Return to Work Legislation
There are many return to work bills that have been introduced. Only one has moved which is H3425. However, there are four provisos that appear in the Budget Bill that have been adopted in the past few years. NOTE: Provisos are year-to-year.
H3425 (Return to Work) By Pope, Thayer, Gilliam, S. Jones, Wooten, B. Newton, McCravy, Lawson, Leber and Atkinson. Allows PORS members to return to work without an earning limitation if they work in a critical need area or they wait a 12 month period upon retirement before returning to work for a covered employer. Also includes SCRS members to return to work without an earning limitation if they wait the 12 month period. Referred to Ways and Means. H3425 was passed by the House and sent to the Senate where it was referred to Senate Finance Committee.
| Bill Number | Description | Status | Date | SCFOP’s Position | Hyperlink |
| S188 | Earnings Limitation – eliminates the cap for PORS members. Also, eliminates the cap for retired certified teachers | Read 1st time Referred to Finance Awaiting hearing | 1/10/24 1/10/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| S239 | Earnings Limitation -eliminates the cap for PORS members | Read 1st time Referred to Finance Awaiting hearing | 1/10/24 1/10/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| S420 | Earnings Limitation – moves cap from $10K to equal to the annual retirement earnings test exempt lower amount as set by the Social Security Administration. This amount was $18,240 in 2020 | Read 1st time Referred to Finance Awaiting hearing | 1/19/24 1/19/24 | Monitor | Read Bill |
| S1006 | Earnings Limitation – Constables working in multiple agencies/departments | Read 1st time Referred to Finance Awaiting hearing | 1/31/24 1/31/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| H3143 | Earnings Limitation – provides that certain disability retirees are subject to certain earnings limitations | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Awaiting hearing | 1/10/23 1/10/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| H3425 | Earnings Limitation – Allows PORS members to return to work without an earnings limitation if they work in a critical need area or they wait a 12 month period | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Passed the House Sent to Senate Referred to Finance Awaiting hearing | 1/10/24 1/10/24 5/16/23 5/23/23 5/23/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| H4123 | Eliminates the earnings Cap for SROs | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Awaiting hearing | 3/9/23 3/9/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| H4971 | Earnings Limitation – Allows those retiring prior to 1/2/25 to return to work with no earning cap | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Awaiting hearing | 1/30/24 1/30/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| 108.12 | Earnings Limitation -COVID response | House Ways and Means Awaiting Budget Recommendation | March 11 – 14 House Floor Budget Deliberations. | Support | Governors FY24-25 Executive Budget (link) |
| 108.16 | Earnings Limitation-12 month separation | House Ways and Means Awaiting Budget Recommendation | March 11 – 14 House Floor Budget Deliberations. | Support | Governors FY24-25 Executive Budget (link) |
| 108.17 | Earnings Limitation 12 month separation and re-certification of officers | House Ways and Means Awaiting Budget Recommendation | March 11 – 14 House Floor Budget Deliberations. | Support | Governors FY24-25 Executive Budget (link) |
| 117.128 | Earnings Limitation – school resource officers determined as critical need position and not subject to earnings cap | House Ways and Means Awaiting Budget Recommendation | March 11 – 14 House Floor Budget Deliberations. | Support | Governors FY24-25 Executive Budget (link) |
Fargo and Hyco’s Law – There are two bill that address police animals. The House bill stiffens penalties and retains the mandatory minimums and the Senate bill removes the mandatory minimum when torturing, mutilating, poisoning, killing a police dog.
H3247 (Fargo’s and Hyco’s Law) Rep. Collins This bill would stiffen penalties for teasing, harming, maltreating, injuring, or harassing police dogs and horses as well as increasing penalties for torturing, injuring, mutilating, poisoning, killing a police dog or horse. Referred to Judiciary.
- Teasing, harming, maltreating, injuring, or harassing police dog or horse: Penalty increase: fined not less than $2000 no more than $5000 and not less than thirty days and no more than five years or both. Current law is fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both.
- Torturing, Mutilating, Poisoning, Killing a police dog or horse: Penalty Increase: fined not less than $2000 and not more than $20,000 and sentenced to a term of imprisonment not less than 2 years and not more than 10 years and must pay restitution to the law enforcement department/agency to cover the full cost of restoring animal injured or killed. Current law is fined not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned not less than one year nor more than five years. H3247 was referred to House Judiciary awaiting a subcommittee hearing.
S277 (Sentencing Reform) This has a SECTION 191 in the bill Section 47-3-630 whereby the mandatory minimum for felony conviction for killing, torturing, etc. of a police dog is removed. S277 was referred to Senate Judiciary awaiting a hearing.
| Bill Number | Description | Status | Date | SCFOP’s Position | Hyperlink |
| H3247 | Fargo and Hyco’s Law | Read 1st time Referred to Judiciary Awaiting a hearing | 1/10/24 1/10/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| S277 | Sentencing Reform – includes language that eliminates the mandatory minimum for felony conviction of killing/torturing a police dog | Read 1st time Referred to Judiciary Awaiting a hearing | 1/10/24 1/10/24 | Monitor | Read Bill |
Tax Exemptions/Deduction that Impact Law Enforcement
| Bill Number | Description | Status | Date | SCFOP’s Position | Hyperlink |
| S122 | Income Tax Deduction on all First Responder Retiree Income | Read 1st time Referred to Senate Finance Awaiting a hearing | 1/10/24 1/10/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| S692 | Exempt Retirement Income of State Employees from Income Tax | Read 1st time Referred to Senate Finance Awaiting hearing | 3/29/23 3/29/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| S969 | Tax Deductions for Law Enforcement Officers – Increases daily subsistence from $8 to $16 and increase the volunteer exemption amount for law enforcement and Firefighters from $3000 to $6000 | Read 1st time Referred to Senate Finance Awaiting hearing | 1/17/24 1/17/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| H4102 | Income tax exemption for first responders’ (law enforcement, firefighters, emts or peace officers) retirement income | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Awaiting hearing | 3/8/23 3/8/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| H4210 | Exempt State Employees’ Retirement Income from income tax | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Awaiting hearing | 3/29/23 3/29/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| H4534 | Provides a tax deduction for first responder (law enforcement, firefighters, emts or peace officers) retirement income | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Awaiting hearing | 1/9/24 1/9/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| H4697 | Income tax exemption for law enforcement, first responders (firefighter, paramedic, emt)and teachers retirement income | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Awaiting hearing | 1/9/24 1/9/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| H5009 | Income tax exemption for law enforcement, first responders (firefighter, paramedic, emt)and teachers retirement income | Read 1st time Referred to Ways and Means Awaiting hearing | 2/1/24 2/1/24 | Support | Read Bill |
Monitored Bills
| Bill Number | Description | Status | Date | SCFOP’s Position | Hyperlink |
| S81 | Workers’ Compensation- PTSD – By Malloy. Provides that a limitation on stress, mental injuries, and mental illness for workers’ compensation does not apply to a first responder (fire and law enforcement) diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder | Read 1st time Referred to Judiciary Subcommittee hearing/bill not reported out. | 1/10/23 1/10/23 4/4/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| S82 | Workers’ Compensation- PTSD coverage for First Responders) By Malloy. Provides that a limitation on stress, mental injuries, and mental illness for workers’ compensation does not apply to a first responder (fire, law enforcement, emts and paramedics) diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder | Read 1st time Referred to Judiciary Subcommittee Assigned/bill not reported out. | 1/10/23 1/10/23 4/4/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| S251 | First Responders’ Workers’ Compensation Coverage for PTSD) Provides that first responders medically diagnosed with Post-traumatic stress disorder arising from a significant traumatic experience or situation in the course of scope of employment, the first responder has an incapacity to work as determined by the treating physician and the first responder is participating in and receiving clinical care through SCLEAP or SC FAST programs may be eligible for a workers’ compensation claim | Read 1st time Referred to Judiciary Subcommittee reported the bill out favorably Full Judiciary carried the bill over | 1/10/23 1/10/23 4/4/23 4/25/23 | Support | Read Bill |
| S892 | Marijuana – This bill provides that the scent of marijuana alone does not provide law enforcement with reasonable suspicion or probable cause to support a stop, search, seizure or arrest | Read 1st time Referred to Judiciary Awaiting hearing | 1/9/24 1/9/24 | Oppose | Read Bill |
| S1007 | NCIC – Expiration of certificates for law enforcement officers so as to permit SLED to conduct and retain state and federal level criminal records checks on individuals seeking certification | Read 1st time Referred to Judiciary Awaiting hearing | 1/31/24 1/31/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| H3594 | Constitutional Carry – Enacting the South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2023 | Read 1st time Passed by House Passed by Senate with Amendments. Returned to House. | 1/10/23 2/23/23 2/1/24 | Monitor | Read Bill |
| H3523 | Fallen First Responder Advocate -This bill creates a Fallen First Responder Advocate position within the Department of Administration to assist surviving family members of first responders killed in the line of duty | Read 1st time Referred to Judiciary Passed the House and sent to the Senate and referred to Judiciary | 1/10/23 1/10/23 1/25/24 | Support | Read Bill |
| H4646 | Public Employee Communication Act – This bill provides that a public employee may not be prohibited from communicating with an elected public official for any job-related purpose. For purposes of this section, “public employee” means any person providing services for the State of South Carolina, state agencies, counties, municipalities, or subdivisions of such governmental bodies | Read 1st time Referred to 3M Awaiting hearing | 1/9/24 1/9/24 | Monitor | Read Bill |
