South Carolina H 4678: Driver's licenses

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4678 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4678

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 CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE ISSUED TO LAW 
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL, SO 
AS TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT CANDIDATES MUST HOLD DRIVERS' LICENSEs ISSUED BY 
ANY JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES; TO PROVIDE FINDINGS OF THE GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY; AND TO PROVIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY SHALL REMOVE ANY 
REQUIREMENT THAT OFFICERS HOLD SOUTH CAROLINA DRIVERS' LICENSES OR RESIDE IN 
THE STATE AS CONDITIONS OF CERTIFICATION OR EMPLOYMENT.

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

SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that:

 (1) South Carolina 
communities along the state border face unique challenges in recruiting law 
enforcement officers due to licensing and residency restrictions;

 (2) neighboring 
states such as North Carolina permit cross-border employment without residency 
limitations; and

 (3) allowing 
qualified officers from any state to work in South Carolina will enhance public 
safety, expand the talent pool, and provide flexibility to municipalities such 
as the Town of Fort Mill that face workforce shortages.

SECTION 2. Section 23-23-60(B)(5)(b) of the S.C. Code is amended 
to read:

 (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;

SECTION 3. The 
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy shall revise all certification 
standards, rules, and application procedures to remove any requirement that an 
officer holds a South Carolina driver's license or resides within the state as 
a condition of certification or employment.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:27 PM