---
type: "Bill"
title: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-38 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO SECURE MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATIONS AS A CONDITION OF LICENSURE, REIMBURSEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT HOSPITALS OR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS IN THIS STATE; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS. - ratified title"
description: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-38 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO SECURE MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATIONS AS A CONDITION OF LICENSURE, REIMBURSEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT HOSPITALS OR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS IN THIS STATE; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS. - ratified title"
jurisdiction: "us/states/sc"
legislature: "South Carolina General Assembly"
session: "2017-2018"
identifier: "H 4116"
citation: "South Carolina H 4116 (2017-2018)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Clemmons", "Cole", "Douglas", "G.M. Smith", "Ridgeway", "Spires", "Tallon"]
version_count: 6
action_count: 28
vote_count: 5
first_action: "2017-04-06"
last_action: "2018-05-31"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/f4ff67c9-125d-4618-ad13-a04b88151f77"
source_url: "http://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4116&session=122&summary=B"
source_hash: "e818e37ab62324ad1f4d96f6442bf2edb09ef5806aca49c2ce7dffbc1ff36375"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-sc"]
---

# South Carolina H 4116 (2017-2018) — AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-38 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO SECURE MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATIONS AS A CONDITION OF LICENSURE, REIMBURSEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT HOSPITALS OR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS IN THIS STATE; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS. - ratified title

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **2/21/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4116_20180221.htm)
2. **3/15/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4116_20180315.htm)
3. **3/16/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4116_20180316.htm)
4. **4/17/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4116_20180417.htm)
5. **4/25/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4116_20180425.htm)
6. **4/6/2017** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4116_20170406.htm)

## Votes

- Passage of Bill — **99–0** (pass) · lower
- 3rd Reading — **41–0** (pass) · upper
- 2nd Reading — **39–0** (pass) · upper
- Adopt — **98–0** (pass) · lower
- to concur — **40–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Clemmons — primary (person)
- Cole — primary (person)
- Douglas — primary (person)
- G.M. Smith — primary (person)
- Ridgeway — primary (person)
- Spires — primary (person)
- Tallon — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-04-06** Introduced and read first time `introduction, reading-1`
- **2017-04-06** Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs `referral-committee`
- **2017-05-03** Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Clemmons
- **2018-02-21** Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-02-22** Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Tallon, Cole
- **2018-02-22** Read second time `reading-2`
- **2018-02-22** Roll call Yeas-99 Nays-0
- **2018-02-22** Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
- **2018-02-23** Read third time and sent to Senate `passage, reading-3`
- **2018-02-27** Introduced and read first time `introduction, reading-1`
- **2018-02-27** Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs `referral-committee`
- **2018-03-15** Committee report: Favorable Medical Affairs `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-03-16** Scrivener's error corrected
- **2018-03-29** Read second time `reading-2`
- **2018-03-29** Roll call Ayes-39 Nays-0
- **2018-04-17** Amended `amendment-passage`
- **2018-04-17** Read third time and returned to House with amendments `passage, reading-3`
- **2018-04-17** Roll call Ayes-41 Nays-0
- **2018-04-19** Debate adjourned until Tues., 4-24-18
- **2018-04-25** Senate amendment amended `amendment-amendment`
- **2018-04-25** Roll call Yeas-98 Nays-0
- **2018-04-25** Returned to Senate with amendments
- **2018-05-10** Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
- **2018-05-10** Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-0
- **2018-05-14** Ratified R 249
- **2018-05-18** Signed By Governor `executive-signature`
- **2018-05-25** Effective date 05/18/18
- **2018-05-31** Act No. 211

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/f4ff67c9-125d-4618-ad13-a04b88151f77`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official South Carolina legislature records).