A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 43-21-210 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SENIOR CALL-CHECK SERVICE AND NOTIFICATION PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ON AGING.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 21, Title 43 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 43-21-210. (A) For purposes of this section:

       (1) "Eligible participant" means a resident of the State who is at least sixty-five years of age.

       (2) "Person of record" includes a local law enforcement agency or other local government agency that chooses to participate in the program.

       (3) "Program" means the Senior Call-Check Service and Notification Program.

       (4)(a) "Senior call-check service and notification" means a telephone call made or received each day at a regularly scheduled time by the department or the department's designee to the residence of an eligible participant to verify that the participant is able to receive notifications and answer the telephone or place a call from the telephone.

           (b) "Senior call-check service and notification" includes:

               (i) an automated or live telephone call placed by an eligible participant or received by an eligible participant at a regularly scheduled time each day;

               (ii) if the eligible participant does not answer or place the regularly scheduled call and the director of the department designs the program to require this action, one or more automated or live telephone calls to the eligible participant;

               (iii) if the eligible participant does not answer a telephone call made under item (ii), an additional automated or live telephone call to notify a person of record whose name has been provided to the department; and

               (iv) a notification to the eligible participant regarding information that the director of the department has determined to be relevant.

    (B) The department shall:

       (1) establish and administer the program to provide senior call-check service and notification to eligible participants; and

       (2) adopt regulations necessary to implement the program.

    (C) The department may contract with a private vendor or nonprofit organization to provide the senior call-check service and notification required under subsection (B).

    (D)(1) The Tort Claims Act applies to a state or local unit and to an employee or agent of a state or local unit that participates in the program for services the unit or person provides under the program in accordance with regulations of the department.

       (2) A person of record and a volunteer may not be liable for reasonable acts or omissions directly arising from services the person provides under the program in accordance with regulations of the department.

 

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

----XX----