Bill > S0269

This bill allows public school districts with more than 15,000 students to use private security personnel by creating a new licensing framework through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The bill establishes specific requirements for school districts seeking to hire private security, including that the district board of trustees must designate the superintendent as the license applicant, security personnel must be at least 21 years old, and the district must have a full-time security and emergency management division. Additionally, the district must have a written agreement with local law enforcement for joint training in areas like firearms, defensive tactics, and active shooter scenarios. Security officers must be registered with SLED, undergo background checks, pass drug tests, and be recertified every two years. Importantly, these private security personnel cannot replace school resource officers and are prohibited from performing advisory or teaching roles. The bill emphasizes that while districts can enhance school security through these measures, they cannot completely substitute the existing school resource officer program. SLED will develop standards and guidelines to ensure that school districts and their security personnel have the necessary training, background, and experience to provide safe security services in educational settings.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0269&session=126&summary=B