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

AMENDED

April 5, 2017

H. 3566

Introduced by Reps. Lowe, Pitts, Jordan, White and Putnam

S. Printed 4/5/17--H.

Read the first time January 24, 2017.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

Amended by House Ways and Means on March 28, 2017

State Expenditure

The bill as amended allows school first responders to possess a firearm on school premises, if the first responder completes a training program offered by the Law Enforcement Training Council (LETC) and possesses a valid concealed weapons permit. The bill requires LETC to establish the one-week training program using $9,000 of its FY 2017-18 appropriation. School first responders are responsible for the cost of participation. School first responders are defined as any person who responds to a school emergency.

Law Enforcement Training Council.

The bill as amended requires the LETC to develop and offer a training program to certify school first responders to carry a firearm on school premises. The amended bill directs the LETC to use $9,000 of the agency's FY 2017-18 appropriation to establish the program and makes first responders responsible for the costs associated with participating in the training program. The LETC estimates its cost to provide the training as $593 a participant, provided the participant uses his own weapon and ammunition. The per student cost is based on the approximate cost for one week of basic training. Therefore, the amended bill is expected to impact expenditures by $9,000 to develop the program and $593 a participant to provide the training. Because the number of persons who would participate in the program is unknown, the expenditure impact of the amended bill on other funds is undetermined.

State Revenue

For a school first responder to possess a firearm on school premises, he or she must possess a valid concealed weapons permit and complete a one-week training program offered by the LETC. Participants in the LETC program are responsible for the costs of the program. LETC estimates the cost for each participant as $593, provided participants furnish their own weapons and ammunition for the class. LETC is authorized under Section 23-23-80 to retain revenue received for tuition for non-mandated courses and expend it in budgeted operations by existing law. Therefore, this bill would generate other funds, but the amount is undetermined because the number of persons who would pursue training cannot be projected.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 23-23-150 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL SHALL DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR A ONE-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY TO SCHOOL FIRST RESPONDERS THAT CERTIFIES THEM TO POSSESS FIREARMS ON SCHOOL PREMISES, AND TO PROVIDE THE CONDITIONS UPON WHICH SCHOOL FIRST RESPONDERS MAY POSSESS FIREARMS ON SCHOOL PREMISES, AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO CREATE THIS PROGRAM.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 23, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 23-23-150.    (A)    As contained in this section, 'school first responder' means emergency medical service personnel and firefighters qualified under subsection (B), who respond to a school emergency.

(B)    The Law Enforcement Training Council shall develop guidelines for a one-week training program that the Criminal Justice Academy shall offer to a school first responder that certifies him to possess a firearm on a school premise and establish requirements for recertification which includes firearm proficiency. The program must include:

(1)    shoot/don't shoot training;

(2)    school safety protection training;

(3)    rapid response training;

(4)    identifying and containing potential threats and occurring threats;

(5)    defusing volatile situations and resolving conflict;

(6)    communicating with law enforcement that has jurisdiction over the school;

(7)    first responder first aid; and

(8)    other training that the council considers appropriate.

(C)    The first responder is responsible for the costs associated with participating in the program.

(D)    A school first responder may possess a firearm on a school premise if he:

(1)    holds a valid concealed weapons permit pursuant to Article 4, Chapter 31, Title 23; and

(2)    has completed the training program contained in subsection (B).

(E)    From its fiscal year 2017-2018 appropriations from the General Assembly, the Law Enforcement Training Council shall use nine thousand dollars for the purpose of establishing the program contained in this section."

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