This bill provides that all fines imposed for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus must be used to establish scholarships at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Medical University of South Carolina to train medical students in the field of trauma medicine.

This bill provides that a physician who performs an ultrasound prior to performing an abortion must inform the woman of the probable gestational age of the embryo or fetus and that the woman has the right to view the ultrasound images. Upon request the physician must show the images to the woman and provide a medical explanation of the images, including the presence of organs and external members. The bill provides that the woman must certify in writing before the abortion is performed that she has been informed of her right to view the images. The bill provides that an abortion may not be performed sooner than one hour after an ultrasound is performed. Parents of an unemancipated minor must make the certification regarding, among other things, the right to view ultrasound images. The provisions relating to viewing ultrasound images do not apply to a person adjudicated to be incompetent. Relating to materials that the Department of Health and Environmental Control must publish regarding abortions and assistance for pregnant women, this bill requires that the material include a list of facilities that provide ultrasounds free of charge.  

This bill allows a state income tax credit for premiums paid by a small employer to provide eligible employees coverage under a qualifying health plan. The legislation limits the credit to one thousand dollars an employee for each of six consecutive taxable years and allows the credit only for businesses employing no more than fifty employees.

A bill relating to voluntary contributions to Donate Life of SC, an eleemosynary corporation established to promote and encourage organ and tissue donation and education and to assess and assist with the needs of transplant recipients in South Carolina. Under current law, an applicant for a new or renewal driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, motorcycle driver’s license, identification card, issuance of a vehicle title or transfer of title, or issuance or renewal of a vehicle license plate must be given an opportunity in writing to make a voluntary contribution of one dollar to be credited to Donate Life South Carolina. Under this bill such applicants must be given an opportunity in writing to make a voluntary contribution of five dollars, more or less.

Among other things, this bill revises definitions used in the Omnibus Adult Protection Act. The bill clarifies procedures for reporting cases in which there is a reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct. The bill establishes criminal penalties if a caregiver, due to reckless disregard for the health or safety of a vulnerable adult, neglects or causes great bodily injury or death to a vulnerable adult.

The registration for pharmacy technicians requires an applicant to be seventeen years old or older and be a high school graduate. In addition, the legislation requires that pharmacy technician students be registered. The bill outlines that it is unlawful for a person who is not registered as a pharmacy technician, to perform the functions of a registered pharmacy technician. A pharmacy technician student who is enrolled in an approved training program may be placed in a pharmacy for the purpose of obtaining practical training. Among other things, beginning July 1, 2012, a person who wishes to work as a pharmacy technician must be certified after completing various requirements. The bill also allows for exemption of this certification for individuals who are registered before July 1, 2012.

The legislative committee voted to not take a position on this bill.

This legislation amends the meaning of podiatry as the diagnosis, surgical and medical and mechanical treatment of all conditions of the human foot including the ankle and the related soft tissue structures to the level of the anterior tibial tubercle. The legislation further adds that the practice of podiatry includes the amputation of toes and other parts of the foot but does not include the amputation of the foot or leg in its entirety. The bill establishes the requirements for the administration of local, spinal or general anesthesia. It also requires surgeries of ankle and soft tissue ankle structures be performed in a hospital or an ambulatory surgical center; as well as requires health facilities to allow a podiatric physician to practice clinical and surgical privileges in the facility within the scope of the physician’s licensure.

H.3763 HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE RELATING TO APPROVED CANCER CLINICAL TRIALS Rep. Hutto This bill prohibits individual and group health insurance policies and health maintenance organizations from canceling or nonrenewing an insured who has been covered for cancer treatment and has entered an approved cancer clinical trial. The legislation requires individual and group health insurance policies and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for routine patient care costs when receiving treatment in an approved cancer clinical trial if such costs would be covered if incurred other than in connection with an approved cancer clinical trial.

H.3875 "SOUTH CAROLINA HEALTHNET PROGRAM" Rep. Cato
This bill enacts the "South Carolina HealthNet Program" to provide for the creation of a five-year pilot program to promote the availability of health insurance coverage to employees of small employer groups and health group cooperatives regardless of health status or claims experience.