Subcommittee advances bill to let school crossing guards direct traffic with uniform training to be added

Senator Johnson’s S.711, which would give school crossing guards authority to "direct and control traffic on public roads near schools" during drop‑off and pick‑up, was advanced by the Education Subcommittee after supporters and members agreed to add uniform training language in full committee.

Katie, committee staff, told members the bill "would expand the authority of school crossing guards to allow individuals to direct and control traffic on public roads near schools for the purposes of reducing traffic related to student drop off and pick up" and noted an Attorney General’s opinion currently limits such authority.

Senator Johnson said the measure originated in Fort Mill School District, where private crossing guards had directed traffic for years until the attorney general’s opinion led a private provider to bar guards from directing traffic. "That cost is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars" to districts that must hire off‑duty law enforcement, he said, arguing the bill would provide a lower‑cost, safety‑focused alternative.

Debbie, a testifier, urged passage, saying the issue "comes up year after year" and stressing the safety risk to children who cross neighborhood streets near schools. Jay Ragley, representing Grama Collegiate Academy, described a West Columbia campus built into a neighborhood where volunteer guards need the ability to "politely hold up traffic for 1 second" during drop‑off. Ryan Bailey of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators said superintendents and operations staff view the bill as consistent with safety practices and with relevant federal guidance when state law authorizes school personnel to provide additional traffic control.

Committee members focused on training: the Senator from Greenville asked who would provide and approve the required traffic‑safety instruction. Committee staff and witnesses said local law enforcement often provides such training in some districts, but details are not uniform statewide. Senator Johnson and others said they will add an amendment in full committee to specify who creates and approves the training to ensure consistency.

With that understanding, the Senator from Greenville moved to advance the bill with the agreement that the uniform‑training amendment will be added in full committee; the motion passed by voice vote. The full committee will consider the amendment language and the bill’s next steps.

The committee did not record a roll‑call vote; the action was advanced by voice vote.