South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

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A244, R292, H4750

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Cobb-Hunter and McLeod
Document Path: l:\council\bills\dt\27083bb08.doc

Introduced in the House on February 26, 2008
Introduced in the Senate on April 30, 2008
Last Amended on April 29, 2008
Passed by the General Assembly on May 16, 2008
Governor's Action: May 27, 2008, Signed

Summary: Continuing care facilities

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2/26/2008  House   Introduced and read first time HJ-12
   2/26/2008  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-13
   4/23/2008  House   Recalled from Committee on Judiciary HJ-98
   4/24/2008          Scrivener's error corrected
   4/29/2008  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: McLeod
   4/29/2008  House   Amended HJ-20
   4/29/2008  House   Read second time HJ-21
   4/30/2008  House   Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-16
   4/30/2008  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-9
   4/30/2008  Senate  Referred to Committee on Banking and Insurance SJ-9
   5/14/2008  Senate  Committee report: Favorable Banking and Insurance SJ-12
   5/15/2008  Senate  Read second time SJ-12
   5/15/2008  Senate  Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative 
                        day SJ-12
   5/16/2008  Senate  Read third time and enrolled
   5/22/2008          Ratified R 292
   5/27/2008          Signed By Governor
    6/3/2008          Copies available
    6/3/2008          Effective date 05/27/08
   6/13/2008          Act No. 244

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/26/2008
4/23/2008
4/24/2008
4/29/2008
5/14/2008


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A244, R292, H4750)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-100, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES FOR THOSE WHO MANAGE CONTINUING CARE FACILITIES, SO AS TO DELETE OBSOLETE PROVISIONS, PROVIDE GROUNDS FOR WHICH DISCIPLINARY ACTION MAY BE TAKEN, PROVIDE TYPES OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT MAY BE TAKEN, REQUIRE THAT DISCIPLINARY ACTION OCCUR SUBJECT TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT, AND REQUIRE A PERSON WHO HAS UNDERTAKEN UNLAWFUL CONDUCT TO REPAY COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT OF THE CHAPTER; BY ADDING SECTION 37-11-125 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY FILE AN ACTION IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT OR CIVIL COURT TO ENFORCE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER; TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-135, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EXEMPT COMMUNITIES MUST OBTAIN A LETTER OF NONAPPLICABILITY; BY ADDING SECTION 37-11-137 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDS COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT MUST BE USED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER; AND TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-140, RELATING TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CHAPTER, SO AS TO DELETE OBSOLETE PROVISIONS.

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

Disciplinary actions

SECTION    1.    Section 37-11-100 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 128 of 2005, is further amended to read:

"Section 37-11-100.    (A)    For the purposes of this section, 'conviction' includes a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or a finding of guilt.

(B)    The department may take disciplinary action against a licensee or an operator for violation of a provision of this chapter or a regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter.

(C)    Upon finding that a licensee, operator, or person who manages the community on a day-to-day basis has violated one or more provisions of this section, the department may:

(1)    deny an application for a license;

(2)    revoke, restrict, suspend, or refuse to renew a license;

(3)    impose an administrative penalty in an amount not less than one thousand dollars for each violation, but not more than ten thousand dollars;

(4)    issue a reprimand;

(5)    issue a cease and desist order; or

(6)    place the licensee, operator, or person who manages the community on a day-to-day basis on probation for a period and subject to conditions and restrictions that the department specifies.

(D)    A disciplinary action, denial of an application for a new or renewal license, license revocation, or license suspension must occur subject to the Administrative Procedures Act, with notice to, and an opportunity for a hearing by, the affected applicant, licensee, or operator. A contested hearing pursuant to this section must be held before the Administrative Law Court.

(E)    A licensee, operator, or person who manages the community on a day-to-day basis who is found to be engaged in unlawful conduct may be assessed the reasonable costs necessary to the investigation, disciplinary proceeding, court proceeding, or other action to enforce the provisions of this chapter."

Enforcement actions

SECTION    2.    Chapter 11, Title 37 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 37-11-125.    The department or the Attorney General may file an action in the Administrative Law Court or circuit court to enforce the provisions of this chapter."

Exemption requirement

SECTION    3.    Section 37-11-135 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 37-11-135.    A continuing care retirement community which does not require payment of an entrance fee is exempt from the requirements of this chapter. In order to qualify for this exemption, a facility must obtain a letter of nonapplicability from the department."

Funds retention and use

SECTION    4.    Chapter 11, Title 37 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 37-11-137.    All funds collected by the department pursuant to this chapter must be retained and used to implement the provisions of this chapter."

Section applicability

SECTION    5.    Section 37-11-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 37-11-140.    (A)    The provisions of Section 37-11-35 do not apply to a continuing care contract entered into before the effective date of this chapter.

(B)    The provisions of subsection (A) do not limit the department's authority to deny, suspend, or revoke a license or assess a monetary penalty if it finds fraud or gross financial mismanagement."

Time effective

SECTION    6.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 22nd day of May, 2008.

Approved the 27th day of May, 2008.

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