Committee Report

February 3, 2026

 

H. 4145

 

Introduced by Reps. Bernstein, Bannister, Stavrinakis, W. Newton, Kirby, Teeple, Gilliam, Bauer, Wetmore, Gilliard, J. Moore, Bustos, Landing and C. Mitchell

 

S. Printed 2/3/26--H.

Read the first time March 5, 2025

 

________

 

The committee on House Judiciary

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4145) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "South Carolina Pray Safe Act" by adding Section 23-3-90 so as to establish the South Carolina Pray Safe, 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 all after the enacting words and inserting:

SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Pray Safe Act."

 

SECTION 2.  Article 1, Chapter 3, Title 23 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 23-3-90. (A) As used in this section:

       (1) "Eligible applicant" means a private religious organization that is:

           (a) qualified for federal tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

           (b) at risk of being subject to a religiously motivated crime; and

           (c) is a religious organization as defined in Section 1-33-10.

       (2) "Eligible facility" means real property owned, rented, or operated by an eligible applicant.

       (3) "Offense against a religious organization" includes an offense against:

           (a) an employee or agent of the organization;

           (b) the eligible facility itself; or

           (c) individuals frequenting the eligible facility as part of the population served by the organization.

       (4) "Religiously motivated crime" means the commission, attempted commission, or alleged commission of an offense against a religious organization based on the religious ideology or mission of the organization or the population served by the organization.

       (5) "Security enhancements" includes, without limitation:

           (a) security assessments and training;

           (b) security personnel;

           (c) upgrades or improvements including, but not limited to, windows, doors, gates, or security-related landscaping;

           (d) high-intensity lighting, camera systems, alarms, or other security systems; and

           (e) any other security enhancement consistent with the purpose of the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program.

    (B)(1) There is established the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program within the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) to provide grants to eligible applicants for security enhancements to eligible facilities. Grants may be awarded to eligible applicants in amounts not to exceed five thousand dollars.

       (2) SCDPS may develop the form and manner in which eligible applicants may apply for grants. SCDPS shall rank applications based on the criteria set forth in subsection (C) and award grants based on rankings and available monies.

    (C) SCDPS shall, by rule, establish criteria for ranking grant applications under the grant program. Criteria must include, but need not be limited to:

       (1) an eligible applicant's and eligible facility's level of risk of being subject to a religiously motivated crime;

       (2) whether an eligible applicant or eligible facility has previously been subject to a religiously motivated crime; and

       (3) the level of security measures already in place at eligible facilities.

    (D) SCDPS shall adopt rules to implement the grant program. Rules must include, but need not be limited to:

       (1) policies and procedures for the grant application process;

       (2) terms and conditions of grant agreements entered into by the department and grant recipients; and

       (3) procedures for verifying that grant monies have been used for the purposes for which they were awarded.

    (E) There is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the general fund, the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program Fund. The monies in the fund only may be used to fund grants authorized by this section.  SCDPS may not award grants that exceed the balance in the Fund. The total balance in the Fund may not exceed seven hundred fifty thousand dollars for any fiscal year.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

W. NEWTON for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill establishes the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program Fund. This bill also establishes the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program within SLED to provide grants, not to exceed $750,000, to eligible applicants for security enhancements to eligible facilities. SLED may not award grants that exceed the balance in the Fund.

 

Under this bill, SLED is responsible for developing the form and manner in which eligible applicants may apply for grants. SLED shall rank applications based on criteria including, but not limited to the following: an eligible applicant's and eligible facility's level of risk of being subject to a religiously motivated crime or domestic terrorism, whether an eligible applicant or eligible facility has previously been subject to a religiously motivated crime or domestic terrorism, and the level of security measures already in place at eligible facilities. SLED will award grants based on rankings and available monies. SLED will also be responsible for adopting rules to implement the grant program.

 

SLED is continuing to analyze the impact of this bill. The fiscal impact of this bill is pending, contingent upon a response from the agency.

 

State Revenue

This bill establishes the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program Fund. It is unclear how the Fund will be funded. Therefore, this bill may result in a change to Other Fund revenue depending upon the funding of the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program Fund.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS by ENACTing THE "south carolina PRAY SAFE ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 23-3-90 SO AS TO establish the SOUTH CAROLINA PRAY SAFE GRANT PROGRAM WITHIN THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION TO PROVIDE GRANTS for SECURITY enhancements TO certain organizations that are at risk of being victimS of a religiously motivated crime.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Pray Safe Act."

 

SECTION 2.  Article 1, Chapter 3, Title 23 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 23-3-90. (A) As used in this section:

       (1) "Eligible applicant" means a private organization that is:

           (a) qualified for federal tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and

           (b) at particular risk of being subject to a religiously motivated crime.

       (2) "Eligible facility" means real property owned or operated by an eligible applicant.

       (3) "Offense against an organization" includes an offense against an employee or agent of the organization.

       (4) "Religiously motivated crime" means the commission, attempted commission, or alleged commission of an offense against an organization based on the religious ideology or mission of the organization or the population served by the organization.

       (5) "Security enhancements" includes, without limitation:

           (a) security assessments and training;

           (b) security personnel;

           (c) upgrades or improvements including, but not limited to, windows, doors, gates, or security-related landscaping; and

           (d) high-intensity lighting, camera systems, alarms, or other security systems.

    (B)(1) There is established the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program within the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to provide grants to eligible applicants for security enhancements to eligible facilities. Grants may be awarded to eligible applicants in amounts not to exceed seven hundred fifty thousand dollars.

       (2) SLED may develop the form and manner in which eligible applicants may apply for grants. SLED shall rank applications based on the criteria set forth in subsection (C) and award grants based on rankings and available monies.

    (C) SLED shall, by rule, establish criteria for ranking grant applications under the grant program. Criteria must include, but need not be limited to:

       (1) an eligible applicant's and eligible facility's level of risk of being subject to a religiously motivated crime or domestic terrorism;

       (2) whether an eligible applicant or eligible facility has previously been subject to a religiously motivated crime or domestic terrorism; and

       (3) the level of security measures already in place at eligible facilities.

    (D) SLED shall adopt rules to implement the grant program. Rules must include, but need not be limited to:

       (1) policies and procedures for the grant application process;

       (2) terms and conditions of grant agreements entered into by the department and grant recipients; and

       (3) procedures for verifying that grant monies have been used for the purposes for which they were awarded.

    (E) There is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the general fund, the South Carolina Pray Safe Grant Program Fund. The monies in the fund only may be used to fund grants authorized by this section.  SLED may not award grants that exceed the balance in the Fund.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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