H 4601 {Rat #217, Act #164 of 2022} General Bill, By W.Cox, G.R.Smith, Bustos, 
Gagnon, Bennett, McGarry, Atkinson, Hayes, M.M.Smith, V.S.Moss and Matthews

Similar(S 960)
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 6-1-2020 SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DESIGNATE AMBULANCE SERVICE AS AN
 ESSENTIAL SERVICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA; TO REQUIRE THAT EACH COUNTY GOVERNING
 BODY ENSURES THAT AT LEAST ONE LICENSED AMBULANCE SERVICE IS OPERATING WITHIN
 THE COUNTY; AND TO DEFINE RELEVANT TERMS. - ratified title

   11/17/21  House  Prefiled
   11/17/21  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/11/22  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 65)
   01/11/22  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 65)
   02/16/22  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Atkinson, Hayes
   02/17/22  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.Smith
   03/02/22  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: V.S.Moss
   03/09/22  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 36)
   03/10/22  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Matthews
   03/10/22  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 67)
   03/10/22  House  Roll call Yeas-107  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 67)
   03/10/22  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 68)
   03/11/22  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
   03/15/22  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 11)
   03/15/22  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 11)
   03/30/22  Senate Referred to Subcommittee:  Hutto (ch), Malloy,
                     Senn, Adams, Garrett
   04/20/22  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 15)
   05/03/22  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 41)
   05/03/22  Senate Roll call Ayes-40  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 41)
   05/04/22  Senate Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 27)
   05/12/22         Ratified R  217
   05/13/22         Signed By Governor
   05/31/22         Effective date  05/13/22
   05/31/22         Act No.  164

H. 4601

(A164, R217, H4601)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 6-1-2020 SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DESIGNATE AMBULANCE SERVICE AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA; TO REQUIRE THAT EACH COUNTY GOVERNING BODY ENSURES THAT AT LEAST ONE LICENSED AMBULANCE SERVICE IS OPERATING WITHIN THE COUNTY; AND TO DEFINE RELEVANT TERMS.

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

Ambulance service designated an essential service

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 6 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 6-1-2020.    (A)    As used in this section:

(1)    'Ambulance service' means a public or private entity that is a licensed provider who has obtained the necessary permits and licenses for the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated.

(2)    'County' means a county of this State.

(3)    'Municipality' means a municipal corporation created pursuant to Chapter 1, Title 5 or a municipal government or governing body as the use of the term dictates.

(B)(1)    Ambulance service is hereby designated as an essential service in this State.

(2)    Each county governing body in this State shall ensure that at least one licensed ambulance service is available within the county. This may be provided as a county service, but also may be accomplished through other means including, but not limited to:

(a)    providing a license or franchise to a private company;

(b)    contracting with a public, private, or nonprofit entity for the service;

(c)    entering into an intergovernmental agreement with one or more local governments; or

(d)    entering into an agreement with a hospital or other health care facility.

(3)    A county is not required to appropriate county revenues for ambulance service if the service can be provided by any other means.

(C)    Municipal governing bodies also are authorized to make provisions for ambulance service within the boundaries of the municipality. A municipality may not provide and maintain, license, franchise, or contract for ambulance service outside its corporate boundaries without the approval of the county governing body, in the case of unincorporated areas, or the municipal governing body if the area to be served lies within the boundaries of another municipality.

(D)    A county may not provide and maintain, license, franchise, or contract for ambulance service within the boundaries of a municipality that has made provisions for ambulance service without the approval of the municipal governing body of the area to be served.

(E)    The governing body of any county or municipality may adopt and enforce reasonable regulations to control the provision of private or nonprofit ambulance service.

(F)    Two or more counties and municipalities may enter into agreements with each other and with persons providing both emergency and nonemergency ambulance service for a county or counties on a countywide basis, for joint or cooperative action to provide for ambulance service."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 12th day of May, 2022.

Approved the 13th day of May, 2022.