TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-29-45 SO AS TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO OPT OUT OF INFECTIOUS OR CONTAGIOUS DISEASE VACCINATIONS AND TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT NOT TO BE VACCINATED.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 29, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 44-29-45.    (A)    Any vaccination offered by the Department of Health and Environmental Control as part of any mass immunization project to protect against infectious disease, or to prevent the spread of a pandemic or a contagious or possibly contagious disease, may be provided only to those individuals who agree to the vaccination, in accordance with Section 44-4-520(B).    (B)    Any individual who exercises the right not to be vaccinated pursuant to subsection (A) may not be denied any right or privilege of citizenship including, but not limited to, access, service, entrance, use, occupancy, seating reservations, attendance, admission, spectating, viewing, gathering, mourning, speaking, listening, lecturing, learning, sharing, volunteering, athletically competing or playing, performing, entertaining, worshipping, eulogizing, memorializing, parading, shopping, and administering or receiving any health care or any other licensed or professional services, and employers are prohibited from taking any adverse employment action against such an individual including, but not limited to, termination, suspension, involuntary reassignment, or demotion.

    (C)    For purposes of this section:

        (1)    'Infectious disease' has the same meaning as defined in Section 44-4-130.

        (2)    'Pandemic' means an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area that affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population including, but not limited to, COVID-19."

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