Bill > H4739

This bill requires all public and private higher education institutions in South Carolina that receive lottery scholarship funding to implement a comprehensive safety training program for new students. The program must be developed by the campus public safety director and delivered during initial orientation or within the first thirty days of a student's arrival, targeting full-time and part-time students physically attending campus. The training must cover essential topics including personal safety, emergency procedures, campus security services, sexual assault prevention, behavioral intervention team information, and bystander intervention strategies. Institutions are required to annually report their safety training programs to the Commission on Higher Education or State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education by January 31st. Additionally, each institution must compile and publicly report detailed campus crime statistics, categorizing crimes by type, offender status, victim status, and relationship categories. The bill mandates that institutions post their campus safety plans on their websites, review and update them annually, and retain crime data for seven years. Institutions found non-compliant may face funding reductions or potential enforcement actions by the Attorney General. The law will take effect upon gubernatorial approval and will first apply to students enrolling in the fall of 2027, ensuring colleges have adequate time to develop and implement these comprehensive safety programs.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4739&session=126&summary=B