Public Health

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-120, RELATING TO PURPOSE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOMELAND SECURITY ACT, SO AS TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF PURPOSE OF THE ACT TO COLLECTION OF DATA AND RECORDS; BY REPEALING SECTION 44-4-300 RELATING TO POWERS OVER DANGEROUS FACILITIES AND MATERIALS; BY REPEALING SECTION 44-4-310 RELATING TO USE OF HEALTH CARE FACILITY OR SERVICES IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-330, RELATING TO PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES, RATIONING, AND QUOTAS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-340, RELATING TO DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND CIVIL PROCEEDINGS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY REPEALING SECTION 44-4-500 RELATING TO CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE; BY REPEALING SECTION 44-4-510 RELATING TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OR TESTS AND ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE OF PERSONS REFUSING EXAMINATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-520, RELATING TO VACCINATIONS AND TREATMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT VACCINATIONS MUST BE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AND THAT ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE MAY ONLY BE RECOMMENDED; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-530, RELATING TO ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS AND A PENALTY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MAY RECOMMEND ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE AND MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES TO LIMIT DHEC'S AUTHORITY; BY REPEALING SECTION 44-4-540 RELATING TO ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE PROCEDURES AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR NOT RELEASING; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-560, RELATING TO ACCESS TO PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION, SO AS TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION BY REMOVING DHEC'S ACCESS TO SUCH INFORMATION PURSUANT TO A COURT ORDER OR EXECUTIVE ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-570, RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS REGARDING LICENSING OF HEALTH PERSONNEL, APPOINTMENT OF IN-STATE AND OUT-OF-STATE PROVIDERS, LIABILITY OF APPOINTED PROVIDERS FOR CIVIL DAMAGES, APPOINTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL EXAMINERS OR CORONERS, WAIVER OF LICENSING FEES AND REQUIREMENTS, AND IMMUNITY, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.