Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment Registry

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "VULNERABLE ADULT MALTREATMENT REGISTRY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 35, TITLE 43 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO DETERMINE WHETHER CERTAIN REPORTS OF VULNERABLE ADULT ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR EXPLOITATION ARE INDICATED AND WHETHER THERE IS A KNOWN PERPETRATOR OF THE MALTREATMENT AND TO ESTABLISH A RIGHT OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL AND JUDICIAL REVIEW; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PLACEMENT OF CERTAIN PERSONS DETERMINED TO HAVE ABUSED, NEGLECTED, OR EXPLOITED A VULNERABLE ADULT ON THE MALTREATMENT REGISTRY; TO PROVIDE FOR LIMITED ACCESS TO THE VULNERABLE ADULT MALTREATMENT REGISTRY; AND TO PROHIBIT THE RELEASE OF REPORTS OF VULNERABLE ADULT MALTREATMENT, WITH EXCEPTIONS, AND TO CREATE A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR THE UNAUTHORIZED RELEASE OF INFORMATION; TO AMEND SECTION 43-35-10, RELATING TO TERMS DEFINED IN THE "OMNIBUS ADULT PROTECTION ACT", SO AS TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR "MALTREATMENT"; TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-35-15 AND 43-35-40, RELATING TO RESPONSIBILITIES OF CERTAIN INVESTIGATIVE ENTITIES TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF VULNERABLE ADULT MALTREATMENT, SECTION 43-35-45, RELATING TO VULNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION HEARINGS, AND SECTION 43-35-85, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR COMMITTING VULNERABLE ADULT MALTREATMENT, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.