H 3848 General Bill, By Tallon, Hixon, Arrington and Finlay
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 63-19-365 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE TO REPORT CHILD
 DEATHS TO A COUNTY CORONER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TO ESTABLISH CRIMINAL
 PENALTIES.

   02/23/17  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 29)
   02/23/17  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 29)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 63-19-365 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE TO REPORT CHILD DEATHS TO A COUNTY CORONER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TO ESTABLISH CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 3, Chapter 19, Title 63 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 63-19-365. (A)        In addition to reporting required pursuant to Section 24-9-35, or another provision of law, if a juvenile dies while in the care or custody of the department or while receiving services from the department, the department, within twenty-four hours or one working day, whichever occurs first, must report the death and any information associated with the death to SLED, local law enforcement with jurisdiction, and the coroner of the county in which the death occurred. The requirement to report pursuant to this section is an ongoing requirement.

(B)    The department shall retain a permanent record of reports made pursuant to this section. Reports must be made on forms prescribed by the department. A person knowingly and wilfully violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.