SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
S
TATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT
WWW.RFA.SC.GOV • (803)734-3793
This fiscal impact statement is produced in compliance with the South Carolina Code of Laws and House and Senate rules. The focus of
the analysis is on governmental expenditure and revenue impacts and may not provide a comprehensive summary of the legislation.
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S. 0170
Fiscal Impact Summary
This bill requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities (ASFs) to adopt and implement
policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke by requiring the use of a smoke evacuation
system during any surgical procedure that is likely to generate surgical smoke.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) oversees licensing for hospitals and ASFs in South
Carolina. DPH indicates there are currently, 109 licensed hospitals/infirmaries and 88 licensed
ASFs in South Carolina. Not all of these facilities perform surgical procedure that are likely to
generate surgical smoke. It is unknown how many of these facilities will be impacted by this bill.
DPH anticipates that implementation of this bill will have an undetermined increase to the
frequency of design plan and specification reviews, as well as inspections performed by the
agency’s Health Facilities Construction Section. DPH further anticipates that this bill will result
in an undetermined increase to the construction inspection fees collected by the agency. The
agency anticipates that any expenditure increase related to the increase in the number of reviews
and inspections will be offset by the undetermined increase in inspection fee revenue. Therefore,
DPH anticipates that the fiscal impact of this bill can be managed with existing staff and
appropriations. For reference, DPH oversees licensing for hospitals and ASFs in South Carolina.
DPH indicates there are currently, 109 licensed hospitals/infirmaries and 88 licensed ASFs in
South Carolina. However, not all of these facilities perform surgical procedure that are likely to
generate surgical smoke. It is unknown how many of these facilities will be impacted by this bill.
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is continuing to analyze the impact of this
bill. This fiscal impact is pending, contingent upon a response from the agency.
The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) contacted all counties to determine the impact on
local governments. RFA received a response from the counties of Charleston, Chesterfield, and
Florence. These counties anticipate this bill will have no expenditure impact.
Bill Number: S. 0170 Introduced on Januar
y 14, 2025
Subject: Sur gical Smoke Evacuation System
Requestor: Senate Medical Affairs
RFA Anal
yst(s): Boggs
Impact Date: February 19, 2025
__________________________________
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
DISCLAIMER: THIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT REPRESENTS THE OPINION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
AGENCY OFFICIAL WHO APPROVED AND SIGNED THIS DOCUMENT. IT IS PROVIDED AS INFORMATION TO
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
Page 2 of 2
S. 0170
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Introduced on January 14, 2025
State Expenditure
This bill requires hospitals and ASFs to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to
surgical smoke by requiring the use of a smoke evacuation system during surgical procedures.
DPH anticipates that implementation of this bill will have an undetermined increase to the
frequency of design plan and specification reviews, as well as inspections performed by the
agency’s Health Facilities Construction Section. The potential increase in related expenses for
the agency will depend on the increase in the number of reviews and inspections. Therefore, the
expenditure impact for DPH is undetermined.
DPH collects construction inspection fees that are based on the total project cost. DPH
anticipates that this bill will increase the construction inspection fees collected by the agency.
The potential increase in fee revenue for DPH will depend on the number of facilities that need
to implement smoke evacuation systems and the total cost of each project. Therefore, the impact
to construction inspection fee revenue is undetermined. However, the agency anticipates that any
expenditure increase related to the increase in the number of reviews and inspections will be
offset by the undetermined increase in inspection fee revenue. Therefore, DPH anticipates that
the fiscal impact of this bill can be managed with existing staff and appropriations.
For reference, DPH oversees licensing for hospitals and ASFs in South Carolina. DPH indicated
there are currently, 109 licensed hospitals/infirmaries and 88 licensed ASFs in South Carolina.
However, not all facilities perform surgical procedures that are likely to generate surgical smoke,
and some facilities already have smoke evacuation systems installed. Therefore, it is unknown
how many facilities will be impacted by this bill.
MUSC is continuing to analyze the impact of this bill. This fiscal impact is pending, contingent
upon a response from the agency.
State Revenue
This bill may increase the construction inspection fees collected by DPH. The potential increase
in fee revenue for DPH will depend on the number of facilities that need to implement smoke
evacuation systems and the total cost of each project. Therefore, the impact to construction
inspection fee revenue is undetermined.
Local Expenditure
RFA contacted all counties to determine the impact to local governments. RFA received a
response from the counties of Charleston, Chesterfield, and Florence. These counties anticipate
this bill will have no expenditure impact.
Local Revenue
N/A