Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
COMMITTEE REPORT
January 23, 2018
H. 3920
Introduced by Reps. Felder, Funderburk, Davis, Bryant, Pope, Forrester, Sandifer, Allison, Fry and Cole
S. Printed 1/23/18--H.
Read the first time March 7, 2017.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3920) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-63-85 so as to provide that beginning with the 2018-2019, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting SECTION 1 in its entirety and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-63-85. (A) Beginning in the 2018-2019 School Year, each public school and charter school shall post at least five signs that provide telephone numbers and related information for reporting incidents of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation. A school must display the sign conspicuously in at least one high-traffic common area that is readily accessible to and widely used by students; however, virtual schools shall post the information required by this section virtually in appropriate places in the school's learning management system.
(B) A sign required in subsection (A) must:
(1) be produced and made available at no cost by the Department of Social Services;
(2) include the statewide toll-free telephone number that may be used to report incidents of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation to the Department of Social Services;
(3) include a telephone number that may be used to report incidents of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation to the Department of Social Services;
(4) include instructions to call 911 for emergencies;
(5) include directions for accessing the Department of Social Services' website for more information on reporting abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
(6) measure at least eight and one half inches by eleven inches; and
(7) use a conspicuous font size."/
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
MERITA A. ALLISON for Committee.
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Introduced on March 7, 2017
State Expenditure
This bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to maintain a statewide toll-free number for the referral of family-related problems including the reporting of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other problems that may affect the stability of family life. By the 2018-2019 school year, DSS expects to provide a statewide hotline number that fulfills the bill's requirements as part of its statewide implementation of regional intake hubs. Therefore, this bill would have no expenditure impact on the general fund, other funds, or federal funds.
Local Expenditure
This bill requires each public and charter school to post at least five signs that provide information on reporting incidents of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation beginning in school year 2018-2019. The Department of Education indicates that five signs that measure eight and one-half inches by eleven inches and 125 millimeters thick with peel and stick adhesive strips would cost $190 per school. While these specifications may exceed the requirements of the bill, the estimate is provided for information. With 1,252 schools, local expenditures could increase by $237,880 in FY 2018-19 using the quoted prices. The final school district expenditure impact will depend on how the schools create the signs.
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-85 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR, ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS, SHALL POST AT LEAST FIVE SIGNS THAT PROVIDE TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND RELATED INFORMATION FOR REPORTING INCIDENTS OF CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION; AND TO PROVIDE DETAILS CONCERNING THE CONTENT, PLACEMENT, AND APPEARANCE OF THE SIGNS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-910, RELATING TO A TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR THE REFERRAL OF INCIDENTS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES MAY MAINTAIN, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN SUCH A SERVICE AND TO INCLUDE CHILD EXPLOITATION AMONG THE CATEGORIES OF REPORTABLE INCIDENTS FOR WHICH THE SERVICE IS INTENDED.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-63-85. (A) Beginning in the 2018-2019 School year, each public school and charter school shall post at least five signs that provide telephone numbers and related information for reporting incidents of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation. A school must display the sign conspicuously in at least one high-traffic common area that is readily accessible to and widely used by students.
(B) A sign required in subsection (A) must:
(1) include the statewide toll-free telephone number that may be used to report incidents of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation to the Department of Social Services;
(2) include a telephone number that may be used to report incidents of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation to the Department of Social Services' office in the county in which the school is located;
(3) include instructions to call 911 for emergencies;
(4) include directions for accessing the Department of Social Services' website for more information on reporting abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
(5) measure at least eight and one half inches by eleven inches; and
(6) use a conspicuous font size."
SECTION 2. Section 63-7-910(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A)(1) The Department of Social Services may shall maintain a toll-free number available to persons throughout the State for the referral of family-related problems, including:
(a) the reporting of known or suspected cases of child abuse, or neglect, or exploitation;
(b) other problems of a nature which may affect the stability of family life.
(2) This telephone service shall operate continuously. Upon receipt of a call involving suspected abuse or neglect, the Department of Social Services shall transmit the full contents of the report to the appropriate county department office. Immediately upon transmitting the report the department shall destroy the contents of the suspected report. Upon receipt of a call involving other problems of a nature which may affect the stability of family life, the department shall refer the call to the appropriate county department office or other service agency where appropriate."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on January 23, 2018 at 5:24 PM