H 4634

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 4634
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A joint Resolution
TO CREATE A STUDY
COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE STATE OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND SYSTEMS THAT SERVE
AT-RISK SOUTH CAROLINIANS, TO DETERMINE NEEDED REFORMS TO ENSURE THAT THESE
ENTITIES SAFEGUARD AND PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR CARE OR
CUSTODY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S
MEMBERSHIP; AND TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A REPORT
AFTER WHICH THE STUDY COMMITTEE IS DISSOLVED.
Whereas,
human rights are the fundamental freedoms and protections that belong to every
person simply by virtue of being human; and
Whereas,
human rights are inherent. They are not granted by any government or authority,
and they are inalienable, meaning they cannot be taken away; and
Whereas,
it is the responsibility of the General Assembly to ensure that all vulnerable
South Carolinians in the care or custody of state institutions and systems are
provided for, protected from harm, and treated with dignity and respect within these
establishments. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) There is created a study committee to examine the state
of the public services and systems identified in items (1) through (6) and to recommend
needed reforms to guarantee and protect the human rights of individuals in their
care or custody, to include an examination of at a minimum:
        (1) for the foster
care system and services:
  (a) strategies
for expanding foster parent recruitment and improving comprehensive training
for foster parents;
  (b) ways to
strengthen family reunification services and oversight to reduce unnecessary
placement changes; and
  (c) strategies
for expanding and creating programs targeting youth aging out of foster care to
help with transition to adulthood including, but not limited to, housing
assistance, job placement support, and life-skills coaching programs;
       (2) for disability
services:
  (a) how to
ensure full compliance with accessibility laws and standards for schools,
public buildings, and public transportation;
  (b) strategies
to increase funding for inclusive education and vocational training programs;
and
  (c) ways in
which to expand employment supports, such as on-the-job coaching and tax
incentives for businesses that hire individuals with disabilities;
       (3) for services
to victims of gender-based violence:
  (a) how to establish
evidence-based treatment programs that address trauma, mental health, and
substance use;
  (b) strategies
for creating and supporting a statewide network of emergency shelters and legal
advocates for victims; and
  (c) ways to
promote the development of job placement and career-development services to
help survivors regain economic independence;
       (4) for prison systems
and services:
  (a) how to
reduce recidivism through mandatory mental health and substance use disorder
treatment while incarcerated;
  (b) ways to
strengthen reentry services, including housing assistance, vocational training,
and counseling; and
  (c) strategies
for reforming sentencing guidelines for nonviolent offenses and expanding
restorative justice practices;
        (5) for institutional
services:
  (a)
strategies for increasing staffing ratios and enforcing patient-centered care
standards in hospitals funded by the Department of Behavioral Health and
Developmental Disabilities, including facilities operated by any of the
department's component offices;
  (b)
implementation of regular, independent quality assurance reviews and
transparent reporting in hospitals funded by the Department of Behavioral
Health and Developmental Disabilities, including facilities operated by any of
the department's component offices;
  (c)
implementation of mandatory comprehensive vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, and
exploitation prevention training for staff of long-term care facilities;
  (d) how to standardize
long-term care facility resident-to-staff ratios and hygiene protocols;
  (e) strategies
for implementing juvenile detention center oversight to ensure age-appropriate
rehabilitation services; and
  (f) how to
standardize data collection practices to track incidents, staff shortages, and
facility conditions; and
       (6) for adult
protection services:
  (a) how to
expand in-home care subsidies and transportation assistance for vulnerable
adults;
  (b) strategies
for operating community wellness centers across the State that offer preventive
health screenings and social programs; and
  (c) ways in
which to protect against financial exploitation through enhanced legal aid and
mandatory reporting by financial institutions.
    (B) The study
committee shall provide a report that:
       (1) addresses
the areas of examination identified in subsection (A) with recommendations,
including any barriers to achieving the recommendations; and
       (2) as part of
the recommendations, identifies specific legislative or policy changes needed.
    (C)(1) The study
committee is composed of fourteen members, consisting of:
  (a) the
Director of the Department of Social Services, or the director's designee;
  (b) the
Director of the Department of Children's Advocacy, or the director's designee;
  (c) the
Director of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities,
or the director's designee;
  (d) the
Commissioner of the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, or the
commissioner's designee;
  (e) the
Superintendent of the Department of Education, or the superintendent's
designee;
  (f) an
attorney employed in the Crime Victim Services Division of the Office of the
Attorney General, designated by the Attorney General;
  (g) the
Executive Director of the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network, or a staff
member designated by the executive director;
  (h) the
Director of the Department of Corrections, or the director's designee;
  (i) the
Director of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, or the
director's designee;
  (j) the
Director of the Department of Public Health, or the director's designee;
  (k) the
Ombudsman of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, or the ombudsman's designee;
  (l) the
Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the director's designee;
  (m) the
Director of the Adult Protective Services Program, or the program director's
designee; and
  (n) the
Director of the Department on Aging, or the director's designee.
       (2) The study
committee shall create subcommittees to assist with the work of the study committee,
which must include the following members:
  (a) to
study the foster care system and services, a subcommittee co-chaired by the study
committee members designated pursuant to item (1)(a) and (b) and consisting of,
at a minimum:
  (i) two
foster care case supervisors, one representing an urban county and one
representing a rural county, designated by the Director of the Department of
Social Services;
  (ii)
the State Director of the Division of Guardian ad Litem of the Department of
Children's Advocacy, or the department director's designee;
  (iii) a
member of the State Board of Directors of the Division of Foster Care Review,
designated by the Director of the Department of Children's Advocacy;
  (iv)
the Director of the Chafee Foster Care Program's Division of Transition
Services and Support, or a designee of the Director of the Department of Social
Services;
  (v) two
Family Preservation program staff, one representing an urban county and one
representing a rural county, designated by the Director of the Department of
Social Services; and
  (vi) two
Kinship Care program staff, one representing an urban county and one
representing a rural county, designated by the Director of the Department of
Social Services;
  (b) to
study disability services, a subcommittee co-chaired by the study committee members
designated pursuant to item (1)(c) and (d) and consisting of, at a minimum:
  (i) the
committee member designated pursuant to item (1)(e);
  (ii)
the Office Director of the Office of Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities, or the office director's designee;
  (iii)
the Chief Executive Officer of Disability Rights South Carolina or a comparable
disability rights organization, designated by the Governor;
  (iv) an
attorney representing the Office of the Attorney General with experience in the
prosecution of disability rights litigation, designated by the Attorney
General;
  (v) the
Director of the Department of Transportation, or the director's designee; and
  (vi)
the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff, or the executive
director's designee;
  (c) to
study gender-based crime victim services, a subcommittee co-chaired by the study
committee members designated pursuant to item (1)(f) and (g) and consisting of,
at a minimum:
  (i) a
member of the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association (SCSA), designated by the
Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the SCSA;
  (ii) a
county solicitor, designated by the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme
Court;
  (iii)
the Chief Executive Officer of Sistercare or a comparable organization serving
victims of domestic violence, designated by the Governor;
  (iv)
the Chief Executive Officer of Pathways to Healing or a comparable organization
serving victims of sexual assault, designated by the Governor;
  (v) the
Office Director of the Office of Mental Health, or the office director's
designee;
  (vi)
the Office Director of the Office of Substance Use Services, or the office
director's designee; and
  (vii)
the Director of the Department of Employment and Workforce, or the director's
designee;
  (d) to
study the prison system and services, a subcommittee co-chaired by the study
committee members designated pursuant to item (1)(h) and (i) and consisting of,
at a minimum:
  (i) the
Office Director of the Office of Mental Health, or the office director's
designee;
  (ii)
the Office Director of the Office of Substance Use Services, or the office
director's designee;
  (iii)
the Executive Director of the State Housing Finance and Development Authority,
or the executive director's designee;
  (iv) a
member of the Department of Corrections' Office of Programs, Reentry, and
Rehabilitative Services staff, designated by the Director of the Department of
Corrections;
  (v) a
member of the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services'
rehabilitative services staff, designated by the Director of the Department of
Probation, Parole and Pardon Services;
  (vi) a
member of the Department of Employment and Workforce's Work Opportunity Tax
Credit and Federal Bonding Program staff, designated by the Director of the
Department of Employment and Workforce;
  (vii) a
public defender, designated by the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme
Court; and
  (viii)
a county solicitor, designated by the Chief Justice of the South Carolina
Supreme Court;
  (e) to
study institutional services, a subcommittee co-chaired by the study committee members
designated pursuant to item (1)(j) and (k) and consisting of, at a minimum:
  (i) the
committee members designated pursuant to item (1)(c), (l), and (m);
  (ii)
the Office Director of the Office of Mental Health, or the office director's
designee;
  (iii)
the Office Director of the Office of Substance Use Services, or the office
director's designee;
  (iv) the
Office Director of the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,
or the office director's designee; and
  (v) the
Chair of the Board of Long-Term Care Administrators, or a member of the board
designated by the chair; and
  (f) to
study adult protective services, a subcommittee co-chaired by the study
committee members designated pursuant to item (1)(m) and (n) and consisting of,
at a minimum:
  (i) a
member of the Department on Aging's Senior Centers and Permanent Improvement
Grant program staff, designated by the Director of the Department of Aging;
  (ii)
the Director of the South Carolina Vulnerable Adult Guardian ad Litem Program,
or a program representative designated by the Director of the Department on
Aging;
  (iii)
an attorney with experience representing vulnerable adults, designated by the
Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court;
  (iv)
the Chief Executive Officer of Senior Resources or a comparable organization
providing coordinated services to enable vulnerable adults to remain safely in
their homes, designated by the Governor;
  (v) the
Executive Director of the State Housing Finance and Development Authority, or
the executive director's designee; and
  (vi)
the President and Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Bankers
Association or a staff member with experience in the prevention of vulnerable
adult financial exploitation, designated by the Governor.
       (3) The study
committee shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its membership.
       (4) A vacancy
in the membership of the study committee or any of the subcommittees must be
filled in the manner of the original appointment.
       (5) Members of
the study committee and the subcommittees shall serve without per diem,
mileage, or other compensation generally provided to members of boards and
commissions.
    (D) The Senate and
House Judiciary committees shall provide appropriate staffing for the study
committee.
    (E) The study
committee shall provide an initial progress report of the study committee's
work to the General Assembly by January 1, 2027. The study committee shall
provide a final report with the findings and recommendations to the General
Assembly by January 1, 2028. The study committee, including the subcommittees,
shall dissolve upon providing the final report to the General Assembly.
SECTION 2.  This joint resolution takes effect
upon approval by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:05 PM