(A162, R186, S558)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-31-40 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE FOR THE TUBERCULOSIS TESTING OF APPLICANT RESIDENTS AND NEWLY ADMITTED RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES IN THIS STATE.

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

Tuberculosis testing, congregate care facilities

SECTION 1.    Article 1, Chapter 31, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 44-31-40.    (A) A nursing home or community residential care facility as defined in Section 44-7-130 shall:

(1) prior to the admission of a new resident, request and receive a written declaration from an authorized health care provider that, based upon medical examination of the applicant resident, the applicant resident has no signs or symptoms of active tuberculosis;

(2) within three days of a resident's admission to the nursing home or community residential care facility from a hospital, as defined in Section 44-7-130, administer the first step of the two-step tuberculin skin test to the resident; and

(3) within fourteen days of that resident's admission, administer the second step of the tuberculin skin test to the resident.

(B)(1) The nursing home or community residential care facility may substitute a single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis for a two-step tuberculin skin test; or

(2) administer a single tuberculin skin test or single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis within fourteen days of the resident's admission from a hospital if the nursing home or community residential care facility has documentation that within the twelve-month period prior to admission, the resident obtained a negative tuberculin skin test or a negative single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Time effective

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

Ratified the 15th day of May, 2024.

Approved the 20th day of May, 2024.

This web page was last updated on June 24, 2024 at 2:47 PM