H 3820 General Bill, By Loftis, Bailey, Branham, J. Brown, Cobb-Hunter, 
Davenport, Emory, Gilham, Herbkersman, Hosey, Koon, Lee, Lourie, Miller, Rivers, 
F.N. Smith, J.R. Smith, Stille and Vaughn
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 44-7-260, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, SO AS TO
 ENACT THE "THERON NORRIS ACT" TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A MENTAL
 IMPAIRMENT IS ADMITTED TO A HEALTH CARE FACILITY OR A COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL
 CARE FACILITY (CRCF), THE FACILITY OR CRCF SHALL AFFIX A GREEN STAR TO THE
 PATIENT'S CHART INDICATING THAT THE PATIENT REQUIRES SPECIAL SUPERVISION OR
 CARE, THE CHART MUST ACCOMPANY THE PATIENT WHEN TRANSPORTED OFF THE UNIT TO
 WHICH HE HAS BEEN ADMITTED, AND SUCH A PATIENT MAY NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED OR
 UNSUPERVISED WHILE OFF HIS UNIT.

   03/19/03  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-38
   03/19/03  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-39

TO AMEND SECTION 44-7-260 CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, SO AS TO ENACT THE "THERON NORRIS ACT" TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A MENTAL IMPAIRMENT IS ADMITTED TO A HEALTH CARE FACILITY OR A COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY (CRCF), THE FACILITY OR CRCF SHALL AFFIX A GREEN STAR TO THE PATIENT'S CHART INDICATING THAT THE PATIENT REQUIRES SPECIAL SUPERVISION OR CARE, THE CHART MUST ACCOMPANY THE PATIENT WHEN TRANSPORTED OFF THE UNIT TO WHICH HE HAS BEEN ADMITTED, AND SUCH A PATIENT MAY NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED OR UNSUPERVISED WHILE OFF HIS UNIT.

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

SECTION    1.    This act may be cited as the "Theron Norris Act".

SECTION    2.    Section 44-7-260 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end:

"(F)    If an individual with a mental impairment, which may include, but is not limited to, Alzheimer's, dementia, or any other mental impairment that may require special care or supervision, is admitted to a health care facility or a community residential care facility (CRCF), the health care facility or CRCF shall affix in plain view to the patient's chart a green star which indicates that the patient has an impairment that may require special supervision or care. Such a designation must be ordered by a patient's attending physician, and this order must be reflected in the patient's medical record. A patient's chart must accompany the patient when transported off the unit to which the patient has been admitted, and a patient with such an indication on his chart must not be left unattended or unsupervised while not on the patient's unit."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.