TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 22-9-220 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RETIRED OR FORMER CERTIFIED PUBLIC LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MAY BE QUALIFIED AS A CONSTABLE AND MAY BE HIRED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 9, Title 22 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 22-9-220.    (A)    A person who has worked as a full-time certified public law enforcement officer in any state and has retired or resigned from his law enforcement position under good conditions and terms may be qualified for a commission as a South Carolina Constable.

(B)    The sheriff of the applicant's county of residence must offer that agency's standard firearm qualification examination to the person and the person successfully must pass a firearm qualification test in order to receive his commission as a South Carolina Constable.

(C)    A constable must comply with all South Carolina law enforcement continuing education and firearms requalification certifications that are required of any active South Carolina enforcement officer.

(D)    A constable may be hired for pay as an agency's law enforcement officer on a temporary basis as a substitute for a permanent officer who is on sick leave or due to a position vacancy in that agency until the position is filled. The constable must be paid a contractual hourly rate by the agency which would be equal to or more than the regular pay for the position being temporarily filled.

(E)    A constable who is hired temporarily for pay by a law enforcement agency may be hired subsequently to fill a permanent position in that agency. The constable then would be required to resign his constable's commission in order to be commissioned by that agency."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.