H*4549(Rat #0459, Act #0450 of 1998)  Joint Resolution, By Allison, Altman, 
Barrett, Battle, Bauer, J.M. Baxley, Beck, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, 
A.W. Byrd, Canty, Carnell, Cave, Gamble, Govan, Hamilton, M. Hines, Inabinett, 
Jennings, B.L. Jordan, Keegan, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Mack, Mason, McCraw, McGee, 
McKay, W. McLeod, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, Phillips, Rhoad, Rice, Riser, 
Robinson, Rodgers, Sandifer, Simrill, F. Smith, R. Smith, D. Smith, Stille, 
E.C. Stoddard, Vaughn, Walker, Wilkes and W.J. Young
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO DEVELOP AND
 SUBMIT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A PROPOSAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION
 OF A NURSING HOME FACILITY FOR STATE VETERANS.

   01/28/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-58
   01/28/98  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-58
   02/18/98  House  Recalled from Committee on Ways and Means HJ-31
   02/18/98  House  Member(s) added as co-sponsor(s): Rep(s) McLeod HJ-24
   02/19/98  House  Read second time HJ-13
   02/19/98  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-13
   02/20/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-3
   02/24/98  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-10
   02/24/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-10
   04/08/98  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Medical Affairs SJ-16
   05/13/98  Senate Amended SJ-47
   05/13/98  Senate Read second time SJ-47
   05/26/98  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-42
   05/28/98  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-110
   06/04/98         Ratified R 459
   06/08/98         Signed By Governor
   06/08/98         Effective date 06/08/98
   06/17/98         Copies available
   09/14/98         Act No. 450

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO DEVELOP AND SUBMIT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A PROPOSAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A NURSING HOME FACILITY FOR STATE VETERANS.

Whereas, there are approximately 380,000 veterans living in South Carolina; and

Whereas, critical numbers of these veterans are World War II and Korean War veterans with rapidly increasing needs for health care services, including nursing home care; and

Whereas, over the next decade the aging Vietnam veteran population will dramatically increase the demand for veterans' nursing home beds; and

Whereas, the State has approximately 18,000 nursing home beds with waiting lists of 800 to 1100 on any given day; and

Whereas, there are currently two state veteran's nursing homes in South Carolina providing a total of 310 beds, with a waiting list of 438, requiring a wait of approximately twenty months; and

Whereas, the federal government provides a generous sixty-five percent match for the cost of construction of a state veteran's nursing home; and

Whereas, in addition to the federal matching construction funds, Medicaid, and some Medicare funding, the federal government also pays $40.00 per day for each state veteran's nursing home bed; and

Whereas, with the demand far exceeding the availability of nursing home beds, the multiple federal funding sources available, and the continued and increasing growth in the aging veteran population, it is prudent for the General Assembly to diligently explore the possibility of opening an additional state veteran's nursing home. Now, therefore,

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

Proposal requested for constructing veteran's nursing home

SECTION 1. The Department of Mental Health shall develop and submit to the General Assembly by January 1, 1999, a proposal for the construction of a state veteran's nursing home. The proposal shall include the resources needed to purchase or acquire land for the site, the number of beds, the site location, the cost of constructing, furnishing, and operating the facility, and possible sources for funds, including, but not limited to, in-kind donations of land and existing facilities. In developing the proposal, the department shall give consideration to the appropriate use of existing facilities and other available options.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 8th day of June, 1998.