The bill S. 269 aims to enhance security measures in public school districts in South Carolina with more than fifteen thousand students by allowing them to employ licensed security personnel as a proprietary security business. It introduces a new section, 59-19-275, which stipulates that these districts can utilize armed personnel or those with delegated arrest authority to ensure safety on school premises, while still requiring the presence of school resource officers as mandated by law. Additionally, the bill amends existing sections of the South Carolina Code, including 40-18-60 and 40-18-80, to outline the qualifications and licensure requirements for public school districts seeking to employ security personnel.

The amendments specify that public school districts must designate their superintendent as the applicant for a proprietary security business license and comply with training requirements set by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The bill also clarifies that school districts are excluded from certain licensing requirements that apply to other entities. Furthermore, it mandates that security officers in schools must be at least twenty-one years old and have specific training and agreements with local law enforcement for ongoing education and recertification. The bill is set to take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
01/28/2025: 59-19-275, 40-18-60, 40-18-80, 40-18-140
03/26/2025: 59-19-275, 40-18-60, 40-18-80, 40-18-140
03/28/2025: 59-19-275, 40-18-60, 40-18-80, 40-18-140
04/03/2025: 59-19-275, 40-18-60, 40-18-80, 40-18-140
05/01/2025: 59-19-275, 40-18-60, 40-18-80, 40-18-140
05/05/2025: 59-19-275, 40-18-60, 40-18-80, 40-18-140
Latest Version: 59-19-275, 40-18-60, 40-18-80, 40-18-140