H 3048 — Coroner Qualifications
Last action — Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 05, 2024. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Passed House
Current position in the legislative process.
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12 sponsors
12 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 1 recorded vote so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-5-130, RELATING TO CORONER QUALIFICATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE CORONER QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRE A FINGERPRINT AND BACKGROUND CHECK OF CORONERS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
5 added · 72 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendment to Bill H 3048 involves significant changes to the qualifications required for coroners in South Carolina. Specifically, it now mandates that individuals seeking this position must be fingerprinted and undergo a background check by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). This change is important because it aims to enhance public safety by ensuring that those responsible for investigating deaths have a clean record and meet stricter accountability standards.
2025-2026 Bill 3048 Text of Previous Version (Feb.(Dec.
19,06, 2025)2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 3048Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee ReportA Februarybill 19, 2025TO AMEND H.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-5-130, RELATING TO CORONER QUALIFICATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE CORONER QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRE A FINGERPRINT AND BACKGROUND CHECK OF CORONERS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION.
3048 Introduced by Reps.
W.
Newton, G.
M.
Smith, Robbins, Pope, Chapman, Pedalino, Hartnett, Teeple, Davis, M.
M.
Smith, Wetmore and Long S.
Printed 2/19/25--H.
Read the first time January 14, 2025 ________ The committee on House Judiciary To whom was referred a Bill (H.
3048) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 17-5-130, relating to coroner qualifications, so as to revise coroner qualifications and require a fingerprint, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 17-5-130(A)(1)(g) and inserting:
(g) be fingerprinted and have the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) make a search of local, state, and federal fingerprint files for any criminal record.
Fingerprints are to be taken under the direction of any law enforcement agency and must be made available to SLED no later than one hundred thirty days prior to the general election at the time the candidate files to seek the office.
The results of the records search are to be filed by the candidate with the county executive committee of the person's political party.
A person seeking nomination by petition must file the records search with the county election commission in the county of his residence.
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
W.
NEWTON for Committee.
statement of estimated fiscal impact Explanation of Fiscal Impact State Expenditure This bill requires a fingerprint and background check of candidates for coroner.
This bill also removes an existing provision allowing candidates for coroner to satisfy an education and experience requirement through enrollment in a forensic science degree or certification program to be completed within one year of being elected.
SLED indicated that the results of the fingerprint back-ground check cannot be provided to the county executive committees due to federal laws and requirements related who may receive the results of a fingerprint-based background check.
Therefore, it is unclear how SLED would administer this provision.
Local Expenditure This bill requires a fingerprint and background check of candidates for coroner.
This bill also removes an existing provision allowing candidates for coroner to satisfy an education and experience requirement through enrollment in a forensic science degree or certification program to be completed within one year of being elected.
RFA contacted all counties to determine the local expenditure impact of this bill.
Responses received from Beaufort, Charleston, Chesterfield, Florence, and Jasper all indicated the cost of complying with this bill's fingerprint and background check requirements will be the responsibility of candidates.
Based on these responses, we anticipate this bill will have no local expenditure impact.
Frank A.
Rainwater, Executive Director Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office _______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-5-130, RELATING TO CORONER QUALIFICATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE CORONER QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRE A FINGERPRINT AND BACKGROUND CHECK OF CORONERS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on FebruaryDecember 19,06, 20252024 at 02:2609:58 PMAM
Action History
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Read third time and sent to Senate
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Roll call Yeas-115 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Amended
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Requests for debate-Rep(s). Rutherford, King, JL Johnson, Spann-Wilder, Bernstein, JA Moore, Kirby, Rivers, Anderson, Gilliard
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Amended
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
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Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Wetmore
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Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hartnett, Teeple, Davis, M.M.Smith
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Prefiled
Sponsors
- Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton · Primary
- Representative Robby Robbins · Primary
- Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope · Primary
- Representative Donald G. "Don" Chapman · Primary
- Representative Fawn M. Pedalino · Primary
- Jr. Representative Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett · Primary
- Representative James E. Teeple · Primary
- Representative Sylleste H. Davis · Primary
- Representative Elizabeth "Spencer" Wetmore · Primary
- Representative Steven Wayne Long · Primary
- Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith · Primary
- Jr. Representative G. Murrell Smith · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →12 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 158 not signed on
Sponsors (12)
- Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton
- Representative Robby Robbins
- Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope
- Representative Donald G. "Don" Chapman
- Representative Fawn M. Pedalino
- Representative Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett, Jr.
- Representative James E. Teeple
- Representative Sylleste H. Davis
- Representative Elizabeth "Spencer" Wetmore
- Representative Steven Wayne Long
- Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith
- Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (158)
158 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 158 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 111 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 115 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (121)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does H 3048 do?
- A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 17-5-130, RELATING TO CORONER QUALIFICATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE CORONER QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRE A FINGERPRINT AND BACKGROUND CHECK OF CORONERS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION.
- Who sponsors H 3048?
- H 3048 is sponsored by Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton, Representative Robby Robbins, Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope, Representative Donald G. "Don" Chapman, Representative Fawn M. Pedalino, Representative Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett, Jr., Representative James E. Teeple, Representative Sylleste H. Davis, Representative Elizabeth "Spencer" Wetmore, Representative Steven Wayne Long, Representative Marvin "Mark" Smith, and Representative G. Murrell Smith, Jr..
- What is the current status of H 3048?
- This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 05, 2024. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track H 3048?
- Track H 3048 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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