Title 25, Military, Civil Defense and Veterans Affairs

(A) When the United States is at war, it is unlawful for a person to wilfully: (1) make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies…

If two or more persons conspire to violate the provisions of SECTIONS 25-7-30, 25-7-40 or 25-7-50 and one or more of such persons does any act to effect the object of the conspiracy each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be punished as in said sections provided in case of t…

Any employee, employer or other person who, wilfully and with a malicious intent to hinder the preparation of the United States for defense or war, physically injures or destroys any factory, industrial establishment or public utility engaged in the production of goods, articles …

Whoever harbors or conceals any person whom he knows or has reasonable grounds to believe or suspect has committed or is about to commit an offense under any of the provisions of this chapter other than SECTION 25-7-70 shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dol…

The Governor shall call upon all sheriffs, bonded peace officers, constables, detectives and officers and members of the National Guard especially to report to him any and all violations or suspected violations of the provisions of this chapter other than SECTION 25-7-70, and any…

The State of South Carolina by and through the Governor of the State may enter into a compact with any state of the Union for mutual helpfulness in meeting any civil defense emergency or disaster which may arise in this State or in a state with which South Carolina may enter into…

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other laws, all persons may, during the continuance of any emergency proclaimed by the President of the United States or of a state of war between the United States and a foreign nation and for such time thereafter as may be expedient or nece…

No person owning or controlling property who voluntarily and without compensation permits such property to be used as a public shelter for civil defense purposes shall be civilly liable for the injury or death of any person who may be injured or killed on such premises, or for th…

The compact authorized by the provision of this article shall be in form as hereinbelow set out, with such modifications and restrictions as the Governor may deem necessary for the proper protection of the best interests of the State of South Carolina, to wit: Interstate Civil De…

This article may be cited as the "Emergency Management Assistance Compact".

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is enacted and entered into with all other states which adopt the compact in a form substantially as follows: ARTICLE I Purpose and Authorities This compact is made and entered into by and between the participating member states which e…

This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Emergency Management Law Enforcement Act".

The purpose of this article is to provide procedures for the use of out-of-state officers who are deployed to the State of South Carolina in accordance with the provisions of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is codified in Section 25-9-420. The use of out-of-sta…

As used in this article: (1) "Special law enforcement officer" means a law enforcement officer of a member state to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact who meets the qualifications set forth in this chapter and is deployed to the State of South Carolina upon a request for…

To serve as a special law enforcement officer pursuant to this article, a person must have: (1) reached twenty-one years of age; (2) graduated from an accredited law enforcement academy or received other law enforcement training to the satisfaction of the Chief of the South Carol…

Prior to performing law enforcement activities in the State of South Carolina, a special law enforcement officer must take and subscribe to the oath of office set forth in Section 5, Article VI of the South Carolina Constitution in the presence of either the Chief of the South Ca…

A special law enforcement officer appointed pursuant to this article is authorized to: (1) preserve the peace and protect the people of this State; (2) detain and arrest individuals without a warrant for criminal offenses occurring within the officer's presence or view and necess…

A special law enforcement officer appointed pursuant to this article shall serve at all times at the pleasure of and under the operational control of the Chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, or his designee, and is subject to the rules and regulations established…

(A) The powers and duties granted to a special law enforcement officer pursuant to this article shall terminate immediately upon: (1) the cancellation of the state of emergency or disaster declaration; or (2) notice from either the Chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Divi…

Nothing in this article is intended to waive existing or future immunity. Neither the State of South Carolina, nor any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or employees are liable or accountable in any way for the appointment of a special law enforcement officer or for any ac…

Compensation for special law enforcement officers must be made in accordance with the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

(A) A special law enforcement officer serving pursuant to this article remains the employee of his home agency and does not become an employee of the State of South Carolina, or an agency or political subdivision of this State. (B) Special law enforcement officers do not hold off…

(A) The Department of Veterans' Affairs is created within the executive branch of the state government for the purpose of assisting former, present, and future members of the armed forces of the United States in securing the benefits to which they are entitled under the provision…

(A) There is hereby established the South Carolina Military Affairs Advisory Council for the purpose of sustaining and expanding the military presence in South Carolina. The council shall coordinate with military communities to support mission readiness for installations and impr…

(A) For the purpose of carrying on this work the Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, a secretary of the department, who is charged with the duty of assisting all veterans, regardless of the wars in which their service may have been rendered, in fili…

(A) The department shall be located in Columbia in space provided by the Department of Administration. (B) The Department of Administration may provide administrative support to the department for the performance of its duties, including, but not limited to, financial accounting …

For the purposes of this article: (1) "Active duty" means military service performed as State Active Duty under the South Carolina Military Code, or corresponding provisions of the applicable state statute for South Carolina residents who are National Guard members of other state…

There is established in the State Treasury a fund separate and distinct from the general fund of the State and all other funds entitled the South Carolina Military Family Relief Fund. Earnings on this fund must be credited to it and a balance in the fund at the end of a fiscal ye…

(A) The intent of this article is to provide an opportunity on standard individual income tax forms to allow individual taxpayers and other donors to contribute to the South Carolina Military Family Relief Fund, and to provide the department the authority to award grants from the…

(A) The grant applicant must show proof of the following: (1) The applicant is a member of the South Carolina National Guard or a South Carolina resident who is a member of another United States Armed Forces Reserve component, applying on behalf of the applicant's family, or is a…

(A) The grant applicant must show proof of the following: (1) The applicant is a member of the South Carolina National Guard or a South Carolina resident who is a member of another United States Armed Forces Reserve component, applying on behalf of the applicant's family or is a …

(A) The grant applicant must show proof of the following: (1) The applicant is a member of the South Carolina National Guard or a South Carolina resident who is a member of another United States Armed Forces Reserve component, applying on behalf of the applicant's family, or is n…

(A) Payments to a South Carolina National Guard or Reserve component member's family pursuant to Section 25-11-340 may not exceed two thousand dollars, to include any amounts paid pursuant to provisions of Section 25-11-380 during a state fiscal year. (B) If a grant payment is to…

(A) All grants pursuant to Section 25-11-350 must be a flat rate of five hundred dollars unless the number of requests and fund balance necessitate a lesser amount as determined by the department. (B) South Carolina National Guard or Reserve component members' families may receiv…

(A) All grants pursuant to Section 25-11-360 must be a flat rate of one thousand dollars unless the number of requests and fund balance necessitate a lesser amount as determined by the department. (B) South Carolina National Guard or Reserve component members or next of kin may r…

(A) For the purpose of this section, "veteran" means a person who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and who was honorably discharged or released from such service due to a service-connected disability. (B) Subject to the recommendation of a majority o…

(A) The procedures governing the acceptance of applications are as follows: (1) To receive consideration for a grant, applicants must request and submit an application provided by the department. (2) All necessary documentation must be included with the application unless otherwi…

Notwithstanding Section 1-30-110(4), a county veterans' affairs office must be funded with monies appropriated by the General Assembly for that purpose and payable directly to the County Treasurer's Office by the State Treasurer.

(A) The secretary shall establish uniform methods and procedures for the performance of service work among the several county officers, maintain contact and close cooperation with such officers, and provide assistance, advice and instructions with respect to changes in law and re…

There is created the South Carolina Prisoner of War "POW" Medal. The Governor may present the medal on behalf of the people of the State of South Carolina to any person who: (1) on the date of induction into the organized militia or federal military service, was a resident of thi…

(A) The department, in consultation with the Adjutant General, shall determine eligibility for the medal. For any person qualifying for the medal pursuant to Section 25-11-510(3), the secretary shall determine eligibility on a case by case basis. There is no required period of ca…

Any person convicted by a United States military tribunal of misconduct or a criminal charge or whose discharge is less than honorable based on actions while a POW is ineligible for the medal. Any POW whose conduct was not in accord with the Code of Conduct and whose actions are …

No person may be awarded more than one South Carolina POW Medal.

The medal may be awarded for a deceased person or a person absent as a prisoner of war and presented to the person's next of kin.

The department must develop and implement a plan to accept nominations for the medal.

(A) The Adjutant General, in consultation with the secretary, shall develop the appropriate design and appearance of the medal and a ribbon to be worn in lieu of the medal. However, nothing in this section requires the secretary or the Adjutant General to provide or pay for the m…