The Senate led the way on reforming South Carolina’s most complex and unwieldy agency, DHEC.

Senate bill 399, passed near the end of this legislative session and it accomplishes the following:

Creates separate agencies for Environment and Health.

  • The first, named the Department of Environmental Services, holds divisions to monitor air quality, water, land and waste management, water usage, regional and laboratory services, and coastal management.
    • The Department of Natural Resources would transfer the Division of Water Resources to the Department of Environmental Services
  • The second will be the Department of Public Health, and The Department of Administration will conduct an analysis and provide recommendations on how to structure the  public health agency by Dec. 31, 2023.
    • The Department of Agriculture would take over food safety.
    • The Department of Veterans Affairs would pick up responsibilities from the Department of Mental Health for veterans’ homes, which provide treatment for South Carolina veterans who require long term nursing care.

The legislation will take effect July 1, 2024 to ensure a smooth transition for all.