Bill 884

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               884
Ratification Number:       391
Act Number:                365
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Relating to the Children's Code

(A365, R391, S884)

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 7 OF TITLE 20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CHILDREN'S CODE, BY ADDING ARTICLE 21 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE STATE COUNCIL ON MATERNAL, INFANT, AND CHILD HEALTH; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ARTICLE AND THE COUNCIL; TO PROVIDE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP, THE CHAIRMAN, TERMS, VACANCIES, AND COMPENSATION; TO PROVIDE FOR THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL; AND TO PROVIDE FOR HOUSING, FUNDING, AND STAFFING OF THE COUNCIL.

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

Findings

SECTION 1. (A) The General Assembly finds that coordination of planning and service delivery will enhance the effectiveness of services which affect pregnant women, infants, and children and that a State Council on Maternal, Infant, and Child Health, representative of public and private providers as well as consumers, is needed to provide coordination.

(B) The General Assembly also finds that emphasis must be placed on prevention as the most cost effective approach to addressing the health care needs of pregnant women, infants, and children. It is the intent of this article to develop a mechanism to coordinate health care and integrate preventive concepts in health care delivery to this population. Outreach and prevention efforts shall also target women in childbearing years.

Council on Maternal, Infant, and Child Health

Act established

SECTION 2. Chapter 7 of Title 20 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 21

State Council on Maternal, Infant,

and Child Health Act

Section 20-7-5410. It is the purpose of this article to improve the health status of South Carolina's children and to ensure optimal health for future generations of children. To achieve this objective, the State Council on Maternal, Infant, and Child Health is established to provide coordination in planning and service delivery among public and private organizations which provide health care and related support services to pregnant women, infants, and children; to identify health needs and develop policy and plans to address the health needs of this population; to recommend state policy with regard to the health needs of this population; and to assure the provision of outreach services to pregnant women, infants, and children in need of health care and preventive health measures.

Section 20-7-5420. (A) The State Council on Maternal, Infant, and Child Health shall consist of the following members:

(1) the Commissioner of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control; the State Superintendent of Education or his designee; the State Commissioner of Social Services; Director of the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse; the State Commissioner of Mental Health; the State Commissioner of Mental Retardation; the Executive Director of the State Health and Human Services Finance Commission; the Commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind; and the Chairman of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council; and

(2) a member of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee, to be appointed by the chairman; a member of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, to be appointed by the chairman; a member of the Health Care Planning and Oversight Committee, to be appointed by the chairman; and a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Children, to be appointed by the chairman.

The Governor shall appoint one representative of each of the following organizations as a member of the council: South Carolina Medical Association; South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; South Carolina Chapter of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology; South Carolina Chapter of the Academy of Family Practice; South Carolina Hospital Association; Medical University of South Carolina; University of South Carolina School of Medicine; Clemson University Extension Service; South Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers; Developmental Disabilities Council; South Carolina March of Dimes; South Carolina Nurses Association; and South Carolina Perinatal Association.

The Governor shall appoint one member from each of the six congressional districts of the State who represents business, civic, community, and religious groups.

The Governor may appoint other ex officio members to the council as are needed to provide information to assist in the work of the council.

(B) The Governor shall appoint the chairman of the council from the members representing the congressional districts, who shall serve as chairman for a two-year term.

(C) The terms of the members appointed by the Governor are for two years, and these members may not serve for more than three consecutive terms. Vacancies must be filled by the Governor for the remainder of an unexpired term for members appointed by the Governor.

Section 20-7-5430. Members of the council representing state agencies or committees are entitled to subsistence, per diem, and mileage authorized for members of state boards, committees, and commissions to be paid from funds appropriated for the operation of the respective agency or committee. Members representing private organizations or groups are entitled to the subsistence, per diem, and mileage to be paid from funds appropriated for the operation of the Governor's Office only if the organization or group the member represents does not compensate its representative for service on the council and the member requests compensation from the Governor's Office.

Section 20-7-5440. The State Council on Maternal, Infant, and Child Health shall perform the following functions:

(a) annual assessment of maternal, infant, and child health status. For the purposes of this article child means a person under twenty-one years of age;

(b) annual identification of maternal, infant, and child health needs;

(c) annual assessment of the adequacy of the service delivery system to meet the identified needs. Issues such as accessibility, availability, and acceptability of services must be considered;

(d) development of a three-year service plan to meet the needs of this population. The plan shall address issues such as planning financing, staffing, and training. The plan must include measurable objectives and outcomes and must be submitted to the Governor for approval;

(e) development and oversight of a three-year implementation plan. The implementation plan must identify responsible parties and describe action steps with deadlines for the recommendations in the service plan. The implementation plan must be monitored quarterly and updated annually by the council;

(f) identification and recommendation of state policies and goals with regard to maternal, infant, and child health which must be the basis for plan and program development. Emphasis must be placed on prevention. The council shall review and comment on plans and implementation of plans which address maternal, infant, and child health issues such as the Perinatal Plan of Action, the Final Report by the Southern Regional Task Force on Infant Mortality, and the State Health Plan. The council's plan must be consistent with the State Health Plan;

(g) initiation of community awareness activities regarding maternal, infant, and child health issues. Information regarding high risk behaviors and available services must be included. Community awareness activities must also be aimed at women of childbearing age;

(h) the council shall meet at least twice a year; and

(i) the council shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor by July 1. The report must include information on activities of the council related to its goals and objectives, a progress report on implementation of the three-year service plan, recommendations regarding state policy and programs, and a progress report on initiation of mandated duties.

Section 20-7-5450. The council must be housed in the Governor's Office. It must be funded through existing resources within the Governor's Office, and the funding must provide for a project director and administrative support."

Initial appointments

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 20-7-5420 initial appointments for nine of the members of the council appointed by the Governor are for one year.

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.