An applicant must submit an application, to the sheriff of the county in which the applicant resides, for an optional enhanced permit to carry a concealed pistol. The application must include:

1. (1) A copy of the applicant's fingerprints for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and any governmental agency or entity authorized to receive such information, for a state, national, and international criminal background check;
2. (2) An authorization to run a fingerprint background check;
3. (3) If the sheriff takes the fingerprints, the sheriff shall secure the fingerprints at no additional charge to the applicant; and

4. (4) Proof that the applicant:

   1. (a) Has successfully completed a qualifying handgun course as defined in § 23-7-58, within the preceding twelve months; or
   2. (b) Is a current or former law enforcement officer and has, within the preceding twelve months, qualified or requalified on a certified shooting course administered by a firearms instructor approved by the Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission. The sheriff shall forward the copy of the applicant's fingerprints, the applicant's authorization for processing a criminal background check, and the payment for the criminal background check to the Division of Criminal Investigation for processing.

Source: SL 2015, ch 137 , § 1; SL 2016, ch 131 , § 2; SL 2018, ch 141 , § 1, eff. Mar. 9, 2018; SL 2020, ch 94 , § 1; SL 2021, ch 104 , § 2; SL 2022, ch 70 , § 3.