H 3501 General Bill, By J. Brown, Bailey, D.W. Beatty, Davenport, Littlejohn and 
C.C. Wells

Similar(S 546)
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 44-1-260 so as to require the Department of Health and Environmental Control
 or a person performing an early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment
 screening (EPSDT) or examination of a child to refer the child to an
 appropriate agency for an assistive technology evaluation if it is determined
 that the child may benefit from such technology.

   02/07/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   02/07/95  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-5

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-1-260 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OR A PERSON PERFORMING AN EARLY PERIODIC SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT SCREENING (EPSDT) OR EXAMINATION OF A CHILD TO REFER THE CHILD TO AN APPROPRIATE AGENCY FOR AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE CHILD MAY BENEFIT FROM SUCH TECHNOLOGY.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-1-260. Upon conducting an early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment screening (EPSDT), or another physical examination of a child from which it is determined that the child may benefit from the use of assistive technology, the department or person conducting the screening or examination may refer the child to an appropriate agency for an assistive technology evaluation. For purposes of this section, `assistive technology' means a device or service which is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capacities of an individual with a disability. An `assistive technology device' is an item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capacities of an individual with a disability including, but not limited to, aids for daily living, augmentative communication devices, wheelchairs, and mobility aids, seating and positioning aids, computer aids, environmental controls, home and workplace modifications, prosthetics and orthotics, or aids for vision or hearing impairments. An `assistive technology service' is a service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device."

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