South Carolina 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: In Committee

S 975 — Vaccines and Public Health

Last action — Scrivener's error corrected

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 16-17-780 SO AS TO PROHIBIT BUSINESSES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, COLLEGES, SCHOOLS, AND EMPLOYERS FROM MANDATING THAT EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, STUDENTS, PATRONS, CUSTOMERS, CLIENTS, OR GUESTS MUST RECEIVE A NOVEL VACCINE OR GENE THERAPY; BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-55 SO AS TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYERS FROM TAKING ANY ADVERSE PRE-EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT ACTION AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DECLINES TO RECEIVE A VACCINE OR GENE THERAPY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-86, RELATING TO FACILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PHARMACIST MAY REFUSE TO FILL A PRESCRIPTION DUE TO RELIGIOUS, MORAL, OR ETHICAL REASONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-1-100, RELATING TO ASSISTANCE FROM PEACE AND HEALTH OFFICERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DIRECTOR MAY NOT REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN ENFORCING ORDERS PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-130, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR EMERGENCY HEALTH POWERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-330, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MAY PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTE APPROVED PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-500, RELATING TO CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MUST USE EVERY AVAILABLE MEANS TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE FOR WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY HAS BEEN CALLED; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-510, RELATING TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OR TESTS AND ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE OF PERSONS REFUSING EXAMINATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TESTS MUST BE FDA APPROVED FOR ACCURATE DETECTION OF THE BIOLOGICAL AGENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-520, RELATING TO VACCINATIONS AND TREATMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MAY NOT ISOLATE AN INDIVIDUAL TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF A POSSIBLY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE, BUT ONLY A DISEASE KNOWN TO BE CONTAGIOUS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A VACCINE MUST NOT BE A GENE THERAPY; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-530, RELATING TO ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS AND PENALTY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MAY ISOLATE OR QUARANTINE AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH OR EXPOSED TO THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASE FOR WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-540, RELATING TO ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE PROCEDURES, SO AS TO REMOVE ISOLATION PARAMETERS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-570, RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS REGARDING LICENSING OF HEALTH PERSONNEL, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT IN-STATE HEALTH PROVIDERS MUST ASSIST IN VACCINATIONS, TREATMENTS, AND EXAMINATIONS, AND TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT ANY EMERGENCY ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINER OR CORONER APPOINTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION IS IMMUNE FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THEIR SERVICES.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read S 975 on the official South Carolina source →

Action History

  1. Scrivener's error corrected

  2. Amended

  3. Committee Amendment Adopted

  4. Scrivener's error corrected

  5. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs

  6. Scrivener's error corrected

  7. Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs

  8. Introduced and read first time

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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6 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 164 not signed on · 3 voted No

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (164)

164 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 164 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passage of Bill

Passed 108 Yea · 3 Nay · 13 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1083013
Total 1083013
% of votes cast 87%2%0%10%
How each member voted (124)
Member Party Vote
Bales, Jimmy C., Ed.D. — Yea
Brown, Robert L. — Yea
Clary, Gary E. — Yea
Clemmons, Alan D. — Yea
Forrester, P. Michael — Yea
Funderburk, Laurie Slade — Yea
Mace, Nancy — Yea
McCoy, Peter M., Jr. — Yea
Norrell, Mandy Powers — Yea
Ridgeway, Robert L., III — Yea
Sottile, F. Michael — Yea
Spires, L. Kit — Yea
Tallon, Edward R., Sr. — Yea
Toole, McLain R. — Yea
Mack, David J., III — Not Voting
Chellis, Converse A., IV — Not Voting
Allison, Merita A. — Yea
Bennett, Linda — Yea
Blackwell, Bart T. — Yea
Brawley, Wendy C. — Yea
Bryant, Bruce M. — Yea
Cogswell, William Scott, Jr. — Yea
Cox, Bobby J. — Yea
Cox, Westley P. — Yea
Daning, Joseph S. — Yea
Felder, R. Raye — Not Voting
Finlay, Kirkman, III — Not Voting
Fry, Russell W. — Yea
Henderson-Myers, Rosalyn D. — Yea
Henegan, Patricia Moore — Yea
Hill, Jonathon D. — Nay
Huggins, Chip — Yea
Hyde, Max T., Jr. — Yea
Jefferson, Joseph H., Jr. — Yea
Johnson, Jeffrey E. — Yea
Jones, Stewart O. — Nay
Kimmons, Mandy W. — Yea
Lucas, James H. — Not Voting
Martin, Richard — Yea
Matthews, Krystle N. — Yea
McKnight, Cezar E. — Yea
Morgan, Adam M. — Yea
Moss, V. Stephen — Yea
Murphy, Chris — Yea
Parks, J. Anne — Yea
Pendarvis, Marvin R. — Not Voting
Representative Annie E. McDaniel — Not Voting
Representative Beth E. Bernstein — Yea
Representative Bill Taylor — Yea
Representative Brandon Newton — Yea
Representative Bruce W. Bannister — Yea
Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr. — Yea
Representative Carl L. Anderson — Yea
Representative Chandra E. Dillard — Yea
Representative Chris Wooten — Yea
Representative Christopher R. "Chris" Hart — Yea
Representative Craig A. Gagnon — Yea
Representative David R. Hiott — Not Voting
Representative Dennis C. Moss — Yea
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter — Yea
Representative Heather Ammons Crawford — Not Voting
Representative J. David Weeks — Yea
Representative J. Todd Rutherford — Yea
Representative JA Moore — Yea
Representative Jackie E. "Coach" Hayes — Yea
Representative James Mikell "Mike" Burns — Yea
Representative Jeff Bradley — Yea
Representative Jerry N. Govan, Jr. — Yea
Representative John R. McCravy III — Yea
Representative John Richard C. King — Yea
Representative Josiah Magnuson — Nay
Representative Justin T. Bamberg — Yea
Representative Kambrell H. Garvin — Yea
Representative Kevin Hardee — Yea
Representative Lee Hewitt — Yea
Representative Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam — Yea
Representative Leon Howard — Not Voting
Representative Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis — Yea
Representative Lonnie Hosey — Yea
Representative Lucas Atkinson — Yea
Representative Mark N. Willis — Yea
Representative Melissa Lackey Oremus — Yea
Representative Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV — Yea
Representative Michael F. Rivers, Sr. — Yea
Representative Nathan Ballentine — Yea
Representative Neal A. Collins — Yea
Representative Patrick B. Haddon — Yea
Representative Paula Rawl Calhoon — Yea
Representative Phillip D. Lowe — Yea
Representative Richard L. "Richie" Yow — Yea
Representative Robert Q. Williams — Yea
Representative Roger K. Kirby — Yea
Representative Seth Rose — Yea
Representative Shannon S. Erickson — Yea
Representative Steven Wayne Long — Not Voting
Representative Sylleste H. Davis — Yea
Representative Terry Alexander — Yea
Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope — Yea
Representative Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon — Yea
Representative Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis — Yea
Representative Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr. — Yea
Representative Wendell G. Gilliard — Yea
Representative William "Bill" Clyburn — Not Voting
Representative William G. "Bill" Herbkersman — Yea
Representative William H. Bailey — Yea
Representative William M. "Bill" Chumley — Yea
Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon — Yea
Representative William R. "Bill" Whitmire — Yea
Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton — Yea
Robinson, Leola C. — Yea
Sandifer, William E., III — Yea
Senator Jason Elliott — Yea
Senator Russell L. Ott — Yea
Simrill, J. Gary — Yea
Smith, G. Murrell, Jr. — Yea
Smith, Garry R. — Not Voting
Stringer, Tommy M. — Yea
Thayer, Anne J. — Yea
Thigpen, Ivory Torrey — Yea
Trantham, Ashley B. — Yea
West, John Taliaferro, IV — Yea
Wheeler, William W., III — Yea
White, W. Brian — Yea
Williams, Shedron D. — Yea

Official roll call →

Waive Rule 5.15 Printing

Passed 102 Yea · 0 Nay · 22 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1020022
Total 1020022
% of votes cast 82%0%0%18%
How each member voted (124)
Member Party Vote
Bales, Jimmy C., Ed.D. — Yea
Brown, Robert L. — Yea
Chellis, Converse A., IV — Yea
Clary, Gary E. — Yea
Clemmons, Alan D. — Yea
Forrester, P. Michael — Yea
Funderburk, Laurie Slade — Yea
Mace, Nancy — Yea
McCoy, Peter M., Jr. — Yea
Norrell, Mandy Powers — Yea
Ridgeway, Robert L., III — Yea
Sottile, F. Michael — Yea
Spires, L. Kit — Yea
Tallon, Edward R., Sr. — Yea
Toole, McLain R. — Yea
Mack, David J., III — Not Voting
Allison, Merita A. — Yea
Bennett, Linda — Yea
Blackwell, Bart T. — Yea
Brawley, Wendy C. — Yea
Bryant, Bruce M. — Yea
Cogswell, William Scott, Jr. — Yea
Cox, Bobby J. — Yea
Cox, Westley P. — Yea
Daning, Joseph S. — Yea
Felder, R. Raye — Yea
Finlay, Kirkman, III — Not Voting
Fry, Russell W. — Yea
Henderson-Myers, Rosalyn D. — Yea
Henegan, Patricia Moore — Yea
Hill, Jonathon D. — Not Voting
Huggins, Chip — Yea
Hyde, Max T., Jr. — Yea
Jefferson, Joseph H., Jr. — Yea
Johnson, Jeffrey E. — Yea
Jones, Stewart O. — Not Voting
Kimmons, Mandy W. — Yea
Lucas, James H. — Not Voting
Martin, Richard — Yea
Matthews, Krystle N. — Yea
McKnight, Cezar E. — Yea
Morgan, Adam M. — Yea
Moss, V. Stephen — Yea
Murphy, Chris — Yea
Parks, J. Anne — Yea
Pendarvis, Marvin R. — Not Voting
Representative Annie E. McDaniel — Yea
Representative Beth E. Bernstein — Yea
Representative Bill Taylor — Yea
Representative Brandon Newton — Yea
Representative Bruce W. Bannister — Yea
Representative Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr. — Not Voting
Representative Carl L. Anderson — Not Voting
Representative Chandra E. Dillard — Not Voting
Representative Chris Wooten — Yea
Representative Christopher R. "Chris" Hart — Yea
Representative Craig A. Gagnon — Yea
Representative David R. Hiott — Not Voting
Representative Dennis C. Moss — Yea
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter — Yea
Representative Heather Ammons Crawford — Yea
Representative J. David Weeks — Yea
Representative J. Todd Rutherford — Yea
Representative JA Moore — Not Voting
Representative Jackie E. "Coach" Hayes — Yea
Representative James Mikell "Mike" Burns — Yea
Representative Jeff Bradley — Not Voting
Representative Jerry N. Govan, Jr. — Yea
Representative John R. McCravy III — Not Voting
Representative John Richard C. King — Yea
Representative Josiah Magnuson — Not Voting
Representative Justin T. Bamberg — Not Voting
Representative Kambrell H. Garvin — Yea
Representative Kevin Hardee — Yea
Representative Lee Hewitt — Yea
Representative Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam — Yea
Representative Leon Howard — Yea
Representative Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis — Yea
Representative Lonnie Hosey — Yea
Representative Lucas Atkinson — Yea
Representative Mark N. Willis — Yea
Representative Melissa Lackey Oremus — Yea
Representative Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV — Yea
Representative Michael F. Rivers, Sr. — Yea
Representative Nathan Ballentine — Yea
Representative Neal A. Collins — Yea
Representative Patrick B. Haddon — Yea
Representative Paula Rawl Calhoon — Yea
Representative Phillip D. Lowe — Yea
Representative Richard L. "Richie" Yow — Yea
Representative Robert Q. Williams — Yea
Representative Roger K. Kirby — Yea
Representative Seth Rose — Yea
Representative Shannon S. Erickson — Not Voting
Representative Steven Wayne Long — Yea
Representative Sylleste H. Davis — Yea
Representative Terry Alexander — Yea
Representative Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope — Yea
Representative Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon — Yea
Representative Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis — Yea
Representative Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr. — Yea
Representative Wendell G. Gilliard — Not Voting
Representative William "Bill" Clyburn — Not Voting
Representative William G. "Bill" Herbkersman — Yea
Representative William H. Bailey — Yea
Representative William M. "Bill" Chumley — Yea
Representative William M. "Bill" Hixon — Yea
Representative William R. "Bill" Whitmire — Yea
Representative Wm. Weston J. Newton — Not Voting
Robinson, Leola C. — Yea
Sandifer, William E., III — Yea
Senator Jason Elliott — Yea
Senator Russell L. Ott — Yea
Simrill, J. Gary — Yea
Smith, G. Murrell, Jr. — Yea
Smith, Garry R. — Yea
Stringer, Tommy M. — Yea
Thayer, Anne J. — Not Voting
Thigpen, Ivory Torrey — Not Voting
Trantham, Ashley B. — Yea
West, John Taliaferro, IV — Yea
Wheeler, William W., III — Not Voting
White, W. Brian — Yea
Williams, Shedron D. — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does S 975 do?
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 16-17-780 SO AS TO PROHIBIT BUSINESSES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, COLLEGES, SCHOOLS, AND EMPLOYERS FROM MANDATING THAT EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, STUDENTS, PATRONS, CUSTOMERS, CLIENTS, OR GUESTS MUST RECEIVE A NOVEL VACCINE OR GENE THERAPY; BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-55 SO AS TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYERS FROM TAKING ANY ADVERSE PRE-EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT ACTION AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DECLINES TO RECEIVE A VACCINE OR GENE THERAPY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-86, RELATING TO FACILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PHARMACIST MAY REFUSE TO FILL A PRESCRIPTION DUE TO RELIGIOUS, MORAL, OR ETHICAL REASONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-1-100, RELATING TO ASSISTANCE FROM PEACE AND HEALTH OFFICERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DIRECTOR MAY NOT REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN ENFORCING ORDERS PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-130, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR EMERGENCY HEALTH POWERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-330, RELATING TO THE PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MAY PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTE APPROVED PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-500, RELATING TO CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MUST USE EVERY AVAILABLE MEANS TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE FOR WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY HAS BEEN CALLED; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-510, RELATING TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OR TESTS AND ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE OF PERSONS REFUSING EXAMINATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TESTS MUST BE FDA APPROVED FOR ACCURATE DETECTION OF THE BIOLOGICAL AGENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-520, RELATING TO VACCINATIONS AND TREATMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MAY NOT ISOLATE AN INDIVIDUAL TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF A POSSIBLY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE, BUT ONLY A DISEASE KNOWN TO BE CONTAGIOUS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A VACCINE MUST NOT BE A GENE THERAPY; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-530, RELATING TO ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS AND PENALTY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DHEC MAY ISOLATE OR QUARANTINE AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH OR EXPOSED TO THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASE FOR WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-540, RELATING TO ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE PROCEDURES, SO AS TO REMOVE ISOLATION PARAMETERS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 44-4-570, RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS REGARDING LICENSING OF HEALTH PERSONNEL, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT IN-STATE HEALTH PROVIDERS MUST ASSIST IN VACCINATIONS, TREATMENTS, AND EXAMINATIONS, AND TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT ANY EMERGENCY ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINER OR CORONER APPOINTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION IS IMMUNE FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THEIR SERVICES.
Who sponsors S 975?
S 975 is sponsored by Senator Shane R. Martin, Senator Thomas D. "Tom" Corbin, Senator Rex F. Rice, Senator Josh Kimbrell, Senator Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms, and Loftis, Dwight A..
What is the current status of S 975?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 975?
Track S 975 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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