South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Bill 3502

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 11, 2021

H. 3502

Introduced by Reps. Long, Burns, Haddon, V.S. Moss, Calhoon and Govan

S. Printed 2/11/21--H.

Read the first time January 12, 2021.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3502) to amend Section 56-5-1538, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to Emergency Scene Management, so as to revise the definition of the term, 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, by striking Section 56-5-1538(I)(2) and inserting:

/(2)    'Emergency services personnel' means fire, police, or emergency medical services personnel (EMS), or towing vehicle operators responding to an emergency incident.    /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

MERITA A. ALLISON for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

Currently, it is unlawful for a person to interfere with or endanger emergency services personnel who respond to an emergency incident. This bill adds tow truck operators to the list of emergency services personnel.

Department of Transportation. DOT reports that the bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency because the bill does not operationally impact the department.

Judicial Department. This bill expands the offense of endangering emergency services personnel to include tow truck operators. The department indicates that since a new offense will be created, there is no data with which to estimate the number of summary court hearings or trials that may result from the implementation of the bill. The department expects to manage any increase in costs associated with additional caseloads using existing general fund resources.

Local Expenditure

Twenty-three counties, the Municipal Association of South Carolina, and the South Carolina Sheriff's Association were contacted for the local expenditure impact of this bill. The York County Sheriff's Office indicates that the bill will have no fiscal impact on its office, and the Saluda Sheriff's Office stated they would need more information before determining a fiscal impact.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1538, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EMERGENCY SCENE MANAGEMENT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM "EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL" TO INCLUDE TOW TRUCK OPERATORS.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-5-1538(I)(2) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(2)    'Emergency services personnel' means fire, police, or emergency medical services personnel (EMS), or tow truck operators responding to an emergency incident."

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

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