H 3222 General Bill, By Lourie, Altman, Bailey, Bales and Cotty
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 44-7-380 SO AS TO REQUIRE NURSING HOMES AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CARE
 FACILITIES TO RETAIN COPIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONTROL INSPECTION REPORTS AT THE FACILITY FOR TWO YEARS, TO REQUIRE THE
 FACILITY TO PROVIDE COPIES WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OF REQUEST, TO AUTHORIZE
 THE FACILITY TO CHARGE A FEE FOR SUCH COPIES, NOT TO EXCEED TEN DOLLARS, AND
 TO REQUIRE THE FACILITY TO POST A SIGN STATING THE RIGHT TO OBTAIN A COPY OF
 THESE REPORTS.

   12/18/02  House  Prefiled
   12/18/02  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs
   01/14/03  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-90
   01/14/03  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-90
   02/04/03  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Cotty

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-380 SO AS TO REQUIRE NURSING HOMES AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES TO RETAIN COPIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL INSPECTION REPORTS AT THE FACILITY FOR TWO YEARS, TO REQUIRE THE FACILITY TO PROVIDE COPIES WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OF REQUEST, TO AUTHORIZE THE FACILITY TO CHARGE A FEE FOR SUCH COPIES, NOT TO EXCEED TEN DOLLARS, AND TO REQUIRE THE FACILITY TO POST A SIGN STATING THE RIGHT TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THESE REPORTS.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 3, Chapter 7, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-7-380.    (A)    Each nursing home and community residential care facility shall maintain at the facility for two years a copy of each inspection report prepared by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The facility shall provide a copy of these reports within forty-eight hours of a written request and may charge a fee for the actual cost of duplicating the reports, not to exceed ten dollars.

(B)    Each facility shall prominently display a sign in reception areas stating in letters not less than three fourths inch high:

'By an Act of the South Carolina General Assembly, a person has the right to request in writing, and receive within forty-eight hours of the request, a copy of all inspection reports issued by the Department of Health and Environmental Control on the facility during the last two years. The facility may charge a fee for these copies, not to exceed ten dollars'.

Upon entering the facility, a new resident or patient, or the resident's or patient's representative, shall sign an acknowledgment that he is aware of his right under the law to receive these reports."

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