republic-os/legislation/us/states/sc/2017-2018/s-709.md

---
type: "Bill"
title: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL CREATE MODEL FIRE AND SAFETY POLICY AND PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND MAKE SUCH GUIDELINES AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS BEFORE THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL ADOPT CERTAIN FIRE AND SAFETY POLICIES AND PROGRAMS BEFORE THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR AND SUBMIT THESE POLICES AND PROGRAMS TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR COLLABORATIVE REVIEW AND COMMENT BEFORE JULY 1, 2021, TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS MAY REQUEST RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, AND TO EXCLUDE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT PRIMARILY DELIVER INSTRUCTION ONLINE FROM THESE PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-910, RELATING TO REQUIRED MONTHLY FIRE DRILLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INSTEAD SHALL CONDUCT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FIRE DRILLS, ACTIVE SHOOTER/INTRUDER DRILLS, AND SEVERE WEATHER/EARTHQUAKE DRILLS DURING EACH SEMESTER, TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION SHALL DEVELOP CERTAIN RELATED GUIDELINES AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE TRAINING MATERIALS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EMPLOYED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PERIODIC UPDATING OF THESE GUIDELINES, TO PROVIDE THESE GUIDELINES MUST BE INCLUDED IN REQUIRED ANNUAL TEACHER COLLEGIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TO DELETE MONETARY PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE BY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-920, RELATING TO OBSOLETE COMPLIANCE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND MONETARY PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILL REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO INSTEAD REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLIANCE AND REMOVE THESE MONETARY PENALTIES; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-63-930 RELATING TO OBSOLETE REQUIREMENTS THAT COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION PRINT AND POST CERTAIN STATUTES RELATED TO MANDATORY PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILLS; AND TO REDESIGNATE ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59 AS \"SAFETY AND SECURITY DRILLS\". - ratified title"
description: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL CREATE MODEL FIRE AND SAFETY POLICY AND PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND MAKE SUCH GUIDELINES AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS BEFORE THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL ADOPT CERTAIN FIRE AND SAFETY POLICIES AND PROGRAMS BEFORE THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR AND SUBMIT THESE POLICES AND PROGRAMS TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR COLLABORATIVE REVIEW AND COMMENT BEFORE JULY 1, 2021, TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS MAY REQUEST RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, AND TO EXCLUDE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT PRIMARILY DELIVER INSTRUCTION ONLINE FROM THESE PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-910, RELATING TO REQUIRED MONTHLY FIRE DRILLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INSTEAD SHALL CONDUCT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FIRE DRILLS, ACTIVE SHOOTER/INTRUDER DRILLS, AND SEVERE WEATHER/EARTHQUAKE DRILLS DURING EACH SEMESTER, TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION SHALL DEVELOP CERTAIN RELATED GUIDELINES AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE TRAINING MATERIALS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EMPLOYED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PERIODIC UPDATING OF THESE GUIDELINES, TO PROVIDE THESE GUIDELINES MUST BE INCLUDED IN REQUIRED ANNUAL TEACHER COLLEGIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TO DELETE MONETARY PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE BY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-920, RELATING TO OBSOLETE COMPLIANCE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND MONETARY PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILL REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO INSTEAD REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLIANCE AND REMOVE THESE MONETARY PENALTIES; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-63-930 RELATING TO OBSOLETE REQUIREMENTS THAT COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION PRINT AND POST CERTAIN STATUTES RELATED TO MANDATORY PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILLS; AND TO REDESIGNATE ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59 AS \"SAFETY AND SECURITY DRILLS\". - ratified title"
jurisdiction: "us/states/sc"
legislature: "South Carolina General Assembly"
session: "2017-2018"
identifier: "S 709"
citation: "South Carolina S 709 (2017-2018)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Hembree"]
version_count: 6
action_count: 28
vote_count: 5
first_action: "2017-05-08"
last_action: "2018-07-12"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/dc3a7b64-35ac-41ce-b58c-9894e80df58b"
source_url: "http://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=709&session=122&summary=B"
source_hash: "156a161c9ccfadde70da2c0ef6e8b8867b4251fdfd35542d94c49efbb23139b0"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-sc"]
---

# South Carolina S 709 (2017-2018) — AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL CREATE MODEL FIRE AND SAFETY POLICY AND PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND MAKE SUCH GUIDELINES AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS BEFORE THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL ADOPT CERTAIN FIRE AND SAFETY POLICIES AND PROGRAMS BEFORE THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR AND SUBMIT THESE POLICES AND PROGRAMS TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR COLLABORATIVE REVIEW AND COMMENT BEFORE JULY 1, 2021, TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS MAY REQUEST RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, AND TO EXCLUDE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT PRIMARILY DELIVER INSTRUCTION ONLINE FROM THESE PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-910, RELATING TO REQUIRED MONTHLY FIRE DRILLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INSTEAD SHALL CONDUCT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FIRE DRILLS, ACTIVE SHOOTER/INTRUDER DRILLS, AND SEVERE WEATHER/EARTHQUAKE DRILLS DURING EACH SEMESTER, TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION SHALL DEVELOP CERTAIN RELATED GUIDELINES AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE TRAINING MATERIALS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EMPLOYED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PERIODIC UPDATING OF THESE GUIDELINES, TO PROVIDE THESE GUIDELINES MUST BE INCLUDED IN REQUIRED ANNUAL TEACHER COLLEGIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TO DELETE MONETARY PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE BY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-63-920, RELATING TO OBSOLETE COMPLIANCE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND MONETARY PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILL REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO INSTEAD REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLIANCE AND REMOVE THESE MONETARY PENALTIES; TO REPEAL SECTION 59-63-930 RELATING TO OBSOLETE REQUIREMENTS THAT COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION PRINT AND POST CERTAIN STATUTES RELATED TO MANDATORY PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRE DRILLS; AND TO REDESIGNATE ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59 AS "SAFETY AND SECURITY DRILLS". - ratified title

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **3/15/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/709_20180315.htm)
2. **3/28/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/709_20180328.htm)
3. **4/25/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/709_20180425.htm)
4. **4/26/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/709_20180426.htm)
5. **5/8/2017** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/709_20170508.htm)
6. **6/27/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/709_20180627.htm)

## Votes

- to adopt the conference report — **40–1** (pass) · upper
- 2nd Reading — **45–0** (pass) · upper
- to concur — **0–41** (fail) · upper
- Adopt Conference Report — **109–0** (pass) · lower
- Passage of Bill — **92–0** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Hembree — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-05-08** Introduced and read first time `introduction, reading-1`
- **2017-05-08** Referred to Committee on Education `referral-committee`
- **2018-03-15** Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-03-28** Amended `amendment-passage`
- **2018-03-28** Read second time `reading-2`
- **2018-03-28** Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
- **2018-03-29** Read third time and sent to House `passage, reading-3`
- **2018-04-03** Introduced and read first time `introduction, reading-1`
- **2018-04-03** Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works `referral-committee`
- **2018-04-25** Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and Public Works `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-04-26** Amended `amendment-passage`
- **2018-04-26** Read second time `reading-2`
- **2018-04-26** Roll call Yeas-92 Nays-0
- **2018-04-26** Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
- **2018-04-27** Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments `passage, reading-3`
- **2018-05-10** Non-concurrence in House amendment
- **2018-05-10** Roll call Ayes-0 Nays-41
- **2018-05-10** Conference committee appointed Allison, Pendarvis, Felder
- **2018-05-10** Conference committee appointed Hembree, Turner, Nicholson
- **2018-06-27** Conference report received and adopted
- **2018-06-27** Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0
- **2018-06-27** Conference report received and adopted
- **2018-06-27** Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-1
- **2018-06-27** Ordered enrolled for ratification
- **2018-06-28** Ratified R 284
- **2018-07-02** Signed By Governor `executive-signature`
- **2018-07-12** Effective date 07/02/18
- **2018-07-12** Act No. 256

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/dc3a7b64-35ac-41ce-b58c-9894e80df58b`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official South Carolina legislature records).