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Committee Amendment Adopted

April 25, 2024

 

H. 3865

 

 

Introduced by Reps. Hiott, Collins, Rutherford, Carter and Robbins

 

S. Printed 04/25/24--S.

Read the first time April 6, 2023

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-5-130, RELATING TO CORONER QUALIFICATIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE LICENSED PARAMEDICS WITH AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS A CORONER MUST HAVE.

    Amend Title To Conform

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 17-5-130 (A) and (B) of the S.C. Code are amended to read:

 

    (A)(1) A coroner in this State shall have all of the following qualifications, the person shall:

           (a) be a citizen of the United States;

           (b) be a resident of the county in which the person seeks the office of coroner for at least one year before qualifying for the election to the office;

           (c) be a registered voter;

           (d) have attained the age of twenty-one years before the date of qualifying for election to the office;

           (e) have obtained a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent by the State Department of Education; and

           (f) have not been convicted of a felony offense or an offense involving moral turpitude contrary to the laws of this State, another state, or the United States.

       (2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (A)(1), a coroner in this State shall have at least one of the following qualifications, the person shall:

           (a) have at least three years of experience in death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, or medical examiner agency;

           (b) have a two-year associate degree and two years of experience in death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, or medical examiner agency;

           (c) have a four-year baccalaureate degree and one year of experience in death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, or medical examiner agency;

           (d) be a law enforcement officer, as defined by Section 23-23-10(E)(1), who is certified by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council with a minimum of two years of experience;

           (e) have completed a recognized forensic science degree or certification program or be enrolled in a recognized forensic science degree or certification program to be completed within one year of being elected to the office of coroner;

           (f) be a medical doctor;  or

           (g) have a bachelor of science degree in nursing; or

           (h) have at least three years of experience as a licensed paramedic.

    (B)(1) A person who offers his candidacy for the office of coroner, no later than the close of filing, shall file a sworn affidavit with the county executive committee of the person's political party.

       (2) The county executive committee of a political party with whom a person has filed his affidavit must file a copy of the affidavit with the appropriate county election commission by noon on the tenth day following the deadline for filing affidavits by candidates. If the tenth day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the affidavit must be filed by noon the following day.

       (3) A person who seeks nomination by petition for the office of coroner, no later than the close of filing, shall file a sworn affidavit with the county election commission in the county of his residence.

       (4) The affidavit required by the provisions of this subsection must contain the following information:

           (a) the person's date and place of birth;

           (b) the person's citizenship;

           (c) the county the person is a resident of, and how long the person has been a resident of that county;

           (d) whether the person is a registered voter;

           (e) the date the person obtained a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent by the State Department of Education;

           (f) whether the person has been convicted of a felony offense or an offense involving moral turpitude contrary to the laws of this State, another state, or the United States;

           (g) the date the person obtained an associate or baccalaureate degree, if applicable;

           (h) the date the person completed a recognized forensic science degree or certification program, or information regarding the person's enrollment in a recognized forensic science degree or certification program, if applicable; and

           (i) the number of years of experience the person has as a death investigator, certified law enforcement officer, licensed paramedic, or licensed private investigator, if applicable.

 

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

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