Bill 4549

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    4549
Ratification Number:            459
Act Number:                     450
Type of Legislation:            Joint Resolution JR
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19980128
Primary Sponsor:                Allison
All Sponsors:                   Allison, Hamilton, Altman,
                                G. Brown, Inabinett, Rice, Mason,
                                Stoddard, Beck, Sandifer, McKay,
                                Battle, R. Smith, Walker, Canty,
                                Keegan, Lloyd, Phillips, Rhoad, Riser,
                                Breeland, McCraw, M. Hines, Neal, F.
                                Smith, Mack, Wilkes, Byrd,
                                Moody-Lawrence, Bauer, Barrett,
                                Carnell, Jennings, D. Smith, Simrill,
                                Vaughn, Young, Robinson, McGee,
                                Rodgers, Littlejohn, Bowers, Jordan,
                                Cave, Stille, Baxley, Gamble, Govan,
                                McLeod 
Drafted Document Number:        psd\7150ac.98
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980528
Date of Last Amendment:         19980513
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19980608
Subject:                        Mental Health Department requests
                                to plan operation of Veterans' nursing
                                home facility, Residential Care
                                Facilities

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19980910  Act No. A450
------  19980608  Signed by Governor
------  19980604  Ratified R459
House   19980528  Concurred in Senate amendment,
                  enrolled for ratification
Senate  19980526  Read third time, returned to House
                  with amendment
Senate  19980513  Read second time
Senate  19980513  Committee amendment adopted
Senate  19980408  Committee report: Favorable with         13 SMA
                  amendment
Senate  19980224  Introduced, read first time,             13 SMA
                  referred to Committee
House   19980220  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19980219  Read second time, unanimous consent
                  for third reading on the next
                  Legislative day
House   19980218  Recalled from Committee                  30 HWM
House   19980218  Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep.              McLeod
House   19980128  Introduced, read first time,             30 HWM
                  referred to Committee

(A450, R459, H4549)

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO DEVELOP AND SUBMIT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A PROPOSAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A NURSING HOME FACILITY FOR STATE VETERANS.

Whereas, there are approximately 380,000 veterans living in South Carolina; and

Whereas, critical numbers of these veterans are World War II and Korean War veterans with rapidly increasing needs for health care services, including nursing home care; and

Whereas, over the next decade the aging Vietnam veteran population will dramatically increase the demand for veterans' nursing home beds; and

Whereas, the State has approximately 18,000 nursing home beds with waiting lists of 800 to 1100 on any given day; and

Whereas, there are currently two state veteran's nursing homes in South Carolina providing a total of 310 beds, with a waiting list of 438, requiring a wait of approximately twenty months; and

Whereas, the federal government provides a generous sixty-five percent match for the cost of construction of a state veteran's nursing home; and

Whereas, in addition to the federal matching construction funds, Medicaid, and some Medicare funding, the federal government also pays $40.00 per day for each state veteran's nursing home bed; and

Whereas, with the demand far exceeding the availability of nursing home beds, the multiple federal funding sources available, and the continued and increasing growth in the aging veteran population, it is prudent for the General Assembly to diligently explore the possibility of opening an additional state veteran's nursing home. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Proposal requested for constructing veteran's nursing home

SECTION 1. The Department of Mental Health shall develop and submit to the General Assembly by January 1, 1999, a proposal for the construction of a state veteran's nursing home. The proposal shall include the resources needed to purchase or acquire land for the site, the number of beds, the site location, the cost of constructing, furnishing, and operating the facility, and possible sources for funds, including, but not limited to, in-kind donations of land and existing facilities. In developing the proposal, the department shall give consideration to the appropriate use of existing facilities and other available options.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 8th day of June, 1998.