A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 23-1-212, RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OF STATE CRIMINAL LAWS BY FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, SO AS TO ADD SPECIAL AGENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO THE DEFINITION OF "FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER."
Summary
H3739 amends South Carolina law governing when federal law enforcement officers may enforce state criminal laws. The bill expands the statutory definition of “federal law enforcement officer” in Section 23-1-212 to include special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically agents from the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Naval Criminal Investigation Division, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Under current law, the section already lists several federal agencies whose officers are recognized for this purpose, such as the FBI, DEA, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, and certain Interior and Agriculture enforcement personnel. H3739 adds the Department of Defense investigative branches to that list and makes the change effective upon gubernatorial approval.
Impact
The bill would broaden the category of federal officers authorized under South Carolina law to participate in enforcement of state criminal laws, thereby extending the statute’s coverage to additional military investigative personnel. It does not create a new enforcement scheme, but it updates an existing statutory definition in Section 23-1-212 and could affect coordination between state authorities and Department of Defense criminal investigators in cases involving state offenses.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be a straightforward technical-expansion bill with no documented opposition in the available materials. The caption and amendment are narrowly focused, suggesting generally neutral or supportive treatment rather than controversy.
Contention
No committee transcripts or vote history were provided, so there is no recorded public disagreement to identify. The only likely point of policy interest is whether Department of Defense investigative agents should be treated the same as other federal law enforcement officers for purposes of enforcing South Carolina criminal law, but the available record does not show any stated objections or competing views.