South Carolina H 4682: Law enforcement certification

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4682 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4682

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 23-23-60, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE BY THE 
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL, AND INFORMATION TO BE SUBMITTED RELATING TO 
THE QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT CERTIFICATION, SO AS TO 
PROVIDE ALL CANDIDATES FOR CERTIFICATION Must HOLD A VALID current DRIVER'S 
LICENSE FROM ANY JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 23-23-60(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (B) All city and county police 
departments, sheriffs' offices, state agencies, or other employers of law 
enforcement officers having such officers as candidates for certification shall 
submit to the director, for his confidential information and subsequent 
safekeeping, the following:

 (1) 
an application under oath on a format prescribed by the director;

 (2) 
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate has completed high 
school and received a high school diploma, equivalency certificate (military or 
other) recognized and accepted by the South Carolina Department of Education or 
South Carolina special certificate;

 (3) 
evidence satisfactory to the director of the candidate's physical fitness to 
fulfill the duties of a law enforcement officer including:

 (a) 
a copy of his medical history compiled by a licensed physician or medical 
examiner approved by the employer;

 (b) 
a certificate of a licensed physician that the candidate has recently undergone 
a complete medical examination and the results thereof;

 (4) 
evidence satisfactory to the director that the applicant has not been convicted 
of any criminal offense that carries a sentence of one year or more or of any 
criminal offense that involves moral turpitude. Forfeiture of bond, a guilty 
plea, or a plea of nolo contendere is considered the equivalent of a 
conviction;

 (5) 
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate is a person of good 
character. This evidence must include, but is not limited to:

 (a) 
certification by the candidate's employer that a background investigation has 
been conducted and the employer is of the opinion that the candidate is of good 
character;

 (b) 
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate holds a valid current state driver's license issued by any 
jurisdiction of the United States with no record during the previous 
five years for suspension of driver's license as a result of driving under the 
influence of alcoholic beverages or dangerous drugs, driving while impaired (or 
the equivalent), reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter, or leaving the 
scene of an accident. Candidates for certification as 
state or local correctional officers may hold a valid current driver's license 
issued by any jurisdiction of the United States;

 (c) 
evidence satisfactory to the director that a local credit check has been made 
with favorable results;

 (d) 
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate's fingerprint record 
as received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and South Carolina Law 
Enforcement Division indicates no record of felony convictions; and

 (e) 
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate has signed an 
attestation form committing to the practice of ethical policing, which means 
the discharge of responsibilities, stemming from employment as a law 
enforcement officer, which is devoid of misconduct and which is carried out in 
conformance with this chapter, including the duty to safeguard life and the 
duty to intervene.

 In the director's 
determination of good character, the director shall give consideration to all 
law violations, including traffic and conservation law convictions, as 
indicating a lack of good character. The director shall also give consideration 
to the candidate's prior history, if any, of alcohol and drug abuse in arriving 
at a determination of good character;

 (6) 
a copy of the candidate's photograph;

 (7) 
a copy of the candidate's fingerprints;

 (8) 
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate's present age is no 
less than twenty-one years. However, if the person is a candidate for 
detention or correctional officer, not to include officers for the Department 
of Juvenile Justice, then the candidate's present age must be no less than 
eighteen years of age. This evidence must include a birth certificate or 
another acceptable document;

 (9) 
evidence satisfactory to the director of successful completion of a course of 
law enforcement training as established and approved by the director, and 
conducted a