Labor & Employment

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "MEDICAL INFORMED CONSENT ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 16-17-780 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, CORPORATION, HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTION, OR THE STATE TO IMPLEMENT A VACCINE MANDATE AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-55 SO AS TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYERS FROM TAKING ADVERSE ACTION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHO DECLINE TO RECEIVE A VACCINE AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-86, RELATING TO FACILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACIES AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG ORDERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH A PHARMACIST MAY REFUSE TO FILL A PRESCRIPTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-1-100, RELATING TO ASSISTANCE FROM PEACE AND HEALTH OFFICERS, SO AS TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY AUTHORITY MAY REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE NATIONAL GUARD IN ENFORCING QUARANTINE MEASURES; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-130, RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS OF "GENE THERAPY" AND "VACCINE" AND TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-510, RELATING TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS AND ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE OF PERSONS REFUSING EXAMINATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY ISOLATE A SYMPTOMATIC PERSON OR PERSON WHO HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASE FOR WHICH A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-520, RELATING TO VACCINATIONS AND TREATMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MUST MONITOR THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF VACCINES, TESTS, AND TREATMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-530, RELATING TO ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS, AS WELL AS PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE A TIME LIMIT OF TWENTY-ONE DAYS FOR A QUARANTINED ASYMPTOMATIC PERSON; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-540, RELATING TO ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE PROCEDURES, SO AS TO CHANGE PROCEDURES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-570, RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS REGARDING LICENSING OF HEALTH PERSONNEL, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT STATE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ASSIST IN THE PERFORMANCE OF VACCINATIONS AS A CONDITION OF LICENSURE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-150, RELATING TO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WEEKS FOR PAID PARENTAL LEAVE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-155, RELATING TO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-3440, RELATING TO THE TAX CREDIT FOR EMPLOYEE CHILDCARE PROGRAMS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CREDIT AND TO ALLOW THE CREDIT TO BE APPLIED AGAINST OTHER TAXES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3595 SO AS TO ALLOW A TAX CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS THAT ARE EMPLOYED FULL-TIME AS A CHILDCARE DIRECTOR OR CHILDCARE STAFF PERSON.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "ENDING ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION AND RESTORING MERIT-BASED OPPORTUNITY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 29 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 1 SO AS TO PROHIBIT EVERY OFFICE, DIVISION, OR OTHER UNIT BY ANY NAME OF EVERY OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT OF THIS STATE, AND ALL OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, INCLUDING ALL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FROM PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE, EXCELLENCE, AND HARD WORK; AND TO SPECIFY APPLICABILITY.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 8-15-15 SO AS TO PROVIDE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THIS STATE AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY BY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL VOTE ON WHETHER TO ADOPT SUCH AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO DEFINE TERMINOLOGY; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-83, RELATING TO PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS FOR DUES OF CERTAIN PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION PROHIBITING DEDUCTIONS TO ASSOCIATIONS THAT ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO STRIKE.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 9-1-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE EARNABLE COMPENSATION DOES NOT INCLUDE CERTAIN AMOUNTS PAID TO MANAGERS AND CLERKS OF ELECTIONS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-1120, RELATING TO THE COMPUTATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA GROSS INCOME, SO AS TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN AMOUNTS PAID TO MANAGERS AND CLERKS OF ELECTIONS. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA STATE EMPLOYEE EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 12 TO CHAPTER 11, TITLE 8 SO AS TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BY GENDER REGARDLESS OF GENDER IN COMPENSATION PAID STATE EMPLOYEES FOR SAME KIND, GRADE, AND QUALITY OF STATE EMPLOYMENT, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS, EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROHIBIT SPECIFIC EMPLOYER ACTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ACT, AND TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, JUDICIAL REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

This bill approves existing regulations from South Carolina's Occupational Safety and Health (SC OSHA) regarding how workers can designate representatives to accompany safety inspectors during workplace walkarounds. It specifically approves Regulation Document Number 5338, which governs the process for workers to formally select a representative for safety inspections. The regulations directly affect workers and employers in South Carolina workplaces covered by OSHA safety standards. This is a procedural approval of drafted rules, not a new law.