The bill S. 244 amends various sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws concerning tort reform and alcohol liability. It mandates that a jury or court determines the percentage of fault for all parties involved in a tort case, while repealing previous sections related to the right of contribution and pro rata liability among tortfeasors. New provisions are introduced to define terms related to alcohol sales and establish civil liability for licensees who serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals or minors. Additionally, the bill requires alcohol servers and managers to complete training and obtain certification, with penalties for noncompliance, and outlines the approval process for alcohol server training programs.

Moreover, the bill establishes specific conditions under which actions for bad faith involving liability, underinsured motorists, or uninsured motorists insurance claims are not actionable. It specifies that insurers cannot be held liable for bad faith if they tender policy limits within certain timeframes and clarifies that mere negligence does not constitute bad faith. The bill also imposes a duty on insured parties and their representatives to act in good faith regarding claims and addresses scenarios involving multiple claimants with competing claims. Overall, the bill aims to enhance accountability in alcohol service and clarify the apportionment of fault in tort cases while establishing protections for insurers against bad faith claims.

Statutes affected:
01/16/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
02/18/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
02/26/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/05/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/18/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/19/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/26/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/27/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
03/28/2025: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23
Latest Version: 15-38-15, 15-38-20, 15-38-30, 15-38-40, 15-3-710, 15-3-720, 15-3-730, 61-4-580, 61-4-590, 61-3-100, 61-3-110, 61-3-120, 61-3-130, 61-3-140, 61-3-150, 61-3-160, 61-2-60, 61-6-2220, 38-90-20, 61-2-145, 15-3-670, 15-3-640, 56-5-6540, 15-7-65, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 15-78-30, 15-32-220, 38-59-23