South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 5526


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO REQUIRE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS PRESENT IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO A WEAR FACE COVERING WHEN IN PUBLIC TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

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

SECTION    1.    (A)    For purposes of this section, "face covering" means a cloth, fabric, or other soft or permeable material, without holes, that covers a person's nose and mouth and remains in place without the use of one's hands and includes handmade masks, bandanas, face shields, surgical masks, and "N-95" respirators.

    (B)(1)    Every person over ten years of age who is working, living, visiting, or doing business in the State of South Carolina is required to wear a face covering when:

            (a)    inside a building open to the public;

            (b)    waiting to enter a building open to the public;

            (c)    interacting with other people in outdoor spaces including, but not limited to, curbside pickup, delivery, and service calls;

            (d)    engaging in business activities in private spaces;

            (e)    utilizing public or private transportation; or

            (f)    walking in public when maintaining a distance of six feet between other members of the public at all times is not possible.

        (2)    Surgical masks, "N-95" respirators, or similar medical masks, should be reserved for health care personnel and other first responders with the greatest need for such personal protective equipment.

        (3)    All businesses are encouraged to prohibit entry of each person who is not wearing a face covering except under the circumstances listed in subsection (C).

    (C)    Nothing in this section requires the wearing of a face covering under the following circumstances:

        (1)    in personal vehicles;

        (2)    when a person is alone or only with family members in an enclosed space;

        (3)    during outdoor physical activity, provided the active person maintains a minimum of six feet from other people at all times;

        (4)    while drinking, eating, or smoking; or

        (5)    when wearing a face covering would cause or aggravate an existing health condition.

    (D)    A person required by this section to wear a face covering who does not comply with the requirements of subsection (B)(1) may be assessed a civil fine of twenty-five dollars by law enforcement for a first violation, fifty dollars for a second violation, and one hundred dollars for a third or subsequent violation. Fines collected for violation of this section must be placed by the Comptroller General in the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor and expires upon the issuance of CDC guidelines that do not include the wearing of face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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This web page was last updated on June 24, 2020 at 1:52 PM