H 4014 {Rat #129, Act #116 of 2020} General Bill, By Hixon, Tallon, Johnson and 
R.Williams
 AN ACT TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 TO THE
 EXECUTIVE BUDGET OFFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19
 VIRUS AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER MATTERS. - ratified title
4014.htm">View full text
   02/19/19  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 41)
   02/19/19  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 41)
   03/27/19  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 33)
   04/02/19  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: R.Williams
   04/02/19  House  Debate adjourned until  Wed., 4-3-19
                     (House Journal-page 43)
   04/04/19  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 65)
   04/04/19  House  Roll call Yeas-101  Nays-2 (House Journal-page 66)
   04/04/19  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 67)
   04/05/19  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 7)
   04/09/19  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 14)
   04/09/19  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance
                     (Senate Journal-page 14)
   03/17/20  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Finance (Senate Journal-page 5)
   03/17/20  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 6)
   03/17/20  Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 6)
   03/17/20  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 6)
   03/17/20  Senate Roll call Ayes-42  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 6)
   03/17/20  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (Senate Journal-page 9)
   03/18/20         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/18/20  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments (Senate Journal-page 1)
   03/19/20  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
                     (House Journal-page 28)
   03/19/20  House  Roll call Yeas-119  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 32)
   03/19/20         Ratified R  129
   03/19/20         Signed By Governor
   03/19/20         Effective date  03/19/20
   03/19/20         Act No.  116

H. 4014

(A116, R129, H4014)

AN ACT TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 TO THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET OFFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER MATTERS.

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

SECTION    1.    From the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Contingency Reserve Fund, there is appropriated $45,000,000 to the Executive Budget Office for use by the Department of Health and Environmental Control for the coordination of the state's public health preparedness and response to the COVID-19 virus.

SECTION    2.    The Executive Budget Office shall establish a COVID-19 Response account separate and distinct from all other accounts. The funds appropriated in SECTION 1 shall be credited to the COVID-19 Response account. The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall request funds from the account to be expended only for those purposes necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Budget Office shall release funds from the account upon the Department of Health and Environmental Control's request only if the requested funds are necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning on April 1, 2020, and on the first day of each month thereafter, the Executive Budget Office shall provide a detailed accounting of the expenditure of all funds appropriated pursuant to this act. The report shall be transmitted to the Governor, the General Assembly, and made available on the department's website.

SECTION    3.    Nothing in this act limits the Department of Health and Environmental Control from continuing to expend funds from other sources, including funds appropriated for the current fiscal year, that are necessary to address the state's response to COVID-19. Any unexpended funds appropriated pursuant to this act may be carried forward, without limitation, into the succeeding fiscal year and expended for the same purpose.

SECTION    4. The Department of Health and Environmental Control is authorized to take action to reallocate supplies and employees to meet the demands of hospitals and other medical providers who receive Medicaid or other state funds that are located within specific areas of this State where COVID-19 infections are most concentrated, commonly referred to as hotspots. The provisions of this SECTION expire thirty days after an executive order issued by the Governor lifting a state of emergency related to COVID-19.

SECTION    5.    For the period beginning March 19, 2020, and ending September 1, 2020, the earnings limitation imposed pursuant to Section 9-1-1790 and Section 9-11-90 of the South Carolina Code does not apply to retired members of the South Carolina Retirement System or the Police Officers Retirement System who return to covered employment to participate in the state's public health preparedness and response to the COVID-19 virus.

SECTION    6.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and the appropriations contained herein must be distributed immediately upon approval.

Ratified the 19th day of March, 2020.

Approved the 19th day of March, 2020.