reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 63-7-735 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-735. Right to become a licensed kinship foster parent.

 (A) Before the department places a child with a relative who is not licensed as a foster parent, the department shall inform the relative of the procedures for licensure as a foster parent, the benefits of licensure as a foster parent, including eligibility for financial assistance and supportive services, and the risk that the relative may be ineligible for that assistance and services if the relative is not licensed as a foster parent.  (B) An order issued as a result of a hearing in which the court approves placement of a child with a relative who is not licensed as a foster parent must contain a finding by the court whether the department informed the relative of the right to become licensed as a foster parent, the procedures for obtaining licensure, and the benefits of being licensed as a foster parent, including eligibility for financial assistance and supportive services.  (C) If the court finds that the department complied with the requirements of this section and Sections 63-7-2320(C) and (E) and 63-7-2330, and the relative indicates to the court that the relative does not wish to pursue licensure as a foster parent, the court may approve the placement pursuant to this section.  HISTORY: 2018 Act No. 146 (H.3701), Section 1, eff April 4, 2018.
SC Code § 63-7-740 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-740. Ex parte emergency protective custody.

 (A) The family court may order ex parte that a child be taken into emergency protective custody without the consent of parents, guardians, or others exercising temporary or permanent control over the child if:  (1) the family court judge determines there is probable cause to believe that by reason of abuse or neglect there exists an imminent and substantial danger to the child's life, health, or physical safety; and  (2) parents, guardians, or others exercising temporary or permanent control over the child are unavailable or do not consent to the child's removal from their custody.  (B) If the court issues such an order, the department shall conduct a preliminary investigation and otherwise proceed as provided in this subarticle.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-750 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-750. Doctor or hospital may detain child; civil immunity.

 (A) A physician or hospital to which a child has been brought for treatment may detain the child for up to twenty-four hours without the consent of the person responsible for the child's welfare if the physician or hospital:  (1) has reason to believe that the child has been abused or neglected;  (2) has made a report to a law enforcement agency and the department pursuant to Section 63-7-310, stating the time the physician notified the agency or department that the child was being detained until a law enforcement officer could arrive to determine whether the officer should take emergency physical custody of the child pursuant to Subarticle 3; and  (3) has reason to believe that release of the child to the child's parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker presents an imminent danger to the child's life, health, or physical safety. A hospital must designate a qualified person or persons within the hospital who shall have sole authority to detain a child on behalf of the hospital.  (B) A physician or hospital that detains a child in good faith as provided in this section is immune from civil or criminal liability for detaining the child.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-760 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-760. Protocols.

 The department and local law enforcement agencies shall develop written protocols to address issues related to emergency protective custody. The protocols shall cover at a minimum information exchange between the department and local law enforcement agencies, consultation on decisions to assume legal custody, and the transfer of responsibility over the child, including mechanisms and assurances for the department to arrange expeditious placement of the child.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-765 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-765. Required disclosure of information to kinship care providers.

 Prior to and at the time the department places a child with a relative providing kinship care following the removal of the child from the home, the department shall disclose to the relative all information known by the person making the placement or reasonably accessible to the person making the placement that is necessary to provide adequate care and supervision for the child and to protect the health and safety of the child and the relative's family. The information that must be disclosed to the relative pursuant to this section includes, but is not limited to, medical and mental health conditions and history of the child, the nature of abuse or neglect to which the child has been subjected, behavioral strengths and challenges, and matters related to the child's educational needs. If the department does not have this information at the time of making the placement, a member of the child's casework team or the child's caseworker shall contact the relative and provide the information known to the casework team or reasonably accessible during the first working day following the placement. The child's caseworker shall research the child's record and shall supplement the information provided to the relative no later than the end of the first week of placement if additional information is found. When the child's caseworker acquires new information which is likely to affect either the ability of the relative to provide adequate care and supervision for the child or is likely to place the health and safety of the child or the relative's family at risk, the department shall disclose that information to the relative. The obligation to provide this information continues until the placement ends.  HISTORY: 2018 Act No. 165 (H.3699), Section 1, eff May 3, 2018.
SC Code § 63-7-770 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-770. Required disclosure of information to residential health facilities.

 (A) Prior to and at the time the department places a child in a public or private residential facility following the removal of the child from the home, the department shall disclose to the chief executive officer of the facility, or to a designated employee of the facility who provides health-related services to the child, all information known by the person making the placement or reasonably accessible to the person making the placement that is necessary to provide adequate care and supervision for the child and to protect the health and safety of the child and of other children residing in and personnel working at the facility. The information that must be disclosed pursuant to this section includes, but is not limited to, medical and mental health conditions and history of the child, the nature of abuse or neglect to which the child has been subjected, behavioral strengths and challenges, and matters related to the child's educational needs. If the department does not have this information at the time of making the placement, a member of the child's casework team or the child's caseworker shall contact the designated employee of the facility to provide the information known to the casework team or reasonably accessible during the first working day following the placement. The child's caseworker shall research the child's record and shall supplement the information provided to the facility no later than the end of the first week of placement if additional information is found. When the child's caseworker acquires new information which is likely to affect either the ability of the facility to provide adequate care and supervision for the child or is likely to place the health and safety of the child or of other children residing in the facility or the facility's personnel at risk, the department shall disclose that information to the designated facility employee. The obligation to provide this information continues until the placement ends.  (B) For purposes of this section, "public or private residential facility" means a group home, residential treatment center, or other facility that, pursuant to a contract with or a license or permit issued by the department, provides residential services to children in the custody of the department.  HISTORY: 2018 Act No. 165 (H.3699), Section 2, eff May 3, 2018.  Subarticle 5  Intake and Investigation Duties of the Department of Social Services  DERIVATION TABLE  Showing the sections in former Chapter 7, Title 20 from which the sections in this subarticle were derived.  New  Section Former  Section 63-7-900 20-7-650(A), (B),  (T), (V) 63-7-910 20-7-640(A)-(C),  (E), (F) 63-7-920 20-7-650(C)-(E), (R) 63-7-930 20-7-650(F)-(H) 63-7-940 20-7-650(J), (K) 63-7-950 20-7-652 63-7-960 20-7-650(P) 63-7-970 20-7-650(U) 63-7-980 20-7-650(S) 63-7-990 20-7-616
SC Code § 63-7-900 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-900. Purpose of the subarticle.

 (A) It is the purpose of this subarticle to encourage the voluntary acceptance of any service offered by the department in connection with child abuse and neglect or another problem of a nature affecting the stability of family life.  (B) The department must be staffed adequately with persons trained in the investigation of suspected child abuse and neglect and in the provision of services to abused and neglected children and their families.  (C) The department actively must seek the cooperation and involvement of local public and private institutions, groups, and programs concerned with matters of child protection and welfare within the area it serves.  (D) In all instances, the agency must act in accordance with the policies, procedures, and regulations promulgated and distributed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to this chapter.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-910 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-910. Duties of the department.

 (A)(1) The Department of Social Services may maintain a toll-free number available to persons throughout the State for the referral of family-related problems, including:  (a) the reporting of known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect;  (b) other problems of a nature which may affect the stability of family life.  (2) This telephone service shall operate continuously. Upon receipt of a call involving suspected abuse or neglect, the Department of Social Services shall transmit the full contents of the report to the appropriate county department office. Immediately upon transmitting the report the department shall destroy the contents of the suspected report. Upon receipt of a call involving other problems of a nature which may affect the stability of family life, the department shall refer the call to the appropriate county department office or other service agency where appropriate.  (B) The department shall have within it a separate organizational unit administered within the department with qualified staff and resources sufficient to fulfill the purposes and functions assigned to it by this article.  (C) The department's responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to:  (1) assigning and monitoring initial child protection responsibility through periodic review of services offered throughout the State;  (2) assisting in the diagnosis of child abuse and neglect;  (3) coordinating referrals of known or suspected child abuse and neglect;  (4) measuring the effectiveness of existing child protection programs and facilitating research, planning, and program development; and  (5) establishing and monitoring a statewide Central Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect.  (D) The department may contract for the delivery of protective services, family preservation services, foster care services, family reunification services, adoptions services, and other related services or programs. The department shall remain responsible for the quality of the services or programs and shall ensure that each contract contains provisions requiring the provider to deliver services in accordance with departmental policies and state and federal law.  (E) The department may promulgate regulations and formulate policies and methods of administration to carry out effectively child protective services, activities, and responsibilities.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-940 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-940. Use of unfounded case information.

 (A) Information concerning reports classified as unfounded contained in the statewide data system and records must be maintained for not less than five years after the finding. Information contained in unfounded cases is not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as provided for in Chapter 4, Title 30. Access to and use of information contained in unfounded cases must be strictly limited to the following purposes and entities:  (1) a prosecutor or law enforcement officer or agency, for purposes of investigation of a suspected false report pursuant to Section 63-7-440;  (2) the department or a law enforcement officer or agency, for the purpose investigating allegations of abuse or neglect;  (3) the department or a law enforcement officer or agency, when information is received that allows the reopening of a Category III unfounded report pursuant to Section 63-7-920(A);  (4) as evidence in a court proceeding, if admissible under the rules of evidence as determined by a judge of competent jurisdiction;  (5) a person who is the subject of a report in an action brought by a prosecutor or by the department, if otherwise subject to discovery under the applicable rules of procedure;  (6) the department, for program improvement, auditing, and statistical purposes;  (7) as authorized in Section 63-7-2000;  (8) the Department of Child Fatalities pursuant to Section 63-11-1960; and  (9)(a) the director or his designee who may disclose information to respond to an inquiry by a committee or subcommittee of the Senate or the House of Representatives or a joint committee of the General Assembly, which is engaged in oversight or investigating the activities of the department, provided that such information is reviewed in closed session and kept confidential. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 4, Title 30, meetings to review information disclosed pursuant to this subitem must be held in closed session and any documents or other materials provided or reviewed during the closed session are not subject to public disclosure;  (b) the department shall state that the case was unfounded when disclosing information pursuant to this item.  (B) Except as authorized in this section, no person may disseminate or permit dissemination of information maintained pursuant to subsection (A). A person who disseminates or permits dissemination in violation of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. A person aggrieved by an unlawful dissemination in violation of this subsection may bring a civil action to recover damages incurred as a result of the unlawful act and to enjoin its dissemination or use.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2; 2014 Act No. 291 (H.3124), Section 2, eff June 23, 2014.  Effect of Amendment  2014 Act No. 291, Section 2, added subsection (A)(9), and made other nonsubstantive changes.
SC Code § 63-7-950 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-950. Withholding health care.

 (A) Upon receipt of a report that a parent or other person responsible for the welfare of a child will not consent to health care needed by the child, the department shall investigate pursuant to Section 63-7-920. Upon a determination by a preponderance of evidence that adequate health care was withheld for religious reasons or other reasons reflecting an exercise of judgment by the parent or guardian as to the best interest of the child, the department may enter a finding that the child is in need of medical care and that the parent or other person responsible does not consent to medical care for religious reasons or other reasons reflecting an exercise of judgment as to the best interests of the child. The department may not enter a finding by a preponderance of evidence that the parent or other person responsible for the child has abused or neglected the child because of the withholding of medical treatment for religious reasons or for other reasons reflecting an exercise of judgment as to the best interests of the child. However, the department may petition the family court for an order finding that medical care is necessary to prevent death or permanent harm to the child. Upon a determination that a preponderance of evidence shows that the child might die or suffer permanent harm, the court may issue its order authorizing medical treatment without the consent of the parent or other person responsible for the welfare of the child. The department may move for emergency relief pursuant to family court rules when necessary for the health of the child.  (B) Proceedings brought under this section must be considered child abuse and neglect proceedings only for purposes of appointment of representation pursuant to Section 63-7-1620.  (C) This section does not authorize intervention if the child is under the care of a physician licensed under Chapter 47, Title 40, who supports the decision of the parent or guardian as a matter of reasonable medical judgment.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-960 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-960. Consolidation and delivery of services.

 The department is charged with providing, directing, or coordinating the appropriate and timely delivery of services to children found to be abused or neglected and those responsible for their welfare or others exercising temporary or permanent control over these children. Services must not be construed to include emergency protective custody provided for in Subarticle 3.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-970 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-970. Children of incarcerated women.

 The local office of the department responsible for the county of the mother's legal residence must provide, direct, or coordinate the appropriate and timely delivery of services to children born of incarcerated mothers where no provision has been made for placement of the child outside the prison setting. Referral of these cases to the appropriate local office is the responsibility of the agency or institution having custody of the mother.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-980 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-980. Cooperation between the department and law enforcement.

 (A) The department must cooperate with law enforcement agencies within the area it serves and establish procedures necessary to facilitate the referral of child protection cases to the department.  (B)(1) Where the facts indicating abuse or neglect also appear to indicate a violation of criminal law, the department must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of those facts within twenty-four hours of the department's finding for the purposes of police investigation. The law enforcement agency must file a formal incident report at the time it is notified by the department of the finding.  (2) When the intake report is of alleged sexual abuse, the department must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency within twenty-four hours of receipt of the report to determine if a joint investigation is necessary. The law enforcement agency must file a formal incident report at the time it is notified of the alleged sexual abuse.  (C) The law enforcement agency must provide to the department copies of incident reports generated in any case reported to law enforcement by the department and in any case in which the officer responsible for the case knows the department is involved with the family or the child. The law enforcement officer must make reasonable efforts to advise the department of significant developments in the case, such as disposition in summary court, referral of a juvenile to the Department of Juvenile Justice, arrest or detention, trial date, and disposition of charges.  (D) The department must include in its records copies of incident reports provided under this section and must record the disposition of charges.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-990 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-990. Access to sex offender registry.

 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request of the department, a criminal justice agency having custody of or access to state or local law enforcement records or county sex offender registries shall provide the department with information pertaining to the criminal history of an adult residing in the home of a child who is named in a report of suspected child abuse or neglect or in a home in which it is proposed that the child be placed. This information shall include conviction data, nonconviction data, arrests, and incident reports accessible to the agency. The department shall not be charged a fee for this service.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.  Subarticle 7  Institutional Abuse and Neglect  DERIVATION TABLE  Showing the sections in former Chapter 7, Title 20 from which the sections in this subarticle were derived.  New  Section Former  Section 63-7-1210 20-7-670(A)-(C),  (E)-(H) 63-7-1220 20-7-670(D) 63-7-1230 20-7-670(I)
SC Code § 63-7-1220 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-1220. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation of Department of Juvenile Justice and Department of Social Services institutional abuse cases.

 The State Law Enforcement Division is authorized to receive and investigate reports of institutional abuse and neglect alleged to have occurred in any institution or foster home operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice and any institution or childcare facility operated by the Department of Social Services. The State Law Enforcement Division may promulgate regulations consistent with this authority to investigate these reports and take remedial action, if necessary.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.