H 4343

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 4343
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Committee Amendment Adopted and Amended
February 25, 2026
H. 4343
Introduced by Reps. Wetmore, Erickson, Edgerton,
Terribile, Cromer, Schuessler, Crawford, Davis, Calhoon, Oremus, Holman,
Pedalino, Bernstein, Cobb-Hunter, Dillard, Bauer, Henderson-Myers, Landing,
McDaniel, Waters, Alexander and Spann-Wilder
S. Printed 2/25/26--S.
Read the first time May 7, 2025
________
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
40-33-31 SO AS TO REQUIRE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION CONTINUING
EDUCATION TRAINING FOR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES, REGISTERED NURSES, OR
ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES EXCLUDING CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE
ANESTHETISTS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-39 SO AS TO REQUIRE HUMAN TRAFFICKING
AWARENESS AND PREVENTION CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING FOR PHYSICIANS; AND BY
ADDING SECTION 40-47-953 SO AS TO REQUIRE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.
    Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Article 1, Chapter 33, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
40-33-31.  (A)(1) In addition to other requirements
of this chapter, successful completion of a one-hour human trafficking
awareness and prevention course that meets the requirements of subsection (B)
is a continuing education requirement for licensure renewal, reinstatement, or
reactivation as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or advanced
practice registered nurse. All licensees shall complete this course requirement
before:
  (a)
January 1, 2028, and every six years thereafter, for persons licensed before
January 1, 2026; or
  (b)
two years after initial licensure and every six years thereafter, for persons
initially licensed on or after January 1, 2026.
       (2)
The requirements of this subsection are in addition to any other continuing
education requirements and licensure requirements in this chapter.
    (B) A
human trafficking awareness and prevention course required by this section:
       (1)
only may be provided by a continuing education provider approved by the State
Board of Nursing; and
       (2)
must include instruction on:
  (a)
identifying suspected trafficking victims;
  (b)
laws for reporting suspected trafficking victims; and
  (c)
providing care and support to potential trafficking victims.
    (C)
The State Board of Nursing shall adopt rules to implement this section in
collaboration with the Director of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task
Force and the State Task Force Healthcare Subcommittee.
SECTION 2.  Article 1, Chapter 47, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section 40-47-39.  (A)(1) In addition to other requirements
of this article, successful completion of a one-hour
human trafficking awareness and prevention course meeting the requirements of
subsection (B) is a continuing education requirement for renewal of a physician
license pursuant to Section 40-47-40 or the reinstatement or
reactivation of a physician license pursuant to Section 40-47-30 for licensees practicing emergency medicine,
primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics,
gynecology, or as a hospitalist, and those licensees working in public health
clinics, emergency departments, urgent care centers, and community-based
centers. All licensees subject to this section shall complete this course
requirement before:
  (a)
January 1, 2028, and every six years thereafter, for persons licensed before
January 1, 2026; or
  (b)
two years after initial licensure and every six years thereafter, for persons
initially licensed on or after January 1, 2026.
       (2)
The requirements of this subsection are to be counted as part of required
continuing education requirements and in addition to  any other requirements
for any initial licensure, license renewal, and license reinstatement or
reactivation in this article.
    (B) A
human trafficking awareness and prevention course required by this section must
contain information reviewed by the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force
and the State Task Force Healthcare Subcommittee:
       (1)
and only may be provided by:
  (a)
a statewide organization recognized by the Accreditation Council for Continuing
Medical Education (ACCME) to recognize and accredit organizations in South
Carolina offering continuing medical education;
  (b)
a statewide organization approved to provide continuing medical education by
its national organization which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for
Continuing Medical Education; or
  (c)
from an organization approved by the State Board of Medical Examiners; and
       (2)
must include instruction on:
  (a)
identifying suspected trafficking victims;
  (b)
laws for reporting suspected trafficking victims; and
  (c)
providing care and support to potential trafficking victims.
    (C)
The State Board of Medical Examiners shall adopt rules to implement this
section in collaboration with the Director of the South Carolina Human
Trafficking Task Force and the State Task Force Healthcare Subcommittee.
SECTION 3.  Article 7, Chapter 47, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
40-47-953. (A)(1) In addition to other requirements
of this article, evidence of successful completion of a one-hour human
trafficking awareness and prevention course provided in subsection (B) is a
continuing education requirement for the renewal of a physician assistant
license. All licensees shall complete this course requirement before:
  (a)
January 1, 2028, and every six years thereafter, for persons licensed before
January 1, 2026; or
  (b)
two years after initial licensure and every six years thereafter, for persons
initially licensed on or after January 1, 2026.
       (2)
The requirements of this subsection are in addition to any other continuing
education requirements and other requirements for any initial licensure,
license renewal, and license reinstatement or reactivation for physician
assistants in this article.
    (B) A
human trafficking awareness and prevention course required by this section:
       (1)
only may be provided by a continuing education provider approved by the State
Board of Medical Examiners; and
       (2)
must include instruction on:
  (a)
identifying suspected trafficking victims;
  (b)
laws for reporting suspected trafficking victims; and
  (c)
providing care and support to potential trafficking victims.
    (C)
The State Board of Medical Examiners shall adopt rules to implement this
section.
SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on February 25, 2026 at 05:48 PM