The bill H. 3524 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding the Department of Crime Victim Services Training, Provider Certification, and Statistical Analysis. Specifically, it proposes to delete the provision that exempts certain crime victim service providers from basic certification requirements. Under the new language, crime victim service providers employed after the effective date of the article will be required to complete basic certification within one year of employment, in addition to meeting annual continuing education requirements to maintain their certification.

Furthermore, the bill revises the definition of "victim service provider" to explicitly exclude mental health clinicians licensed in South Carolina, as well as various types of judges. This change aims to clarify the scope of who qualifies as a victim service provider under the law, ensuring that only those directly involved in victim assistance and advocacy are included. The bill will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 16-3-1410, 16-3-1420
03/26/2025: 16-3-1410, 16-3-1420
Latest Version: 16-3-1410, 16-3-1420