Law enforcement certification

2025-2026 Bill 4682: Law enforcement certification - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4682
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Pope, Gilliam, Wooten and C. Mitchell
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4678
Document Path: LC-0364CM26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: Law enforcement certification
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

12/16/2025

House

Prefiled

12/16/2025

House

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary

1/13/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 55
)

1/13/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
House Journal-page 55
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/17/2025

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION
23-23-60
, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE BY THE
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL, AND INFORMATION TO BE SUBMITTED RELATING TO
THE QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT CERTIFICATION, SO AS TO
PROVIDE ALL CANDIDATES FOR CERTIFICATION Must HOLD A VALID current DRIVER'S
LICENSE FROM ANY JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
23-23-60
(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:

(
B) All city and county police
departments, sheriffs' offices, state agencies, or other employers of law
enforcement officers having such officers as candidates for certification shall
submit to the director, for his confidential information and subsequent
safekeeping, the following:

(
1)
an application under oath on a format prescribed by the director;

(
2)
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate has completed high
school and received a high school diploma, equivalency certificate (military or
other) recognized and accepted by the South Carolina Department of Education or
South Carolina special certificate;

(
3)
evidence satisfactory to the director of the candidate's physical fitness to
fulfill the duties of a law enforcement officer including:

(
a)
a copy of his medical history compiled by a licensed physician or medical
examiner approved by the employer;

(
b)
a certificate of a licensed physician that the candidate has recently undergone
a complete medical examination and the results thereof;

(
4)
evidence satisfactory to the director that the applicant has not been convicted
of any criminal offense that carries a sentence of one year or more or of any
criminal offense that involves moral turpitude. Forfeiture of bond, a guilty
plea, or a plea of nolo contendere is considered the equivalent of a
conviction;

(
5)
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate is a person of good
character. This evidence must include, but is not limited to:

(
a)
certification by the candidate's employer that a background investigation has
been conducted and the employer is of the opinion that the candidate is of good
character;

(
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
;

(
c)
evidence satisfactory to the director that a local credit check has been made
with favorable results;

(
d)
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate's fingerprint record
as received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and South Carolina Law
Enforcement Division indicates no record of felony convictions; and

(
e)
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate has signed an
attestation form committing to the practice of ethical policing, which means
the discharge of responsibilities, stemming from employment as a law
enforcement officer, which is devoid of misconduct and which is carried out in
conformance with this chapter, including the duty to safeguard life and the
duty to intervene.

I
n the director's
determination of good character, the director shall give consideration to all
law violations, including traffic and conservation law convictions, as
indicating a lack of good character. The director shall also give consideration
to the candidate's prior history, if any, of alcohol and drug abuse in arriving
at a determination of good character;

(
6)
a copy of the candidate's photograph;

(
7)
a copy of the candidate's fingerprints;

(
8)
evidence satisfactory to the director that the candidate's present age is no
less than twenty-one years. However, if the person is a candidate for
detention or correctional officer, not to include officers for the Department
of Juvenile Justice, then the candidate's present age must be no less than
eighteen years of age. This evidence must include a birth certificate or
another acceptable document;

(
9)
evidence satisfactory to the director of successful completion of a course of
law enforcement training as established and approved by the director, and
conducted at an academy or institution approved by the director, this evidence
to consist of a certificate granted by the approved institution.

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 2:39 PM