Bill Text: SC H3580 | 2013-2014 | 120th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Certification of Canine Teams
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-2)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-16 - Referred to Committee on Judiciary [H3580 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2013-H3580-Introduced.html
A BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 23-23-140 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF CANINE TEAMS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 23, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 23-23-140. (A) As contained in this section, 'patrol canine team' means a certified officer and a specific canine controlled by his handler working together in the performance of law enforcement or correctional duties.
(B) The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy shall verify that a patrol canine team has been certified by a nationally recognized police dog association or similar organization that has obtained its approval.
(C) To be certified:
(1) as a tactical patrol canine team, the team must pass the following tests:
(a) obedience-heel with motion, down and stay while off lead;
(b) aggression-recall and verbal out in a reasonable amount of time;
(c) ability to search for the concentration of human odor; and
(d) for bark and hold dog only, no movement of suspect-dog must come off of the bite and resume a bark and hold position;
(2) in narcotics detection, the team must pass a test in the detection of marijuana and cocaine;
(3) in explosives detection, the team must pass a test in the four major odors in each major category of explosives, excluding peroxides;
(4) in area/buildings, the team must pass a test relating to the search for a concealed person; and
(5) in locating an article, the team must pass a test relating to the locating of two items with different compositions.
(D) Bloodhound specific certifications require a sixteen hour minimum curriculum adapted from the current South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy lesson plans. A new handler must complete the course and provide and show a skill-set knowledge base for tracking. In addition a new handler must complete an advance tracking class within one year upon obtaining certification.
(E) No law enforcement or corrections agency may utilize a patrol canine team after January 1, 2014, unless the team has met all certification requirements."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
