Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

As Passed By The Senate

May 09, 2024

 

H. 3865

 

 

Introduced by Reps. Hiott, Collins, Rutherford, Carter and Robbins

 

S. Printed 05/09/24--S.

Read the first time April 6, 2023

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-5-130, RELATING TO CORONER QUALIFICATIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE LICENSED PARAMEDICS WITH AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS A CORONER MUST HAVE.

    Amend Title To Conform

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 17-5-130 (A) and (B) of the S.C. Code are amended to read:

 

    (A)(1) A coroner in this State shall have all of the following qualifications, the person shall:

           (a) be a citizen of the United States;

           (b) be a resident of the county in which the person seeks the office of coroner for at least one year before qualifying for the election to the office;

           (c) be a registered voter;

           (d) have attained the age of twenty-one years before the date of qualifying for election to the office;

           (e) have obtained a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent by the State Department of Education; and

           (f) have not been convicted of a felony offense or an offense involving moral turpitude contrary to the laws of this State, another state, or the United States.

       (2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (A)(1), a coroner in this State shall have at least one of the following qualifications, the person shall:

           (a) have at least three years of experience in death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, or medical examiner agency;

           (b) have a two-year associate degree and two years of experience in death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, or medical examiner agency;

           (c) have a four-year baccalaureate degree and one year of experience in death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, or medical examiner agency;

           (d) be a law enforcement officer, as defined by Section 23-23-10(E)(1), who is certified by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council with a minimum of two years of experience;

           (e) have completed a recognized forensic science degree or certification program or be enrolled in a recognized forensic science degree or certification program to be completed within one year of being elected to the office of coroner;

           (f) be a medical doctor;  or

           (g) have a bachelor of science degree in nursing; or

           (h) have at least three years of experience as a licensed paramedic.

    (B)(1) A person who offers his candidacy for the office of coroner, no later than the close of filing, shall file a sworn affidavit with the county executive committee of the person's political party.

       (2) The county executive committee of a political party with whom a person has filed his affidavit must file a copy of the affidavit with the appropriate county election commission by noon on the tenth day following the deadline for filing affidavits by candidates. If the tenth day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the affidavit must be filed by noon the following day.

       (3) A person who seeks nomination by petition for the office of coroner, no later than the close of filing, shall file a sworn affidavit with the county election commission in the county of his residence.

       (4) The affidavit required by the provisions of this subsection must contain the following information:

           (a) the person's date and place of birth;

           (b) the person's citizenship;

           (c) the county the person is a resident of, and how long the person has been a resident of that county;

           (d) whether the person is a registered voter;

           (e) the date the person obtained a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent by the State Department of Education;

           (f) whether the person has been convicted of a felony offense or an offense involving moral turpitude contrary to the laws of this State, another state, or the United States;

           (g) the date the person obtained an associate or baccalaureate degree, if applicable;

           (h) the date the person completed a recognized forensic science degree or certification program, or information regarding the person's enrollment in a recognized forensic science degree or certification program, if applicable; and

           (i) the number of years of experience the person has as a death investigator, certified law enforcement officer, licensed paramedic, or licensed private investigator, if applicable.

 

SECTION 2.  The effective date of Act No. 56 of 2023, which enacted the "Law Enforcement and Personal Privacy Protection Act" and the "Judicial Privacy Protection Act", is delayed from July 1, 2024, until July 1, 2025.

 

SECTION 3.  The General Assembly finds that the sections presented in this act constitute one subject as required by Article III, Section 17 of the South Carolina Constitution, in particular finding that each change and each topic relates directly to or in conjunction with other sections to the subject of coroner's responsibilities and duties, including proper handling of records and certificates, as clearly enumerated in the title.  The General Assembly further finds that a common purpose or relationship exists among the sections, representing a potential plurality but not disunity of topics, notwithstanding that reasonable minds might differ in identifying more than one topic contained in the act.

 

SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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