South Carolina H 3602: Jaden's Law

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3602 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 12, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3602

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 ENACTing 
"JADEN'S LAW"; BY ADDING SECTION 50-21-118 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND 
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS WHEN CERTAIN BOATING ACCIDENTS OCCUR, 
and to provide boat landings must be clearly IDENTIFIED.

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

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as "Jaden's Law."

SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 21, Title 50 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 50-21-118. (A)(1) A 911 dispatcher who receives and a 
911 call for emergency assistance must ask the caller whether the accident 
victim:

 (a) 
is conscious;

 (b) 
has a visible head injury;

 (c) 
can breathe without assistance;

 (d) 
is able to verbally communicate; and

 (e) 
sustained injuries while on a body of water.

 (2) 
If the dispatcher receives an affirmative response that indicates that the 
incident occurred on a body of water, then he must direct officials with the 
Department of Natural Resources to respond to the call.

 (B) Each 
law enforcement agency that responds to a boating accident involving a deceased 
or unconscious victim must:

 (1) 
prepare a written incident report;

 (2) 
secure the accident scene;

 (3) 
conduct an immediate investigation regarding the incident; and

 (4) 
if needed, seek the assistance of additional law enforcement agencies.

 (C) 
Notwithstanding another provision of law to the contrary, the Department of 
Natural Resources must obtain the assistance of the State Law Enforcement 
Division when conducting an investigation involving a boating accident that 
involves a deceased or unconscious victim.

 (D) 
When conducting an investigation of a boating accident that occurs on a body of 
water, a breath test must be performed on the driver of the vessel.

 (E) The 
coroner must report the death of a person as a result of a boating accident to 
the Department of Natural Resources and the State Law Enforcement Division. If both 
agencies are unaware of the death, then both agencies must investigate the 
accident.

 (F) All 
emergency medical service providers must notify the Department of Natural 
Resources of any trauma-based boating accident that results in a victim losing 
consciousness or life.

 (G) The 
Department of Natural Resources must provide all law enforcement agencies, 
emergency medical service providers, and first responders the physical address 
and GPS coordinates for all public boat landings. The department also must 
identify the boat landings with visible signs facing both directions at their 
entrances.

 (H) A 
solicitor shall not determine whether charges should be brought against or 
present a case against a law enforcement officer employed within his circuit. 
These cases must be referred to the Attorney General's Office.

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

----XX----

This web page was last updated on December 12, 2024 at 04:42 PM