South Carolina legislators are considering a bill that would prohibit private businesses and organizations from requiring employees to get vaccinated, extending a previous law that applied only to public-sector workers.
The new proposal comes after a 2023 law banning vaccine mandates for public employees expired. Lawmakers backing the bill say the goal is to make the restriction permanent and broaden it to include the private sector.
The bill also introduces a 21-day limit on quarantine periods, a timeframe lawmakers say is based on expert testimony and historical data from past disease outbreaks. Supporters argue the limit would balance public health concerns with individual rights by preventing indefinite or extended quarantines.
Advocates of the legislation argue that no one should have to choose between their job and getting vaccinated. They say the bill is intended to safeguard personal choice while also respecting the autonomy of businesses—so long as that autonomy doesn’t extend into employees’ medical decisions.
The proposal also outlines a role for law enforcement during declared public health emergencies, allowing—but not requiring—officers to assist the state’s health department in carrying out health regulations.
A similar bill introduced last year failed to reach a vote in the Senate. Supporters of the current version hope to gain more traction this session as the debate over individual rights and public health continues.
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