South Carolina H 3950: Soil classifers

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3950 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 30, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3950

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Indicates Matter 
Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Amended

April 30, 2025

H. 3950

Introduced 
by Reps. Hixon and Forrest 

S. Printed 4/30/25--H.

Read the first time February 11, 2025

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 40-65-40, RELATING TO PERSONS EXEMPT FROM LICENSURE AS PROFESSIONAL 
SOIL CLASSIFIERS, SO AS TO EXEMPT LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS PERFORMING 
SOIL EVALUATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH CONVENTIONAL ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, AND 
TO PROVIDE THESE ENGINEERS MUST HAVE CERTAIN TRAINING, BONDING, AND INSURANCE.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Section 44-55-827 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
44-55-827. (A) The department shall 
promulgate regulations for the licensure of persons who contract or advertise 
to offer or provide services for installation, repair, modification, or final 
inspection and approval of onsite wastewater systems. These regulations must 
include:

 (1) 
eligibility criteria to be licensed as an Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractor;

 (2) 
a tiered licensing program defining various levels of competency and skill, 
including licenses that allow different combinations of installation, repair, 
modification, and final inspection and approval of onsite wastewater systems;

 (3) 
a system for the department to monitor the quality of contractor installation, 
repair, modification, and final inspection and approval of onsite wastewater 
systems;

 (4) 
minimum standards for training and continuing education for Onsite Wastewater 
Systems Contractors;

 (5) 
bonding and insurance requirements for Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractors;

 (6) 
the establishment and collection of administrative and licensing fees to cover 
the costs of this program; and

 (7) 
enforcement guidelines and penalties for violations of the provisions of these 
regulations.

 (B)(1) The eligibility requirements of 
subsection (A) do not apply to a professional engineer licensed by the South 
Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors 
who has been certified by the Department of Environmental Services as 
successfully completing their onsite wastewater training program, solely for 
purposes of performing soil evaluations in connection with a conventional 
onsite wastewater system, provided that the engineer has appropriate bonding 
and insurance.

 (2) The Department of Environmental 
Services may revoke or suspend such certifications based on evidence of 
incompetence, incorrect classification of soils, or falsification or improper 
documentation of soil evaluation results, and/or may assess and collect a fine 
not to exceed $1,000 for each documented instance of incompetence, incorrect 
classification of soils, or falsification or improper documentation of soil 
evaluation results, to be submitted for deposit in the state general fund.

 (B)(C) The department shall promulgate regulations pursuant 
to the requirements for licensure of an Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractor, 
as provided for in subsection (A), items (1) through (7).

 (C)(D) Nothing in this chapter or regulations promulgated 
pursuant to this chapter affect the department's authority, under Section 
44-1-140 and regulation, to issue permits for the installation and construction 
of individual onsite wastewater systems.

SECTION 2. Section 40-65-40 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 (8) A professional engineer licensed by 
the South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and 
Surveyors who has been certified by the Department of Environmental Services in 
accordance with Section 44-55-827(B).

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on April 30, 2025 at 10:37 PM