South Carolina § 61-3-130 - Issuance of certificates.

§ 61-3-130. Issuance of certificates.

Section effective January 1, 2026.

(A)(1) The department must issue an alcohol server certificate to each applicant who completes an approved program or a recertification program and who provides other information as may be required by the department in an application form that is available on the department's website. An individual must apply for an alcohol server certificate within six months of completing a program. The department, if circumstances warrant the issuance of a temporary alcohol server certificate, may issue a temporary alcohol server certificate that is valid for a period of no more than thirty calendar days.

(2) The department, in collaboration with DBHDD and the division, may issue an alcohol server certificate to an individual from outside of the State who applies for an alcohol server certificate if the individual has an alcohol server certificate from a nationally recognized or comparable, state recognized alcohol server certification program that the department, DBHDD, and the division find meets or exceeds the programs offered in this State.

(B) Alcohol server certificates shall not be issued to graduates of programs that are not approved by the department.

(C) An alcohol server certificate is the property of the individual to whom it is issued and is transferrable among employers. An individual must reimburse a licensee or permittee that paid for the cost of alcohol server training if the individual leaves the employment of the licensee or permittee within six months of its issuance.

(D) Alcohol server certificates are valid for a period of three years from the date that the alcohol server certificate was issued. After the three-year period, a new or recertified alcohol server certificate must be obtained pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(E) Upon expiration of an alcohol server certificate, the individual to whom the alcohol server certificate was issued may obtain recertification in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department.

(F) The department shall not charge a fee to issue and renew alcohol server certificates to qualifying applicants.

(G) An applicant must be deemed to be a qualifying applicant for the purpose of alcohol server certificate issuance and renewal if they have successfully completed all training and testing requirements as found in Section 61-3-120.

HISTORY: 2025 Act No. 42 (H.3430), SECTION 3.A, eff January 1, 2026.

Editor's Note

2025 Act No. 42, SECTION 11, provides as follows:

"SECTION 11. This act takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies only to causes of action or claims arising or accruing after January 1, 2026, and applies to all policies issued after that date, other than Section 61-4-523 which takes effect upon approval by the Governor."