TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "PHARMACIST SAFETY ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 40-43-120 SO AS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN MANDATORY THIRTY-MINUTE REST BREAKS FOR PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS WORKING TWELVE-HOUR SHIFTS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    This act must be known and may be cited as the "Pharmacist Safety Act".

SECTION    2.    Chapter 43, Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 40-43-120.    (A)    A pharmacy shall provide a thirty-minute rest break to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who are working a twelve-hour shift in the pharmacy, which the pharmacist or pharmacy technician shall take during the shift at a time determined by the pharmacist or pharmacy technician, respectively. During a rest break, the pharmacist or pharmacy technician may not engage in the preparing, compounding, or dispensing of medicine. A rest break may not be taken at the beginning or end of a twelve-hour shift.

(B)    The provisions of this section apply notwithstanding another provision of law."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.