Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Amendment Adopted

02/07/24

S. 558

Introduced by Senators Verdin and Senn

S. Printed 02/07/24--S.

Read the first time February 22, 2023

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A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-31-40 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE FOR THE TUBERCULOSIS TESTING OF APPLICANT RESIDENTS AND NEWLY ADMITTED RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES IN THIS STATE.

    Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1.  Article 1, Chapter 31, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    Section 44-31-40.  (A) A nursing home or community residential care facility as defined in Section 44-7-130 shall:

       (1) prior to the admission of a new resident, request and receive a written declaration from an authorized healthcare provider that, based upon medical examination of the applicant resident, the applicant resident has no signs or symptoms of active tuberculosis;

       (2) within three days of a resident's admission to the nursing home or community residential care facility from a hospital, as defined in Section 44-7-130, administer the first step of the two-step tuberculin skin test to the resident; and

       (3) within fourteen days of that resident's admission, administer the second step of the tuberculin skin test to the resident.

    (B)(1) The nursing home or community residential care facility may substitute a single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis for a two-step tuberculin skin test; or

       (2) administer a single tuberculin skin test or single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis within fourteen days of the resident's admission from a hospital if the nursing home or community residential care facility has documentation that within the twelve-month period prior to admission, the resident obtained a negative tuberculin skin test or a negative single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis.

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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