reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 44-40-20 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 40 - Agent Orange Information And Assistance Program|Section 44-40-20. Definitions.

 As used in this chapter:  (1) "Agent Orange" means the herbicide composed primarily of trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4, 5 T) and dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4 D) and its contaminant tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (2, 3, 7, 8 dioxin, TCDD).  (2) "Chemical agent" means dioxin or other toxic substances found in certain defoliants, herbicides, pesticides, and similar chemical substances or causative agents.  (3) "Council" means the South Carolina Agent Orange Advisory Council.  (4) "Program" means the Agent Orange Information and Assistance Program.  (5) "Veteran" means a person who is a resident of this State and who served in the armed forces of the United States of America from the year 1959 through the year 1975.  HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 521, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-40-30 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 40 - Agent Orange Information And Assistance Program|Section 44-40-30. Creation, purpose, and membership of South Carolina Agent Orange Advisory Council; compensation of voting members.

 There is created the South Carolina Agent Orange Advisory Council to assist and advise the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control in its duties and functions as provided in this chapter and to assist and advise the Veterans' Affairs Department of the Governor's Office in its duties and functions as provided in Section 25-11-70. The council is composed of five voting members and five nonvoting ex officio members. The voting members must be veterans who served in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand. Voting members are appointed by the Governor for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. The Governor shall designate a chairman who shall serve for a term of two years. Vacancies on the council are filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. Voting members of the council are paid the usual per diem, mileage, and subsistence as provided by law for members of boards, commissions, and committees. The following shall serve as ex officio members without voting rights:  (1) the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control;  (2) the Director of Veterans' Affairs Department or his designee;  (3) one faculty member of the Medical University of South Carolina with expertise in a field relevant to the purpose of the council;  (4) one faculty member of the University of South Carolina with expertise in a field relevant to the purpose of the council.  HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 521, Section 1; 1991 Act No. 248, Section 6; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1104.  Code Commissioner's Note  Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2019 Act No. 26, Section 4(C), references to the Division of Veterans' Affairs were changed to reflect the transfer of it to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.  Editor's Note  The 2019 amendment to Section 25-11-20 provided that the Governor shall appoint a Secretary, rather than a Director, to lead the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
SC Code § 44-40-40 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 40 - Agent Orange Information And Assistance Program|Section 44-40-40. Establishment, administration, and duties of Agent Orange Information and Assistance Program.

 With the advice of council, the program shall:  (1) seek out, study, evaluate, and provide information regarding epidemiological, genetic, and other studies, investigations, and research that pertain to use of chemical agents, including Agent Orange, and adverse health conditions which may be associated with exposure to such agents;  (2) provide medical information to health professionals in the State regarding the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and chronic symptoms which may be associated with exposure to chemical agents, including Agent Orange;  (3) monitor and report on the activities and policies of the United States Government and other states relating to the exposure of veterans to chemical agents, including Agent Orange;  (4) monitor existing programs for Vietnam veterans at the state or local level to determine if adequate services and resources exist, identify additional areas of concern, and make recommendations on behalf of Vietnam veterans to address these needs;  (5) provide, in cooperation with the health facilities of the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina, genetic information, screening, and counseling to veterans who have concerns regarding the possible genetic effects which may be associated with exposure to chemical agents, including Agent Orange;  (6) establish, promote, and maintain a public information service on Agent Orange. The services shall include, but not be limited to, efforts to contact Vietnam veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange;  (7) maintain a central state registry of information on Vietnam veterans in South Carolina who may have been exposed to Agent Orange, dioxin, or other chemical substances. The registry also shall include information obtained under the provisions of Section 44-40-50.  HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 521, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-40-50 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 40 - Agent Orange Information And Assistance Program|Section 44-40-50. Reporting of medical information at request of veteran or next of kin; confidentiality.

 (A) At the request of a veteran, or his next of kin if the veteran is deceased, who believes that he may have been exposed to chemical agents, including Agent Orange, while serving in the armed forces of the United States, any physician or other health care provider who has the primary responsibility for treating the veteran must report the following information to the program:  (1) symptoms of the veteran which may be related to exposure to a chemical agent, including Agent Orange;  (2) diagnosis;  (3) methods of treatment prescribed;  (4) other information as determined by the program.  If there is no physician or other health care provider with the responsibility, the hospital treating the veteran shall make the report. If there is no health care provider or hospital treating the veteran, the veteran or his next of kin may submit the report directly to the program.  (B) The identity of a veteran about whom information is received by the program under this section is confidential information and may not be disclosed without the consent of the veteran or his personal representative. Summary data based on information received under this section is not confidential. No action or proceeding, civil or criminal, shall lie against any health care provider or hospital who provides information to the program pursuant to this section.  HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 521, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-40-60 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 40 - Agent Orange Information And Assistance Program|Section 44-40-60. Annual report of council; authority of council to hold hearings.

 With the cooperation of the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the council:  (1) shall make an annual report to the General Assembly containing:  (a) a comprehensive review and summary analysis of the scientific literature on the effects of exposure to chemical agents, including Agent Orange;  (b) a summary of the activities undertaken to inform and assist veterans who may have been exposed to chemical agents, including Agent Orange;  (c) a description and interpretation of the results of any study undertaken pursuant to this chapter;  (d) other comments or recommendations the council considers appropriate.  (2) may hold hearings consistent with the purposes of this chapter.  To assist it in carrying out these functions, the council may contract for an evaluation of the performance of the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Department of Veterans Affairs in implementing this chapter and may contract for the compilation and editing of the annual report.  HISTORY: 1986 Act No. 521, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-41-10 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-10. Definitions.

 As used in this chapter:  (a) "Abortion" means the use of an instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance or device with intent to terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant for reasons other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus.  (b) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine in this State.  (c) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.  (d) "Hospital" means those institutions licensed for hospital operation by the department in accordance with Article 3, Chapter 7 of this title and which have also been certified by the department to be suitable facilities for the performance of abortions.  (e) "Clinic" shall mean any facility other than a hospital as defined in subsection (d) which has been licensed by the Department, and which has also been certified by the Department to be suitable for the performance of abortions.  (f) "Pregnancy" means the condition of a woman carrying a fetus or embryo within her body as the result of conception.  (g) "Conception" means the fecundation of the ovum by the spermatozoa.  (h) "Consent" means a signed and witnessed voluntary agreement to the performance of an abortion.  (i) "First trimester of pregnancy" means the first twelve weeks of pregnancy commencing with conception rather than computed on the basis of the menstrual cycle.  (j) "Second trimester of pregnancy" means that portion of a pregnancy following the twelfth week and extending through the twenty-fourth week of gestation.  (k) "Third trimester of pregnancy" means that portion of a pregnancy beginning with the twenty-fifth week of gestation.  (l) "Viability" means that stage of human development when the fetus is potentially able to live outside of the mother's womb with or without the aid of artificial life support systems. For the purposes of this chapter, a legal presumption is hereby created that viability occurs no sooner than the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy.  (m) "Minor" means a female under the age of seventeen.  (n) "Emancipated minor" means a minor who is or has been married or has by court order been freed from the care, custody, and control of her parents.  (o) "In loco parentis" means any person over the age of eighteen who has placed himself or herself in the position of a lawful parent by assuming obligations which are incidental to the parental relationship and has so served for a period of sixty days.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 32-681; 1974 (58) 2837; 1990 Act No. 341, Sections 2, 3; 1995 Act No. 1, Section 2.
SC Code § 44-41-20 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-20. Legal Abortions.

 Abortion shall be a criminal act except when performed under the following circumstances:  (a) During the first trimester of pregnancy the abortion is performed with the pregnant woman's consent by her attending physician pursuant to his professional medical judgment.  (b) During the second trimester of pregnancy the abortion is performed with the pregnant woman's consent by her attending physician in a hospital or clinic certified by the Department.  (c) During the third trimester of pregnancy, the abortion is performed with the pregnant woman's consent, and if married and living with her husband the consent of her husband, in a certified hospital, and only if the attending physician and one additional consulting physician, who shall not be related to or engaged in private practice with the attending physician, certify in writing to the hospital in which the abortion is to be performed that the abortion is necessary based upon their best medical judgment to preserve the life or health of the woman. In the event that the preservation of the woman's mental health is certified as the reason for the abortion, an additional certification shall be required from a consulting psychiatrist who shall not be related to or engaged in private practice with the attending physician. All facts and reasons supporting such certification shall be set forth by the attending physician in writing and attached to such certificate.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 32-682; 1974 (58) 2837.
SC Code § 44-41-30 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-30. Persons from whom consent is required.

 (A) Consent is required before the performance of an abortion from the pregnant woman in every case and in the case of a minor, it must be obtained pursuant to the provisions of Section 44-41-31.  (B) In the case of a woman who is under adjudication of mental incompetency by a court of competent jurisdiction, consent must be obtained from her spouse or a legal guardian if she is married; if she is not married, from one parent or a legal guardian.  (C) Notwithstanding the consent required in subsections (A) and (B) consent must be waived if:  (1) a physician determines that a medical emergency exists involving the life of or grave physical injury to the pregnant woman; or  (2) the pregnancy is the result of incest.  (D) In cases of incest the physician performing the abortion shall report the alleged incest to the local county department of social services or to a law enforcement agency in the county where the child resides or is found. Failure to report is a violation punishable under the child abuse laws of this State.  (E) Nothing in this section permits a physician to perform an abortion without first obtaining the consent of the pregnant woman if she is capable of giving consent.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 32-683; 1974 (58) 2837; 1990 Act No. 341, Section 4.
SC Code § 44-41-31 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-31. Abortion upon minors; consent requirements; support obligations of parent or legal guardian who refuses to give consent for minor's abortion; penalty for false representation.

 (A) No person may perform an abortion upon a minor unless consent is obtained in accordance with one of the following provisions:  (1) the attending physician or his agent or the referring physician or his agent has secured the informed written consent, signed and witnessed, of the pregnant minor and:  (a) one parent of the minor; or  (b) a legal guardian of the minor; or  (c) a grandparent of the minor; or  (d) any person who has been standing in loco parentis to the minor for a period not less than sixty days;  (2) the minor is emancipated and the attending physician or his agent has received the informed signed written consent of the minor; or  (3) the attending physician or his agent has obtained the informed signed written consent of the minor and has received the order of the court obtained by the minor pursuant to this chapter.  (B) If a parent or legal guardian refuses to give the informed written consent for the minor's abortion and there has been a judicial finding of refusal of consent, and the minor has a child or children as a result of that pregnancy, the duty imposed by law of supporting the child or children extends to the minor and jointly and severally to the refusing parent or legal guardian and the natural father until the minor reaches the age of eighteen years or is emancipated.  (C) Any person standing in loco parentis and who consents to the abortion of the minor as permitted in subsection (A)(1) of this section shall sign an affidavit indicating the nature and length of his or her relationship with the minor. The affidavit must state the penalties for wilfully or knowingly making a false representation. Anyone who knowingly or wilfully makes a false representation in the affidavit shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year.  HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 341, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-41-32 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-32. Petitioning court for right to obtain abortion without consent of parent or legal guardian.

 Every minor has the right to petition the court for an order granting her the right to obtain an abortion without the consent required in Section 44-41-31(1). In seeking this relief the following procedures apply:  (1) The minor may prepare and file a petition in either the circuit or family court. The petition may be filed in the name of Jane Doe to protect the anonymity of the minor.  (2) The Adoption and Birth Parent Services Division of the Department of Social Services, upon request of the minor, must provide assistance to the minor in preparing and filing the petition. Preparation and filing of the petition must be completed within forty-eight hours after the request. The Department of Social Services shall promulgate regulations establishing the procedures to be followed in providing this assistance.  (3) Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor, taking into consideration the preference of the minor. The minor may participate in court proceedings on her own behalf, but the court shall advise her that she has a right to court-appointed counsel and shall provide her with counsel upon her request.  (4) All proceedings pursuant to this section must be given precedence over other matters pending before the court.  (5) The court shall hold a hearing and rule on the merits of the petition within seventy-two hours of the filing of the petition. This time may be extended upon the request of the minor. The court shall consider the emotional development, maturity, intellect, and understanding of the minor; the nature and possible consequences of the abortion and of the alternatives to the abortion; and other evidence that the court may find useful in determining whether the minor should be granted the right on her own behalf to consent to the abortion or whether the abortion is in the best interest of the minor.  HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 341, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-41-33 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-33. Court order granting or denying minor right to obtain abortion.

 (A) The court shall enter a written order stating findings of fact and conclusions of law in support of its decision to:  (1) grant the minor the right on her own behalf to consent to the abortion if the court finds that the minor is mature and well-informed enough to make the abortion decision on her own;  (2) grant consent for the abortion if the court finds that the performance of the abortion would be in the minor's best interest; or  (3) deny the petition if the court finds that the minor is immature and that performance of the abortion would not be in the minor's best interest. If the father of the child born after the denial of the petition is identified by adjudication, he shall share in the expenses of the delivery and rearing of the child as determined by the court. Orders issued under this item shall specify that the minor shall have the right to counseling services, appropriate prenatal care, delivery, neonatal, and post-natal care, the cost of which may be paid by the State. Additionally, the State shall have subrogation rights against the father for payments made by the State on behalf of the child.  (B) The court shall immediately issue a written order to the minor, her guardian ad litem, attorney, or other person designated by the minor to receive notice on her behalf.  HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 341, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-41-34 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-34. Appeals; hearings closed to public; records to be sealed; Supreme Court to adopt rules.

 (A) A minor has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court a decision rendered pursuant to Section 44-41-33. She is entitled to an anonymous and expeditious appellate review which takes precedence over other matters pending before the court.  (B) A minor who declares she has insufficient funds to pursue the procedures provided in this section or in Section 44-41-32 must not be required to pay the costs associated with these procedures.  (C) The notice of intent to appeal must be filed with the court issuing the order described in Section 44-41-33 within seventy-two hours from the date the order is received. The record on appeal must be completed and the appeal must be perfected within ten days from the filing of the notice of intent to appeal. These filing requirements are not considered jurisdictional and may be extended by the Supreme Court upon request of the minor for good cause shown.  (D) All hearings conducted under Sections 44-41-32 and 44-41-34 must be closed to the public. All records related to these sections and Section 44-41-33 are not open to public examination and must be sealed by the court.  (E) The Supreme Court shall adopt rules governing the administration of the courts or practice and procedure before such courts necessary to carry out the provisions of Sections 44-41-32, 44-41-33, and 44-41-34.  HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 341, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-41-35 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-35. Failure to obtain required consent.

 Failure to obtain required consent constitutes prima facie evidence of interference with family relations in appropriate civil actions. The law of this State does not preclude the award of exemplary damages in an appropriate civil action relevant to violations concerning a minor. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the common law rights of parents.  HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 341, Section 1.
SC Code § 44-41-36 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 44 - Health|Chapter 41 - Abortions|Section 44-41-36. Penalty for failing to conform with requirements of Sections 44-41-10 through 44-41-36 when performing abortion on minor; justified reliance on representations of minors or other persons.

 (A) A person who intentionally performs an abortion with knowledge that, or with reckless disregard as to whether, the person upon whom the abortion is to be performed is an unemancipated minor, and who intentionally or knowingly fails to conform to any requirement in Sections 44-41-10 through 44-41-36 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both. No part of the minimum fine may be suspended. For conviction of a third or subsequent offense, the sentence must be imprisonment for not less than sixty days nor more than three years, none of which may be suspended.  (B) A physician or any person employed or connected with a physician, hospital, or health care facility performing abortions who acts in good faith is justified in relying on the representations of the unemancipated minor or of any other person providing the information required under this chapter. A physician or other person who furnishes professional services related to an act authorized or required by this chapter and who relies upon the information furnished pursuant to this chapter may not be held to have violated any criminal law or to be civilly liable for the reliance, provided that the physician or other person acted in good faith.  HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 341, Section 1.