Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2003 Session > Title 44

This statutory database is current through the 2003 Regular Session of the South Carolina General Assembly. Changes to the statutes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly, which will convene in January 2004, will be incorporated as soon as possible. Some changes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly may take immediate effect. The State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Legislative Council make no warranty as to the accuracy of the data, and users rely on the data entirely at their own risk.




SECTION 44-1-20. Department of Health and Environmental Control created under supervision of Board of Health and Environmental Control.

There is hereby created the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control which shall be administered under the supervision of the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control. The board shall consist of seven members, one from each congressional district, and one from the State at large to be appointed by the Governor, upon the advice and consent of the Senate. The member who is appointed at large shall serve as the chairman of the board. The Governor may remove the chairman of the board pursuant to Section 1-3-240(B); however, the Governor may only remove the other board members pursuant to Section 1-3-240(C). The terms of the members shall be for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that of the original appointees, three shall be appointed for two years and four shall be appointed for four years. All vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term only. In making these appointments, race, gender, and other demographic factors should be considered to ensure nondiscrimination, inclusion, and representation to the greatest extent possible of all segments of the population of the State; however, consideration of these factors in making an appointment in no way creates a cause of action or basis for an employee grievance for a person appointed or for a person who fails to be appointed.

SECTION 44-1-30. Meetings of Board; compensation of members.

The Board shall meet at least quarterly and the members shall receive such compensation for their services as is provided by law for members of boards and commissions.

SECTION 44-1-40. Selection, term and salary of director.

The board shall select a director for the department who shall serve a four-year term and who shall have such authority and perform such duties as may be directed by the board. The salary of the director shall be fixed by the board, upon approval of the State Budget and Control Board. For any vacancy occurring in the office of director on or after February 1, 1995, the board, after consultation with and approval by the Governor, must submit the name of its appointee to the Senate for the Senate's advice and consent. On or after February 1, 1995, the board may remove a director only after consultation with and approval by the Governor.

SECTION 44-1-50. Powers and duties of Board generally.

The board may conduct such hearings as may be required by law, as considered necessary by the board, and as necessary to hear appeals from decisions of administrative law judges pursuant to Chapter 23 of Title 1. The board does not have the authority to hear appeals from decisions of the Coastal Zone Management Appellate Panel or the Mining Council. Such appeals shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions in Chapters 20 and 30 of Title 48.

The board shall provide for the administrative organization of the department and shall consolidate and merge existing duties, functions, and officers of the former agencies as may be necessary for economic and efficient administration. Provided, however, that the board may appoint such advisory boards as it considers necessary to carry out the functions of Sections 44-1-10 to 44-1-70, and there shall be provided a compensation for their services as provided by the law for members of boards and commissions.

SECTION 44-1-70. Rules and regulations of Board shall be approved by General Assembly.

All rules and regulations promulgated by the Board shall be null and void unless approved by a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly at the session of the General Assembly following their promulgation.

SECTION 44-1-80. Duties and powers of Board as to communicable or epidemic diseases.

(A) The Board of Health and Environmental Control or its designated agents must investigate the reported causes of communicable or epidemic disease and must enforce or prescribe these preventive measures as may be needed to suppress or prevent the spread of these diseases by proper quarantine or other measures of prevention, as may be necessary to protect the citizens of the State. The Board of Health and Environmental Control or its designated agents shall declare, when the facts justify it, any place as infected and, in case of hydrophobia or other diseases transmitted from animals to man, must declare such animal or animals quarantined, and must place all such restrictions upon ingress and egress of persons or animals therefrom as may be, in its judgment, necessary to prevent the spread of disease from the infected locality.

(B)(1) Whenever the board learns of a case of a reportable illness or health condition, an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event that it reasonably believes has the potential to cause a public health emergency, as defined in Section 44-4-130, it is authorized to notify the appropriate public safety authority, tribal authorities, and federal health and public safety authorities.

(2) The sharing of information on reportable illnesses, health conditions, unusual clusters, or suspicious events between authorized personnel must be restricted to information necessary for the treatment, control, investigation, and prevention of a public health emergency. Restriction of access to this information to those authorized personnel for the protection of public health ensures compliance with all state and federal health information privacy laws.

(3) The board and its agents must have full access to medical records and nonmedical records when necessary to investigate the causes, character, and means of preventing the spread of a qualifying health event or public health emergency. For purposes of this item, "nonmedical records" mean records of entities, including businesses, health facilities, and pharmacies, which are needed to adequately identify and locate persons believed to have been potentially exposed or known to have been infected with a contagious disease.

(4) An order of the board given to effectuate the purposes of this subsection is enforceable immediately by the public safety authority.

(5) For purposes of this subsection, the terms qualifying health event, public health emergency, and public safety authority have the same meanings as provided in Section 44-4-130.

SECTION 44-1-90. Board shall advise municipal and county authorities.

The State Board of Health and Environmental Control or its designated agents, when it is deemed necessary by the municipal officers of any town or city or the governing body of any county, may (a) visit cities, towns, villages or localities where disease is prevalent or threatened, (b) investigate and advise with the local authorities or persons as to such measures as may tend to prevent the spread of disease or to remove or abate causes that may tend to cause or intensify disease, (c) advise, when practicable or possible, as to measures of sanitation or hygiene and (d) investigate and advise as to all matters respecting water supply, sewage, drainage, ventilation, heating, lighting or other measures connected with public sanitation or safety.

SECTION 44-1-100. Assistance from peace and health officers.

All sheriffs and constables in the several counties of this State and police officers and health officers of cities and towns must aid and assist the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control and must carry out and obey his orders, or those of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, to enforce and carry out any and all restrictive measures and quarantine regulations that may be prescribed. During a state of public health emergency, as defined in Section 44-4-130, the director may request assistance in enforcing orders issued pursuant to this chapter and pursuant to Chapter 4, Title 44, from the public safety authority, as defined in Section 44-4-130, other state law enforcement authorities, and local law enforcement. The public safety authority may request assistance from the South Carolina National Guard in enforcing orders made pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to Chapter 4, Title 44.

SECTION 44-1-110. Duties of Department in regard to public health, in general.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control is invested with all the rights and charged with all the duties pertaining to organizations of like character and is the sole advisor of the State in all questions involving the protection of the public health within its limits.

It shall, through its representatives, investigate the causes, character, and means of preventing the epidemic and endemic diseases as the State is liable to suffer from and the influence of climate, location, and occupations, habits, drainage, scavengering, water supply, heating, and ventilation. It shall have, upon request, full access to the medical records, tumor registries, and other special disease record systems maintained by physicians, hospitals, and other health facilities as necessary to carry out its investigation of these diseases. No physician, hospital, or health facility, or person in charge of these records is liable in any action-at-law for permitting the examination or review. Patient-identifying information elicited from these records and registries must be kept confidential by the department and it is exempt from the provisions of Chapter 4 of Title 30. It shall supervise and control the quarantine system of the State. It may establish quarantine both by land and sea.

SECTION 44-1-130. Department may establish health districts and district advisory boards of health.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control may divide the State into health districts and establish in these districts advisory boards of health which shall consist of representatives from each county in the district. Boards of health now existing in the districts shall have representation on the district advisory board. Counties not having local boards of health shall be represented by individuals appointed by the county legislative delegation. The number of members of a district advisory board shall be determined by the Department with due consideration to the population and community needs of the district. District advisory boards of health shall be subject to the supervisory and advisory control of the Department. District advisory boards are charged with the duty of advising the district medical director or administrator in all matters of sanitary interest and scientific importance bearing upon the protection of the public health.

The district medical director or administrator shall be secretary of the advisory board and the district advisory board shall elect annually from its membership a chairman.

SECTION 44-1-140. Department may promulgate and enforce rules and regulations for public health.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control may make, adopt, promulgate and enforce reasonable rules and regulations from time to time requiring and providing:

(1) For the thorough sanitation and disinfection of all passenger cars, sleeping cars, steamboats and other vehicles of transportation in this State and all convict camps, penitentiaries, jails, hotels, schools and other places used by or open to the public;

(2) For the sanitation of hotels, restaurants, cafes, drugstores, hot dog and hamburger stands and all other places or establishments providing eating or drinking facilities and all other places known as private nursing homes or places of similar nature, operated for gain or profit;

(3) For the production, storing, labeling, transportation and selling of milk and milk products, filled milk and filled milk products, imitation milk and imitation milk products, synthetic milk and synthetic milk products, milk derivatives and any other products made in semblance of milk or milk products;

(4) For the sanitation and control of abattoirs, meat markets, whether the same be definitely provided for that purpose or used in connection with other business, and bottling plants;

(5) For the classification of waters and for the safety and sanitation in the harvesting, storing, processing, handling and transportation of mollusks, fin fish and crustaceans;

(6) For the control of disease-bearing insects, including the impounding of waters;

(7) For the safety, safe operation and sanitation of public swimming pools and other public bathing places, construction, tourist and trailer camps and fairs;

(8) For the control of industrial plants, including the protection of workers from fumes, gases and dust, whether obnoxious or toxic;

(9) For the use of water in air humidifiers;

(10) For the care, segregation and isolation of persons having or suspected of having any communicable, contagious or infectious disease;

(11) For the regulation of the methods of disposition of garbage or sewage and any like refuse matter in or near any village, town or city of the State, incorporated or unincorporated, and to abate obnoxious and offensive odors caused or produced by septic tank toilets by prosecution, injunction or otherwise;

(12) For the thorough investigation and study of the causes of all diseases, epidemic and otherwise, in this State, the means for the prevention of contagious disease and the publication and distribution of such information as may contribute to the preservation of the public health and the prevention of disease; and

(13) For alteration of safety glazing material standards and the defining of additional structural locations as hazardous areas, and for notice and hearing procedures by which to effect these changes.

The Department may make separate orders and rules to meet any emergency not provided for by general rules and regulations, for the purpose of suppressing nuisances dangerous to the public health and communicable, contagious and infectious diseases and other danger to the public life and health.

SECTION 44-1-150. Penalty for violating rules of Department.

Except as provided in Section 44-1-151, any person who after notice violates, disobeys, or refuses, omits, or neglects to comply with any regulation of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, made by it pursuant to Section 44-1-140, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not exceeding the sum of two hundred dollars or be imprisoned for thirty days. The term "notice" as used in this section means either actual notice or constructive notice.

SECTION 44-1-151. Penalties for violations involving shellfish.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all shellfish involved in any violation of law, including any regulation, regarding shellfish may be confiscated and disposed of at the discretion of the arresting officer. Any person convicted of a second offense of harvesting shellfish in any polluted area shall, upon such conviction, be fined not less than two hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days and not more than sixty days. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense of harvesting shellfish in any polluted area shall, upon such conviction, be fined not less than five hundred dollars and not more than one thousand or imprisoned for not less than sixty days and not more than ninety days. All equipment, including, but not limited to, vehicles, boats, motors, trailers, harvesting equipment, weapons, spotlights, bags, boxes, or tools, used or in any other manner involved in a first offense of harvesting shellfish in any polluted area may be impounded at the discretion of the arresting officer. The equipment impounded shall be delivered to the sheriff of the county in which the arrest was made and shall be retained by the sheriff. Such equipment may not be returned to the owner until the case has been finally disposed of. All equipment, including, but not limited to, vehicles, boats, motors, trailers, harvesting equipment, weapons, spotlights, bags, boxes, or tools, used or in any other manner involved in a second, third, or subsequent offense of harvesting shellfish in any polluted area shall be confiscated. All such confiscated equipment shall be sold at auction by the sheriff of the county in which such second, third, or subsequent offense took place and by a representative of the State Department of Health and Environmental Control, except for weapons, which, following confiscation, shall be disposed of in the manner set forth in Sections 16-23-50, 16-23-460, and 16-23-500.

SECTION 44-1-152. Disposition of revenues from fines and forfeitures for violation of shellfish laws.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all revenue from any fine or any forfeiture of bond for any violation of any shellfish law or regulation provided by this title must be deposited monthly with the treasurer of the county in which the arrest for such violation was made. One-third of such revenue must be retained by the county treasurer to be used for the general operating needs of the county pursuant to the direction of the governing body of the county. Two-thirds of such revenue must be remitted quarterly to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control of which one-half is to be used in enforcing shellfish laws and regulations and one-half of such revenue must be remitted quarterly to the state's general fund. All monies derived from auction sales of confiscated equipment pursuant to Section 44-1-151 must be deposited, retained, remitted, and used in the same manner as provided in this section for all revenue derived from any fine or any violation of any shellfish law or regulation. A report of fines for forfeitures of bonds regarding shellfish violations must be sent to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control monthly by each magistrate and clerk of court in this State. A report of monies derived from auction of sales of confiscated equipment must be sent to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control monthly by each sheriff.

SECTION 44-1-155. Release on bail of person apprehended by shellfish patrolman upon charge of violating health and sanitary aspects of shellfish, crab and shrimp laws or regulations.

When any person is apprehended by a shellfish patrolman upon a charge of violating the health and sanitary aspects of shellfish, crab and shrimp laws or regulations, such person upon being served with a summons by the patrolman may in lieu of being immediately brought before the proper judicial officer enter into a formal recognizance or deposit a proper sum of money in lieu of a recognizance or incarceration with the patrolman as bail which shall be not less than the minimum nor more than the maximum fine, but in no case to exceed one hundred dollars. The bail shall be turned over to the proper judicial officer. A receipt for the sum so deposited shall be given to the person by the patrolman. The summons duly served shall give the judicial officer jurisdiction to dispose of the matter. Upon receipt of bail the patrolman shall release the person so charged and he may appear in court at the time stated in and required by the summons.

SECTION 44-1-160. Prosecution of nuisance shall not be affected by rule-making power of Department.

Nothing contained in Section 44-1-140 shall in any way abridge or limit the right of any person to maintain or prosecute any proceedings, civil or criminal, against a person maintaining a nuisance.

SECTION 44-1-170. Department shall supervise local boards of health.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control may direct and supervise the action of the local boards of health in incorporated cities and towns and in all townships in all matters pertaining to such local boards.

SECTION 44-1-180. Department may establish charges for health care.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control may establish charges for maintenance and medical care for all persons served in State health centers and other health facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department and by personnel of the Department and of the health units under its jurisdiction in homes and any other places where health services are needed. The terms "medical care" and "health services" include the services of physicians, dentists, optometrists, nurses, sanitarians, physical therapists, medical social workers, occupational therapists, health aides, speech therapists, X-ray technologists, dietitians, nutritionists, laboratory technicians, and other professional and subprofessional health workers. The charges, which may be adjusted from time to time, shall be reasonable and based on the total costs of the services rendered, including operating costs, depreciation costs, and all other elements of costs.

SECTION 44-1-190. Department may investigate ability to pay and determine amount of charges; contracts for care and treatment.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall make such investigations as it deems necessary to determine which persons or which of the parents, guardians, trustees, committees or other persons or agencies legally responsible therefor are financially able to pay the expenses of the care and treatment, and may contract with any person or agency for the care and treatment of any person to the extent permitted by the resources available to the Department. The Department may require any county or State agency to furnish information which would be helpful to it in making the investigations. In arriving at the amount to be charged, the Department shall have due regard for the financial condition and estate of the person, his present and future needs and the present and future needs of his lawful dependents, and whenever considered necessary to protect him or his dependents, may agree to accept a sum less than the actual cost of services. No person shall be deprived of available health services solely because of inability to pay. No fees shall be charged for services which in the judgment of the Department should be made freely available in order to protect and promote the public health.

SECTION 44-1-200. Department may provide home health services.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control may provide home health services to those persons living in areas of the State in which adequate home health services are not available and may charge fees for such services. Home health services shall include care of the ill and disabled rendered at home including, but not limited to, bedside care, treatment and rehabilitation services. In order that it may provide such services, the department may employ the necessary personnel, including nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, medical social workers, home health aides, nutritionists, and supervisory personnel, and may purchase equipment and materials necessary to maintain an effective program. The Department shall, wherever possible, assist and advise nonprofit agencies or associations in the development of home health services programs and may enter into agreements with such agencies or associations specifying the type of assistance and advice it will provide.

SECTION 44-1-210. Disposition of moneys collected.

All fees and charges collected pursuant to Sections 44-1-180 to 44-1-200, including vital statistics fees as now provided by law, shall be deposited in the State Treasury and shall be used in the operation of the public health program of the bureau, division, district health unit or local county health department which performed the services for which the fees and charges were collected. An annual report shall be made to the State Budget and Control Board of the receipts and expenditures made under the provisions of Sections 44-1-180 to 44-1-200.

SECTION 44-1-220. Skilled and intermediate care nursing facilities licensed by Department shall furnish itemized statements of charges for services.

All skilled and intermediate care nursing facilities licensed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control shall be required to furnish an item-by-item billing for all charges to the patient or the person paying such bill, upon request by such patient or person. Items which remain unpaid are not required to be itemized again. Such requests for itemized billing shall remain in effect until further notification by the patient or person paying such bill. Provided, that the provision herein shall not apply to the contracted amount of a state or federal agency. Any amount above such contract shall be itemized as provided herein.

SECTION 44-1-230. Consideration to be given to benefits available to individuals to meet costs of medical or health services.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall give consideration to any benefits available to an individual, including private, group or other insurance benefits, to meet, in whole or in part, the cost of any medical or health services. Such benefits shall be utilized insofar as possible; provided, however, the availability of such benefits shall not be the sole basis for determining eligibility for program services of the department. Insurance carriers shall not deny payment of benefits otherwise available to the insured solely on the basis that an individual has applied for, or has been deemed eligible to receive, or has received, services, or on the basis that payments have been made for services by the department.

SECTION 44-1-240. Pilot dental program for schoolchildren.

Subject to the funds appropriated, the department shall implement a model pilot program for dental health screenings of children enrolled in public schools in kindergarten, second, and seventh grades. The department may designate up to five counties representative of the rural and urban areas of the State to participate in this pilot program.

The pilot program must concentrate on providing dental education, preventive dental care, screening, and treatment referral for children who are eligible for the federal free and reduced price school lunch program.

The program must seek cooperation from local school districts, other governmental entities, and dentists to coordinate federal Medicaid assistance and any volunteer efforts to reduce costs to the State to the extent practicable.

The results or effectiveness of this pilot program must be reported to the Senate Committee on Medical Affairs and the House Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs at intervals designated by the chairman of the committee.

SECTION 44-1-260. Early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment screening; referral for assistive technology evaluation; definitions.

Upon conducting an early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment screening (EPSDT), or another physical examination of a child from which it is determined that the child may benefit from the use of assistive technology, the department or person conducting the screening or examination may refer the child to an appropriate agency for an assistive technology evaluation. For purposes of this section, "assistive technology" means a device or service which is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capacities of an individual with a disability. An "assistive technology device" is an item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capacities of an individual with a disability including, but not limited to, aids for daily living, augmentative communication devices, wheelchairs, and mobility aids, seating and positioning aids, computer aids, environmental controls, home and workplace modifications, prosthetics and orthotics, or aids for vision or hearing impairments. An "assistive technology service" is a service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

SECTION 44-1-280. Coordination with First Steps to School Readiness initiative.

The Board and Department of Health and Environmental Control in establishing priorities and funding for programs and services which impact on children and families during the first years of a child's life, within the powers and duties granted to it, must support, as appropriate, the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness initiative, as established in Title 59, Chapter 152, at the state and local levels.