H 4954  General Bill, By S.Williams, King, McDaniel, Govan, Henegan and Rivers
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-45, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICES, SO AS TO REQUIRE COUNTY
 VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICES TO OFFER AND PROVIDE FREE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO
 COUNTY VETERANS WHO REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TRAVELING TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT OF
 VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) HEALTH CARE FACILITIES FOR SCHEDULED MEDICAL
 APPOINTMENTS AND AUTHORIZED NON-VA HEALTH CARE APPOINTMENTS.
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   01/16/20  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 396)
   01/16/20  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 396)

TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-45, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICES, SO AS TO REQUIRE COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICES TO OFFER AND PROVIDE FREE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO COUNTY VETERANS WHO REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TRAVELING TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) HEALTH CARE FACILITIES FOR SCHEDULED MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND AUTHORIZED NON-VA HEALTH CARE APPOINTMENTS.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 25-11-45 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 26 of 2019, is further amended to read:

    "Section 25-11-45.    (A)    Notwithstanding Section 1-30-110(4), a county veterans' affairs office must be funded with monies appropriated by the General Assembly for that purpose and payable directly to the County Treasurer's Office by the State Treasurer.

    (B)(1)    Notwithstanding another provision of law, after June 30, 2020, each county veterans' affairs office in South Carolina shall offer and provide free transportation services to county veterans who require assistance traveling to and from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities for scheduled medical appointments and authorized non-VA health care appointments.

        (2)    The transportation services program provided for pursuant to this subsection must be:

            (a)    approved and supervised by the county legislative delegation;

            (b)    appropriately funded and budgeted for by the county veterans' affairs office; and

            (c)    performed by paid employees of the county veterans' affairs office."

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