Security; and

(9)    other activities not inconsistent with the mission of the division or otherwise proscribed by law."

South Carolina Maritime Security Act

SECTION    2.    Title 54 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"CHAPTER 17

South Carolina Maritime Security Act

Section 54-17-10.    This chapter may be cited as the 'South Carolina Maritime Security Act'.

Section 54-17-20.    As used in this chapter:

(1)    'Commission' means the group of individuals comprising the Maritime Security Commission.

(2)    'Captain of the Port' means the United States Coast Guard officer designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to perform that function pursuant to Section 1.01-30 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, whose role is further defined in Section 6.01-4 of that same title.

(3)    'District Commander' means the Coast Guard officer designated by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to command a Coast Guard district. District Commander refers to that district commander that incorporates South Carolina.

(4)    'Port' means a developed area of maritime commerce.

(5)    'Maritime area' means any area of water, land, or water and land bordering on the sea or any estuary, river, creek, or lake in or contiguous to the State of South Carolina, that is capable of approach by a vessel, excluding the land-side facilities of the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

(6)    'Safety zone' means a water area, shore area, or water and shore area to which, for safety or environmental purposes, access is limited to authorized persons, vehicles, or vessels. It may be stationary and described by fixed limits or it may be described as a zone around a vessel in motion.

(7)    'Security zone' means an area of land, water, or land and water which is so designated by the Captain of the Port or District Commander for such time as may be necessary to prevent damage or injury to any vessel or waterfront facility, to safeguard ports, harbors, territories, or waters of the United States, or to secure the observance of the rights and obligations of the United States. The purpose of a security zone is to safeguard from destruction, loss, or injury from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature (a) vessels, (b) harbors, (c) ports, and (d) waterfront facilities that are in the United States and its territories and waters, continental or insular, that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(8)    'Volunteer Port Security Force' means the volunteer organization composed of licensed mariners and private assets who: (a) facilitate discovery and proper reporting of suspicious activities and events observed on and about the waters of Charleston bar and harbor, and (b) provide assistance to those government authorities during Maritime Security Levels 2 and 3, as may be required.

(9)    'Memorandum of Agreement' means a document that must be executed by the Chairman of the Maritime Security Commission and the Attorney General of South Carolina on behalf of the State and the United States Navy, detailing fiduciary duties, potential liability, and federal support issues for a South Carolina Naval Militia and must be renewed every five years.

(10)    'Privileges' means that based upon title or membership, an individual is entitled to accommodations of the naval service and such recognition by other services of this State. However, privilege shall not be determined to be a monetary or fiscal 'benefit', or information access regardless of other requirements.

Section 54-17-30.    There is created a Maritime Security Commission composed of nine members:

(1)    one member shall be the Chairman of the State Ports Authority, ex-officio, or a member of the State Ports Authority Board, designated by the chairman;

(2)    one member shall be a chief of police or equivalent, ex-officio;

(3)    one member shall be a fire chief or equivalent, ex-officio;

(4)    one member shall be a representative of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, ex-officio;

(5)    one member shall represent the commercial maritime community;

(6)    one member shall be a retired United States Coast Guard officer, grade 0-5 or higher, who supervised federal port security duties as a Captain of the Port;

(7)    one member shall be a retired United States Navy or Navy Reserve officer, grade 0-6 or higher;

(8)    one member shall be a retired United States Marines Corps or Marine Corps Reserve officer, grade 0-6 or higher; and

(9)    one member shall be a retired United States Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve officer, grade 0-6 or higher.

The five members who are not ex-officio shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. These non-ex-officio members shall be selected from respective lists of retired Navy and Navy Reserve, Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve officers residing in South Carolina and commercial maritime community members maintained by the Captains of the Port. The chiefs of police and fire chiefs shall be from the port communities and shall rotate annually into the position on the commission. The order of rotation shall be determined by the respective chiefs. The Coast Guard member and the commercial maritime community member shall serve initial terms of two years, the Navy and Marine Corps members shall serve initial terms of four years, and the Coast Guard member who supervised federal port security duties as Captain of the Port shall serve an initial term of six years. Thereafter, the four members who are not ex-officio shall serve terms of six years. In the event of a vacancy, however caused, a successor must be appointed in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired term. These appointments must be made as each term of the present commissioners expires. The appointees, however, shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified. There shall be a chairman and a secretary elected by the members of the commission pursuant to rules adopted by the commission. Each member shall have the appropriate background as to authorize access to sensitive law enforcement and port security information.

Section 54-17-40.    The South Carolina Naval Militia is reestablished. The Maritime Security Commission must organize, administer, coordinate, and facilitate the activities of the Naval Militia in order to provide to federal, state, county, and local agencies adequate numbers of trained and qualified personnel with proper accountability and adequate indemnification provisions to enhance maritime homeland security operations.

Section 54-17-50.    (A)    The Naval Militia is an organized, structured, trained, and certified volunteer state maritime force that is regionally aligned to enable appropriate augmentation of federal, state, county, and municipal forces and may be engaged in any federal response to the threat of terrorism and to the needs of maritime homeland security. This militia is naval in nature and functions as a federally-recognized state force pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code and a Memorandum of Agreement that must be in effect between the United States Navy and the State prior to the Naval Militia becoming operational.

(B)    The Commander of the South Carolina Naval Militia must be appointed by the commission, commissioned by the Governor, and shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The Maritime Security Commission shall promulgate regulations to be approved by the General Assembly pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act that set forth the command structure of the Naval Militia and establish the rank of the commander. The commander will propose to the commission other commissions and appointments in accordance with commission regulations.

(C)    Divisions of the Naval Militia will include a division that consists of members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserve (federal service takes priority). In addition, the Naval Militia must include a division that consists of the Merchant Marine. The Merchant Marine division shall consist of Coast Guard-licensed or certificated merchant mariners whose regular occupation is service on board Coast Guard-regulated commercial vessels that normally operate in or from the maritime areas of South Carolina and which are enrolled as units of the Volunteer Port Security Force. The Merchant Marine division also shall include other professional mariners who have volunteered for service in this militia and who are licensed or certificated by the Coast Guard as merchant mariners. The Naval Militia also shall include a staff element and a support division.

(D)    Naval Militia personnel are entitled to all appropriate honors, courtesies, and privileges provided under state law to state military organizations. Authority shall be exercised pursuant to mission requirement and in accordance with rules adopted by the commission.

(E)    Within the South Carolina Naval Militia, a joint service task force is authorized whose purpose is to determine and coordinate regional security missions relating to those waterways shared with contiguous states and to provide federal and regional interoperability advice and assistance to the commission. This task force shall be appointed and assigned pursuant to rules adopted by the commission.

Section 54-17-60.    The Maritime Security Commission and the Naval Militia must coordinate their activities with federal, state, and local agencies responsible for maritime homeland security and Naval Militia functions as they relate to this title. These agencies shall include, but are not limited to, the State Law Enforcement Division, the Departments of Natural Resources, Public Safety, and Transportation, and the Military Department, and their several state agencies; state, county, and municipal police departments including marine police components; and the South Carolina Army and Air National Guard.

Section 54-17-70.    The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is authorized to promulgate regulations not specifically authorized by the federal government or by another agency, department, or division of state government, which are necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of homeland security measures for maritime protection including, but not limited to, safety zones and security zones. These regulations, including any emergency authority, must be promulgated within the guidelines of the Administrative Procedures Act and after consultation with the Ports Security Committee established by the United States Coast Guard. This regulatory authority ceases upon implementation of the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act regulations, currently scheduled for July 2004."

Training authorized at Criminal Justice Academy

SECTION    3.    Article 9, Chapter 6, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 23-6-493.    Notwithstanding another provision of law, a person employed as a law enforcement officer with the Savannah River Site Law Enforcement Department, a United States Department of Energy facility, may attend and be trained at the Department of Public Safety's Criminal Justice Academy Division in accordance with training and certification standards established by the State. Expenses for mandated and elective training must be established by the Criminal Justice Academy Division and paid by the law enforcement officer's employer. An authorized representative of the United States Department of Energy shall certify to the academy that the officer is employed as a law enforcement officer at the Savannah River Site and request the officer's admission to the academy for training."

Time effective

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor, except that Section 54-17-60 takes effect upon the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement between the United States Navy and the State and ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly.

Ratified the 5th day of June, 2003.

Approved the 31st day of July, 2003.

__________

This web page was last updated on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 10:28 A.M.