South Carolina General Assembly
112th Session, 1997-1998

Bill 3153

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    3153
Ratification Number:            89
Act Number:                     23
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19970114
Primary Sponsor:                Simrill 
All Sponsors:                   Simrill and Haskins
Drafted Document Number:        jic\5246ac.97
Companion Bill Number:          30
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19970424
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19970521
Subject:                        Death-prolonging procedures,
                                life-sustaining; medical
History


Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19970604  Act No. A23
------  19970521  Signed by Governor
------  19970515  Ratified R89
Senate  19970424  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
Senate  19970423  Read second time
Senate  19970410  Recalled from Committee,                 11 SJ
                  placed on the Calendar
Senate  19970211  Introduced, read first time,             11 SJ
                  referred to Committee
House   19970207  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19970206  Read second time, unanimous
                  consent for third reading on
                  Friday, 19970207
House   19970205  Committee report: Favorable              25 HJ
House   19970114  Introduced, read first time,             25 HJ
                  referred to Committee
House   19970108  Prefiled, referred to Committee          25 HJ
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.

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

(A23, R89, H3153)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 44-77-140, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ABSENCE OF A DECLARATION OF A DESIRE FOR A NATURAL DEATH NOT CREATING A PRESUMPTION AS TO INTENT TO CONSENT TO OR REFUSE "DEATH-PROLONGING" PROCEDURES, SO AS TO CHANGE THIS TERM TO "LIFE-SUSTAINING" PROCEDURES.

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

Term revised

SECTION 1. Section 44-77-140 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 149 of 1991, is further amended to read:

"Section 44-77-140. The absence of a declaration by an adult patient does not give rise to a presumption as to his intent to consent to or refuse life-sustaining procedures. This chapter applies only to persons who have executed a declaration in accordance with this chapter. Nothing in this chapter impairs any other legal right or legal responsibility which a person may have to effect the withholding or withdrawal or the provision of life-sustaining procedures in any lawful manner."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 21st day of May, 1997.