Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2003 Session > Title 44

This statutory database is current through the 2003 Regular Session of the South Carolina General Assembly. Changes to the statutes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly, which will convene in January 2004, will be incorporated as soon as possible. Some changes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly may take immediate effect. The State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Legislative Council make no warranty as to the accuracy of the data, and users rely on the data entirely at their own risk.




SECTION 44-13-10. Detention of individual pending removal to facility.

Pending his removal to a State mental health facility an individual taken into custody or ordered to be admitted may be temporarily detained in his home, a licensed foster home or any other suitable facility under such reasonable conditions as the county governing body, supervisor or manager may fix, but he shall not, except because of and during an extreme emergency, be detained in a nonmedical establishment used for the detention of individuals charged with or convicted of penal offenses. The county governing body, supervisor or manager shall take such reasonable measures, including provision of medical care, as may be necessary to assure proper care of an individual temporarily detained under this section.

SECTION 44-13-20. Admission of resident ordered committed by foreign court.

Any individual, legally a resident of this State, ordered to be admitted to any mental health facility under the laws of any other state, may be admitted, upon satisfactory proof of residence, to care and treatment in any State mental health facility of this State. The orders of any court of competent jurisdiction of another state or of the District of Columbia authorizing admittance of such individual to a mental health facility shall have the same force and effect upon his transfer to this State as a lawful order of any court of competent jurisdiction in this State. A certified copy of such order shall be furnished the Department of Mental Health prior to the issuance by the Department of Mental Health of any authorization of transfer of such patient. Jurisdiction in all further matters relating to such mentally ill person shall vest in the judge of probate of the county in which the mental health facility, to which such person is admitted, is located, during his confinement therein, or the judge of probate of the county in which he is legally resident.

SECTION 44-13-30. Removal of patient or trainee who is not a citizen of this State.

Unless he was admitted pursuant to the Interstate Compact on Mental Health as set out in Section 44-25-20 or a supplementary agreement thereto, if any person admitted to a State mental health facility is not a citizen of this State, the superintendent of the facility concerned shall immediately notify the Department of Mental Health, and the Department of Mental Health shall notify the mental health commission or other appropriate agency of the state of which the patient or trainee is a citizen. If the state of his citizenship fails to provide for his removal within a reasonable time, the Department of Mental Health shall cause him to be delivered to the officials authorized by law to care for similar persons pending their commitment to state institutions of the state of his citizenship. The cost of these proceedings and conveyance from this State shall be borne by this State under reciprocity agreements made by the Department of Mental Health with the mental health authorities of other states. In entering upon such reciprocal agreements with other states, the Department of Mental Health shall provide that the requirements necessary to gain residence in this State shall not be less than those required for the acquisition of residence in the other contracting state. The Department of Mental Health may, however, in cases of undue hardship waive the requirements of residence, for cause.

SECTION 44-13-40. Removal of alien patient or trainee.

If any person admitted to a State mental health facility is not a citizen of the United States, the superintendent of the facility concerned shall immediately notify the Department of Mental Health of the name of the person and all ascertainable information as to race, nativity, date of last arrival in the United States, the name of the vessel on which he arrived, the port at which he landed and the name of the transporting company. The Department of Mental Health shall transmit this information to the appropriate United States authorities and shall continue to provide care and treatment for the patient or trainee pending arrangements for his deportation.

SECTION 44-13-50. Return of patient to out-of-State mental health facility.

If a mentally ill patient from an out-of-State mental health facility is found to be in this State without permission and upon satisfactory identification of the patient and the request of such facility that the patient be returned, he may be taken into custody by proper public officials and transported directly to the out-of-State facility or may be detained in a State mental health facility until such time as transportation arrangements can be made or the patient's health will permit his return. The state requesting the return of the patient shall pay all costs of, and incidental to, the transportation and detention of the patient.

SECTION 44-13-60. Transfer of custody of infirm or harmless patient or trainee.

The Department of Mental Health shall investigate the case of each patient or trainee in a State mental health facility who is simply mentally or physically infirm or who is a harmless mental defective or harmless epileptic. When, in the opinion of the Department of Mental Health, the family, guardian, trustee, committee or other person legally responsible for the person is financially able to provide for his care, it shall, when in the opinion of the Department of Mental Health this is advisable, transfer the patient or trainee to the custody of that person. If all persons legally responsible for the patient or trainee are financially unable to provide for his care, the Department of Mental Health shall, when practicable, transfer the custody of the person to the county health authorities of the county of which the patient or trainee was a resident prior to admittance.

SECTION 44-13-70. Admission forms shall be kept by probate judges.

The judge of probate in each county shall keep an adequate supply of forms necessary for the admission or commitment of persons under this chapter, Chapter 9, Chapter 11, Article 1 of Chapter 15, Chapter 17, Chapter 23, Chapter 24, Chapter 27, and Chapter 52.