South Carolina S 711: School Guard Requirements

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 711 Text of Previous Version (May. 05, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 711

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

Committee Report

May 5, 2026

S. 711

Introduced 
by Senators Johnson, Walker and Zell 

S. Printed 5/5/26--H.

Read the first time March 31, 2026

________

The committee on House Education and 
Public Works

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 711) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 59-63-60, relating to 
school guards requirements, so as to provide authority to direct and control 
traffic, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered 
the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

SHANNON ERICKSON for Committee.

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill provides school guards with the 
authority to direct and control traffic on public roadways near schools for the 
purpose of reducing traffic congestion related to student drop-off or pick-up. 
Additionally, the bill states that the school district official of each school 
district who is responsible for supervising such personnel is responsible for 
seeing that such persons receive appropriate training pertaining to traffic 
safety.

State Agency Schools. This bill will 
have no expenditure impact on state agency schools. The Governor's 
School for Agriculture at John de la Howe indicates that this bill will have no 
expenditure impact, as the agency already satisfies the requirements of the 
bill. The Governor's School for Arts and Humanities indicates that the agency 
has a staff of certified police officers that direct traffic when needed. The 
Governor's School for Science and Mathematics indicates that any costs related 
to ensuring that school guards receive appropriate training can be managed with 
existing resources. The School for the Deaf and the Blind indicates that this 
bill will have no expenditure impact, as its students are located on a campus 
and do not cross public roads. The Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School indicates 
that this bill will have no expenditure impact since it is a state agency and 
does not have any school district officials.

Local Expenditure

This bill provides school guards with the 
authority to direct and control traffic on public roadways near schools for the 
purpose of reducing traffic congestion related to student drop-off or pick-up. 
Additionally, the bill states that the school district official of each school 
district who is responsible for supervising such personnel is responsible for ensuring 
that such persons receive appropriate training pertaining to traffic safety.

SCDE surveyed the seventy-two regular 
school districts and three charter school districts and received responses from 
twenty-three districts. Twelve districts indicate that this bill will have no 
expenditure impact, with several of these districts noting that they are 
already in compliance with the provisions of the bill. Six districts indicate 
that any costs can be managed with existing appropriations. Four districts 
indicate that this bill may increase expenses by an amount ranging from $300 to 
$2,000 to provide training and equipment for school guards. The remaining 
district indicates that this bill may reduce expenditures by an undetermined 
amount. This district reports that they are currently paying for police 
officers to direct and control traffic and anticipate that using school guards 
instead of officers may lower costs. 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 59-63-60, RELATING TO SCHOOL GUARDS REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE 
AUTHORITY TO DIRECT AND CONTROL TRAFFIC ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS NEAR SCHOOLS.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-63-60 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
59-63-60. (A) No person charged with the responsibility of assisting 
school children to cross streets near schools shall engage in such activity 
unless he is attired with some type of garment or equipment that can be clearly 
seen by the driver of an approaching motor vehicle.

 (B) Such 
individuals shall have the authorityA person 
charged with the responsibility to direct and control traffic on public 
roadways near schools for the purpose of reducing traffic congestion related to 
student drop-off or pickup shall be attired with some type 
of garment or equipment that can be clearly seen by the driver of an 
approaching motor vehicle and shall receive appropriate training pertaining to 
traffic safety. 

 (C) The school district official 
of each school district who is responsible for supervising