South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Download This Bill in Microsoft Word Format

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

H. 4343

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 May 6, 2025
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Medical Affairs

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)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

04/09/2025
05/01/2025
05/05/2025
05/06/2025



Amended

May 6, 2025

 

H. 4343

 

Introduced by 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

 

S. Printed 5/6/25--H.

Read the first time April 9, 2025

 

________


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-33-31 SO AS TO REQUIRE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING FOR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES, REGISTERED NURSES, OR ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES EXCLUDING CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-39 SO AS TO REQUIRE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING FOR PHYSICIANS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-953 SO AS TO REQUIRE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.

    Amend Title To Conform

 

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

 

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.

 

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:

       (1) 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.

 

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.

 

SECTION 4.  This act takes effect on January 1, 2026.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on May 6, 2025 at 6:15 PM