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H. 4352
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. May
Document Path: l:\council\bills\cc\16051vr21.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 743
Introduced in the House on May 11, 2021
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Disablilities and Special Needs Department
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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5/11/2021 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 12)
5/11/2021 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
(House Journal-page 12)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 1-30-35, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION AND GOVERNANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE HEADED BY A DIRECTOR WHO IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE; AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 44-20-30,44-20-210, 44-20-220, 44-20-230, 44-20-240, 44-20-320, AND 44-20-350, ALL RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE DEPARTMENT TO BE HEADED BY A DIRECTOR APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 1-30-35 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 1-30-35. (A) Effective on July 1, 1993, The following agencies, boards, and commissions, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated, or related entities as well as the employees, funds, property and all contractual rights and obligations associated with any such agency, except for those subdivisions specifically included under another department, are hereby transferred to and incorporated in and shall be administered as part of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, to be which was initially divided into divisions for Intellectual Disability, Head and Spinal Cord Injury, and Autism; provided, however, that the board of the former Department of Mental Retardation as constituted on June 30, 1993, and thereafter, under the provisions of Section 44-19-10, et seq., shall be is the governing authority for the department.
(A)(1) Department of Mental Health Autism programs, formerly provided for at Section 44-9-10, et seq.;
(B)(2) Head and Spinal Cord Injury Information System, formerly provided for at Section 44-38-10, et seq.;
(C)(3) Department of Mental Retardation, formerly provided for at Section 44-19-10, et seq.
(B) The Department of Disabilities and Special Needs is headed by a director who is appointed by the Governor, upon the advice and consent of the Senate. The director may be removed from office by the Governor in the manner provided for in Section 1-3-240(B)."
SECTION 2. Section 44-20-30(3) and (7) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(3) 'Commission' means the South Carolina Commission on Disabilities and Special Needs, the policy-making and governing body of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Reserved.
(7) 'Director' means the South Carolina Director administrative head of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, the chief executive director appointed by the commission."
SECTION 3. Sections 44-20-210 through 44-20-240 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:
"Section 44-20-210. There is created the South Carolina Commission on Disabilities and Special Needs. The commission consists of seven members. One member must be a resident of each congressional district appointed by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate. They shall serve for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Members of the commission are subject to removal by the Governor pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-3-240. A vacancy may be filled by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term There is created the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, which has authority over all of the state's services and programs for the treatment and training of persons with intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. This authority does not include services delivered by other agencies of the State as prescribed by statute. The department must be comprised of an Intellectual Disability Division, an Autism Division, and a Head and Spinal Cord Injuries Division. The department may be divided into additional divisions as may be determined by the director. The responsibility for all autistic services is transferred to the department from the Department of Mental Health.
Section 44-20-220. The commission shall determine the policy and promulgate regulations governing the operation of the department and the employment of professional staff and personnel. The members of the commission shall receive subsistence, mileage, and per diem as may be provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions. The commission shall appoint and in its discretion remove a South Carolina Director of Disabilities and Special Needs who is the chief executive officer of the department. The commission may appoint advisory committees it considers necessary to assist in the effective conduct of its responsibilities. The commission may educate the public and state and local officials as to the need for the funding, development, and coordination of services for persons with intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries and promote the best interest of persons with intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. The commission is authorized to promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter and other laws related to intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, or spinal cord injuries. In promulgating these regulations, the commission must consult with the advisory committee of the division for which the regulations shall apply The department is a member of the Governor's executive cabinet. The department's administrative head is a director who is to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The director is subject to removal from office by the Governor pursuant to Section 1-3-240(B).
Section 44-20-230. (A) Subject to the supervision, direction, and control of the commission, The director shall administer the policies department's programs and operations as established by statute and regulations established by the commission. The director may appoint and in his discretion remove all other officers and employees of the department subject to the approval of the commission.
(B) The director, and his designees, shall educate the public and state and local officials as to the need for the funding, development, and coordination of services for persons with intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries and shall promote the best interest of persons with intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries.
(C) The director may appoint advisory committees as necessary to assist in the effective conduct of his responsibilities.
Section 44-20-240. There is created the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs which has authority over all of the state's services and programs for the treatment and training of persons with intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. This authority does not include services delivered by other agencies of the State as prescribed by statute. The department must be comprised of an Intellectual Disability Division, an Autism Division, and a Head and Spinal Cord Injuries Division. The department may be divided into additional divisions as may be determined by the director and approved and named by the commission. Responsibility for all autistic services is transferred from the Department of Mental Health to the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs The department is authorized to promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter and other laws related to intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, or spinal cord injuries. In promulgating these regulations, the department must consult with the advisory committee of the division for which the regulations shall apply, if the director has established an advisory committee for the division in question."
SECTION 4. Section 44-20-320 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 44-20-320. The department or any of its programs may accept gifts, bequests, devises, grants, and donations of money, real property, and personal property for use in expanding and improving services to persons with intellectual disability, related disabilities, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries available to the people of this State. However, nothing may be accepted by the department with the understanding that it diminishes an obligation for paying care and maintenance charges or other monies due the department for services rendered. The commission director may formulate policies and promulgate regulations governing the disposition of gifts, bequests, devises, grants, and donations. If they are given to a specific service program of the department they must remain and be used for that program only or to its successor program."
SECTION 5. Section 44-20-350(B) and (C) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B) The department or an agency authorized by the department to offer services to clients may charge for its services. However, no service may be denied a client or his parent or guardian because of inability to pay part or all of the department's or other agency's expenses in providing that service. Where federal reimbursement is authorized for services provided, the department initially shall seek federal reimbursement. No charge or combination of charges may exceed the actual cost of services rendered. The commission director shall approve the procedures established to determine ability to pay and may authorize its designees to reduce or waive charges based upon its findings.
(C) Parents, guardians, or other responsible relatives must not be charged for regional center or community residential services provided by the department for their child or ward. However, a person receiving nonresidential services or his parent or guardian may be assessed a charge for services received, not to exceed cost. The department with the approval of the commission may determine for which services it charges."
SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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May 14, 2021 at 1:05 PM