S Carolina Senate panel revives COVID-19 vaccine ban bill

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)– The Republican leader in the South Carolina Senate is reviving a bill to prevent public employers from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey’s proposal also would fine a private company requiring the shot $7,500 per employee fired because of that mandate.  A subcommittee approved the bill Thursday, sending it to the Senate Finance Committee. The House passed a similar bill in December. It did not have the fine for private employers. Business groups like the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce say they will fight the bill _ saying private companies should be able to decide without penalty whether to require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.