H 3943 General Bill, By Loftis, Anderson, G. Brown, R. Brown, Clark, Davenport, 
Frye, J. Hines, Jefferson, Littlejohn, Mahaffey, Martin, Moody-Lawrence, 
J.H. Neal, Parks, Sandifer, Sinclair, J.R. Smith and Vaughn
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 44-7-35 SO AS TO ENACT THE "THERON NORRIS ACT" TO PROVIDE THAT HEALTH CARE
 FACILITIES SHALL IMPLEMENT A METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PATIENTS WITH MENTAL OR
 NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENTS OR CONDITIONS SO THAT IF THE PATIENT IS OFF HIS OR
 HER UNIT THE PATIENT'S IMPAIRMENT OR CONDITION CAN BE READILY KNOWN AND TO
 PROVIDE THAT SUCH A PATIENT MUST NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED OR UNSUPERVISED WHILE
 OFF HIS OR HER UNIT.

   04/19/05  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-12
   04/19/05  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-12

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-35 SO AS TO ENACT THE "THERON NORRIS ACT" TO PROVIDE THAT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES SHALL IMPLEMENT A METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PATIENTS WITH MENTAL OR NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENTS OR CONDITIONS SO THAT IF THE PATIENT IS OFF HIS OR HER UNIT THE PATIENT'S IMPAIRMENT OR CONDITION CAN BE READILY KNOWN AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH A PATIENT MUST NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED OR UNSUPERVISED WHILE OFF HIS OR HER 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.    Article 1, Chapter 7, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-7-35.    (A)(1)    A health care facility shall implement a method of identifying patients with mental or neurological impairments or conditions that is readily visible on a patient's person or the patient's chart such that if a patient is transported off the unit to which the patient has been admitted, the patient's impairment or condition can be readily known.

(2)    A patient with a mental or neurological impairment or condition must not be left unattended or unsupervised while off the unit to which the patient was admitted.

(B)    For purposes of this section 'mental or neurological impairment or condition' includes, but is not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or any other mental or neurological impairment or condition that may require special care or supervision."

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