summary
Introduced
01/27/2026
01/27/2026
In Committee
01/27/2026
01/27/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 44-1-320 So As To Require The Department Of Public Health, In Collaboration With The Office Of The State Fire Marshal, To Establish And Administer A Statewide Firefighter Occupational Health Program To Test For Certain Carcinogenic Substances And To Provide Health And Cancer Screenings, All At No Charge, To Firefighters; And For Other Purposes.
AI Summary
This bill mandates the South Carolina Department of Public Health, in partnership with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, to create and manage a statewide health program for firefighters, offering free annual blood testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are certain carcinogenic substances commonly found in firefighting gear and environments, and also providing free annual occupational health and cancer screenings, including diagnostic testing, to all active career and volunteer firefighters across the state. The program will contract with qualified medical providers experienced in PFAS testing and firefighter health, ensuring confidential individual results are given to firefighters along with explanations, and that aggregate, de-identified data is provided to the department for public health monitoring, with fire departments not being responsible for contracting these services, and individual test results being protected as confidential medical records, while fire departments must allow paid release time for firefighters to participate in these essential health services.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (36)
James Teeple (R)*,
Gary Brewer (R),
Joe Bustos (R),
Paula Calhoon (R),
Micah Caskey (R),
April Cromer (R),
Sylleste Davis (R),
Adam Duncan (R),
Greg Ford (R),
Stephen Frank (R),
Kambrell Garvin (D),
Gil Gatch (R),
Wendell Gilliard (D),
Thomas Lee Gilreath (R),
Brandon Guffey (R),
Tom Hartnett (R),
Charles Hartz (R),
Harriet Holman (R),
Jay Kilmartin (R),
Brian Lawson (R),
Jason Luck (D),
David Martin (R),
Cody Mitchell (R),
Mike Neese (R),
Weston Newton (R),
Melissa Oremus (R),
Jordan Pace (R),
Luke Rankin (R),
Robert Reese (D),
Robby Robbins (R),
Heath Sessions (R),
Mark Smith (R),
Jackie Terribile (R),
Paul Wickensimer (R),
Robert Williams (D),
Richie Yow (R),
Last Action
House 3-M Medical and Health Affairs on 5013, 5194 (09:00:00 3/5/2026 Blatt Room 427) (on 03/05/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=5013&session=126&summary=B |
| Fiscal Note - H5013 2026-01-27 Introduced | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/H5013%202026-01-27%20introduced.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/5013_20260127.htm |
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