(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 21, 2019

H. 3726

Introduced by Reps. Weeks, Fry, Alexander, Dillard, Erickson, Hewitt, Huggins, Norrell, Pendarvis, Ridgeway, Rutherford, Spires, Trantham, West, Wooten, Yow, Henegan, Daning and Cogswell

S. Printed 2/21/19--H.

Read the first time January 23, 2019.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL,

MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3726) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Sections 17-5-135 and 17-5-250 so as to require, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

LEON HOWARD for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

Introduced on January 23, 2019

State Expenditure

This bill requires coroners, deputy coroners, medical examiners, and deputy medical examiners to obtain at least one hour of continuing education every three years on the identification of opiate related deaths. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs (RFA) anticipates that the required one hour of training will be incorporated into the continuing education courses provided by the South Carolina Coroner's Association. As such, each department will be able to complete the additional continuing education requirements within their current appropriations.

Local Expenditure

This bill will have no expenditure impact on local governments because RFA anticipates that the required one hour of training will be incorporated into the continuing education courses provided by the South Carolina Coroner's Association. Continuing education courses are currently included within membership dues. As such, each department will be able to complete the additional continuing education requirements within their current appropriations.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 17-5-135 AND 17-5-250 SO AS TO REQUIRE, AMONG OTHERS, CORONERS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS TO COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF DEATHS CAUSED BY OPIATES.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 3, Chapter 5, Title 17 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 17-5-135.    Every coroner, deputy coroner, and any other employee required to obtain continuing education requirements shall complete at least one hour of continuing education every three years on the identification of opiate-related deaths. Provided, an individual to whom this section applies shall complete an initial hour of continuing education on opiate-related deaths within one month of employment, or six months of the effective date of this act. For purposes of this section, 'opiate' means opium and natural and synthetic opium derivatives."

SECTION    2.    Article 5, Chapter 5, Title 17 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 17-5-250.    Every medical examiner, deputy medical examiner, and any other employee required to obtain continuing education requirements shall complete at least one hour of continuing education every three years on the identification of opiate-related deaths. Provided, an individual to whom this section applies shall complete an initial hour of continuing education on opiate-related deaths within one month of employment, or six months of the effective date of this act. For purposes of this section, 'opiate' means opium and natural and synthetic opium derivatives."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.