Nursing Homes TB Tests AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-31-45 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE FOR TUBERCULOSIS TESTING OF APPLICANTS AND NEW EMPLOYEES AT NURSING HOMES AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES. - RATIFIED TITLEView full text View Vote History View Fiscal Impact01/15/26Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)01/15/26Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs (Senate Journal-page 5)02/24/26Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs (Senate Journal-page 9)02/26/26Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 17)02/26/26Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 17)02/26/26Senate Roll call Ayes-39 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 17)03/03/26Senate Read third time and sent to House (Senate Journal-page 8)03/04/26House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 8)03/04/26House Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 8)05/05/26House Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 5)05/07/26House Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 86)05/12/26House Read second time (House Journal-page 69)05/12/26House Roll call Yeas-112 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 69)05/13/26House Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 21)05/14/26 Ratified R 15305/18/26 Signed By Governor05/27/26 Effective date 05/18/2605/27/26 Act No. 174
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill requires nursing homes and community residential care facilities in South Carolina to establish a procedure for tuberculosis (TB) testing of both applicants for employment and new employees. The testing must be conducted before the employee has contact with residents and involves either a negative TB screening test within three months or documentation of a negative test within the previous twelve months. Facilities must also ensure that applicants without prior testing have a chest radiograph if they exhibit symptoms of TB.
Key provisions
- Requires TB testing for applicants and new employees at nursing homes and community residential care facilities.
- Testing must be completed before employee contact with residents.
- Acceptable tests include interferon-gamma release assays or other blood tests approved by the FDA.
- Testing must be performed within three months of the employee's start date, or within the previous twelve months.
- Facilities must conduct an annual tuberculosis risk assessment.
- Applicants with a positive or newly positive TB test must undergo a chest radiograph.
- Employees with symptoms of TB must be excluded from work until cleared by the department's tuberculosis control program.
Who is affected
- Nursing homes
- Community residential care facilities
- Applicants for employment at nursing homes and community residential care facilities
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