School Protection Officer Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICER ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 66, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR, THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF GOVERNMENT K-12 SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAY DESIGNATE EMPLOYEES AS SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICERS TO PROVIDE ARMED PROTECTION AND OTHER RELATED PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTIONS ON THEIR CAMPUSES, TO DEFINE RELATED TERMINOLOGY, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 23-23-112 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COUNCIL MUST DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICER TRAINING THAT MUST BE OFFERED BY THE CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY, TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TRAINING, AND TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 16-23-420, RELATING TO THE EXEMPTIONS FROM THE PROHIBITION OF POSSESSING FIREARMS ON GOVERNMENT SCHOOL PROPERTY, SO AS TO EXEMPT SCHOOL PROTECTION OFFICERS; TO REDESIGNATE CHAPTER 66, TITLE 59 AS "SCHOOL SAFETY", AND TO REDESIGNATE SECTIONS 59-66-20, 59-66-30, AND 59-66-40 AS ARTICLE 1 ENTITLED,"GENERAL PROVISIONS".