Labor & Employment

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

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

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