South Carolina H 4343: Human trafficking awareness and prevention training

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4343 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 25, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

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 M