S*0511(Rat #0167, Act #0166 of 2002)  General Bill, By Thomas
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 43-1-115, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES COUNTY OFFICE BIENNIAL
 PERFORMANCE AUDITS, SO AS TO INSTEAD REQUIRE A SUBSTANTIVE QUALITY REVIEW OF
 THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS IN EACH COUNTY AND EACH
 ADOPTION OFFICE EVERY FIVE YEARS, TO REQUIRE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A COUNTY'S
 PERFORMANCE TO BE ASSESSED USING SPECIFIC OUTCOME MEASURES, TO REVISE PARTIES
 TO WHOM THE REPORT IS TO BE PROVIDED, AND TO REQUIRE THE REPORT TO BE POSTED
 ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.-amended title

   03/28/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   03/28/01  Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-8
   04/25/01  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     General SJ-19
   04/26/01  Senate Amended SJ-88
   04/26/01  Senate Read second time SJ-88
   04/26/01  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-88
   04/27/01  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-14
   05/01/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-26
   05/01/01  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-26
   06/21/01  House  Recalled from Committee on Ways and Means HJ-7
   01/08/02  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, January 9, 2002 HJ-64
   01/09/02  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, January 15, 2002 HJ-15
   01/15/02  House  Read second time HJ-21
   01/16/02  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-15
   02/05/02         Ratified R 167
   02/08/02         Signed By Governor
   02/21/02         Act No. 166
   02/26/02         Effective date 02/08/02
   02/26/02         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-1-115, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES COUNTY OFFICE BIENNIAL PERFORMANCE AUDITS, SO AS TO INSTEAD REQUIRE A SUBSTANTIVE QUALITY REVIEW OF THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS IN EACH COUNTY AND EACH ADOPTION OFFICE EVERY FIVE YEARS, TO REQUIRE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A COUNTY'S PERFORMANCE TO BE ASSESSED USING SPECIFIC OUTCOME MEASURES, TO REVISE PARTIES TO WHOM THE REPORT IS TO BE PROVIDED, AND TO REQUIRE THE REPORT TO BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

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

Substantive quality reviews of county child protective services and foster care programs and of adoption offices

SECTION 1. Section 43-1-115 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 101 of 1993, is amended to read:

"Section 43-1-115. The state department shall conduct, at least once every five years, a substantive quality review of the child protective services and foster care programs in each county and each adoption office in the State. The county's performance must be assessed with reference to specific outcome measures published in advance by the department. The quality review must assess the accuracy of program data being submitted by the county and examine data and other sources to determine the extent to which outcomes are being achieved. The department shall prepare a detailed narrative report, with supporting data, describing its findings. The state department shall submit the report within ninety calendar days after completion of the review to the Governor and to each member of the county legislative delegation, and the report shall be posted on the department's website. The reports are public information and upon request must be provided without charge to any member of the public within fifteen working days after the request is received. The failure of the state department to conduct the required quality review of any county office is considered nonfeasance in office by the state director and is cause for the state director's removal. This section is not intended to limit the department in the frequency or scope of reviews of county operations."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 5th day of February, 2002.

Approved the 8th day of February, 2002.