H*3945 Session 112 (1997-1998)
H*3945(Rat #0175, Act #0092 of 1997) General Bill, By Young-Brickell, Bailey,
Barrett, H. Brown, Cato, Chellis, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, Haskins, Hinson,
Keegan, M.H. Kinon, Law, Littlejohn, Meacham, Sandifer, Seithel, Sharpe,
Sheheen, Witherspoon and Woodrum
Similar(S 46)
A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 38-73-500, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, RELATING TO THE MERIT RATING SYSTEM FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE,
SO AS TO REQUIRE THE INCLUSION OF A CREDIT OF AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT FOR AN
INSURED WHO PARTICIPATES IN A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE USE OF DRUGS ON
THE JOB BY EMPLOYEES OF THE INSURED, PROVIDE FURTHER FOR THE CREDIT TO BE
ACTUARIALLY SOUND, PROVIDE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO
ALLOW AND ORDER A CREDIT LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT WHEN THE CREDIT IS DETERMINED
NOT TO BE ACTUARIALLY SOUND, PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF CERTAIN
REGULATIONS AND THE CERTIFICATION OF AN EMPLOYER DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND
PROVIDE FOR RANDOM TESTING PROCEDURES; TO ADD SECTION 41-1-15 SO AS TO PROVIDE
FOR WORKPLACE PROCEDURES DESIGNED TO PREVENT DRUGS ON THE JOB; AND PROVIDE
THAT WORKER'S COMPENSATION POLICIES ISSUED OR RENEWED AND AFTER OCTOBER 1,
1997, SHALL BE GRANTED PREMIUM REDUCTION OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE
PERCENT.-AMENDED TITLE
04/10/97 House Introduced and read first time HJ-79
04/10/97 House Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
Industry HJ-79
05/01/97 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor,
Commerce and Industry HJ-2
05/07/97 House Amended HJ-54
05/07/97 House Read second time HJ-57
05/07/97 House Roll call Yeas-96 Nays-0 HJ-57
05/08/97 House Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-11
05/08/97 Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
without reference SJ-4
05/21/97 Senate Amended SJ-39
05/21/97 Senate Read second time SJ-39
05/21/97 Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
amendments SJ-39
05/22/97 Senate Read third time and returned to House with
amendments SJ-28
05/29/97 House Senate amendment amended HJ-34
05/29/97 House Returned to Senate with amendments HJ-34
05/29/97 Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-44
06/04/97 Ratified R 175
06/10/97 Signed By Governor
06/10/97 Effective date 06/10/97, unless otherwise specified
06/24/97 Copies available
06/24/97 Act No. 92
(A92, R175, H3945)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 38-73-500, AS AMENDED,
CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE
MERIT RATING SYSTEM FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION
INSURANCE, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE INCLUSION OF A CREDIT
OF AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT FOR AN INSURED WHO
PARTICIPATES IN A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE
USE OF DRUGS ON THE JOB BY EMPLOYEES OF THE INSURED,
PROVIDE FURTHER FOR THE CREDIT TO BE ACTUARIALLY
SOUND, PROVIDE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE TO ALLOW AND ORDER A CREDIT LESS THAN
FIVE PERCENT WHEN THE CREDIT IS DETERMINED NOT TO BE
ACTUARIALLY SOUND, PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF
CERTAIN REGULATIONS AND THE CERTIFICATION OF AN
EMPLOYER DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND PROVIDE FOR
RANDOM TESTING PROCEDURES; TO ADD SECTION 41-1-15, SO
AS TO PROVIDE FOR WORKPLACE PROCEDURES DESIGNED TO
PREVENT DRUGS ON THE JOB; AND PROVIDE THAT WORKERS'
COMPENSATION POLICIES ISSUED OR RENEWED ON AND
AFTER OCTOBER 1, 1997, SHALL BE GRANTED PREMIUM
REDUCTION OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly recognize the importance
of all employers and employees in the State to maintain and operate in a
drug-free workplace, and promote the participation of businesses in drug
prevention programs. Through such participation, employers have the
opportunity to maximize their levels of productivity, enhance their
competitive positions in the marketplace, and reach their desired levels of
success without experiencing the costs, delays, and tragedies associated
with work related accidents resulting from substance abuse by employees;
and
Whereas, nationally, the cost of substance abuse in the workplace is
estimated at a staggering one hundred billion annually, and this cost is
paid by employers in many different ways; and
Whereas, the intention of the act is to provide incentive for employers to
prevent drug use and the tragedies associated with work related accidents
and to deter the corresponding losses in the form of workers'
compensation claims, personnel, and economic productivity; and
Whereas, since workers' compensation insurers typically provide support
services to employer-clients, the General Assembly believes that insurers
will compete for the business of employers participating in drug
prevention programs and will provide the appropriate premium credit for
various classes of employment with a successful program due to the
administrative cost savings in many ways including those from a
reduction in work related accidents by employees with substance abuse
and litigation expenses;
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Credit for employee drug and alcohol prevention programs
SECTION 1. Section 38-73-500 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by
Section 783 of Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 38-73-500. (A) For the purpose of uniformity and
equality the director or his designee shall approve a system of merit rating
for use in the writing of workers' compensation insurance. No system of
merit rating except the one so approved may be used.
(B) This system of merit rating shall include a credit of at least five
percent for an insured who participates in a program designed to prevent
the use of drugs or alcoholic beverages on the job by employees of the
insured. The credit must be actuarially sound and filed with the director
or his designee. However, if the director determines that a credit of at
least five percent is not actuarially sound, the director shall allow and
order a credit of less than five percent which is actuarially sound. The
director or his designee shall provide for certification of an employer drug
prevention program and shall promulgate regulations for the
implementation of this subsection including, but not limited to, the
establishment of guidelines or a plan defining a qualified employer drug
prevention program eligible for the credit which shall be used by the
insurer unless the insurer has established its own guidelines or plan. In
the establishment of guidelines or a plan by the director or insurer
concerning a qualified drug prevention program eligible for the credit, the
guidelines or plan shall include the policy statement and employee
notification requirement pursuant to Section 41-1-15.
(C) The testing procedure established by the insurer, employer, or his
designee, or, approved by the director, must include a provision for
random sampling of all persons who receive wages and compensation in
any form from the employer and must provide for a second test to be
administered within thirty minutes of the administration of the first test.
Positive test results must be provided in writing to the employee within
twenty-four hours of the time the employer receives the test results. Each
employer must keep records of each test for up to one year."
Drug prevention program in workplace authorized
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 41-1-15. (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of the
law, an employer may establish a drug prevention program in the
workplace pursuant to Section 38-73-500(B) which shall include:
(1) a substance abuse policy statement that balances the employer's
respect for individuals with the need to maintain a safe, productive, and
drug-free environment. The intent of the policy shall be to help those who
need it while sending a clear message that the illegal use of
nonprescription controlled substances or the abuse of alcoholic beverages
is incompatible with employment at the specified workplace; and
(2) notification to all employees of the drug prevention program and
its policies at the time the program is established by the employer or at the
time of hiring the employee, whichever is earlier.
(B) All information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, and
test results, written or otherwise, received by the employer through a
substance abuse testing program are confidential communications, but
may be used or received in evidence, obtained in discovery, or disclosed
in any civil or administrative proceeding.
(C) Employers, laboratories, medical review officers, insurers, drug or
alcohol rehabilitation programs, and employer drug prevention programs,
and their agents who receive or have access to information concerning test
results shall keep all information confidential. Release of such
information under any other circumstance shall be solely pursuant to a
written consent form signed voluntarily by the employee tested or his
designee unless the release is completed through disclosure by an agency
of the State in a civil or administrative proceeding, order of a court of
competent jurisdiction, or determination of a professional or occupational
licensing board in a related disciplinary proceeding. The consent form
must contain at a minimum:
(1) the name of the person who is authorized to obtain the
information;
(2) the purpose of the disclosure;
(3) the precise information to be disclosed;
(4) the duration of the consent; and
(5) the signature of the person authorizing release of the
information.
(D) Information on test results shall not be released for or used or
admissible in any criminal proceeding against the employee."
Reduction in premium
SECTION 3. For each policy of workers' compensation insurance
issued or renewed in the State on and after October 1, 1997, there shall be
granted by the insurer a reduction in premium of not less than five percent
pursuant to Section 38-73-500 as contained and amended in Section 1 of
the act.
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor
unless otherwise specified.
Approved the 10th day of June, 1997. |