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TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-23-10, 23-23-20, AND 23-23-80, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, ALL RELATING TO THE CREATION AND PURPOSE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TO PROVIDE MULTIPLE FACILITIES TO TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL, AND TO PROVIDE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL IS AUTHORIZED TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS OR ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO ALLOW THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY AND OTHER ENTITIES TO TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 23-23-10(C) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(C) It is the intent of the General Assembly in creating a facility facilities and a governing council to maximize training opportunities for law enforcement officers and criminal justice personnel, to coordinate training, and to set standards for the law enforcement and criminal justice service, all of which are imperative to upgrading law enforcement to professional status."
SECTION 2. Section 23-23-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 23-23-20. There is hereby created the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy which shall provide facilities and training for all officers from state, county, and local law enforcement agencies and for other designated persons in the criminal justice system. Correctional officers and other personnel employed or appointed by the South Carolina Department of Corrections may be trained by the academy. Administration of the academy must be vested in a director who is responsible for selection of instructors, course content, maintenance of physical facilities, recordkeeping, supervision of personnel, scheduling of classes, enforcement of minimum standards for certification, and other matters as may be agreed upon by the council. The director must be hired by and responsible to the council. Basic and advance training must be provided at the training facility."
SECTION 3. Section 23-23-80 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 23-23-80. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council is authorized to:
(1) receive and disburse funds, including those hereinafter provided in this chapter;
(2) accept any donations, contributions, funds, grants, or gifts from private individuals, foundations, agencies, corporations, or the state or federal governments, for the purpose of carrying out the programs and objectives of this chapter;
(3) consult and cooperate with counties, municipalities, agencies, or official bodies of this State or of other states, other governmental agencies, and with universities, colleges, junior colleges, and other institutions, concerning the development of police training schools, programs, or courses of instruction, selection, and training standards, or other pertinent matters relating to law enforcement;
(4) publish or cause to be published manuals, information bulletins, newsletters, and other materials to achieve the objectives of this chapter;
(5) make such regulations as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter, including the issuance of orders directing public law enforcement agencies to comply with this chapter and all regulations so promulgated;
(6) certify and train qualified candidates and applicants for law enforcement officers and provide for suspension, revocation, or restriction of the certification, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the council;
(7) require all public entities or agencies that employ or appoint law enforcement officers to provide records in the format prescribed by regulation of employment information of law enforcement officers;
(8) provide by regulation for mandatory continued training of certified law enforcement officers, this training to be completed within each of the various counties requesting this training on a regional basis.;
(9) provide by regulation for mandatory continued training of certified law enforcement officers to recognize post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma and stress-related disorders in other officers. The council also is authorized to establish a mechanism to recommend participation in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program (SC LEAP) for officers involved in an incident resulting in death or serious bodily injury; and
(10) appoint attorneys employed by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy to sit as hearing officers for contested case hearings. The attorneys are authorized to submit hearing officers' recommendations to the council; and
(11) enter into contracts or establish procedures to allow the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and other entities to train law enforcement officers and other persons employed in the criminal justice system."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on March 27, 2019 at 1:03 PM