S.C. Code Ann. § 44-17-450 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 44-17-450
SECTION 44-17-450. Preadmission screening and evaluation in psychiatric emergencies.
Status: in_force

The Office of Mental Health, in conjunction with its local mental health centers acting as the preadmission facilities, must develop and maintain a preadmission screening and evaluation service for all psychiatric emergencies at the local community level utilizing available local resources for mentally ill persons. The preadmission screening services must act as the public mental health system's entry point in order (1) to provide to the examining physician information about accessible crisis intervention, evaluation, and referral services in the community; (2) to offer to mentally ill persons clinically appropriate alternatives to inpatient care, if any; and when necessary (3) to provide a means for involuntary commitment. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-1600 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 11 / Section 44-7-1600
SECTION 44-7-1600. Provisions which resolution and loan agreement may contain; liability on bonds.
Status: in_force

Any resolution authorizing or trust indenture providing for any bonds or any issue of bonds and any loan agreement may contain provisions, which shall be part of the contract with the holders of the bonds to be authorized, as to: (1) Pledging all or any part of the revenues of any hospital facilities financed in whole or in part out of the proceeds of such bonds including revenues to be derived from a leasing of such hospital facilities, to secure the payment of the bonds issued to defray the cost, or any portion of the cost, of such hospital facilities; (2) the rentals, fees and other charges to be charged, and the amounts to be raised in each year thereby, and the use and disposition of the revenues; (3) the setting aside of reserves or sinking funds, and the regulation and disposition thereof; (4) limitations on the right of the county board or its agent to restrict and regulate the use of the hospital facilities; (5) limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of any issue of bonds then or thereafter to be issued may be applied; (6) limitations on the issuance of additional bonds, the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured and the refunding of outstanding bonds; (7) the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any resolution, loan agreement or trust indenture may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given; (8) defining the acts of omissions to act which shall constitute a default in the duties of the county board to holders of its obligations and providing the rights and remedies of such holders in the event of a default; and (9) the mortgaging of any hospital facilities and the site thereof for the purpose of securing the bondholders. Neither the members of any county board nor any person executing any bonds shall be liable personally on the bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-38-310 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 38 / Article 3 / Section 44-38-310
SECTION 44-38-310. Service Delivery System established.
Status: in_force

There is established within the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities the South Carolina Head and Spinal Cord Injury Service Delivery System. The system shall operate as a division of the office to be known as the Head and Spinal Cord Injury Division. The office must develop, coordinate, and enhance the delivery of services to persons with head and spinal cord injuries. The office must coordinate case management services provided pursuant to this article with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Services provided pursuant to this article supplement and do not supplant existing services or the development of new services. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-10 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 53 / Article 1 / Section 44-53-10
SECTION 44-53-10. General powers of Department of Health and Environmental Control regarding controlled substances.
Status: in_force

The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall take cognizance of the interest of the public health as it relates to the sale of drugs and the adulteration thereof and shall make all necessary inquiries and investigations relating thereto. For such purpose it may appoint inspectors, analysts and chemists who shall be subject to its supervision and removal. The Department shall adopt such measures as it may deem necessary to facilitate the enforcement of this chapter. It shall prepare rules and regulations with regard to the proper method of collecting and examining drugs.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-1660 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 53 / Article 15 / Section 44-53-1660
SECTION 44-53-1660. Contract for administration by other state agency or private vendor.
Status: in_force

Drug control may contract with another agency of this State or with a private vendor, as necessary, to ensure the effective operation of the prescription monitoring program. A contractor shall comply with the provisions regarding confidentiality of prescription information in Section 44-53-1650 and is subject to the penalties specified in Section 44-53-1680 for unlawful acts.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-56-90 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 56 / Article 1 / Section 44-56-90
SECTION 44-56-90. Inspections; obtaining samples.
Status: in_force

(a) For the purpose of enforcing this chapter and Sections 44-56-160 through 44-56-190, or any regulations authorized pursuant thereto, any authorized representative or employee of the department may, upon presentation of appropriate credentials, at any reasonable time: 1. Enter any place where hazardous wastes are generated, stored, treated, or disposed of; 2. Inspect and copy any records, reports, information, or test results relating to the purpose of this chapter and Sections 44-56-160 through 44-56-190; and 3. Inspect and obtain samples from any person of any wastes including samples from any vehicles in which wastes are being transported, as well as samples of any containers or labels. The Department shall provide a sample of equal volume or weight to the owner, operator or agent in charge upon request. The Department shall also provide the owner, operator, or agent in charge a copy of the results of any analyses of such samples. (b) For the purpose of implementing necessary governmental response actions as provided in Section 44-56-180, the Department or its authorized representative may, at any time, enter the premises of any publicly or privately owned property which it has determined to be an uncontrolled hazardous waste site. The owner or operator of such site shall cooperate fully with the department when such governmental response actions are taken.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-22-80 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 22 / Section 44-22-80
SECTION 44-22-80. Patients' rights.
Status: in_force

Unless a patient has been adjudicated incompetent, no patient may be denied the right to: (1) dispose of property, real and personal; (2) execute instruments; (3) make purchases; (4) enter into contractual relationships; (5) hold a driver's license; (6) marry or divorce; (7) be a qualified elector if otherwise qualified. The county board of voter registration in counties with Office of Mental Health facilities reasonably shall assist patients who express a desire to vote to: (a) obtain voter registration forms, applications for absentee ballots, and absentee ballots; (b) comply with other requirements which are prerequisite for voting; (c) vote by absentee ballot if necessary. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-56-220 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 56 / Article 2 / Section 44-56-220
SECTION 44-56-220. Information requirements of entity providing financial assurance for hazardous waste treatment or disposal facility or site.
Status: in_force

(A) Upon written request of the department, the entity providing financial assurance for a hazardous waste treatment or disposal facility or site regulated under this chapter shall furnish to the department information concerning its financial integrity, as shall be specified in the department's request to permit the department to review the nature, degree, and sufficiency of the financial assurances submitted by such entity. Information pertaining to the financial integrity of any parent, subsidiary, or affiliated corporations may also be required, in the event such parent, subsidiary, or affiliated corporation provides, in whole or in part, the financial assurances required by the department. The information required by this subsection may include, but not be limited to, a certified audited financial statement, a balance sheet, and a profit and loss statement. (B) If, in the judgment of the department, the information referred to in subsection (A) is not furnished within a reasonable time or if so furnished is not satisfactory to the department, the department shall give by written notice to such entity the particulars in which such information is insufficient to permit the department to review the nature, extent, and sufficiency of the required financial assurance and such entity shall have a reasonable time in which to comply with the requirements of such notice in the particulars therein mentioned. (C) If it is desired for any reason to verify the information furnished under subsection (A) or (B), the department in person or by its agents shall make such examination of the records of and such inspections of the properties of the entities referred to in subsection (A) as shall be necessary to procure the information required. Upon sufficient notice, the department may require the production of the desired writings and records and the attendance and testimony under oath of the officers, accountants, or other agents of the parties having knowledge thereof at such place as the department may designate. The expense of the necessary examination or inspection for the procuring of the information must be paid by the party so examined or inspected. The expenses may be collected by suit or action, if necessary, except that if the examination and inspection and reports thereof disclose that a sufficient response had previously been made pursuant to the requirements of the department in regard thereto the expense of making the examination and inspection must be paid out of the funds of the department.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-34-70 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 34 / Section 44-34-70
SECTION 44-34-70. Promulgation of regulations; business licenses and permits.
Status: in_force

(A) The department must promulgate regulations as required by Section 44-34-20 and such other regulations as may be necessary but which do not conflict with the provisions of this chapter. (B) This chapter does not limit the department's ability to require a potential licensee to obtain any business license or permit that the department finds appropriate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-17-640 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 17 / Article 7 / Section 44-17-640
SECTION 44-17-640. Admission to agency of the United States; jurisdiction retained.
Status: in_force

If any person ordered to be admitted to an institution pursuant to this chapter, Chapter 9, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Article 1 of Chapter 15, Chapter 17, and Chapter 27, is eligible for institutional care or treatment by any agency of the United States, the court, upon receipt of a certificate from the agency showing the facilities are available and that the person is eligible for care or treatment there, may order him to be placed in the custody of the agency for admittance. Jurisdiction shall be retained in the appropriate courts to inquire into the mental condition of the person admitted and to determine the necessity for continuance of his confinement. Every order of admittance issued pursuant to this section is so conditioned.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-10-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 10 / Section 44-10-30
SECTION 44-10-30. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Commission" means the Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission. (2) "Effective date" means the date upon which this compact shall become effective for purposes of the operation of state and federal law in a member state, which shall be the later of: (a) the date upon which this compact shall be adopted under the laws of the member state; and (b) the date upon which this compact receives the consent of the United States Congress pursuant to Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution, after it is adopted by at least two member states. (3) "Health care" means care, services, supplies, or plans related to the health of an individual and includes, but is not limited to: (a) preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or palliative care and counseling, service, assessment, or procedure with respect to the physical or mental condition or functional status of an individual or that affects the structure or function of the body; and (b) sale or dispensing of a drug, device, equipment, or other item pursuant to a prescription; and (c) an individual or group plan that provides, or pays the cost of care, services, or supplies related to the health of an individual, except any care, services, supplies, or plans provided by the United States Department of Defense and United States Department of Veteran Affairs, or provided to Native Americans. (4) "Member state" means a state that is a signatory to this compact and has adopted it under the laws of that state. (5) "Member state base funding level" means a number equal to the total federal spending on health care in the member state during federal fiscal year 2010. On or before the effective date, each member state shall determine the member state base funding level for its state, and that number shall be binding upon that member state. The preliminary estimate of member state base funding level for the State of South Carolina is $11,144,000,000. (6) "Member state current year funding level" means the member state base funding level multiplied by the member state current year population adjustment factor multiplied by the current year inflation adjustment factor. (7) "Member state current year population adjustment factor" means the average population of the member state in the current year less the average population of the member state in federal fiscal year 2010, divided by the average population of the member state in federal fiscal year 2010, plus one. Average population in a member state shall be determined by the United States Census Bureau. (8) "Current year inflation adjustment factor" means the total gross domestic product deflator in the current year divided by the total gross domestic product deflator in federal fiscal year 2010. The total gross domestic product deflator shall be determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-140 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 63 / Section 44-63-140
SECTION 44-63-140. Supplementary or amended birth certificates for adopted children or adults.
Status: in_force

Upon receipt of a certified Certificate of Adoption pursuant to Section 63-9-790: (1)(a) For a person born in this State, the state registrar shall prepare a supplementary Certificate of Birth in the name of the adoptee, free of any reference to or indication of the fact that the child was adopted and showing the adoptive parents as the parents, except that an adoption of an adult must display the words "By Adoption" on the face of the amended certificate. (b)(i) The original birth certificate and the evidence of adoption are not subject to inspection, except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided in this subitem. (ii) A person eighteen years of age or older who was born in the State of South Carolina and who has had his original certificate of birth sealed due to an adoption may, upon written request to the state registrar, receive a copy of his original birth certificate and any evidence of the adoption held with the original record, regardless of the date on which the adoption was finalized, if: (A) a biological parent has completed a form consenting to the release of the original birth certificate or has provided notarized written consent to the release of the original birth certificate; or (B) the adoptee brings to the department a certification from the department or an office of vital records in another jurisdiction certifying that a biological parent is deceased. This provision allows adoptees who have reached the age of eighteen to access a copy of their original birth certificate and accompanying evidence of adoption with the consent of a biological parent, or if a biological parent is deceased, and applies retroactively, regardless of the date on which the adoption was finalized. (iii) The form referenced in subitem (b)(ii) also must allow for a biological parent to indicate contact preference and to consent to release of medical history pursuant to item (1)(c). The copy of the original birth certificate must be in a form that clearly indicates it is not a certified copy and that it may not be used for legal purposes. All procedures, fees, and waiting periods applicable to nonadopted citizens born in the State of South Carolina seeking copies of certificates of birth apply. (iv) Whenever an adoptee who has reached the age of eighteen applies for a copy of his original birth certificate and accompanying evidence of adoption, the department shall redact from the copy all information as to any biological parent that has not given consent in accordance with this section, unless certified as deceased. (c) The department shall develop a contact preference form and a medical history form to provide to a biological parent upon request to be completed at his option. Upon completion, a contact preference form and a medical history form must be filed with the state registrar and accompany an original sealed birth certificate issued to an adoptee pursuant to subitem (b). (d) The contact preference form must allow the biological parent to indicate whether he has completed or updated a medical history form and must allow the biological parent to choose one of the following contact options and provide contact information as appropriate: (1) I would like to be contacted. (2) I would prefer to be contacted only through an intermediary. (3) I prefer not to be contacted at this time. If I decide later that I would like to be contacted, I will submit an updated contact preference form to the state registrar. Only department staff authorized to process applications made pursuant to subitem (b) may process contact preference and medical history forms. (e) The medical history form and contact preference form are confidential communications from the biological parent to the person named on the sealed birth certificate and must be placed in a sealed file upon receipt from the biological parent in the file containing the sealed original birth certificate. The sealed file containing the contact preference form and medical history form must be released to an adoptee requesting the adoptee's own original birth certificate pursuant to subitem (b). The contact preference form and medical history form are private communications from the biological parent to the adoptee named on the sealed birth certificate, and the state registrar shall retain a copy of the forms upon release to the adoptee. (2) When adoption is decreed by a family court in this State of a person born in a foreign country who was not a United States citizen at birth and evidence of the date and place of birth submitted to the court and the court order setting forth the date and place of birth are attached to the Certificate of Adoption, the state registrar, when directed by the court order, shall prepare a "Certificate of Foreign Birth". The certificate, and any issued copy of the certificate, must be labeled "Certificate of Foreign Birth" and must show the actual country of birth. A statement also must be included on the certificate, and any issued copy of the certificate, that it is not evidence of United States citizenship for the person for whom it is issued. (3) If the person was born in a foreign country and was a United States citizen at the time of birth, the state registrar may not prepare a "Certificate of Foreign Birth" but shall notify the adoptive parents of the procedure for obtaining a revised birth certificate for their child through the United States Department of State. (4) For a person born in another state in the United States, the state registrar shall transmit the certified Certificate of Adoption to the state registrar in the state of birth. (5) When adoption is decreed in a foreign country of a person born in that country and the procedures set forth in Section 63-9-910 are followed, upon receipt of the court order with its findings and the certificate of adoption, the state registrar shall prepare a "Certificate of Foreign Birth". The certificate, and any issued copy of the certificate, must be labeled "Certificate of Foreign Birth" and must state the actual country of birth. A statement also must be included on the certificate, and any issued copy of the certificate, that it is not evidence of United States' citizenship for the person for whom it is issued. Editor's Note 2018 Act No. 241, SECTION 2, provides as follows: "SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2019, and applies only to adoptions finalized after that date." 2022 Act No. 200, SECTION 2, provides as follows: "SECTION 2. This act takes effect twelve months after approval by the Governor." Effect of Amendment 2018 Act No. 241, SECTION 1, rewrote (1), allowing an adult adoptee to obtain a copy of the adoptee's own original birth certificate in certain circumstances and allowing a biological parent to execute a contact preference form and a medical history form to be provided to the adult adoptee upon request. 2022 Act No. 200, SECTION 1, rewrote (1)(b).
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-66-20 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 66 / Section 44-66-20
SECTION 44-66-20. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Health care" means a procedure to diagnose or treat a human disease, ailment, defect, abnormality, or complaint, whether of physical or mental origin. Health care also includes the provision of intermediate or skilled nursing care; services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled, or sick persons; and the placement in or removal from a facility that provides these forms of care. (2) "Health care provider" or "provider" means a person, health care facility, organization, or corporation licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized or permitted by the laws of this State to administer health care. (3) "Health care professional" means an individual who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by the laws of this State to provide health care to members of the public. (4) "Patient" means an individual sixteen years of age or older who presents or is presented to a health care provider for treatment. (5) "Person" includes, but is not limited to, an individual, a state agency, or a representative of a state agency. (6) "Physician" means an individual who is licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy pursuant to Chapter 47, Title 40. (7) "Treatment" means the broad range of emergency, outpatient, intermediate, and inpatient services and care that may be extended to a patient to diagnose and treat a human disease, ailment, defect, abnormality, or complaint, whether of physical or mental origin. Treatment includes, but is not limited to, psychiatric, psychological, substance abuse, and counseling services. (8) "Unable to consent" means unable to appreciate the nature and implications of the patient's condition and proposed health care, to make a reasoned decision concerning the proposed health care, or to communicate that decision in an unambiguous manner. This term does not apply to minors, and this chapter does not affect the delivery of health care to minors unless they are married or have been determined judicially to be emancipated. A patient's inability to consent must be certified by two licensed physicians, each of whom has examined the patient. However, in an emergency the patient's inability to consent may be certified by a health care professional responsible for the care of the patient if the health care professional states in writing in the patient's record that the delay occasioned by obtaining certification from two licensed physicians would be detrimental to the patient's health. A certifying physician or other health care professional shall give an opinion regarding the cause and nature of the inability to consent, its extent, and its probable duration. If a patient unable to consent is being admitted to hospice care pursuant to a physician certification of a terminal illness required by Medicare, that certification meets the certification requirements of this item.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-113-20 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 113 / Section 44-113-20
SECTION 44-113-20. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Board" means any of the boards created pursuant to Title 40, as amended, to license, certify, or register health care professionals. (2) "Comprehensive rehabilitation services" means services that are provided by health care professionals licensed under Chapter 36, Chapter 45, or Chapter 67 of Title 40 to provide speech, occupational, or physical therapy services on an outpatient or ambulatory basis. (3) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (4) "Designated health services" means any health care procedure, service, or item provided by a health care provider. (5) "Entity" means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or other business entity. (6) "Fair market value" means value in arms length transactions, consistent with the general market value, and, with respect to rentals or leases, the value of rental property for general commercial purposes, not taking into account its intended use, and in the case of a lease of space, not adjusted to reflect the additional value the prospective lessee or lessor would attribute to the proximity or convenience to the lessor where the lessor is a potential source of patient referrals to the lessee. (7) "Health care facility" means a health care facility as defined in Section 44-7-130(10). (8) "Health care provider", "provider", or "health care professional" means a person licensed, certified, or registered under the laws of this State to provide health care services. (9) "Immediate family member" means a health care provider's spouse, child, child's spouse, grandchild, grandchild's spouse, parent, parent-in-law, or sibling. (10) "Investment interest" means an equity or debt security issued by an entity including, except as provided below, but not limited to, shares of stock in a corporation, units or other interests in a partnership, bonds, debentures, notes, other equity interests, or debt instruments. The following investment interests are excepted from this definition: (a) an investment interest in an entity that is the sole provider of designated health services in a rural area; (b) an investment interest in real property resulting in a landlord-tenant relationship between the health care provider and the entity in which the equity interest is held, unless the rent is determined, in whole or in part, by the business volume or profitability of the tenant or exceeds fair market value; (c) an investment interest in an entity which owns or leases and operates a hospital or a nursing home facility licensed under Title 44, Chapter 7; (d) an investment interest acquired before June 15, 1993; (e) an investment interest in an entity which provides health care services pursuant to a health services network. (11) "Investor" means a person or entity owning a legal or beneficial ownership or investment interest, directly or indirectly including, but not limited to, through an immediate family member, trust, or corporation, the stock of which is owned in whole or in part by the investor or another entity related to the investor. (12) "Referral" means a referral of a patient by a health care provider for health care services including, but not limited to: (a) the forwarding of a patient by a health care provider to another health care provider or to an entity outside the health care professional's office or group practice which provides or supplies designated health services or any other health care item or service; or (b) the request or establishment of a plan of care by a health care provider, which includes the provision of a designated health service or any other health care item or service outside the health care professional's office or group practice. (13) "Rural area" means a county with a population of one hundred thousand persons or less according to the latest United States census. (14) "Group practice" means a group of two or more health care professionals legally organized as a partnership, professional corporation, not-for-profit corporation, faculty practice plan, or similar association in which: (a) each health care professional who is a member, employee, or independent contractor of the group provides substantially the full range of services which the professional routinely provides including consultation, diagnosis, and treatment through the use of office space, facilities, equipment, and personnel of the group; (b) substantially all of the services of the health care professionals who are members of the group are provided through the group and are billed in the name of the group and amounts so received are treated as receipts of the group; and (c) the overhead expenses of and the income from the practice are distributed by methods previously determined by the group. (15) "Office practice" means the facility or facilities at which a health care professional, on an ongoing basis, provides or supervises the provision of health services to individuals.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-55-827 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 55 / Article 9 / Section 44-55-827
SECTION 44-55-827. Promulgation of regulations.
Status: in_force

(A) The department shall promulgate regulations for the licensure of persons who contract or advertise to offer or provide services for installation, repair, modification, or final inspection and approval of onsite wastewater systems. These regulations must include: (1) eligibility criteria to be licensed as an Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractor; (2) a tiered licensing program defining various levels of competency and skill, including licenses that allow different combinations of installation, repair, modification, and final inspection and approval of onsite wastewater systems; (3) a system for the department to monitor the quality of contractor installation, repair, modification, and final inspection and approval of onsite wastewater systems; (4) minimum standards for training and continuing education for Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractors; (5) bonding and insurance requirements for Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractors; (6) the establishment and collection of administrative and licensing fees to cover the costs of this program; and (7) enforcement guidelines and penalties for violations of the provisions of these regulations. (B) The department shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the requirements for licensure of an Onsite Wastewater Systems Contractor, as provided for in subsection (A), items (1) through (7). (C) Nothing in this chapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter affect the department's authority, under Section 44-1-140 and regulation, to issue permits for the installation and construction of individual onsite wastewater systems.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-76-40 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 76 / Section 44-76-40
SECTION 44-76-40. Immunity from civil liability for use of automated external defibrillator.
Status: in_force

(1) Any person or entity acting in good faith and gratuitously shall be immune from civil liability for the application of an AED unless the person was grossly negligent in the application. (2) Any designated AED users meeting the requirements of Section 44-76-30(1) and acting according to the required training shall be immune from civil liability for the application of an AED unless the application was grossly negligent. (3) A person or entity acquiring an AED and meeting the requirements of Section 44-76-30 or an AED liaison meeting the requirements of Section 44-76-30 shall be immune from civil liability for the application of an AED by any person or entity described in items (1) or (2) of this section. (4) A prescribing physician shall be immune from civil liability for authorizing the purchase of an AED, unless the authorization was grossly negligent. (5) Any person or entity, acting in good faith and gratuitously, that teaches or provides a training program for cardiopulmonary resuscitation that includes training in the use of an automated external defibrillator is immune from civil liability for providing this training for use if the: (a) person or entity has provided the training in accordance with the guidelines and policies of a national training organization, as defined in Section 44-76-30(1); (b) person providing the training is authorized to deliver that course or curriculum; and (c) training delivery was not grossly negligent.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-1050 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 7 / Section 44-7-1050
SECTION 44-7-1050. Jurisdiction of municipality when hospital outside its limits.
Status: in_force

Should any municipal hospital authorized under the provisions of this article be built outside the corporate limits of the city or town, the jurisdiction of the municipal corporation shall extend over all land and property used for the hospital, and all ordinances of such city or town shall be in full force and effect in and over the territory so occupied.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-24-80 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 24 / Section 44-24-80
SECTION 44-24-80. Transportation of child to hospital; parent's or guardian's request to accompany child.
Status: in_force

The certificate provided for in Section 44-24-60(A)(2) requires a law enforcement officer, preferably in civilian clothes, to take the child into custody and transport him to the hospital designated by the certification. Upon request, a law enforcement officer shall transport the child's parent, legal guardian, or other adult family member to accompany the child to the hospital. No child may be taken into custody after the expiration of three days from the date of certification. A friend or relative may transport the individual to the hospital designated in the application, if the friend or relative has read and signed a statement on the certificate which clearly states that it is the responsibility of a law enforcement officer to provide timely transportation for the patient and that the friend or relative freely chooses to assume the responsibility. A friend or relative who chooses to transport the patient is not entitled to reimbursements from the State for the cost of the transportation. No child may be subjected to mechanical restraints during transportation except upon the determination by the law enforcement officer that restraints are necessary to prevent the child's escape or harm to himself or others. An officer acting in accordance with this chapter is immune from civil liability.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-21-20 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 21 / Section 44-21-20
SECTION 44-21-20. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Office" means the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a component office of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (2) "Family support" means goods and services needed by individuals or families to care for themselves or their family members with intellectual disability or related disabilities or head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or similar disabilities and to enjoy a quality of life comparable to other community members. (3) "Family Support Program" means a coordinated system of family support services administered by the office directly or through contracts with private nonprofit or governmental agencies across the State, or both. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-117-330 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 117 / Article 3 / Section 44-117-330
SECTION 44-117-330. Electronic equipment for receipt of prescription drug orders; security; alterations to prescription drug order data.
Status: in_force

All electronic equipment for receipt of prescription drug orders communicated by way of electronic transmission must have adequate security and system safeguards and must be maintained so as to ensure patient confidentiality and to ensure against unauthorized access or an intervening person or entity having access to view, read, manipulate, alter, store, or delete the electronic prescription prior to its receipt by the pharmacy of the patient's choice. The pharmacist shall exercise professional judgment regarding the accuracy, validity, and authenticity of the prescription drug order consistent with existing federal or state laws and regulations. Once the drug has been dispensed, any alterations in prescription drug order data must be documented, including the identification of the pharmacist responsible for the alteration.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-2310 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 19 / Section 44-7-2310
SECTION 44-7-2310. Agreements by public service districts furnishing clinical medical services.
Status: in_force

The governing body of any public service district whose principal function is to furnish clinical medical services is authorized to enter into agreements with other political subdivisions, or with nonprofit providers of emergency health services or other health care, including specifically, but not limited to, emergency service agencies, rescue squads and sole provider health care facilities, to provide for joint programs and otherwise cooperate in the delivery of medical and medical related services and the more complete utilization of district property within the boundaries of the district. Such agreements may include provisions: (1) To provide or assist in providing emergency ambulance service within the boundaries of the district. (2) To provide emergency ambulance vehicles and emergency medical equipment and facilities to house such vehicles and equipment. (3) To provide training for emergency medical technicians and facilities for the conduct of such training. (4) To assist in delivery of medical care to indigent residents of the district or payment to other providers of medical care to indigent residents of the district not otherwise compensated for and within the limit of available funds. (5) To the extent that lands or facilities of the district are not presently needed or utilized for the operation of a medical clinic or for providing other services authorized to be provided by the district, the district shall be authorized to make available to local governments, including counties, municipalities and other special service districts, those lands or facilities not currently required by the district, to be used by such local governments to provide public facilities and services considered desirable for and in the best interest of the area served by the district.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-2610 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 21 / Section 44-7-2610
SECTION 44-7-2610. Local interagency coordinating councils.
Status: in_force

(A) County or multicounty local interagency coordinating councils (ICC) representing each county in the State must be established. Membership on each council must consist of parents, providers, local agencies, and government agencies. (B) The function of the local ICC will be to advise and assist the state council and the department in planning and implementing a system of early intervention services at the local community level. (C) Each local ICC shall report to the state council on the status of early intervention services in its county. (D) With prior approval by the department and the state council, local ICC's may enter into local interagency agreements. Local ICC's may give advice and assistance to local early intervention projects. No member of a local ICC may vote on a matter which directly would benefit the member financially or otherwise appear to be a conflict of interest under state law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-20-500 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 20 / Article 3 / Section 44-20-500
SECTION 44-20-500. Order of confinement for client.
Status: in_force

When a client is absent from a facility or program and there is probable cause the client may be in danger, the office director or his designee may issue an order of confinement for the client. This order, when endorsed by the judge of the probate, family, or Circuit Court of the county in which the client is present or residing, authorizes a peace officer to take the client into custody for not more than twenty-four hours and to return him or cause him to be returned to the place designated by the office director or his designee. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-22-220 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 22 / Section 44-22-220
SECTION 44-22-220. Grievances concerning patient rights; penalties for denial of patient rights.
Status: in_force

(A) The Office of Mental Health shall develop a system for documenting and addressing grievances concerning patient rights. Grievances concerning patient rights must be reviewed by the office and a determination made concerning whether or not corrective action is warranted. A copy of the written grievance must be forwarded to the Client Advocacy Program and Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities. (B) The Office of Mental Health shall develop procedures with time lines to process the grievances in a timely manner. The procedures must be made known to patients. (C) A person who wilfully causes, or conspires with or assists another to cause, the denial to a patient of rights accorded to the patient under this chapter, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. A person acting in good faith, either upon actual knowledge or information thought to be reliable, is immune from criminal liability under the provisions of this subsection. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-20 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 53 / Article 1 / Section 44-53-20
SECTION 44-53-20. "Food" and "drug" defined.
Status: in_force

The term "food" as used in Section 44-53-10 shall include every article used for food or drink by man, including all candies, teas, coffees and spirituous, fermented and malt liquors. The term "drug" as used in Section 44-53-10 shall include all medicines for internal or external use.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-93-150 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 93 / Section 44-93-150
SECTION 44-93-150. Enforcement; penalties.
Status: in_force

(A) Whenever the department finds that a person is in violation of a permit, regulation, standard, or requirement under this chapter, the department may issue an order requiring the person to comply with the permit, regulation, standard, or requirement or the department may bring civil action for injunctive relief in the appropriate court; or, the department may request that the Attorney General bring civil or criminal enforcement action under subsection (B) or (C) of this section. Violation of a court order issued pursuant to this section is contempt of the issuing court and punishable as provided by law. The department also may invoke civil penalties as provided in this section for violations of the provisions of this chapter, including an order, permit, regulation, or standard. After exhaustion of administrative remedies, a person against whom a civil penalty is invoked by the department may appeal the decision of the department or board to the Court of Common Pleas. (B) A person who violates a provision of Section 44-93-140 is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars a day of violation. (C) A person who wilfully violates a provision of Section 44-93-140 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than ten thousand dollars for each day of violation or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. If the conviction is for a second or subsequent offense, the punishment must be by a fine not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars for each day of violation or imprisonment not to exceed two years, or both. (D) Each day of noncompliance with an order issued pursuant to this chapter or noncompliance with a permit, regulation, standard, or requirement pursuant to this chapter constitutes a separate offense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-78-35 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 78 / Section 44-78-35
SECTION 44-78-35. Liability of health care provider or EMS personnel regarding "do not resuscitate order".
Status: in_force

No health care provider or EMS personnel is liable for damages, may be the subject of disciplinary proceedings, or may be subject to civil or criminal liability due to: (1) issuing a "do not resuscitate order for emergency medical services" or a "do not resuscitate bracelet"; (2) good faith reliance on a "do not resuscitate order for emergency medical services" or a "do not resuscitate bracelet" resulting in: (a) the withholding of resuscitative treatment; or (b) the withholding of resuscitative treatment already in progress once a duly executed "do not resuscitate order for emergency medical services" is identified; (3) initiating resuscitative treatment on a "do not resuscitate patient" if EMS personnel were unaware of the existence of the order or bracelet or if EMS personnel reasonably and in good faith believed the "do not resuscitate order" had been canceled or revoked or, where applicable, if the do not resuscitate bracelet has been tampered with or removed; or (4) initiating resuscitative treatment on a "do not resuscitate patient" where in the best medical judgment of EMS personnel, the care was necessary to relieve pain or suffering or to provide comfort care to the patient.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-1470 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 11 / Section 44-7-1470
SECTION 44-7-1470. Contracts for construction of hospital facilities.
Status: in_force

Contracts for the construction of any hospital facilities may be let on such terms and under such conditions as the county board and the hospital agency or public agency may agree upon and may be let with or without advertisement or call for bids.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-170 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 3 / Section 44-7-170
SECTION 44-7-170. Certificate of Need exemptions.
Status: in_force

(A) The following are exempt from Certificate of Need review: (1) the relocation of a licensed hospital in the same county in which the hospital is currently located, as long as: (a) any Certificate of Need issued to the hospital for a project to be located at the hospital's existing location has been fulfilled, withdrawn, or has expired in accordance with Section 44-7-230 and the department's implementing regulations; and (b) the proposed site of relocation is utilized in a manner that furthers health care delivery and innovation for the citizens of the State of South Carolina; (2) the purchase, merger, or otherwise the acquisition of an existing hospital by another person or health care facility; (3) crisis stabilization unit facilities. Notwithstanding subsection (C), crisis stabilization unit facilities will not require a written exemption from the department; (4) acute hospital care at-home programs and services delivered by a licensed acute care hospital. The delivery of acute hospital care at-home programs and services by a licensed acute care hospital does not require a written exemption from the department. Additionally, patients enrolled in the hospital care at-home program shall not be considered within the licensed bed capacity of the hospital participating in the program. (B) This article does not apply to: (1) construction of a new hospital with up to fifty beds in any county currently without a hospital; (2) hospitals owned by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and operated by the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, except an addition of one or more beds to the total number of beds of the predecessor departments' health care facilities existing on July 1, 1988; (3) any federal hospital sponsored and operated by this State; (4) hospitals owned and operated by the federal government. (C) Before undertaking a project enumerated in subsection (A), a person shall obtain a written exemption from the department as may be more fully described in regulation. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18. Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 10, SECTION 2, in (A), in (3), substituted a semicolon for a period at the end, and added (4), relating to crisis stabilization unit facilities. 2023 Act No. 20, SECTION 10, rewrote the section. 2024 Act No. 164, SECTION 2, in (A), inserted (4), and made a nonsubstantive change.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-77-65 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 77 / Section 44-77-65
SECTION 44-77-65. Supplementation of declaration under prior or foreign law with artificial nutrition and hydration instructions.
Status: in_force

A declarant whose declaration is executed in accordance with earlier versions of this chapter or in accordance with the law of another state may supplement that declaration by executing a document containing the provisions for "Instructions Concerning Artificial Nutrition and Hydration" as provided for in Section 44-77-50 which must be signed by the declarant and witnessed in accordance with this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-41-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 41 / Article 1 / Section 44-41-30
SECTION 44-41-30. Persons from whom consent is required.
Status: in_force

(A) Consent is required before the performance of an abortion from the pregnant woman in every case and in the case of a minor, it must be obtained pursuant to the provisions of Section 44-41-31. (B) In the case of a woman who is under adjudication of mental incompetency by a court of competent jurisdiction, consent must be obtained from her spouse or a legal guardian if she is married; if she is not married, from one parent or a legal guardian. (C) Notwithstanding the consent required in subsections (A) and (B) consent must be waived if: (1) a physician determines that a medical emergency exists involving the life of or grave physical injury to the pregnant woman; or (2) the pregnancy is the result of incest. (D) In cases of incest the physician performing the abortion shall report the alleged incest to the local county department of social services or to a law enforcement agency in the county where the child resides or is found. Failure to report is a violation punishable under the child abuse laws of this State. (E) Nothing in this section permits a physician to perform an abortion without first obtaining the consent of the pregnant woman if she is capable of giving consent.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-117-350 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 117 / Article 3 / Section 44-117-350
SECTION 44-117-350. Protection of confidentiality of prescription information.
Status: in_force

(A) Prescription information and other patient health care information received by a pharmacy must be maintained in a manner that protects the integrity and confidentiality of such information as provided by the State Board of Pharmacy in regulation. (B) A pharmacy shall provide a mechanism to prevent the disclosure of any information, confidential or otherwise, about patients that was obtained or collected by a pharmacist or pharmacy incidental to the delivery of pharmaceutical care other than as authorized in regulation. (C) The pharmacist-in-charge shall: (a) establish and maintain written policies and procedures for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of prescription information and patient health care information. All employees of the pharmacy with access to this information must be required to comply with the established policies and procedures. (b) ensure that the requirements of this section are established and implemented.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-13-10 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 13 / Section 44-13-10
SECTION 44-13-10. Detention of individual pending removal to facility.
Status: in_force

Pending his removal to a State mental health facility an individual taken into custody or ordered to be admitted may be temporarily detained in his home, a licensed foster home or any other suitable facility under such reasonable conditions as the county governing body, supervisor or manager may fix, but he shall not, except because of and during an extreme emergency, be detained in a nonmedical establishment used for the detention of individuals charged with or convicted of penal offenses. The county governing body, supervisor or manager shall take such reasonable measures, including provision of medical care, as may be necessary to assure proper care of an individual temporarily detained under this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-2440 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 20 / Section 44-7-2440
SECTION 44-7-2440. Annual reports and quarterly bulletins; contents; publicizing of reports.
Status: in_force

(A) The department annually shall submit to the General Assembly a report summarizing the hospital reports submitted pursuant to Section 44-7-2430 and shall publish the annual report on its website. The first annual report must be submitted and published before February 1, 2009. Subsequent annual reports to the General Assembly must be submitted before April sixteenth of each year. The department may issue quarterly informational bulletins summarizing all or part of the information submitted in the hospital reports. (B) All reports issued by the department must be risk adjusted. (C) The annual report must compare the risk adjusted hospital acquired infection rates, collected under Section 44-7-2430, for each individual hospital in the State. The department, in consultation with the advisory committee, shall make this comparison as easy to comprehend as possible. The report also must include an executive summary, written in plain language, that must include, but is not limited to, a discussion of findings, conclusions, and trends concerning the overall state of hospital acquired infections in the State, including a comparison to prior years. The report may include policy recommendations, as appropriate. (D) The department shall publicize the report and its availability as widely as practical to interested parties including, but not limited to, hospitals, health care providers, media organizations, health insurers, health maintenance organizations, purchasers of health insurance, consumer or patient advocacy groups, and individual consumers. The annual report must be made available to any person upon request and the department may charge a fee for such copies, not to exceed the actual cost of the copy of the report. (E) No hospital report or department disclosure may contain information identifying a patient, employee, or licensed health care professional in connection with a specific infection incident. (F) The department, after consultation with the advisory committee, may phase-in the reporting requirements of this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-40 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 44-7-40
SECTION 44-7-40. Conveyance to Federal Government of lands for veterans' hospital.
Status: in_force

The governing body of any county in this State in which the United States Government decides to locate or build a hospital for veterans may, by resolution passed by a majority vote of such body, convey to the United States Government in fee simple, free of all encumbrances, any lands now owned or hereafter acquired by it for the use and benefit of such veterans' hospital, such conveyance to be without consideration and as a gift to the United States Government. Such deed of conveyance if made under the provisions of this section shall be signed by such officer or officers of the county as the resolution duly passed by such governing body may prescribe or provide. A certified copy of such resolution shall be recorded with the deed of conveyance so made.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-2150 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 16 / Section 44-7-2150
SECTION 44-7-2150. Incorporation of districts as public corporations.
Status: in_force

Health Services Districts established pursuant to the provisions of Act 490 of 1976 may also incorporate as a public corporation in the manner provided by this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-130 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 3 / Section 44-7-130
SECTION 44-7-130. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this article: (1) "Affected person" means the applicant, a person residing within the geographic area served or to be served by the applicant, persons located in the health service area in which the project is to be located and who provide similar services to the proposed project, persons who before receipt by the department of the proposal being reviewed have formally indicated an intention to provide similar services in the future, persons who pay for health services in the health service area in which the project is to be located and who have notified the department of their interest in Certificate of Need applications, the State Consumer Advocate, and the State Ombudsman. Persons from another state who would otherwise be considered "affected persons" are not included unless that state provides for similar involvement of persons from South Carolina in its certificate of need process. (2) "Ambulatory surgical facility" means a facility organized and administered for the purpose of performing surgical procedures for which patients are scheduled to arrive, receive surgery, and be discharged on the same day. The owner or operator makes the facility available to other providers who comprise an organized professional staff. (3) "Birthing center" means a facility or other place where human births are planned to occur. This does not include the usual residence of the mother, any facility that is licensed as a hospital, or the private practice of a physician who attends the birth. (4) "Board" means the State Board of Health and Environmental Control. (5) "Children, adolescents, and young adults in need of mental health treatment in a residential treatment facility" means a child, adolescent, or young adult under age twenty-one who manifests a substantial disorder of cognitive or emotional process that lessens or impairs to a marked degree that child's, adolescent's, or young adult's capacity either to develop or to exercise age-appropriate or age-adequate behavior including, but not limited to, marked disorders of mood or thought processes; severe difficulties with self-control and judgment, including behavior dangerous to himself or others; and serious disturbances in a child's, adolescent's, or young adult's ability to care for and relate to others. (6) "Community residential care facility" means a facility which offers room and board and provides a degree of personal assistance for two or more persons eighteen years old or older. (7) "Competing applicants" means two or more persons or health care facilities as defined in this article who apply for Certificates of Need to provide similar services or facilities in the same service area within a time frame as established by departmental regulations and whose applications, if approved, would exceed the need for services or facilities. (8) "Crisis stabilization unit facility" means a facility, other than a health care facility, that provides a short-term residential program, offering psychiatric stabilization services and brief, intensive crisis services to individuals five and older, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. (9) "Daycare facility for adults" means a facility for adults eighteen years or older that: (a) offers in a group setting a program of individual and group activities and therapies; (b) is directed toward providing community-based care for those in need of a supportive setting for less than twenty-four hours a day, in order to prevent unnecessary institutionalization; and (c) provides a minimum of four and a maximum of fourteen hours of operation a day. (10) "Department" means the Department of Health and Environmental Control. (11) "Facility for chemically dependent or addicted persons" means a facility organized to provide outpatient or residential services to chemically dependent or addicted persons and their families based on an individual treatment plan including diagnostic treatment, individual and group counseling, family therapy, vocational and educational development counseling, and referral services. (12) "Facility wherein abortions are performed" means a facility, other than a hospital, in which any second trimester or five or more first trimester abortions are performed in a month. (13) "Freestanding emergency service" or "off-campus emergency service" means an extension of an existing hospital emergency department that is intended to provide comprehensive emergency service but does not include a service that does not provide twenty-four hour, seven day per week operation or that is not capable of providing basic services as defined for hospital emergency departments. A service that does not qualify as a freestanding emergency service must not be classified as a freestanding emergency service and must not advertise, or display or exhibit any signs or symbols, that would identify the service as a freestanding emergency service. (14) "Freestanding or mobile technology" means medical equipment owned or operated by a person other than a health care facility for which the total cost is in excess of that prescribed by regulation and for which specific standards or criteria are prescribed in the State Health Plan. (15) "Health care facility" means, at a minimum, acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, alcohol and substance abuse hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical facilities, hospice facilities, radiation therapy facilities, rehabilitation facilities, residential treatment facilities for children and adolescents, intermediate care facilities for persons with intellectual disability, or narcotic treatment programs. (16) "Health service" means clinically related, diagnostic, treatment, or rehabilitative services and includes alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health services. (17) "Hospital" means a facility that is organized and administered to provide overnight medical or surgical care or nursing care for an illness, injury, or infirmity and must provide on-campus emergency services; that may provide obstetrical care; and in which all diagnoses, treatment, or care is administered by or under the direction of persons currently licensed to practice medicine, surgery, or osteopathy. "Hospital" may include a residential treatment facility for children, adolescents, or young adults in need of mental health treatment that is physically a part of a licensed psychiatric hospital. This definition does not include facilities that are licensed by the Department of Social Services. A residential treatment facility for children, adolescents, or young adults in need of mental health treatment that is physically part of a licensed psychiatric hospital is not required to provide on-campus emergency services. (18) "Intermediate care facility for persons with intellectual disability" means a facility that serves four or more persons with intellectual disability or persons with related conditions and provides health or rehabilitative services on a regular basis to individuals whose mental and physical conditions require services including room, board, and active treatment for their intellectual disability or related conditions. (19) "Like equipment with similar capabilities" means medical equipment in which functional and technological capabilities are identical to the equipment to be replaced; and the replacement equipment is to be used for the same or similar diagnostic, therapeutic, or treatment purposes as currently in use; and does not constitute a material change in service or a new service. (20) "Nursing home" means a facility with an organized nursing staff to maintain and operate organized facilities and services to accommodate two or more unrelated persons over a period exceeding twenty-four hours which is operated either in connection with a hospital or as a freestanding facility for the express or implied purpose of providing intermediate or skilled nursing care for persons who are not in need of hospital care. (21) "Person" means an individual, a trust or estate, a partnership, a corporation including an association, joint stock company, insurance company, and a health maintenance organization, a health care facility, a state, a political subdivision, or an instrumentality including a municipal corporation of a state, or any legal entity recognized by the State. (22) "Radiation therapy facility" means a person or a health care facility that provides or seeks to provide mega-voltage therapeutic services to patients through the use of high energy radiation. (23) "Residential treatment facility for children and adolescents" means a facility operated for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and care of two or more "children and adolescents in need of mental health treatment" which provides: (a) a special education program with a minimum program defined by the South Carolina Department of Education; (b) recreational facilities with an organized youth development program; and (c) residential treatment for a child or adolescent in need of mental health treatment. (24) "Solely for research" means a service, procedure, or equipment which has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but which is currently undergoing review by the FDA as an investigational device. FDA research protocol and any applicable Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) policies and regulations must be followed by a facility proposing a project "solely for research". (25) "Acute hospital care at home" means acute-level hospital care to treat a subset of diagnoses that respond safely and effectively to home-based acute care, utilizing technology to provide continuous remote patient monitoring and connectivity to the patient and developing in-home services to ensure the same level of care in the home as in a traditional hospital stay as well as patient safety. Acute hospital care at home must be provided by a hospital licensed in this State pursuant to this article to eligible patients who have provided consent to such care, utilizing a multidisciplinary team to deliver the care. Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 10, SECTION 1, added (26), definition of "Crisis stabilization unit facility". 2023 Act No. 20, SECTION 3, rewrote the section. 2023 Act No. 59, SECTION 1, in (8), relating to the definition of "Crisis stabilization unit facility", deleted "operated by the Department of Mental Health or operated in partnership with the Department of Mental Health" following "other than a health care facility," and substituted "five and older" for "eighteen and older". 2024 Act No. 164, SECTION 1, added (25), relating to the definition of "acute hospital care at home".
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-23-210 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 23 / Article 3 / Section 44-23-210
SECTION 44-23-210. Transfer of confined persons to or between mental health or intellectual disability facility.
Status: in_force

A person confined in a state institution or a person confined in a state or private mental health or intellectual disability facility may be transferred to another mental health or intellectual disability facility if: (1) the director of a state institution not under the jurisdiction of the Office of Mental Health requests the admission of a person confined there to a state mental health facility if the person is suspected of having a mental illness. If after full examination by two designated examiners, one of whom must be a licensed physician, the director of the mental health facility is of the opinion that the person has a mental illness, the office director shall notify the director of the institution or the facility to which the person was admitted who shall commence proceedings pursuant to Sections 44-17-510 through 44-17-610; (2) the director of a facility in which the patient resides determines that it would be consistent with the medical needs of the person, the Office of Mental Health may transfer or authorize the transfer of the patient from one facility to another. If the transfer is from a less restricted facility to a substantially more secure facility and the patient objects to the transfer, a hearing to give the patient a reasonable opportunity to contest the transfer must be held pursuant to Sections 44-17-540 through 44-17-570. When a patient is transferred, written notice must be given to the patient's legal guardian, attorney, parents, or spouse or, if none be known, to the patient's nearest known relative or friend. This section may not be construed to apply to transfers of a patient within a mental health facility; or (3) the legal guardian, parent, spouse, relative, or friend of an involuntary patient submits a request for the transfer of the patient from one Office of Mental Health facility to another and the reasons for desiring the transfer and unless the Office of Mental Health reasonably determines that it would be inconsistent with the medical needs of the person, the transfer must be made. If the transfer is from a less restricted to a substantially more secure facility, item (2) governs. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-37-60 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 37 / Section 44-37-60
SECTION 44-37-60. Information on pertussis disease to be provided to parents of newborns.
Status: in_force

(A) During the postpartum period and prior to discharge each hospital shall provide parents of newborns educational information on pertussis disease and the availability of a vaccine to protect against pertussis. This educational information must include, but is not limited to, information on the Center for Disease Control's recommendation that parents receive the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine during the postpartum period to protect their newborns from the transmission of pertussis. (B) Nothing in this section requires a hospital to provide or pay for a vaccination against pertussis.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-6-146 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 6 / Article 2 / Section 44-6-146
SECTION 44-6-146. County assessments for indigent medical care; penalties for failure to pay assessments in timely manner.
Status: in_force

(A) Every fiscal year the State Treasurer shall withhold from the portion of the Local Government Fund allotted to the counties a sum equal to fifty cents per capita based on the population of the several counties as shown by the latest official census of the United States. The money withheld by the State Treasurer must be placed to the credit of the commission and used to provide Title XIX (Medicaid) services. (B) County governments are assessed an additional thirteen million dollars annually for use as matching funds for Medicaid services. Of these funds, seven and a half million dollars must be deposited into the Medicaid Expansion Fund created by Section 44-6-155. The department shall assess each county its share of the thirteen million dollars based on a formula which equally weighs the following factors in each county: property value, personal income, net taxable sales, and the previous two years of claims against the medically indigent assistance fund or program against county residents. If a trust fund has been established in a county to fund indigent care in the county, contributions on behalf of the county must be credited against the county assessment. (C) Within thirty days of the first day of the state's fiscal year, and on the first day of the other three quarters, each county shall remit one-fourth of its total assessment to the department. The department shall allow a brief grace period during which late payments are not subject to interest or penalty. Any county which fails to pay its assessment within the time allotted must pay, in addition to the assessment, a penalty of five percent of the assessment and interest at one and one-half percent per month from the date the assessment was originally due to the date of the payment of the assessment and penalty. The department may in its discretion waive or reduce the penalty or interest or any part thereof.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-620 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 5 / Section 44-7-620
SECTION 44-7-620. Election.
Status: in_force

Upon the filing of such petition, the county legislative delegation shall submit the question to the qualified electors of the county, township, city or town at a special election called for that purpose, first giving ninety days' notice thereof in one or more newspapers published in the county, township, city or town, if any be published therein, and by posting such notice, written or printed, in each township of the county in case of a county hospital or tuberculosis camp, or at three conspicuous places in the township, city or town in case of a township, city or town hospital or tuberculosis camp. Such election shall be held at the usual places in such county, township, city or town as provided for other elections, and the votes shall be canvassed in the same manner as in any election for officers for such county, township, city or town.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-1970 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 53 / Article 19 / Section 44-53-1970
SECTION 44-53-1970. Civil and criminal immunity for law enforcement officers.
Status: in_force

A law enforcement officer who arrests a person for an offense listed in Section 44-53-1920(B) is not subject to criminal prosecution, or civil liability, for false arrest or false imprisonment if the officer made the arrest based on probable cause.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-2560 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 21 / Section 44-7-2560
SECTION 44-7-2560. Individualized family service plans.
Status: in_force

(A) Based on the assessment provided for in Section 44-7-2540 an individualized family service plan must be developed by a multidisciplinary team of appropriate qualified personnel which also must include the parent, guardian, or other adult responsible for the child. The family also may choose an advocate to be present during the development of the plan. The plan must be written and explained in easily understandable language and must contain: (1) a statement of the present levels of physical, cognitive, psychosocial, communication, and self-help skill development for the infant or toddler with disabilities; (2) a statement of the health status and medical needs of the child and family to support the highest possible development of the child, including the names of the health care providers; (3) with concurrence of the family, a statement of the family's resources relating to enhancing the child's development; (4) a statement of the major outcomes expected to be achieved for the child and the family and the methods used to measure progress toward the outcomes; (5) a statement of specific early intervention services necessary to meet the needs of the child and family, including the frequency, intensity, and method of delivering services and payment arrangement, if any; (6) the projected dates for initiation of services and the anticipated duration of services; (7) the name of the service coordinator. The service coordinator is responsible for the implementation of the plan and coordination with other agencies and persons; (8) the steps necessary to support transition of the child to other programs, if appropriate. (B) The individualized family service plan must be developed within the time established by the department after the child initially is referred and after the assessment is completed. With the parent's consent early intervention services may begin before completion of the assessment or plan, provided an interim plan is developed. The plan serves as the comprehensive plan for all agencies involved in providing early intervention services to the child and family. Services must be provided in a timely manner, as established by the department, pending resolution of disputes among public agencies or service providers. The plan must be evaluated at least once a year and reviewed with the family at three-month intervals or more frequently, if appropriate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-56-495 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 56 / Article 4 / Section 44-56-495
SECTION 44-56-495. Drycleaning Advisory Council; Department of Revenue participation on matters involving surcharges and fees.
Status: in_force

(A) There is created the Drycleaning Advisory Council to advise the department on matters relating to regulations and standards that affect drycleaning and related industries. (B) The council is composed of the following members: (1) eight owners or operators of drycleaning facilities who are participating in this article; (2) one representative of a wholesale supply facility; (3) one representative of the drycleaners who have a Drycleaning Exemption Certificate issued by the Department of Revenue; and (4) one representative from the department, who is an administrator. (C) Members enumerated in subsections (B)(1) through (B)(3) are appointed by the board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control and shall serve terms of two years and until their successors are appointed. The chairman of the council is elected by the members of the council at the first meeting of each new term. (D) An employee of the Department of Revenue shall attend meetings of the council to provide the council informal assistance as to matters involving the surcharges and fees that are imposed pursuant to this article and which are administered and collected by the Department of Revenue. (E) The Department of Revenue may disclose to the department information on a return filed with the Department of Revenue pursuant to the provisions of Section 44-56-450. The Department of Revenue and the department may not disclose to the members enumerated in subsections (B)(1) through (B)(3) or to the public specific information on a return filed with the Department of Revenue pursuant to the provisions of Section 44-56-450; however, the Department of Revenue and the department may provide these members available statistical information concerning the surcharge imposed pursuant to Section 44-56-450.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-5-10 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 5 / Section 44-5-10
SECTION 44-5-10. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the "State Health Planning and Development Act".
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-96-210 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 96 / Article 1 / Section 44-96-210
SECTION 44-96-210. Newsprint.
Status: in_force

(A) Five years after this chapter is effective, the department shall make a determination as to whether newsprint sold within this State is being recycled at a rate of thirty-five percent or more of the quantity sold within the State. If the department determines that newsprint is being recycled at a rate of less than thirty-five percent, the department shall submit a report to the Governor and to the General Assembly making recommendations on incentives or penalties to increase the recycling percentage of newsprint to at least thirty-five percent within a reasonable period of time. The department may, by regulation, establish a program to obtain and verify the information necessary to make the determination and recommendations required by this section. (B) For the purposes of this section, "newsprint" means uncoated paper, whether supercalendered or machine finished, of the type generally used for, but not limited to, the publication of newspapers, directories, or commercial advertising mailers, which is primarily from mechanical woodpulps combined with some chemical woodpulp.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-56-80 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 56 / Article 1 / Section 44-56-80
SECTION 44-56-80. Requirements of department; disclosure of information obtained by department.
Status: in_force

A. The department shall require: 1. the establishment and maintenance of such records; 2. the making of such reports; 3. the taking of such samples, and the performing of such tests or analyses; 4. the installing, calibrating, using, and maintaining of such monitoring equipment or methods; 5. the providing of such other information; as may be necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter. B. Information obtained by the department under this chapter shall be available to the public, unless the department certifies such information as being proprietary. The department may make such certification where any person shows, to the satisfaction of the department, that the information, or parts thereof, if made public, would divulge methods, production rates, processes, or other confidential information entitled to protection. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting the disclosure of information by the department to any officer, employee, or authorized representative of the State concerned with effecting this chapter, providing such person respects the proprietary nature of the information.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-56-40 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 56 / Article 1 / Section 44-56-40
SECTION 44-56-40. Powers of department.
Status: in_force

To carry out the provisions and purposes of this chapter, the department is authorized to: 1. Enter into agreements, contracts, or cooperative arrangements, under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, with other state, federal or interstate agencies, municipalities, educational institutions, local health departments, or other organizations or individuals; 2. Receive financial and technical assistance from the federal government and private agencies; 3. Participate in related programs of the federal government, other states, interstate agencies or other public or private agencies or organizations and collect and file such reports, surveys, inventories, data and information which may be required by the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976; 4. Establish and collect fees for collecting samples and conducting laboratory analyses as may be necessary upon request of affected persons.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-78-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 78 / Section 44-78-30
SECTION 44-78-30. Required form for "do not resuscitate order"; revocation procedure; "do not resuscitate bracelet".
Status: in_force

(A) A document purporting to be a "do not resuscitate order" for EMS purposes must be in substantially the following form: NOTICE TO EMS PERSONNEL This notice is to inform all emergency medical personnel who may be called to render assistance to _________________ that he/she has a terminal condition which has been diagnosed by me, and has specifically requested that no resuscitative efforts including artificial stimulation of the cardiopulmonary system by electrical, mechanical, or manual means be made in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest or, if he/she is a child, such a request has been specifically made by a parent or legal guardian with the legal authority to make medical decisions for the child. REVOCATION PROCEDURE THIS FORM MAY BE REVOKED BY AN ORAL STATEMENT BY THE PATIENT OR, IF THE PATIENT IS A CHILD, BY A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN WITH THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS FOR THE CHILD TO EMS PERSONNEL OR BY MUTILATING, OBLITERATING, OR DESTROYING THE DOCUMENT IN ANY MANNER. Date:_______________________________ ___________________________________ Patient's signature (or surrogate or agent) ___________________________________ Parent or Legal Guardian ___________________________________ Physician's signature ___________________________________ Physician's address ___________________________________ Physician's telephone number (B) The department may approve a "do not resuscitate bracelet" developed and distributed by a commercial vendor if the bracelet contains an emblem that displays an internationally recognized medical symbol on the front and the words "South Carolina Do Not Resuscitate EMS" and the patient's first name and last name on the back. The department may not approve a "do not resuscitate bracelet" developed and distributed by a commercial vendor if the vendor does not require a health care provider's order for the bracelet before distributing it to a patient. (C) The cost of obtaining a bracelet must be borne by the patient or, if the patient is a child, the parent or legal guardian of the child and may not be provided by the department at the expense of the department. (D) The vendor approved by the department shall not fulfill a request for a "do not resuscitate bracelet" without receiving a health care provider's order for the bracelet with the request. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 122, SECTION 3, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-43-315 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 43 / Article 5 / Section 44-43-315
SECTION 44-43-315. Parties authorized to make anatomical gifts.
Status: in_force

Subject to Section 44-43-335, an anatomical gift of a donor's body or part may be made during the life of the donor for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education in the manner provided in Section 44-43-320 by: (1) the donor, if the donor is an adult or if the donor is a minor and is at least sixteen years of age; (2) an agent of the donor, unless the power of attorney for health care or other record prohibits the agent from making an anatomical gift; (3) a parent of the donor, if the donor is less than sixteen years of age; or (4) the donor's guardian.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-30-40 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 30 / Article 1 / Section 44-30-40
SECTION 44-30-40. Adoption of CDC recommendations by licensing boards; notice to health care professionals; disciplinary action regarding violations by health care professionals.
Status: in_force

(A) By October 1, 1992, each licensing board shall adopt the CDC recommendations and shall communicate with its respective health care professionals by written notice of their adoption. This written notice must include information that noncompliance may subject the licensee to disciplinary proceedings before the licensing board. The notice must provide information regarding education and training in the areas of infection control, universal precautions, and disinfection and sterilization techniques. (B) Each licensing board shall institute disciplinary or other action for violations by its respective health care professionals of the CDC recommendations and any other requirements adopted pursuant to this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-56-165 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 56 / Article 1 / Section 44-56-165
SECTION 44-56-165. Use of fees imposed under Section 44-56-170; hazardous waste reduction and minimization activities; enforcement of bans on certain acts.
Status: in_force

The fees imposed under Section 44-56-170(C) and (E), and distributed in accordance with Section 44-56-160(B)(3) must be used to fund hazardous waste reduction and minimization activities of the department. Funding for this activity is not limited to the amount collected annually and may be supported by general appropriation of the General Assembly. Aqueous wastes which are hazardous only because of pH are exempt from this fee if they are generated and treated on site in a permitted wastewater treatment plant. In addition to funding hazardous waste reduction and minimization activities, the fees also must be used to enforce the bans set forth in Section 44-56-130(4), (5), and (6).
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-24-230 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 24 / Section 44-24-230
SECTION 44-24-230. Provision of community-based treatment as alternative to hospitalization.
Status: in_force

In order to provide community-based treatment as an alternative to hospitalization, the Office of Mental Health shall provide or cause to be provided a range of mental health programs for children in each mental health center recognized by the State. Based on available resources and to the extent funds are made available to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities by the General Assembly, the programs must include, but are not limited to: (1) twenty-four hour emergency assessment; (2) crisis stabilization; (3) in-home intervention; (4) therapeutic foster care; (5) outpatient counseling, diagnostic evaluation, including psychological testing when required, and psychiatric assessment and evaluation; (6) consultation with other agencies serving the child. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-59-10 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 59 / Section 44-59-10
SECTION 44-59-10. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "River basins" means that land area designated as the Catawba/Wateree, Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basins by the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2) "Commissions" means the River Basins Advisory Commissions. The commissions shall be constituted as described below and there shall be a separate commission for each river basin.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-71-80 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 71 / Section 44-71-80
SECTION 44-71-80. Annual inspections; joint annual reports.
Status: in_force

(A) Each hospice for which a license has been issued must be inspected by an authorized representative of the department at least once a year for the purpose of ensuring that the provisions of this chapter are being followed. For hospices whose licensees include multiple locations, the department shall rotate those inspections among each location. (B) All hospices shall complete and return a joint annual report to the department and the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office on a form prescribed by the department within a time period specified by the department or the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. In the development of this form, the department shall incorporate input from hospice providers to ensure the report captures data on all services that are to be provided by hospices. Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 61, SECTION 1, inserted the paragraph identifiers; in (A), added the second sentence; and added (B), relating to joint annual reports.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-80-100 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 80 / Section 44-80-100
SECTION 44-80-100. POST form effective until revoked or new form executed; annual review and update.
Status: in_force

A POST form executed pursuant to this chapter remains effective until revoked or until a new POST form is executed pursuant to this chapter. Any physician who is responsible for the creation and execution of a POST form shall make reasonable efforts to periodically review and update the POST form with the patient as the patient's needs dictate but at least once per year.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-43-560 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 43 / Article 7 / Section 44-43-560
SECTION 44-43-560. Conveyance of bodies.
Status: in_force

The board may employ a carrier or carriers for conveyance of bodies, which must be well enclosed in a suitable case and carefully deposited, free from public observation. Every carrier shall obtain a receipt by name or, if the person be unknown, by a description for each body delivered by the carrier and deposit the receipt with the board or its authorized agent. After the bodies have been sufficiently used for the purposes of instruction, the bodies must be decently and respectfully disposed of by the university, college, physicians, or surgeons, as the case may be, receiving them.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-93-190 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 93 / Section 44-93-190
SECTION 44-93-190. Chapter inapplicable to treatment or disposal of hazardous waste.
Status: in_force

This chapter does not apply to the treatment or disposal of hazardous waste regulated under the South Carolina Hazardous Waste Management Act.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-6-1150 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 6 / Article 9 / Section 44-6-1150
SECTION 44-6-1150. Penalty for failure to pay fee within time required.
Status: in_force

The department may impose a penalty of up to five percent of the fee for any ambulance service that fails to pay the fee within the time required by the department for each month, or fraction thereof, that such fee is overdue. If a fee has not been received by the department in accordance with department timelines, the department may withhold an amount equal to the overdue fee and any penalty imposed by the department from any payments otherwise due such ambulance service.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-82 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 63 / Section 44-63-82
SECTION 44-63-82. Matching of birth and death certificates.
Status: in_force

To protect the integrity of vital records and to prevent the fraudulent use of birth certificates of deceased persons, the state registrar is authorized to match birth and death certificates and to post the fact of death to the appropriate birth certificate. Copies issued from birth certificates marked deceased must be similarly marked. In addition to those entitled to receive certified copies of birth certificates pursuant to Section 44-63-80, certified copies of birth certificates marked deceased may be issued to a member of the registrant's immediate family under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the state registrar.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-56-435 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 56 / Article 4 / Section 44-56-435
SECTION 44-56-435. Duties of Department of Revenue.
Status: in_force

(A) The Department of Revenue shall distribute registration forms to owners and operators of drycleaning and wholesale supply facilities and to property owners. The Department of Revenue shall use reasonable efforts to identify and notify owners, operators, and property owners of drycleaning and wholesale supply facilities of the registration requirements by certified mail, return receipt requested. The Department of Revenue shall provide to the department a copy of each applicant's registration materials within thirty working days of the receipt of the materials. (B) The Department of Revenue shall administer, collect, and enforce the surcharges and fees in Sections 44-56-440, 44-56-450, and 44-56-460 in the manner that the sales and use taxes are administered, collected, and enforced under Chapter 36, Title 12, except that no timely payment discount or exemptions or exclusions are allowed. The provisions of Title 12 apply to the collection and enforcement of the surcharges and fees by the Department of Revenue. (C) The Department of Revenue shall retain funds for the costs incurred to collect and enforce the fund that may include a part-time employee with the related expenses for audit purposes. The funds withheld must not exceed the actual costs to administer, collect, and enforce the fund. The proceeds of the registration fee and surcharges, after deducting the costs incurred by the Department of Revenue in auditing, collecting, distributing, and enforcing payment of the registration fee and the surcharges, must be remitted to the State Treasurer and credited to the fund. For the purposes of this article, the proceeds of the registration fee and the surcharges include all funds collected and received by the Department of Revenue, including interest and penalties on delinquent fees and surcharges. (D) The Department of Revenue may establish audit procedures and assess delinquent registration fees and surcharges. (E) The Department of Revenue, in addition to all other penalties authorized by this article and in addition to the provisions of Section 12-54-90, may revoke one or more certificates of registration of any owner or operator of a drycleaning facility for failure to remit any taxes, surcharges, or fees due by the owner or operator pursuant to this article or Title 12 or when the owner or operator fails, neglects, violates, or refuses to comply with the provisions of Section 44-56-440. (F) The Department of Revenue shall create and update an annual report of all drycleaning facilities in the State. This report must identify those that have a drycleaning facility exemption certificate and must provide the status of the annual certificates of registration for those in the fund. The Department of Revenue shall publicize the report and distribute it as widely as practical on October thirtieth of each year to interested parties including, but not limited to, wholesale suppliers, dry cleaners, the department, and other interested parties.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-24-220 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 24 / Section 44-24-220
SECTION 44-24-220. Requirement of discharge planning and continuity of service in community.
Status: in_force

No child may be discharged by the Office of Mental Health or private hospital without appropriate discharge planning. A member of the child's treatment team shall coordinate in advance with the child's parent or legal guardian as well as other service providers to ensure continuity in service for the child in the community. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-110 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 63 / Section 44-63-110
SECTION 44-63-110. Fees.
Status: in_force

For making, furnishing, or certifying any card, certificate, or certified copy of the record, for filing a record amendment according to the provisions of Section 44-63-60, 44-63-80, 44-63-90 or 44-63-100, or for searching the record, when no card, certificate, or certified copy is made, a fee in an amount as determined by the Board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control must be paid by the applicant, except that the Department of Social Services or its designee is not required to pay a fee when the information is needed for the purpose of establishing paternity or establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. The amount of the fee established by the board may not exceed the cost of the services performed and to the extent possible must be charged on a uniform basis throughout the State. When verification of the facts contained in these records is needed for Veterans Administration purposes in connection with a claim, it must be furnished without charge to the Veterans' Affairs Department of the Governor's Office or to a county veterans affairs officer upon request and upon the furnishing of satisfactory evidence that the request is for the purpose authorized in this chapter. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2019 Act No. 26, SECTION 4(C), references to the Division of Veterans' Affairs were changed to reflect the transfer of it to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-96-320 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 96 / Article 2 / Section 44-96-320
SECTION 44-96-320. Solid waste landfills.
Status: in_force

(A) Not later than eighteen months after this article is effective, the department shall promulgate, in addition to regulations generally applicable to all solid waste management facilities, regulations governing the siting, design, construction, operation, closure, and postclosure activities of all landfills that dispose of solid waste. The department may, by regulation, exempt certain facilities from all or part of the requirements of this section. In determining if exemptions are warranted from all or part of the regulations applicable to this section and Section 44-96-330, the department must consider in situ soil as a criterion for granting exemptions. These regulations shall not apply to the disposal of solid waste from a single family or household on property where such waste is generated. (B) The regulations governing solid waste landfills shall, at a minimum, contain the following requirements: (1) the submission by the permit applicant of the following documents: (a) a comprehensive engineering report that describes, at a minimum, existing site conditions and construction plans; (b) a quality assurance and quality control report; (c) a hydrogeologic report and water quality and air quality monitoring plans; (d) a contingency plan describing the action to be taken in response to contingencies which may occur during construction and operation of the landfill; (e) an operational plan describing how the facility will meet all applicable regulatory requirements; (f) the maximum volume of solid waste the facility is capable of receiving over the operational life of the facility and the maximum rate at which the facility will receive that waste; and (g) a landscape plan; (2) locational criteria. However, the department shall grant exemptions from such criteria upon a demonstration by the permit applicant of circumstances which warrant an exemption; (3) landfill construction requirements; (4) facility design and operational requirements including, but not limited to, access controls, cover requirements, gas control, leachate control, exclusion of hazardous wastes, liner requirements, litter control, groundwater and surface water monitoring, and air quality monitoring; (5) closure and postclosure requirements; (6) financial responsibility requirements; and (7) corrective action requirements.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-26-120 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 26 / Section 44-26-120
SECTION 44-26-120. Access to medical and habilitative records; grounds for denial of access; appeal of denial of access; disclosure form.
Status: in_force

(A) A client or his representative with the appropriate permission may have reasonable access to the client's medical and habilitative records. The requests must be made in writing. (B) A client or his representative may be refused access to information in the medical and habilitative records if: (1) provided by a third party under assurance that the information remains confidential; (2) the attending physician has determined in writing that the information would be detrimental to the client's habilitation regimen. The determination must be placed in the client's records and is considered part of restricted information. (C) A client or his representative refused access to medical or habilitative records may appeal the refusal to the office director. The director of the residential program shall notify the client or his representative of the right to appeal. (D) Persons granted access to client records shall sign a disclosure form. Disclosure forms are considered part of a client's confidential record. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-37-35 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 37 / Section 44-37-35
SECTION 44-37-35. Required neonatal genetic testing.
Status: in_force

(A) Neonatal testing conducted pursuant to Section 44-37-30 must include testing for the following: (1) Krabbe disease; (2) Pompe disease; and (3) Hurler syndrome. (B) The department shall require additional lysosomal storage disorders to be tested upon the recommendations of the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee and in accordance with Section 44-37-30 pursuant to a duly promulgated regulation as testing for such disorders becomes available. Editor's Note 2019 Act No. 55, SECTION 3, provides as follows: "SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Implementation of the act is contingent upon available funding from public sources."
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-9-80 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 9 / Section 44-9-80
SECTION 44-9-80. Utilization of Federal funds provided to improve services to patients.
Status: in_force

Payments made to a mental health facility which are derived in whole or in part from Federal funds which become available after June 30, 1967, and which are provided with the stipulation that they be used to improve services to patients shall not be considered fees from paying patients under the terms of Act No. 1100 of 1964 but may be utilized by the Office of Mental Health to improve South Carolina's comprehensive mental health program. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-71-90 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 71 / Section 44-71-90
SECTION 44-71-90. Discrimination prohibited.
Status: in_force

Hospices must not discriminate based on age, sex, race, color, religion, or source of payment, location of patient, acceptance or provision of goods and services to patients or potential patients. Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 61, SECTION 1, substituted "or potential patients" for "of potential patients".
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-43-335 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 43 / Article 5 / Section 44-43-335
SECTION 44-43-335. Amendment or revocation by person other than donor of anatomical gift made by donor.
Status: in_force

(A) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (G) and subject to subsection (F), in the absence of an express, contrary indication by the donor, a person other than the donor is barred from making, amending, or revoking an anatomical gift of a donor's body or part if the donor made an anatomical gift of the donor's body or part under Section 44-43-320 or an amendment to an anatomical gift of the donor's body or part under Section 44-43-325. (B) A donor's revocation of an anatomical gift of the donor's body or part under Section 44-43-325 is not a refusal and does not bar another person specified in Section 44-43-315 or 44-43-340 from making an anatomical gift of the donor's body or part under Section 44-43-320 or 44-43-345. (C) If a person other than the donor makes an unrevoked anatomical gift of the donor's body or part under Section 44-43-320 or an amendment to an anatomical gift of the donor's body or part under Section 44-43-325, another person may not make, amend, or revoke the gift of the donor's body or part under Section 44-43-345. (D) A revocation of an anatomical gift of a donor's body or part under Section 44-43-325 by a person other than the donor does not bar another person from making an anatomical gift of the body or part under Section 44-43-320 or 44-43-345. (E) In the absence of an express, contrary indication by the donor or other person authorized to make an anatomical gift under Section 44-43-315, an anatomical gift of a part is neither a refusal to give another part nor a limitation on the making of an anatomical gift of another part at a later time by the donor or another person. (F) In the absence of an express, contrary indication by the donor or other person authorized to make an anatomical gift under Section 44-43-315, an anatomical gift of a part for one or more of the purposes set forth in Section 44-43-315 is not a limitation on the making of an anatomical gift of the part for any of the other purposes by the donor or any other person under Section 44-43-320 or 44-43-345. (G) If a donor who is an unemancipated minor dies, a parent of the donor who is reasonably available may revoke or amend an anatomical gift of the donor's body or part. (H) If an unemancipated minor who signed a refusal dies, a parent of the minor who is reasonably available may revoke the minor's refusal.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-139-90 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 139 / Section 44-139-90
SECTION 44-139-90. Documentation and notice requirements.
Status: in_force

The contract, policy, or other documentation executed between a health care payer and a person that requires the health care payer to pay for or arranges for the payment of any health care services provided to the person must contain a statement in bold type face providing the person with notice that some health care services may not be provided by the health care payer because the provision of those services violates the health care payer's conscience as defined in Section 44-139-20(1). The notice must further provide that a list of the health care services that the health care payer will not pay for or arrange payment for may be found on the health care payer's website or otherwise be made available to the person upon request.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-38-320 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 38 / Article 3 / Section 44-38-320
SECTION 44-38-320. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this article: (1) "System" means the South Carolina Head and Spinal Cord Injury Service Delivery System as established in this article; (2) "State plan" means the plan developed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities pursuant to this article for a comprehensive system of services for persons with head and spinal cord injuries. (3) "Office" means Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a component office of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-80-80 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 80 / Section 44-80-80
SECTION 44-80-80. Execution of POST form; affect on life insurance policy.
Status: in_force

(A) The executing of a POST form does not in any manner affect the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor shall it be deemed to modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance. A policy of life insurance is not legally impaired or invalidated in any manner by the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures pursuant to this chapter notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary. (B) Execution of a POST form is voluntary. A health care provider, health care facility, health care service plan, insurer issuing disability insurance, self-insured employee benefit plan, or nonprofit hospital plan may not require any person to execute a POST form as a condition of being insured for, or receiving, health care services.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-26-210 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 26 / Section 44-26-210
SECTION 44-26-210. Penalties for denying client rights accorded under this chapter.
Status: in_force

A person who wilfully causes, or conspires with or assists another to cause, the denial to a client of rights accorded to him under this chapter, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. A person acting in good faith, upon actual knowledge or information thought by him to be reliable, is exempt from criminal liability.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-38-610 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 38 / Article 6 / Section 44-38-610
SECTION 44-38-610. South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council.
Status: in_force

There is created the South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council, within the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, to provide statewide coordination in promoting support services to persons with brain injuries, their families, and caregivers, and to identify emerging issues and innovations, foster education and advocacy, and build consensus to support necessary policies and programs. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-130-40 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 130 / Section 44-130-40
SECTION 44-130-40. Pharmacist may dispense opioid antidote; written joint protocol; immunity; report on cannabis issues.
Status: in_force

(A) A pharmacist acting in good faith and exercising reasonable care as a pharmacist may dispense an opioid antidote pursuant to a written prescription or standing order by a prescriber. (B)(1) A pharmacist acting in good faith and exercising reasonable care as a pharmacist may dispense an opioid antidote pursuant to a written joint protocol issued by the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy. (2) Not later than six months after passage of this act, the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy must issue a written joint protocol to authorize a pharmacist to dispense an opioid antidote without a patient-specific written order or prescription to a person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose or to a caregiver of such a person. (3) The protocol must address, at a minimum, the following: (a) the information that the pharmacist must provide to a person at risk or to a caregiver including, but not limited to, the information required by Section 44-130-30(B)(1); (b) the documentation that the pharmacist must maintain regarding the dispensing of the opioid antidote and confirming that the required information was provided to the person at risk or to the caregiver; (c) notification of the person's designated physician or primary care provider that an opioid antidote has been dispensed to that person; (d) any education or training requirements that the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy determine to be necessary for a pharmacist to dispense an opioid antidote pursuant to the joint protocol; (e) guidelines for determining whether an individual is in a position to assist another individual during an overdose and thus may function as a caregiver; and (f) any other provisions determined by the Board of the Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy to be necessary or appropriate for inclusion in the protocol, including any reporting requirements. (4) A pharmacist may not delegate the dispensing of an opioid antidote pursuant to this subsection to a pharmacy intern or a pharmacy technician. (5)(a) All records required by this subsection must be maintained in the pharmacy for a period of at least ten years from the date that the opioid antidote was last dispensed. (b) All documentation, records, and copies required by this subsection may be stored electronically. (6) A pharmacist dispensing an opioid antidote pursuant to this subsection must maintain a current copy of the protocol at the pharmacy where the opioid antidote is dispensed. (7) The Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy may appoint an advisory committee of healthcare professionals licensed in this State to advise and assist in the development of the joint protocol for their consideration. (8) For purposes of this subsection, "caregiver" means a person who is not at risk of an opioid overdose but who, in the judgment of the pharmacist, may be in a position to assist another individual during an overdose and who has received patient overdose information as required by the joint protocol. (C) A pharmacist dispensing an opioid antidote in accordance with the provisions of this section is not as a result of an act or omission subject to civil or criminal liability or to professional disciplinary action. (D) The Veterans Equal Access Amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations passed by the United States Congress provides that: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall authorize physicians and other health care providers employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide recommendations and opinions to veterans who are residents of states with state marijuana programs regarding the participation of veterans in such state marijuana programs." The Department of Health and Environmental Control is directed to study: (1) the possibility that a person experiencing an opioid-related overdose would be decreased if access to cannabis was legally permitted; and (2) the extent to which states have latitude by federal law for a Veterans Affairs' physician licensed in the State of South Carolina to provide a written certification that a veteran would benefit from the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes rather than being prescribed opioids. DHEC shall provide the General Assembly a report on the findings by January 1, 2017.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-3220 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 25 / Section 44-7-3220
SECTION 44-7-3220. Indigent patient services.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, upon approval of the proposed sale or lease of MUSC's facilities and assets, MUSC must maintain the current level of services currently offered to indigent patients at Charleston Memorial Hospital unless the MUSC Board of Trustees approves otherwise.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-4-570 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 4 / Article 5 / Section 44-4-570
SECTION 44-4-570. 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; immunity.
Status: in_force

(A) DHEC, in coordination with the appropriate licensing authority and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, may exercise, for such period as the state of public health emergency exists, in addition to existing emergency powers, the following emergency powers regarding licensing of health personnel: (1) to require in-state health care providers to assist in the performance of vaccination, treatment, examination, or testing of any individual as a condition of licensure, authorization, or the ability to continue to function as a health care provider in this State; (2) to accept the volunteer services of in-state and out-of-state health care providers consistent with Title 8, Chapter 25, to appoint such in-state and out-of-state health care providers as emergency support function volunteers, and to prescribe the duties as may be reasonable and necessary for emergency response; and (3) to authorize the medical examiner or coroner to appoint and prescribe the duties of such emergency assistant medical examiners or coroners as may be required for the proper performance of the duties of the office. (B)(1) The appointment of in-state and out-of-state health care providers pursuant to this section may be for a limited or unlimited time but must not exceed the termination of the state of public health emergency. DHEC may terminate the in-state and out-of-state appointments at any time or for any reason provided that any termination will not jeopardize the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State. (2) The appropriate licensing authority may waive any or all licensing requirements, permits, or fees required by law and applicable orders, rules, or regulations for health care providers from other jurisdictions to practice in this State. (C)(1) Any health care provider appointed by the department pursuant to this section must not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of medical care or treatment including, but not limited to, trauma care and triage assessment, related to the appointment of the health care provider and the prescribed duties unless the damages result from providing, or failing to provide, medical care or treatment under circumstances demonstrating a reckless disregard for the consequences so as to affect the life or health of the patient. (2) This subsection applies if the health care provider does not receive payment from the State other than as allowed in Section 8-25-40 for the appointed services and prescribed duties. However, if the health care provider is an employee of the State, the health care provider may continue to receive compensation from the health care provider's employer. This subsection applies whether the health care provider was paid, should have been paid, or expected to be paid for the services at the time of rendering the services from sources including, but not limited to, Medicaid, Medicare, reimbursement under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 512, et seq., or private health insurance. (D)(1) The appointment of emergency assistant medical examiners or coroners pursuant to this section may be for a limited or unlimited time, but must not exceed the termination of the state of public health emergency. The medical examiner or coroner may terminate the emergency appointments at any time or for any reason, if the termination will not impede the performance of the duties of the office. (2) The medical examiner or coroner may waive any or all licensing requirements, permits, or fees required by law and applicable orders, rules, or regulations for the performance of these duties. (3) Any emergency assistant medical examiner or coroner appointed pursuant to this section is immune from civil liability for damages resulting from services relating to and performed during the period of appointment unless the damages result from providing, or failing to provide, services under circumstances demonstrating a reckless disregard for the consequences.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-320 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 3 / Section 44-7-320
SECTION 44-7-320. Denial, revocation, or suspension of license; penalties.
Status: in_force

(A)(1) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke licenses or assess a monetary penalty, or both, against a person or facility for: (a) violating a provision of this article or departmental regulations; (b) engaging in conduct or practices detrimental to the health or safety of patients, residents, clients, or employees of a facility or service. This provision does not refer to health practices authorized by law; (c) refusing to admit and treat alcoholic and substance abusers, the mentally ill, or persons with intellectual disability, whose admission or treatment has been prescribed by a physician who is a member of the facility's medical staff, or discriminating against alcoholics, the mentally ill, or persons with intellectual disability solely because of the alcoholism, mental illness, or intellectual disability; or (d) failing to allow a team advocacy inspection of a community residential care facility by the South Carolina Protection and Advocacy System for the Handicapped, Inc., as allowed by law. (2) Consideration to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses or assess monetary penalties, or both, is not limited to information relating to the current licensing period but includes consideration of all pertinent information regarding the facility and the applicant. (3) If in the department's judgment conditions or practices exist in a facility that pose an immediate threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents, the department immediately may suspend the facility's license and shall contact the appropriate agencies for placement of the residents. Within five calendar days of the suspension a preliminary hearing must be held to determine if the immediate threatening conditions or practices continue to exist. If they do not, the license must be immediately reinstated. Whether the license is reinstated or suspension remains due to the immediate threatening conditions or practices, the department may proceed with the process for permanent revocation pursuant to this section. (B) Should the department determine to assess a penalty, deny, suspend, or revoke a license, it shall send to the appropriate person or facility, by certified mail, a notice setting forth the particular reasons for the determination. The determination becomes final thirty days after the mailing of the notice, unless the person or facility, within such thirty-day period, requests in writing a contested case hearing before the board, or its designee, pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. On the basis of the contested case hearing, the determination involved must be affirmed, modified, or set aside. Judicial review may be sought in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act. (C) The penalty imposed by the department for violation of this article or its regulations must be not less than one hundred nor more than five thousand dollars for each violation of any of the provisions of this article. Each day's violation is considered a subsequent offense. (D) Failure to pay a penalty within thirty days is grounds for suspension, revocation, or denial of a renewal of a license. A license must not be issued, reissued, or renewed until all penalties finally assessed against a person or facility have been paid. (E) All penalties collected pursuant to this article must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the general fund of the state. Effect of Amendment 2023 Act No. 20, SECTION 5, in (A)(1), deleted former (b), which related to permitting, aiding, or abetting the commission of an unlawful act relating to the securing of a Certificate of Need, and redesignated former (c) to (e) as (b) to (d), respectively; in (D), in the second sentence, substituted "A license must not" for "No license may"; deleted former (E), which prohibited Certificates of Need from being issued to any person or facility until final penalties had been paid, and redesignated former (F) as (E); and made nonsubstantive changes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-79-40 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 79 / Section 44-79-40
SECTION 44-79-40. Prohibited contractual provisions.
Status: in_force

No contract for physical fitness services may: (1) have a duration of longer than twenty-four months, nor a duration measured by the life of the customer, the life of the center, or any similar indefinite term; provided, however, if a center demonstrates financial responsibility to the administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs and has been in operation for five or more years in this State, it may offer contracts for physical fitness services for a duration of up to thirty-six months if approved in writing by the administrator; (2) waive the required provisions of this chapter; (3) provide that a right of action or defense of the customer may be cut off by assignment of the contract to a third person.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-150 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 3 / Section 44-7-150
SECTION 44-7-150. Duties of department.
Status: in_force

(A) In carrying out the purposes of this article, the department shall: (1) require reports and make inspections and investigations as considered necessary; (2) to the extent that is necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article, enter into agreements with other departments, commissions, agencies, and institutions, public or private; (3) adopt in accordance with Article I of the Administrative Procedures Act substantive and procedural regulations considered necessary by the department and approved by the board to carry out the department's licensure duties under this article; (4) accept on behalf of the State and deposit with the State Treasurer, any grant, gift, or contribution made to assist in meeting the cost of carrying out the purpose of this article and expend it for that purpose; and (5) promulgate regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, that establish fees as authorized by this article. (B) Fee schedules authorized by Article 3, Chapter 7, Title 44 that are in effect as of January 1, 2023, shall remain in effect until further regulations are promulgated pursuant to Section 44-7-150 (5), as amended by this act. Effect of Amendment 2023 Act No. 20, SECTION 4, inserted the (A) designator, and in (3), substituted "duties under this article" for "and Certificate of Need duties under this article, including regulations to deal with competing applications", rewrote (5), and made nonsubstantive changes; and added (B).
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-3140 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 25 / Section 44-7-3140
SECTION 44-7-3140. Employee grievances.
Status: in_force

Upon approval of the proposed sale or lease of MUSC's facilities and assets to HCA, HCA shall take the steps necessary to create an employee grievance committee for the review of all employee disciplinary actions and terminations by HCA. The grievance procedure must provide that the final decision in any grievance involving a former MUSC employee rests with the board of directors of MUSC and that the final decision in grievances involving HCA employees rests with the official designated by HCA.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-79-20 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 79 / Section 44-79-20
SECTION 44-79-20. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Physical fitness services" means facilities or services for the development of physical fitness through exercise or weight control. The term includes the facilities and services of health or exercise centers, clubs, studios, or classes; health spas; weight control centers, clinics, or studios; figure salons; tanning centers; and athletic or sport clubs. It does not include rehabilitative therapy administered by a licensed physical therapist. (2) "Customer" or "member" means a person who contracts for the use of physical fitness services. (3) "Major facility" means swimming pool, whirlpool, tennis courts, racquet or handball courts, indoor or outdoor track, gymnasium with exercise equipment, calisthenic room, or similar collection of physical fitness equipment. (4) "Major service" means locations which have offices, treatment rooms, or counseling rooms but no major facilities and other treatments, visits, or sessions to reduce and control weight. (5) "Center" means any person or organization which, for profit, offers physical fitness services, whether at multiple outlets bearing the same name or a single outlet. Any subsidiary of a center, operating under the same name and offering such services, is a part of the center. (6) "Outlet" means a separate location of a center which is not physically connected with another center but which uses the same name. (7) "Administrator" means the administrator of the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-61-710 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 61 / Article 7 / Section 44-61-710
SECTION 44-61-710. Purpose.
Status: in_force

In order to protect the public through verification of competency and ensure accountability for patient care-related activities all states license emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, such as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs and paramedics. This compact is intended to facilitate the day-to-day movement of EMS personnel across state boundaries in the performance of their EMS duties as assigned by an appropriate authority and authorize state EMS offices to afford immediate legal recognition to EMS personnel licensed in a member state. This compact recognizes that states have a vested interest in protecting the public's health and safety through their licensing and regulation of EMS personnel and that such state regulation shared among the member states will best protect public health and safety. This compact is designed to achieve the following purposes and objectives: (1) increase public access to EMS personnel; (2) enhance the states' ability to protect the public's health and safety, especially patient safety; (3) encourage the cooperation of member states in the areas of EMS personnel licensure and regulation; (4) support licensing of military members who are separating from an active duty tour and their spouses; (5) facilitate the exchange of information between member states regarding EMS personnel licensure, adverse action, and significant investigatory information; (6) promote compliance with the laws governing EMS personnel practice in each member state; and (7) invest all member states with the authority to hold EMS personnel accountable through the mutual recognition of member state licenses.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-6-730 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 6 / Article 6 / Section 44-6-730
SECTION 44-6-730. Promulgation of regulations to implement article and comply with federal law; amendment of state Medicaid plan consistent with article.
Status: in_force

The State Health and Human Services Finance Commission shall promulgate regulations as are necessary for the implementation of this article and as are necessary to comply with federal law. In addition, the commission shall amend the state Medicaid plan in a manner that is consistent with this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-70-70 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 70 / Section 44-70-70
SECTION 44-70-70. Random drug testing.
Status: in_force

A licensed in-home provider and an individual employed as an in-home caregiver by a licensed in-home care provider are subject to random drug testing.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-43-60 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 43 / Article 2 / Section 44-43-60
SECTION 44-43-60. Citation of article.
Status: in_force

This article may be cited as the Bone Marrow Donor Act.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-41-35 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 41 / Article 1 / Section 44-41-35
SECTION 44-41-35. Failure to obtain required consent.
Status: in_force

Failure to obtain required consent constitutes prima facie evidence of interference with family relations in appropriate civil actions. The law of this State does not preclude the award of exemplary damages in an appropriate civil action relevant to violations concerning a minor. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the common law rights of parents.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-122-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 122 / Section 44-122-30
SECTION 44-122-30. Distribution of money appropriated to fund; evaluation of effectiveness; prohibited uses; delegation of county government responsibilities; conditions.
Status: in_force

(A) Ten percent of the money appropriated annually to the fund by the General Assembly is to be used by the department to evaluate the effectiveness of each initiative and the fund as specified in Section 44-122-60. The remaining money must be distributed by the department to each county government in the following manner: (1) fifteen percent of the money appropriated must be allocated evenly among all counties; (2) fifteen percent of the money appropriated must be allocated to counties based on the size of their adolescent population; (3) twenty percent of the money appropriated must be allocated to counties based on their rate of adolescent pregnancy; (4) forty percent of the funds appropriated must be allocated to counties based on their number of adolescent pregnancies. A county government may retain up to five percent of the money it receives to cover the actual costs of administering the fund. All other funds must be allocated for initiatives mainly focused on primary pregnancy prevention. (B) Money appropriated to the fund must not be used for: (1) purchase of inpatient care; (2) purchase or improvement of land; (3) purchase, construction, or permanent improvement of any building or other facility; (4) purchase of any item of major equipment costing over two thousand dollars; (5) transportation to or from abortion services; (6) abortions; or (7) provision of goods or services to a participant in a local project or initiative that exceeds fifty dollars per participant per year; counseling and guidance as well as any service of nonmonetary value are exempt from the fifty dollar limit. (C) If the governing body of a county chooses not to assume the responsibilities and duties assigned to county governments by this chapter: (1) the governing body may designate an agency or organization to assume those responsibilities and duties; or (2) in the absence of designation by the governing body, the department may designate another agency or organization within the county to assume those responsibilities and duties. (D) If a county government uses money it receives pursuant to subsection (A) in a manner not expressly authorized by this chapter, the department may designate another agency or organization within the county to assume those responsibilities and duties, or reallocate that county's funds among compliant counties in accordance with the formula prescribed in subsection (A). (E) If a county fails to fund an initiative during any fiscal year, the funds allocated to that county shall be reallocated in the following year, in accordance with the formula prescribed in subsection (A). (F) Funds allocated subsequent to the 1998 appropriation will be subject to the following conditions: New initiatives and initiatives receiving continuation of funds beyond the third year must incorporate either a nationally recognized best practices model for teen pregnancy prevention, or a model that has demonstrated a record of local success in reducing adolescent pregnancy or the risk factors that contribute to adolescent pregnancy in South Carolina during the previous funding period as reflected in the evaluation or the summary progress reports. (G) The department, on recommendation of the evaluator, will determine if the conditions described above are met before the department disseminates new funds or continuation of funds beyond the third year, in accordance with Section 44-122-30(A). (H) Funding for an initiative shall be terminated if the evaluator notifies the department and the county government that an initiative substantially deviates from the approved project design, including timelines.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-99-60 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 99 / Section 44-99-60
SECTION 44-99-60. Immunity.
Status: in_force

(A) An authorized entity that possesses and makes available epinephrine auto-injectors, and its employees, agents, and other individuals, a health care practitioner that prescribes or dispenses epinephrine auto-injectors to an authorized entity, a pharmacist or health care practitioner that dispenses epinephrine auto-injectors to an authorized entity, a third party that facilitates the availability of epinephrine auto-injectors to an authorized entity, the department or other state agency engaged in approving training or in providing guidance to implement this chapter, and an individual or entity that conducts the training described in Section 44-99-50, are not liable for any injuries or related damages that result from any act or omission taken pursuant to this chapter; however, this immunity does not apply to acts or omissions constituting negligence, gross negligence, or wilful, wanton, or reckless disregard for the safety of others or for an act or omission that is performed while the individual is impaired by alcohol or drugs. (B) The administration of an epinephrine auto-injector in accordance with this chapter is not the practice of medicine or any other profession that otherwise requires licensure. (C) This chapter does not eliminate, limit, or reduce any other immunities or defenses that may be available pursuant to state law, including those available pursuant to Section 15-1-310 and Chapter 78, Title 15. (D) An entity located in this State is not liable for any injuries or related damages that result from the provision or administration of an epinephrine auto-injector outside of this State if the entity: (1) would not have been liable for the injuries or related damages had the provision or administration occurred within this State; or (2) is not liable for the injuries or related damages under the law of the state in which such provision or administration occurred.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-1210 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 53 / Article 11 / Section 44-53-1210
SECTION 44-53-1210. Definitions.
Status: in_force

The term "dangerous caustic or corrosive substance" means each and all of the acids, alkalis and substances named below: (1) Hydrochloric acid and any preparation containing free or chemically unneutralized hydrochloric acid (HCL) in a concentration of ten per cent or more; (2) Sulphuric acid and any preparation containing free or chemically unneutralized sulphuric acid (H2SO4) in a concentration of ten per cent or more; (3) Nitric acid or any preparation containing free or chemically unneutralized nitric acid (HNO3) in a concentration of five per cent or more; (4) Carbolic acid, otherwise known as phenol, and any preparation containing carbolic acid or phenol in a concentration of five per cent or more; (5) Oxalic acid and any preparation containing free or chemically unneutralized oxalic acid (H2C2O4) in a concentration of ten per cent or more; (6) Any salt or oxalic acid and any preparation containing any such salt in a concentration of ten per cent or more; (7) Acetic acid or any preparation containing free or chemically unneutralized acetic acid (HC2H3O2) in a concentration of twenty per cent or more; (8) Hypochlorous acid, either free or combined, including calx chlorinata, bleaching powder, chloride of lime, chlorinated soda, chlorinated potash and any preparation containing any of the aforesaid substances so as to yield a concentration of ten per cent or more of available chlorine; (9) Potassium hydroxide and any preparation containing free or chemically unneutralized potassium hydroxide (KOH), including caustic potash and vienna paste, in a concentration of ten per cent or more; (10) Sodium hydroxide and any preparation containing free or chemically unneutralized sodium hydroxide (NaOH), including caustic soda and lye, in a concentration of ten per cent or more; (11) Silver nitrate, sometimes known as lunar caustic, and any preparation containing silver nitrate (AgNO3) in a concentration of five per cent or more; (12) Ammonia water and any preparation yielding free or chemically uncombined ammonia (NH3), including ammonium hydroxide and "hartshorn," in a concentration of five per cent or more; and (13) Any other alkali, acid, salt or preparation thereof having caustic or corrosive properties equivalent to those of any of the alkalis, acids, salts and preparations named above. The term "misbranded parcel, package or container" means a retail parcel, package or container of any dangerous caustic or corrosive substance for household use, not bearing a conspicuous easily legible label or sticker, containing: (1) The name of the article; (2) The name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, seller or distributor; (3) The word "POISON" running parallel with the main body of reading matter on the label or sticker, on a clear plain background of a distinctly contrasting color, in uncondensed gothic capital letters, the letters to be not less than twenty-four-point size unless there is on the label no other type so large, in which event the type shall not be smaller than the largest type on the label; and (4) Directions for treatment in case of accidental personal injury by the dangerous caustic or corrosive substance.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-54-70 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 54 / Section 44-54-70
SECTION 44-54-70. Responsibility for damages; level of offense.
Status: in_force

Any person whose participation in the marketing of illegal controlled substances constitutes any of the following levels of offense shall be subject to a rebuttable presumption of responsibility in the following amounts: (1) for a level one offense, twenty-five percent of the damages; (2) for a level two offense, fifty percent of the damages; (3) for a level three offense, seventy-five percent of the damages; or (4) for a level four offense, one hundred percent of the damages.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-1880 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 13 / Section 44-7-1880
SECTION 44-7-1880. Disposition of revenues.
Status: in_force

All revenues derived by the district from the operation of any revenue-producing facility which may not be required to discharge covenants made by it in issuing bonds, notes or other obligations as authorized herein shall be held, disposed of or expended by the board for purposes germane to the functions and purposes of the district.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-8-50 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 8 / Section 44-8-50
SECTION 44-8-50. Parental exemption form; acceptance in place of Acknowledgment of Dental Screening.
Status: in_force

A screening must be performed for students in the targeted counties of need unless a parent or guardian completes an exemption form provided to them by the school. The school shall accept a parental exemption form in place of the Acknowledgment of Dental Screening.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-117-50 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 117 / Article 1 / Section 44-117-50
SECTION 44-117-50. Application; certain laws and authority not invalidated.
Status: in_force

This chapter does not invalidate: (a) any other provision of law concerning medical records or patient prescription drug information, the alteration of medical records or patient prescription drug information, any interest a patient has in the information contained within the medical record or patient prescription drug information, or any civil action brought in the state or federal courts alleging negligence by a practitioner or pharmacist; (b) the authority of a court to issue a subpoena for medical records and patient prescription drug information; (c) the authority of a licensing or disciplinary board of this State to obtain these records as provided by law; or (d) the authority of the Department of Health and Environmental Control to obtain medical records or patient prescription drug information as provided by state and federal law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-20-440 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 20 / Article 3 / Section 44-20-440
SECTION 44-20-440. Admission of client upon request of parent, spouse, lawful custodian or legal guardian, or upon request of applicant.
Status: in_force

Subject to the availability of suitable services and programs and subject to the provisions of "Requirement for Admission to Services", "Order in which Person May be Admitted", and "Final Authority over Eligibility", the office director or his designee may admit a client to the services of the office upon the written request of the parents of the person with intellectual disability, a related disability, head injury, or spinal cord injury, a parent with legal custody, spouse, lawful custodian or legal guardian, or the person with intellectual disability, a related disability, head injury, or spinal cord injury seeking to be admitted to the office's services if the person is twenty-one years of age or over and competent to make the decision. The office shall prescribe the form of the application for services. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-56-450 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 56 / Article 4 / Section 44-56-450
SECTION 44-56-450. Environmental surcharge.
Status: repealed

(A)(1) An environmental surcharge equal to one percent of the gross proceeds of sales of laundering and drycleaning services is imposed upon every owner or operator of a retail drycleaning facility or a dry drop-off facility. Exempt from the environmental surcharge imposed in this section are: (a) drycleaning facilities that possess a drycleaning facility exemption certificate issued pursuant to Section 44-56-425; (b) dry drop-off facilities exempt pursuant to Section 44-56-425(D); and (c) wholesale sales of drycleaning services provided to another drycleaning facility or a dry drop-off facility. (2) At any time the uncommitted balance of the fund account exceeds five million dollars, the one percent of the gross proceeds of sales of drycleaning surcharge is suspended until that time the uncommitted balance of the trust fund account becomes less than one million dollars. The department is responsible for notifying the Department of Revenue when these amounts have been reached. The suspension of the environmental surcharge occurs at the end of the month in which the Department of Revenue is notified by the department. The lifting of the suspension occurs on the first day of the month following the month in which the Department of Revenue is notified by the department. (B) The surcharge imposed by this section is due and payable on the twentieth day of each month for the preceding month. The Department of Revenue may authorize the quarterly, semiannual, or annual payment of this surcharge. The surcharge must be reported on forms and in the manner determined by the Department of Revenue. Editor's Note 2004 Act No. 237, SECTION 11, provides in part as follows: "The repeal or amendment of a code section by this act does not release or extinguish any tax, fee, interest, penalty, forfeiture, or liability for any period prior to the repeal or amendment. The repealed or amended code section or act must be treated as remaining in force for the purpose of sustaining any proper action or prosecution for the enforcement of the tax, fee, interest, penalty, forfeiture, or liability." 2009 Act No. 14 SECTION 2, provides as follows: "This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor; however, the amendments to the impositions of the surcharges and fees imposed pursuant to Sections 44-56-430(A), 44-56-470(A), 44-56-480(A), and 44-56-480(D) of the 1976 Code, as amended in Section 1 of this act, take effect March 1, 2010." Prior Laws: Former SECTION 44-56-450 was titled Reporting of discharged drycleaning solvent causing contamination, and had the following history: 1995 Act No. 119, SECTION 1; 2004 Act No. 237, SECTION 6, eff May 24, 2004; 2009 Act No. 14, SECTION 1, eff May 6, 2009.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-6-115 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 6 / Article 1 / Section 44-6-115
SECTION 44-6-115. Covered Medicaid pharmacy services.
Status: in_force

(A) Pharmacy services are a benefit under South Carolina Medicaid, subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The department shall establish a fee schedule for the list of pharmacy services. (B)(1) The following services are covered pharmacy services that may be provided to a Medicaid beneficiary: (a) dispensing self-administered hormonal contraceptives, as outlined and authorized in Section 40-43-230; and (b) administering injectable hormonal contraceptives, as outlined and authorized in Section 40-43-230. (2) Covered pharmacy services shall be subject to department protocols and utilization controls. (C) A pharmacist shall be enrolled as an ordering, referring, and dispensing provider under the Medicaid program prior to rendering a pharmacist service that is submitted by a Medicaid pharmacy provider for reimbursement pursuant to this section. (D) The director of the department shall seek any necessary federal approvals to implement this section. This section shall not be implemented until the necessary federal approvals are obtained and shall be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation is available. (E) This section does not restrict or prohibit any services currently provided by pharmacists as authorized by law including, but not limited to, this chapter or the Medicaid state plan. Editor's Note 2022 Act No. 210, SECTIONS 1, 4, and 6, provide as follows: "SECTION 1. This act shall be referred to as the 'Pharmacy Access Act'." "SECTION 4. The Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy must issue a written joint protocol pursuant to Section 40-43-240 not later than six months after the passage of this act." "SECTION 6. Except as otherwise specifically provided, this act takes effect upon the issuance of a written joint protocol pursuant to SECTION 4 of this act." The written joint protocol was issued on November 16, 2022.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-21-10 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 21 / Section 44-21-10
SECTION 44-21-10. Legislative intent; intent of program; guiding principles.
Status: in_force

(A) It is the intent of the General Assembly that individuals with intellectual disability or related disabilities or head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or similar disabilities and their families be afforded supports that emphasize community living and enable them to enjoy typical lifestyles. One way to do this is to recognize that families are the greatest resource available to individuals with intellectual disability or related disabilities or head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or similar disabilities and that families must be supported in their role as primary caregivers. The General Assembly finds that supporting individuals and families in their effort to care for themselves or their family members at home is more efficient, cost-effective, and sensitive than maintaining people with intellectual disability or related disabilities in out-of-home residential settings. (B) The intent of the Family Support Services Program provided for in this chapter is to assist individuals with disabilities and their families who desire or choose to support a family member with intellectual disability or a related disability or head injury, spinal cord injury, or similar disability in their home. The program is not meant to create a hardship on a family by supplanting or diverting access from other appropriate or necessary services. It is recognized that persons with intellectual disability or related disabilities or head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or similar disabilities have the right to receive services from public and other agencies that provide services to South Carolina citizens and to have those services coordinated with the services needed because of their disabilities. It is the position of this State that children and adults have the right to live with their families. The individual's and family's circumstances and desires must be taken into account when considering the appropriate types of services or supports which can best meet the needs of the individual and family. (C) In recognition of the importance of families, the following principles must be used as guidelines in developing services to support families: (1) Families and individuals with intellectual disability or related disabilities or head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or similar disabilities are best able to determine their own needs and should be able to make decisions concerning necessary, desirable, and appropriate services. (2) Individuals and families should receive the support necessary to care for themselves or their family member at home. (3) Family support is needed throughout the lifespan of an individual with intellectual disability or related disabilities or head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or similar disabilities. (4) Family support services should be sensitive to the unique needs, strengths, and values of the individuals and the family and should be responsive to the needs of the entire family. (5) Family support should build on existing social networks and natural sources of support and should encourage community integration. (6) Family support services should be provided in a manner that develop comprehensive, responsive, and flexible support to individuals and families as their needs evolve over time. (7) Family support services should be coordinated across the numerous agencies likely to provide resources and services to individuals and families and should be provided equitably across the State. (8) Family, individual, and community-based services should be based on the principles of sharing ordinary places, developing meaningful relationships, learning things that are useful, making choices, as well as promoting an individual's self-esteem. (9) Family support services should be sufficient to enable families to keep their family members with intellectual disability or related disabilities or head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or similar disabilities at home or be sufficient to enable the individual with a disability to remain at home. (10) Services provided through the Family Support Program must be coordinated closely with services received from public and other agencies and shall foster collaboration and cooperation with all agencies providing services to individuals with intellectual disability or related disabilities or head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or similar disabilities. (D) The General Assembly recognizes that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities' Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for several years has developed and maintained a family support program that provides support services to some families with members with intellectual disability. The success of this program demonstrates the need and value of family support services. More families in the State should be able to receive appropriate services and assistance needed to stabilize the family unit. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-71-60 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 71 / Section 44-71-60
SECTION 44-71-60. Regulations.
Status: in_force

The department shall promulgate regulations which define needs, services, and standards for the care, treatment, health, safety, welfare, and comfort of patients and their families served by hospices, including hospice facilities, primary offices, and multiple locations, and for the maintenance and operation of hospices, including hospice facilities, primary offices, and multiple locations, which will promote safe and adequate care and treatment of the patients and their families. Effect of Amendment 2017 Act No. 61, SECTION 1, inserted ", including hospice facilities, primary offices, and multiple locations, and" and "primary offices, and multiple locations,".
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-395 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 53 / Article 3 / Section 44-53-395
SECTION 44-53-395. Prohibited acts; penalties.
Status: in_force

(A) It shall be unlawful: (1) for any practitioner to issue any prescription document signed in blank. The issuance of such document signed in blank shall be prima facie evidence of a conspiracy to violate this section. The possession of prescription document signed in blank by a person other than the person whose signature appears thereon shall be deemed prima facie evidence of a conspiracy between the possessor and the signer to violate the provisions of this section; (2) for any person other than a practitioner registered with the Department under this article to possess a blank prescription not completed and signed by the practitioner whose name appears printed thereon; (3) for any person to withhold the information from a practitioner that such person is obtaining controlled substances of like therapeutic use in a concurrent time period from another practitioner. (B) Any person who knowingly and intentionally violates this section a first time shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a term of imprisonment for not more than two years or by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars, or both. Any person who knowingly and intentionally violates this section a second or subsequent time shall be deemed guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by a term of imprisonment for not more than five years.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-29-210 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 29 / Section 44-29-210
SECTION 44-29-210. Physicians, licensed nurses, and certain authorized public health employees participating in mass immunization projects exempt from liability; exceptions.
Status: in_force

(A) If the Board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control or the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control approves in writing a mass immunization project to be administered in any part of this State in cooperation with an official or volunteer medical or health agency, any authorized employee of the agency, any physician who does not receive compensation for his services in the project, and any licensed nurse who participates in the project, except as provided in subsection (B), is not liable to any person for illness, reaction, or adverse effect arising from or out of the use of any drug or vaccine administered in the project by the employee, physician, or nurse. Neither the board nor the director may approve the project unless either finds that the project conforms to good medical and public health practice. For purposes of this section, a person is considered to be an authorized employee of an official or volunteer medical or health agency if he has received the necessary training for and approval of the department for participation in the project. (B) Nothing in this section exempts any physician, licensed nurse, or authorized public health employee participating in any mass immunization project from liability for gross negligence, and the provisions of this section do not exempt any drug manufacturer from any liability for any drug or vaccine used in the project.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-11-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 11 / Section 44-11-30
SECTION 44-11-30. Establishment, purpose, and admission requirements of South Carolina Veterans Home.
Status: in_force

The South Carolina Mental Health Commission, in mutual agreement with the authorities of the United States Veterans Administration, may establish South Carolina veterans homes to be located on grounds owned by the Department of Mental Health. The purpose of these homes is to provide treatment for South Carolina veterans who are mentally ill or whose physical condition requires long-term nursing care. Admission requirements to these homes are the same as any other facility operated by the department except that the patients at these facilities must be South Carolina veterans. The South Carolina Mental Health Commission is designated as the agency of the State to apply for and to accept gifts, grants, and other contributions from the federal government or from any other governmental unit for the operation and construction of South Carolina veterans homes. The South Carolina Mental Health Commission shall consult with the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Office of the Governor, concerning the policies, management, and operation of the South Carolina veterans homes. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2019 Act No. 26, SECTION 4(C), references to the Division of Veterans' Affairs were changed to reflect the transfer of it to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-93-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 93 / Section 44-93-30
SECTION 44-93-30. Regulations, procedures, and standards.
Status: in_force

The department shall promulgate regulations, procedures, or standards necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and to protect the health and safety of the public, the health of living organisms and the environment from the effects of improper, inadequate, or unsound infectious waste management. The regulations must address, without limitation, criteria for determining whether waste is within the definition of infectious waste, standards for containment, storage, and treatment of infectious waste, report and recordkeeping requirements, procedures and requirements for registration as generators, facilities, and transporters of infectious waste, and for conditions and issuance of permits.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-6-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 6 / Article 1 / Section 44-6-30
SECTION 44-6-30. Duties and limitations.
Status: in_force

The department shall: (1) administer Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid), including the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Program, and the Community Long-Term Care System; (2) be designated as the South Carolina Center for Health Statistics to operate the Cooperative Health Statistics Program pursuant to the Public Health Services Act; (3) be prohibited from engaging in the delivery of services.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-24-250 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 24 / Section 44-24-250
SECTION 44-24-250. Consultation with parent or guardian; participation in or cooperation with treatment.
Status: in_force

A parent or guardian of a child admitted to a treatment program or facility is entitled and expected to confer at reasonable intervals with the treating physician, psychologist, or other members of the treatment team concerning the child's condition, treatment, or diagnosis. The treatment facility may request that the parent or guardian of a child hospitalized or treated must be available for consultation and cooperation in connection with the treatment process. The treatment facility may request that the court, as part of the relief ordered in the commitment proceedings, order the guardian or parents to cooperate with the treatment process if they have been party to the action.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-139-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 139 / Section 44-139-30
SECTION 44-139-30. Right of conscience; no liability for exercising right; limitations; referrals.
Status: in_force

(A) A medical practitioner, health care institutions, and health care payers have the right not to participate in or pay for any health care service which violates the practitioner's or entity's conscience. (B) No medical practitioner, health care institutions, and health care payers may be civilly, criminally, or administratively liable for exercising the practitioner's or entity's right of conscience with respect to a health care service. No health care institution may be civilly, criminally, or administratively liable for any claims related to or arising out of the exercise of conscience rights protected by this chapter by a medical practitioner employed, contracted, or granted admitting privileges by the health care institution. (C) No medical practitioner, health care institutions, and health care payers may be discriminated against in any manner as a primary result of the practitioner's or entity's decision to decline to participate in a health care service on the basis of conscience. (D) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, a religious medical practitioner, health care institutions, and health care payers that hold themselves out to the public as religious, state in their governing documents that they have a religious purpose or mission, and have internal operating policies or procedures that implement their religious beliefs, have the right to make employment, staffing, contracting, and admitting privilege decisions consistent with their religious beliefs. (E) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to override either the requirement to provide emergency medical treatment to all patients as set forth in 42 U.S.C. Section 1395dd or any other federal law or regulation. (F) Exercise of the right of conscience is limited to conscience-based objections to a particular health care service. This section may not be construed to waive or modify any duty a health care practitioner, health care institutions, and health care payers may have to provide other medical services that do not violate the practitioner's, institution's, or payer's conscience. (G) A medical practitioner exercising his right of conscience to abstain from providing certain health care services pursuant to this chapter may, at his sole discretion and if requested by the patient or legal representative of the patient: (1) refer the patient to; (2) transfer the patient to; or (3) provide information to the patient about other medical practitioners or health care institutions who they reasonably believe may offer the health care service that the medical practitioner or health care institution does not to permit, perform, or participate in because of a conscience-based objection to a health care service.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-2040 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 53 / Article 20 / Section 44-53-2040
SECTION 44-53-2040. Violations; penalties.
Status: in_force

A retailer found to be in violation of Section 44-53-2020 or 44-53-2030, or a regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this article, is subject to a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for a first offense and a civil penalty of not more than two thousand dollars for a second or subsequent offense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-31-320 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 31 / Article 5 / Section 44-31-320
SECTION 44-31-320. Examination of prisoners or inmates by physician.
Status: in_force

The county supervisor or sheriff of any county, when a prisoner or inmate is placed in his custody who the official has reason to suspect is suffering with tuberculosis, shall have such prisoner or inmate examined by a physician and if such prisoner or inmate shall be pronounced by the examining physician as a tuberculous person, then the prisoner or inmate shall be placed in the separate cell, room or place provided for by Section 44-31-310.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-61-40 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 61 / Article 1 / Section 44-61-40
SECTION 44-61-40. Required licenses and permits; applications; requirement to retain medical control physician; renewals.
Status: in_force

(A) A person, firm, corporation, association, county, district, municipality, or metropolitan government or agency, either as owner, agent, or otherwise, may not furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise, or otherwise engage in or profess to engage in the business or service of providing emergency medical response or ambulance service, or both, without obtaining a license and ambulance permit issued by the department. Failure to furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise, or otherwise engage in or profess to engage in the business or service of providing emergency medical response or ambulance service without the proper license or permit, or both, from the department results in a Class I civil penalty, as defined in Regulation 61-7(304). (B) Applicants shall file license applications with the appropriate official of the department having authority over emergency services. At a minimum, license applications shall contain evidence of ability to conform to the standards and regulations established by the board and such other information as may be required by the department. If the application is approved, the license will be issued. If the application is disapproved, the applicant may appeal in a manner pursuant to Article 3, Chapter 23, Title 1. (C) An applicant shall retain a medical control physician to maintain quality control of the patient care provided by the applicant's service. No medical control physician acting in good faith who participates in the review or evaluation of the services provided by the applicant to help improve the quality of patient care is liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission by the physician in the course of a review or evaluation. (D) Applicants shall renew licenses and permits every two years.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-55-690 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 55 / Article 7 / Section 44-55-690
SECTION 44-55-690. Installation of temporary septic tanks.
Status: in_force

The county board of health may permit and approve the installation of temporary septic tanks in the case of unusual, temporary or emergency conditions. Such temporary septic tank shall be constructed and installed in accordance with the specifications, rules and regulations promulgated by the county board of health relating to the use of such tanks, and the board may determine the period of time for which such temporary septic tank may be used.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-41-360 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 41 / Article 3 / Section 44-41-360
SECTION 44-41-360. Preservation of anonymity of woman having abortion.
Status: in_force

In every proceeding or action brought under this article, the court shall rule whether the anonymity of any woman upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted shall be preserved from public disclosure if she does not give her consent to such a disclosure. The court, upon motion of any person or upon its own motion, shall make such a ruling and, upon determining that her anonymity be preserved, shall issue orders to the parties, witnesses, and counsel, and shall direct the sealing of the record and exclusion of individuals from courtrooms or hearing rooms to the extent necessary to safeguard her identity from public disclosure. Each order under this section must be accompanied by specific written findings explaining why the anonymity of the woman should be preserved from public disclosure, why the order is essential to that end, how the order is narrowly tailored to serve that interest, and why no reasonable, less restrictive alternative exists. This section may not be construed to conceal the identity of the plaintiff or of the prosecutrix or of witnesses from the defendant or to abridge or deny the defendant's ability to conduct discovery under applicable rules of court or the defendant's right to a trial by jury or to cross examination.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-52-50 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 52 / Section 44-52-50
SECTION 44-52-50. Procedure for emergency admission.
Status: in_force

Any adult person who believes that a person is chemically dependent and in need of emergency care and treatment may complete a written affidavit under oath stating: (1) that he believes the person is suffering from chemical dependency and, as a result of his condition, poses a substantial risk of physical harm to himself or others if not immediately provided with emergency care and treatment; (2) the specific harm thought probable, and the factual basis for this belief; (3) that he believes the person is incapable of exercising judgment concerning emergency care. The affidavit must be accompanied by a written certificate of a licensed physician stating that he has examined the person within forty-eight hours prior to his admission, and is of the opinion, for stated reasons, that the person is a chemically dependent person and that the immediacy of the situation and consideration of safety do not allow initiation of judicial proceedings for involuntary commitment under Section 44-52-70. If a person refuses to submit to an examination, or may not be examined because his whereabouts are unknown or for any other reason, the person seeking emergency admission shall execute a written affidavit stating that he believes the person to be chemically dependent, and because of this condition, poses a substantial risk of harm to himself or others if not immediately hospitalized, the grounds for the belief, and that the usual procedure for examination may not be followed and the reason therefor. Upon presentation of the affidavit, the court may issue an order requiring any law enforcement officer to take a person into custody for a period not exceeding twenty-four hours. The order expires seventy-two hours after it was issued, and if the person is not taken into custody within those seventy-two hours, the order is no longer valid. During the detention he must be examined by a licensed physician. If within the twenty-four hours the person in custody is not examined by a licensed physician or, if upon examination, the physician does not execute the certificate required, the proceedings must be terminated and the individual in custody must be immediately released. The written certificate and affidavit shall authorize and require any law enforcement officer to transport the person to a treatment facility if confirmation has been obtained from the treatment facility that a bed is available. A person taken into custody for emergency admission may not be placed in a jail or other correctional facility except for protective custody purposes and only while awaiting transportation to a treatment facility. Any friend or relative may transport the person to a treatment facility, provided such friend or relative has read and signed a statement on the certificate which clearly states that it is the responsibility of a law enforcement officer to provide timely transportation for the person and that the friend or relative freely chooses to assume such responsibility. A friend or relative who chooses to transport the person shall not be entitled to reimbursement from the State for the cost of such transportation. Any officer acting in accordance with the provisions of this article shall be immune from civil liability. A copy of the written certificate and affidavit must be personally served upon the person upon admission to the facility, and a copy must be maintained in the person's medical record at the facility. The person must be examined by a physician within twenty-four hours of admission, and may be given emergency treatment as the examining physician considers necessary. The facility shall make every reasonable effort to notify the person's next of kin regarding his admission to the facility.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-96-235 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 96 / Article 1 / Section 44-96-235
SECTION 44-96-235. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this chapter or application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, for any reason, be judged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter or its application to other persons or circumstances.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-29-110 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 29 / Section 44-29-110
SECTION 44-29-110. No discharge from confinement until cured of sexually transmitted disease; subsequent treatment.
Status: in_force

No person suffering from any of the sexually transmitted diseases described in Section 44-29-60 may be discharged from confinement unless he is pronounced cured of the disease by a state, county, or municipal health officer or, if no cure is available, upon the recommendation of the Department of Health and Environmental Control. If any person is released before a complete cure of the sexually transmitted disease of which he is suffering, the department shall direct the individual as to whom to report for further treatment, and failure to report at the stated intervals as directed, in each instance, constitutes a violation of the provisions of Sections 44-29-60 to 44-29-140 and subjects him, upon conviction, to the penalty set forth in Section 44-29-140.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-20-360 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 20 / Article 3 / Section 44-20-360
SECTION 44-20-360. Midlands Center, Coastal Center, Pee Dee Center, and Whitten Center designated as independent school districts.
Status: in_force

(A) The physical boundaries of Midlands Center, Coastal Center, Pee Dee Center, and Whitten Center are designated as independent school districts. These facilities may elect to participate in the usual activities of the districts, to receive state and federal aid, and to utilize other benefits enjoyed by independent school districts in general. (B) The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities operates as the board of trustees for these districts for administrative purposes, including the receipt and expenditure of funds granted to these districts for any purpose. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-107-30 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 107 / Section 44-107-30
SECTION 44-107-30. Certification that drug-free conditions exist required for eligibility for certain state grants and contracts.
Status: in_force

No person, other than an individual, may receive a domestic grant or be awarded a domestic contract for the procurement of any goods, construction, or services for a stated or estimated value of fifty thousand dollars or more from any state agency unless the person has certified to the using agency that it will provide a drug-free workplace by: (1) publishing a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the person's workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of the prohibition; (2) establishing a drug-free awareness program to inform employees about: (a) the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace; (b) the person's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace; (c) any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs; and (d) the penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug violations; (3) making it a requirement that each employee to be engaged in the performance of the contract be given a copy of the statement required by item (1); (4) notifying the employee in the statement required by item (1) that, as a condition of employment on the contract or grant, the employee will: (a) abide by the terms of the statement; and (b) notify the employer of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five days after the conviction; (5) notifying the using agency within ten days after receiving notice under item (4)(b) from an employee or otherwise receiving actual notice of the conviction; (6) imposing a sanction on, or requiring the satisfactory participation in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program by, any employee convicted as required by Section 44-107-50; and (7) making a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6).
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-107-60 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 107 / Section 44-107-60
SECTION 44-107-60. Conditions justifying suspension or termination of state grant or contract.
Status: in_force

Each domestic contract or domestic grant awarded by a state agency is subject to suspension of payments or termination or both, and the contractor or grantee under the contract or grant or the individual who entered the contract with or received the grant from the state agency, as applicable, is subject to suspension or debarment in accordance with Section 11-35-4220 if the appropriate Chief Procurement Officer, as defined in Section 11-35-310(5), determines that: (1) the contractor or grantee has made a false certification under Section 44-107-30 or 44-107-40; (2) the contractor or grantee violates the certification by failing to carry out the requirements of Section 44-107-30(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6); (3) the contractor or grantee does not take appropriate remedial action against employees convicted on drug offenses as specified in Section 44-107-50; or (4) the number of employees of the contractor or grantee who have been convicted of violations of criminal drug statutes for violations occurring in the workplace reasonably indicates that the contractor or grant recipient has failed to make a good faith effort to provide a drug-free workplace as required by this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-54-80 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 54 / Section 44-54-80
SECTION 44-54-80. Multiple parties to action; relief according to respective liabilities.
Status: in_force

(A) Two or more persons may join in one action under this chapter as plaintiffs if their respective actions have at least one market for illegal controlled dangerous substances in common and if any portion of the period of use of an illegal controlled dangerous substance is concurrent with the period of use of an illegal controlled dangerous substance for every other plaintiff. (B) Two or more persons may be joined in one action under this chapter as defendants, if those persons are liable to at least one plaintiff. (C) A plaintiff need not participate in obtaining and a defendant need not participate in defending against all of the relief demanded. Judgment may be given for one or more plaintiffs according to their respective rights to relief and against one or more defendants according to their respective liabilities.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-7-370 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 7 / Article 3 / Section 44-7-370
SECTION 44-7-370. Residential Care Committee; Renal Dialysis Advisory Council.
Status: in_force

(A) The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control shall establish a Residential Care Committee to advise the department regarding licensing and inspection of community residential care facilities. (1) The committee consists of the Long Term Care Ombudsman, three operators of homes with ten beds or less, four operators of homes with eleven beds or more, and three members to represent the department appointed by the commissioner for terms of four years. (2) The terms must be staggered and no member may serve more than two consecutive terms. Any person may submit names to the commissioner for consideration. The advisory committee shall meet at least once annually with representatives of the department to evaluate current licensing regulations and inspection practices. Members shall serve without compensation. (B) The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall appoint a Renal Dialysis Advisory Council to advise the department regarding licensing and inspection of renal dialysis centers. The council must be consulted and have the opportunity to review all regulations promulgated by the board affecting renal dialysis prior to submission of the proposed regulations to the General Assembly. (1) The council is composed of a minimum of fourteen persons, one member recommended by the Palmetto Chapter of the American Nephrology Nurses Association; one member recommended by the South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Patients on Hemodialysis and Transplants; three physicians specializing in nephrology recommended by the South Carolina Renal Physicians Association; two administrators of facilities certified for dialysis treatment or kidney transplant services; one member recommended by the South Carolina Kidney Foundation; one member recommended by the South Carolina Hospital Association; one member recommended by the South Carolina Medical Association; one member of the general public; one member representing technicians working in renal dialysis facilities; one member recommended by the Council of Nephrology Social Workers; and one member recommended by the Council of Renal Nutritionists. The directors of dialysis programs at the Medical School of the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina, or their designees, are ex officio members of the council. (2) Members shall serve four-year terms and until their successors are appointed and qualify. No member of council shall serve more than two consecutive terms. The council shall meet as frequently as the board considers necessary, but not less than twice each year. Members shall serve without compensation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-32-100 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 32 / Section 44-32-100
SECTION 44-32-100. Time for compliance.
Status: in_force

On or after October 1, 2000, a person seeking to engage in the business of body piercing shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-117-310 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 117 / Article 3 / Section 44-117-310
SECTION 44-117-310. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this article: (1) "Board" means the State Board of Pharmacy. (2) "Confidential information" has the same meaning as provided in Section 40-43-30. (3) "Digital signature" means an electronic signature based upon cryptographic methods of originator authentication and computed by using a set of rules and set of parameters so that the identity of the signer and the integrity of the data can be verified. (4) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record. (5) "Electronic transmission" means transmission of information by electronic means, including computer to computer, computer to facsimile machine, electronic device to computer, e-mail, or the transmission of the exact visual image of a document by way of electronic equipment. (6) "Practitioner" means a health care professional licensed in this State who is authorized by law to issue prescription drug orders. (7) "Prescription" or "prescription drug order" means a lawful order of a practitioner for a drug or device for a specific patient that is communicated to a pharmacist. (8) "Routing company" means a business that electronically receives a prescription or any other confidential information from a prescriber and transmits the prescription or confidential information to or from the pharmacy specified by the patient in accordance with a contract between the routing company and the prescriber or a company that provides computer software for the management of the prescriber's practice. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, an incorrect reference to subsection in Section 40-43-30 was removed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-410 — SC Code / Title 44 / Chapter 53 / Article 3 / Section 44-53-410
SECTION 44-53-410. Prosecution in another jurisdiction shall be bar to prosecution.
Status: in_force

If a violation of this article is a violation of a Federal law or the law of another state, the conviction or acquittal under Federal law or the law of another state for the same act is a bar to prosecution in this State.