South Carolina H 3225: South Carolina Service Year Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3225 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 05, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3225

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

DRAFT PREPARED BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

For: Rep. Garvin

Attorney: Beeson

Drafting Assistant: Rushton

Date: December 03, 2024

DOC. ID.: /LEGISLATIVE 
COUNCIL/WAB/DRAFTS/LC-0152WAB25/LC-0152WAB25.DOCX

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 
9 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 59, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SERVICE YEAR 
PROGRAM" IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURPOSES AND 
FUNCTIONS OF THE PROGRAM, TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF SERVICE AND CIVIC 
INNOVATION IN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSES AND 
FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE, TO ESTABLISH THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SERVICE YEAR PROGRAM 
FUND" AND TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSES OF THE FUND, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS, AND TO 
PROVIDE CERTAIN PRIVACY AND RELATED MEASURES.

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

SECTION 1. Article 9, Chapter 1, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Article 
9

 South 
Carolina Service Year Program

 Section 
59-1-910. This article establishes the South Carolina Service Year Program to 
provide individuals with job training and work experience while engaging them 
in local service projects that fill critical needs in this State.

 Section 
59-1-920.

 (1) 
There is a South Carolina Service Year Program (SCSYP) in the State hereby 
established to be administered and managed by the State Department of 
Education.

 (2) 
The purpose of the program is to:

 (a) 
provide meaningful, impactful service opportunities to SCSYP participants to 
improve lives in this State including, but not limited to:

 (i) 
public sector jobs including uniformed and civilian roles at the state, county, 
and municipal level with the department working to incorporate service year 
opportunities with existing collective bargaining, civil service, and other 
legal limits on such roles to the extent necessary;

 (ii) 
public and community health;

 (iii) clean and renewable energy;

 (iv) 
early childhood education;

 (v) 
arts and humanities; and

 (vi) 
other areas that fill critical community needs as identified by the department 
in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Workforce;

 (b) 
equip SCSYP participants with professional development, mentoring, job 
training, financial literacy skills, and other supports while working in 
high-impact service placements;

 (c) 
equip SCSYP participants with the skills that will enable them to successfully 
make the transition to an institution of higher education or to the workforce;

 (d) 
strengthen the pipeline of talent into state and local governments to fill 
present and future staffing needs; and

 (e) 
provide program completion awards to SCSYP participants who have completed the 
program.

 (3) 
In administering the program, the department shall:

 (a) 
seek community service opportunities and opportunities for program expansion, 
including in state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations;

 (b) 
develop processes to facilitate awarding SCSYP participants with:

 (i) 
academic credit for their participation in the program; or

 (ii) 
credit for their participation and prior learning experience toward 
professional credentials, trade or vocational certifications, and 
apprenticeship programs;

 (c) 
seek gifts or grants and other financial resources, including through 
public-private partnerships, for the benefit of the program;

 (d) 
apply for, receive, and spend grants-in-aid by the federal government or any of 
its agencies or any other federal funds and funds from nongovernmental entities 
and private partners made available to the department for use in administering 
the program;

 (e) 
maintain relationships with current and former SCSYP participants including to 
provide mentorship or other supports to current participants as appropriate;

 (f) 
provide oversight of the design, development, implementation, operation, and 
expansion of the program; and

 (g) 
participate in program-sponsored events.

 (4) 
The department is responsible for expanding service opportunities in the State 
through the program with the following goals:

 (a) 
recruiting SCSYP participants and creating a strong annual cohort for SCSYP 
participants from urban, rural, and suburban areas of the State;

 (b) 
ensuring all individuals have equitable access to participate in the program 
regardless of gender, race, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, 
gender identity or expression, disability, geography, native language, or 
protected veteran status;

 (c) 
recruiting and prioritizing for participation in the program state and local 
government agencies and nonprofit organ