Labor & Employment (Professional Licensing)

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SKILLS-BASED HIRING ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 40 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SKILLS-BASED HIRING INITIATIVES TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT BY CUTTING RED TAPE AND ADDRESSING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES ACROSS SKILLED JOBS, AND TO INCLUDE AMONG THESE INITIATIVES AN EXPEDITED PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING PROCESS FOR PERSONS LICENSED IN OTHER STATES, APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING THROUGH QUALIFIED APPRENTICESHIPS, AND PUBLIC SECTOR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AS A PATHWAY TO FULL-TIME PERMANENT APPOINTMENTS OR EMPLOYMENT IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-1-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CURRENT AND VALID EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATIONS APPROVED BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OCCUPATIONAL OR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE IF ALL OTHER APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "BAN THE BOX ACT OF 2025" BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-23 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO JOB APPLICATION MAY INCLUDE QUESTIONS RELATED TO CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS UNLESS THE CONVICTION DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE EMPLOYMENT OR LICENSURE SOUGHT, TO PROVIDE A RELATED POLICY STATEMENT, AND TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, EXCLUSIONS, AND RELATED REQUIREMENTS.

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