Regulations committee approves transfers and repeal; sends several public-health licensing rules back for revision

The Regulations and Administrative Procedures Committee on Thursday approved routine transfers and a repeal tied to last year’s reorganization of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, but sent several Department of Public Health licensing rules back for revision.

The committee voted to transfer health-related rules to a new DPH chapter and to accept a repeal of the athletic-trainer regulation now overseen by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. At the same meeting members asked Department of Public Health staff to withdraw and resubmit proposed amendments for crisis stabilization unit (CSU) licensing, residential treatment facilities for children and adolescents (RTFs) and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IIDs) so the agency can add requested changes, including clear authority for electronic refrigerator/freezer temperature monitoring and additional child-care provisions.

“This proposed regulation is a result of the passage of Act 60 from 2023 that established two new state agencies, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Services,” Bentley White of the Department of Public Health told the committee as she explained the transfers required by the statutory split of the former DHEC. The committee approved the transfer motions by voice vote; members said the regulatory text was updated to replace references to DHEC and the DHEC board with the new agency name.

On licensing for crisis stabilization units, Vito Wysevich of the Department of Public Health said the proposed amendments reflect a 2023 statutory change that broadened the age range of patients served. “Pursuant to the State Health Licensure Act, we license and regulate these CSU…