A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-31-45 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE FOR TUBERCULOSIS TESTING OF APPLICANTS AND NEW EMPLOYEES AT NURSING HOMES AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 31, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 44-31-45.  (A) After completing a tuberculosis risk assessment and determining that the facility is a low-risk setting, the nursing home or residential care facility, as defined in Section 44-7-130, shall:

       (1) request and receive a written declaration from an authorized healthcare provider that an applicant for employment has no signs or symptoms of active tuberculosis prior to the applicant beginning employment at the facility; and

       (2) administer the second step of the two-step tuberculin skin test within the first fourteen days of the new employee's start date.

    (B) A nursing home or residential care facility may:

       (1) substitute a single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis for the two-step tuberculin skin test; or

       (2) administer a single tuberculin skin test or a single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis within the first fourteen days of the new employee's start date if the facility has documentation that the employee obtained a negative tuberculin skin test or a negative blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis within the twelve-month period prior to the new employee's start date.

 

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

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