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A106, R111, H4343
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Wetmore, Erickson, Edgerton, Terribile, Cromer, Schuessler, Crawford, Davis, Calhoon, Oremus, Holman, Pedalino, Bernstein, Cobb-Hunter, Dillard, Bauer, Henderson-Myers, Landing, McDaniel, Waters, Alexander and Spann-Wilder
Document Path: LC-0393WAB25.docx
Introduced in the House on April 9, 2025
Introduced in the Senate on May 7, 2025
Last Amended on February 25, 2026
Currently residing in the House
Governor's Action: March 9, 2026, Signed
Summary: Human trafficking awareness and prevention training
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 4/9/2025 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 107) |
| 4/9/2025 | House | Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 107) |
| 5/1/2025 | House | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 129) |
| 5/5/2025 | Scrivener's error corrected | |
| 5/6/2025 | House | Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Alexander, Spann-Wilder |
| 5/6/2025 | House | Amended (House Journal-page 43) |
| 5/6/2025 | House | Read second time (House Journal-page 43) |
| 5/6/2025 | House | Roll call Yeas-111 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 45) |
| 5/7/2025 | House | Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 7) |
| 5/7/2025 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 10) |
| 5/7/2025 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs (Senate Journal-page 10) |
| 2/19/2026 | Senate | Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs (Senate Journal-page 6) |
| 2/25/2026 | Senate | Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 27) |
| 2/25/2026 | Senate | Amended (Senate Journal-page 27) |
| 2/25/2026 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 27) |
| 2/25/2026 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 27) |
| 2/26/2026 | Senate | Read third time and returned to House with amendments |
| 3/4/2026 | House | Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 21) |
| 3/4/2026 | House | Roll call Yeas-113 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 22) |
| 3/5/2026 | Ratified R 111 | |
| 3/9/2026 | Signed By Governor | |
| 3/12/2026 | Effective date 03/09/26 | |
| 3/12/2026 | Act No. 106 |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/09/2025
05/01/2025
05/05/2025
05/06/2025
02/19/2026
02/25/2026
NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
(A106, R111, H4343)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-33-31 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING FOR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES, REGISTERED NURSES, AND ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-39 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING FOR PHYSICIANS WHO PRACTICE IN CERTAIN FIELDS AND CERTAIN SETTINGS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-953 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Nursing training requirements
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 33, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 40-33-31. (A)(1) In addition to other requirements of this chapter, successful completion of a one-hour human trafficking awareness and prevention course that meets the requirements of subsection (B) is a continuing education requirement for licensure renewal, reinstatement, or reactivation as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse. All licensees shall complete this course requirement before:
(a) January 1, 2028, and every six years thereafter, for persons licensed before January 1, 2026; or
(b) two years after initial licensure and every six years thereafter, for persons initially licensed on or after January 1, 2026.
(2) The requirements of this subsection are in addition to any other continuing education requirements and licensure requirements in this chapter.
(B) A human trafficking awareness and prevention course required by this section:
(1) only may be provided by a continuing education provider approved by the State Board of Nursing; and
(2) must include instruction on:
(a) identifying suspected trafficking victims;
(b) laws for reporting suspected trafficking victims; and
(c) providing care and support to potential trafficking victims.
(C) The State Board of Nursing shall adopt rules to implement this section in collaboration with the Director of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force and the State Task Force Healthcare Subcommittee.
Physician training requirements
SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 47, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 40-47-39. (A)(1) In addition to other requirements of this article, successful completion of a one-hour human trafficking awareness and prevention course meeting the requirements of subsection (B) is a continuing education requirement for renewal of a physician license pursuant to Section 40-47-40 or the reinstatement or reactivation of a physician license pursuant to Section 40-47-30 for licensees practicing emergency medicine, primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, or as a hospitalist, and those licensees working in public health clinics, emergency departments, urgent care centers, and community-based centers. All licensees subject to this section shall complete this course requirement before:
(a) January 1, 2028, and every six years thereafter, for persons licensed before January 1, 2026; or
(b) two years after initial licensure and every six years thereafter, for persons initially licensed on or after January 1, 2026.
(2) The requirements of this subsection are to be counted as part of required continuing education requirements and in addition to any other requirements for any initial licensure, license renewal, and license reinstatement or reactivation in this article.
(B) A human trafficking awareness and prevention course required by this section must contain information reviewed by the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force and the State Task Force Healthcare Subcommittee:
(1) and only may be provided by:
(a) a statewide organization recognized by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to recognize and accredit organizations in South Carolina offering continuing medical education;
(b) a statewide organization approved to provide continuing medical education by its national organization which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education; or
(c) from an organization approved by the State Board of Medical Examiners; and
(2) must include instruction on:
(a) identifying suspected trafficking victims;
(b) laws for reporting suspected trafficking victims; and
(c) providing care and support to potential trafficking victims.
(C) The State Board of Medical Examiners shall adopt rules to implement this section in collaboration with the Director of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force and the State Task Force Healthcare Subcommittee.
Physician assistant training requirements
SECTION 3. Article 7, Chapter 47, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 40-47-953. (A)(1) In addition to other requirements of this article, evidence of successful completion of a one-hour human trafficking awareness and prevention course provided in subsection (B) is a continuing education requirement for the renewal of a physician assistant license. All licensees shall complete this course requirement before:
(a) January 1, 2028, and every six years thereafter, for persons licensed before January 1, 2026; or
(b) two years after initial licensure and every six years thereafter, for persons initially licensed on or after January 1, 2026.
(2) The requirements of this subsection are in addition to any other continuing education requirements and other requirements for any initial licensure, license renewal, and license reinstatement or reactivation for physician assistants in this article.
(B) A human trafficking awareness and prevention course required by this section:
(1) only may be provided by a continuing education provider approved by the State Board of Medical Examiners; and
(2) must include instruction on:
(a) identifying suspected trafficking victims;
(b) laws for reporting suspected trafficking victims; and
(c) providing care and support to potential trafficking victims.
(C) The State Board of Medical Examiners shall adopt rules to implement this section.
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 5th day of March, 2026.
Approved the 9th day of March, 2026.
This web page was last updated on March 12, 2026 at 12:05 PM