South Carolina General Assembly
105th Session, 1983-1984

Bill 669

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               669
Ratification Number:       329
Act Number:                303
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Relating to the children's code and
                           investigations and inspections by the
                           Department of Social Services
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A303, R329, S669)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-2990, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CHILDREN'S CODE AND INVESTIGATIONS AND INSPECTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION PROVIDING THAT EXCEPT IN CASES INVOLVING A COMPLAINT OR EXPRESSED CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY, INSPECTIONS MUST BE MADE ON NOT LESS THAN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS NOTICE.

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

Investigations and inspections by the Department of Social

Services

SECTION 1. Section 20-7-2990 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 71 of 1981, is amended to read:

"Section 20-7-2990. a. In exercising the powers of licensing, approving, renewing, revoking, or making provisional licenses and approvals, the department shall investigate and inspect licensees and approved operators and applicants for a license or an approval. The authorized representative of the department may visit a child day care center or group day care home anytime during the hours of operation for purposes of investigations and inspections. In conducting investigations and inspections, the department may call on political subdivisions and governmental agencies for appropriate assistance within their authorized fields. The inspection of the health and fire safety of child day care centers and group day care homes must be completed upon the request of the department by the appropriate agencies (i.e. Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, or local authorities). Inspection reports completed by state agencies and local authorities must be furnished to the department and become a part of its determination of conformity for licensing and approval. After careful consideration of the reports and consultation where necessary, the department shall assume responsibility for the final determination of licensing, approving, renewing, revoking, or making provisional licenses and approvals.

b. Before issuing a license or approval the department shall conduct an investigation of the applicant and the proposed plan of care for children and for operating a child day care center or a group day care home. If the results of the investigation satisfy the department that the provisions of this subarticle and the applicable regulations promulgated by the department are satisfied,a license or approval must be issued."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.