New SC laws aim to help parents, ailing first responders and nonprofits feeling lucky

The special two-week legislative session of the South Carolina General Assembly, which wrapped last week after being postponed due to COVID-19, is officially in the books.

And while a few matters on lawmakers’ agenda remain unresolved — teacher pay raises and hazard bonuses for some state workers were shelved until next year as part of the state’s spending plan — other legislation that may impact new moms and parents with young children, first responders, victims of rape crimes and citizens of some of South Carolina’s rural communities, are now law.

Here’s a brief glance at some of the bills approved this year, including during this special session, that may have passed under your radar:

Helping sexual assault victims

Earlier this year, members of the General Assembly passed legislation that would require the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to establish and operate a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system. According to the new law, the system will track the location and status of sexual assault kits throughout the criminal justice process and require all entities involved in the case, including law enforcement agencies, medical facilities and forensic laboratories, to participate in the tracking system process.

Victims will also be able to anonymously track or receive updates concerning the case through the system. The provision stipulates that SLED is required to provide a report on the status of launching the system and phased plan for implementation to members of the General Assembly and governor by the first of the year.

Expanding vaccine access

Parents of young children may save a little time and money with the addition of a new regulation which will allow South Carolina pharmacists to administer flu shots to anyone in the state. Previous law forbid pharmacists from administering the vaccination to kids 12 years and younger. The new law will also allow pharmacists to administer other vaccinations approved by the CDC and ordered by the patient’s practitioner.

For mothers heading back to work

The S.C. Lactation Support Act aims to protect new mothers by requiring employers to provide their workers with reasonable break time and private space to pump breast milk at work. The law also includes provisions for workers who are discriminated against by their employers to seek relief.

For firefighters

The Firefighter Cancer Health Care Benefit Plan will create a supplemental insurance policy for paid and volunteer fire fighters diagnosed with cancer who have served with a South Carolina fire department at least five continuous years and in active service within 10 years of diagnosis. Impacted firefighters will be able to receive a reimbursement of up to $12,000 annually for any out of pocket medical expenses as well as a one-time benefit of $12,000 upon initial diagnosis and $75,000 death benefit for those who succumb to their illness.

Wiring SC

One of the biggest pieces of legislation to pass out of this session is a bill that seeks to expand broadband access to parts of the state with little service.

Called the Broadband Accessibility Act, established through the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Program, the law will allow state-owned electric utility company Santee Cooper as well as the electric co-ops the utility serves to lease out space on existing power poles. This provision, which supporters say could potentially impact up to more than half a million residents without access to high-speed internet, will allow expansion into many rural communities across the state and provide incentives to companies that do so.

Additional bills passed during the special session:

▪ SC to get a disaster chief — In a decade that has brought numerous disaster-level storms to the Palmetto State, the S.C. Resilience Revolving Fund Act establishes the Office of Resiliency and Chief Resilience Officer which will oversee the state’s disaster relief response.

▪ A new purpose for a special SC school — Once a struggling school in McCormick County, John De La Howe is now the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture, the third Governor’s School in the state.

▪ Church raffles back in business — State non-profit organizations and churches have renewed permission to raise money by holding raffles after it was temporarily illegal when the provision lapsed earlier this year. The law also increases the maximum fair market value of individual prizes awarded from $40,000 to $80,000.

▪ Helping veterans — A new veteran study committee will examine matters affecting S.C. veterans, including issues of homelessness and mental health challenges facing some veterans such as being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

This story was originally published September 30, 2020 at 5:00 AM.