(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Ambulance service" means a public or private entity that is a licensed provider who has obtained the necessary permits and licenses for the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated.
(2) "County" means a county of this State.
(3) "Municipality" means a municipal corporation created pursuant to Chapter 1, Title 5 or a municipal government or governing body as the use of the term dictates.
(B)(1) Ambulance service is hereby designated as an essential service in this State.
(2) Each county governing body in this State shall ensure that at least one licensed ambulance service is available within the county. This may be provided as a county service, but also may be accomplished through other means including, but not limited to:
(a) providing a license or franchise to a private company;
(b) contracting with a public, private, or nonprofit entity for the service;
(c) entering into an intergovernmental agreement with one or more local governments; or
(d) entering into an agreement with a hospital or other health care facility.
(3) A county is not required to appropriate county revenues for ambulance service if the service can be provided by any other means.
(C) Municipal governing bodies also are authorized to make provisions for ambulance service within the boundaries of the municipality. A municipality may not provide and maintain, license, franchise, or contract for ambulance service outside its corporate boundaries without the approval of the county governing body, in the case of unincorporated areas, or the municipal governing body if the area to be served lies within the boundaries of another municipality.
(D) A county may not provide and maintain, license, franchise, or contract for ambulance service within the boundaries of a municipality that has made provisions for ambulance service without the approval of the municipal governing body of the area to be served.
(E) The governing body of any county or municipality may adopt and enforce reasonable regulations to control the provision of private or nonprofit ambulance service.
(F) Two or more counties and municipalities may enter into agreements with each other and with persons providing both emergency and nonemergency ambulance service for a county or counties on a countywide basis, for joint or cooperative action to provide for ambulance service.
HISTORY: 2022 Act No. 164 (H.4601), Section 1, eff May 13, 2022.
Code Commissioner's Note
At the direction of the Code Commissioner, Section 6-1-2020, as added by 2022 Act No. 164, Section 1, was redesignated as Section 6-1-190.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 1 - General Provisions
Section 6-1-20. Contractual agreements to provide joint public facilities and services authorized.
Section 6-1-35. Preservation and protection of cemeteries.
Section 6-1-40. Interstate extension of water and sewer systems.
Section 6-1-50. Financial report required.
Section 6-1-70. Prohibition on real estate transfer fees; exceptions.
Section 6-1-75. Allocation of aid to counties based on population of annexed areas.
Section 6-1-80. Budget adoption.
Section 6-1-90. Authorization of gifts to certain volunteer service personnel.
Section 6-1-110. Moratorium prohibited; notification requirement.
Section 6-1-120. Confidentiality of county or municipal taxpayer information.
Section 6-1-130. Political subdivisions; scope of authority to set minimum wage rates.
Section 6-1-140. Advisory referenda regarding activities of local or regional hospitals.
Section 6-1-150. Derelict mobile homes; removal and sale.
Section 6-1-170. Preemption of local ordinance relating to immigration; civil actions.
Section 6-1-180. Conditions under which special purpose districts may transfer works of art.
Section 6-1-190. Ambulance service designated an essential service.
Section 6-1-310. Prohibition on imposition of new local taxes.
Section 6-1-320. Millage rate increase limitation; exceptions.
Section 6-1-330. Local fee imposition limitations.
Section 6-1-400. Business license tax standardization; computation of business license tax.
Section 6-1-420. Assistance in collection of business license tax due; private right of action.
Section 6-1-520. Imposition of local accommodations tax.
Section 6-1-530. Use of revenue from local accommodations tax.
Section 6-1-540. Cumulative rate of local accommodations tax.
Section 6-1-550. Local accommodations tax revenue upon annexation.
Section 6-1-560. Real estate agents required to report when rental property listing dropped.
Section 6-1-630. Beach preservation fee; referendum.
Section 6-1-640. Use of revenue generated by beach preservation fee.
Section 6-1-650. Notice of dropped rental property.
Section 6-1-660. Fees remitted to local governing body.
Section 6-1-720. Imposition of local hospitality tax.
Section 6-1-730. Use of revenue from local hospitality tax.
Section 6-1-740. Cumulative rate of local hospitality tax.
Section 6-1-750. Local hospitality tax revenue upon annexation.
Section 6-1-760. Ordinances prior to March 15, 1997; calculation; revenue.
Section 6-1-810. Short title; findings.
Section 6-1-815. Implementation of article by municipality or county.
Section 6-1-930. Developmental impact fee.
Section 6-1-940. Amount of impact fee.
Section 6-1-950. Procedure for adoption of ordinance imposing impact fees.
Section 6-1-960. Recommended capital improvements plan; notice; contents of plan.
Section 6-1-970. Exemptions from impact fees.
Section 6-1-980. Calculation of impact fees.
Section 6-1-1010. Accounting; expenditures.
Section 6-1-1020. Refunds of impact fees.
Section 6-1-1040. Collection of development impact fees.
Section 6-1-1060. Article shall not affect existing laws.
Section 6-1-1070. Shared funding among units of government; agreements.
Section 6-1-1080. Exemptions; water or wastewater utilities.
Section 6-1-1090. Annexations by municipalities.
Section 6-1-2000. Taxation or revenue authority by political subdivisions.
Section 6-1-2010. Compliance with public notice or public hearing requirements.