COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED AND AMENDED

March 17, 2020

H. 4014

Introduced by Reps. Hixon, Tallon and Johnson

S. Printed 3/17/20--S.

Read the first time April 9, 2019.

            

A BILL

TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET OFFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 FOR THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

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

SECTION    1.    From the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Contingency Reserve Fund, there is appropriated $45,000,000 to the Executive Budget Office for use by the Department of Health and Environmental Control for the coordination of the State's public health preparedness and response to the COVID-19 virus.

SECTION    2.    The Executive Budget Office shall establish a COVID-19 Response account separate and distinct from all other accounts. The funds appropriated in SECTION 1 shall be credited to the COVID-19 Response account. The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall request funds from the account to be expended only for those purposes necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Budget Office shall release funds from the account upon the Department of Health and Environmental Control's request only if the requested funds are necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning on April 1, 2020 and on the first day of each month thereafter, the Executive Budget Office shall provide a detailed accounting of the expenditure of all funds appropriated pursuant to this act. The report shall be transmitted to the Governor, the General Assembly, and made available on the department's website.

SECTION    3.    Nothing in this act limits the Department of Health and Environmental Control from continuing to expend funds from other sources, including funds appropriated for the current Fiscal Year, that are necessary to address the State's response to COVID-19. Any unexpended funds appropriated pursuant to this act may be carried forward, without limitation, into the succeeding fiscal year and expended for the same purpose.

SECTION    4. The Department of Health and Environmental Control is authorized to take action to reallocate supplies and employees to meet the demands of hospitals and other medical providers who receive Medicaid or other state funds that are located within specific areas of this State where COVID-19 infections are most concentrated, commonly referred to as hotspots. The provisions of this SECTION expire thirty days after an executive order issued by the Governor lifting a state of emergency related to COVID-19.

SECTION    5.    For the period beginning March 19, 2020 and ending September 1, 2020, the earnings limitation imposed pursuant to Section 9-1-1790 and Section 9-11-90 of the South Carolina Code does not apply to retired members of the South Carolina Retirement System or the Police Officers Retirement System who return to covered employment to participate in the State's public health preparedness and response to the COVID-19 virus.

SECTION    6.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and the appropriations contained herein must be distributed immediately upon approval.