2025-2026 Regular SessionSouth Carolina Legislature

S0002: Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Legislative Summary

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Chapter 12 To Title 44 So As To Establish The Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Disabilities Comprised Of The Office Of Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, The Office Of Mental Health, And The Office Of Substance Use Services, And To Provide For The Department's Powers, Duties, And Authority; By Amending Section 1-30-10, Relating To Departments Of State Government, So As To Add The Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Disabilities, And To Remove The Department Of Alcohol And Other Drug Abuse Services, The Department Of Disabilities And Special Needs, And The Department Of Mental Health; By Amending Section 8-17-370, Relating To Exemptions From The State Employee Grievance Procedure, So As To Exempt The Director Of The Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Disabilities And Certain Other Department Staff From The State Employee Grievance Procedure; By Amending Sections 44-20-30, 44-20-210, 44-20-220, 44-20-230, 44-20-240, And 44-20-255, All Relating To The Department Of Disabilities And Special Needs, So As To Make Conforming Changes To Include Definition Revisions, Elimination Of The Department's Commission, Renaming The Department As The Office Of Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities Within The Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Disabilities, And Reassignment Of The Commission's Duties; By Amending Sections 44-49-10 And 44-49-20, Both Relating To The Department Of Alcohol And Other Drug Abuse Services, So As To Make Conforming Changes By Renaming The Department As The Office Of Substance Use Services Within The Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Disabilities; By Amending Sections 44-9-10, 44-9-20, And 44-9-30, All Relating To Department Of Mental Health, So As To Make Conforming Changes To Include Renaming The Department As The Office Of Mental Health Within The Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Disabilities, Establishing Qualifications For The Office Director, And Eliminating The Department Of Mental Health's Commission And Reassigning The Commission's Duties; By Adding Section 1-30-150 So As To Require Certain State Agencies To Develop And Execute A Plan To Ensure Services And Support Are Provided, To The Greatest Extent Possible, To Individuals With Disabilities In The Community, In Accordance With Federal Law, And To Provide For The Appointment Of An Administrator Of Community Living Integration And A Health Planning Advisory Committee; By Amending Section 44-21-80, Relating To Regional Tertiary Level Developmental Evaluation Centers, So As To Require That The Centers Provide Neurodevelopmental Evaluation And Limited Treatment Services For Individuals Up To Twenty-one Years Of Age Who Have Certain Suspected Or Diagnosed Neurodevelopmental Disorders; By Repealing Sections 44-9-40 And 44-9-50 Relating To The Department Of Mental Healh; And For Other Purposes. - Ratified Title

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Bill History

12/11/2024
Prefiled
Senate
12/11/2024
Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
Senate
1/14/2025
Introduced and read first time
Senate
1/14/2025
Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
Senate
1/15/2025
Scrivener's error corrected
1/21/2025
Scrivener's error corrected
2/20/2025
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical Affairs
Senate
2/25/2025
Scrivener's error corrected
2/26/2025
Committee Amendment Adopted
Senate
2/26/2025
Read second time
Senate
2/26/2025
Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-2
Senate
2/27/2025
Scrivener's error corrected
2/27/2025
Read third time and sent to House
Senate
3/5/2025
Introduced and read first time
House of Representatives
3/5/2025
Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
House of Representatives
4/3/2025
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
House of Representatives
4/8/2025
Scrivener's error corrected
4/9/2025
Amended
House of Representatives
4/9/2025
Read second time
House of Representatives
4/9/2025
Roll call Yeas-99 Nays-0
House of Representatives
4/10/2025
Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
House of Representatives
4/16/2025
Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
Senate
4/16/2025
Roll call Ayes-40 Nays-2
Senate
4/24/2025
Ratified R 10

Roll Call Votes

Senate: To Concur
4/16/2025
40
Yea
2
Nay
0
Not Voting
2
Absent
Result: PASSED
House: Passage Of Bill
4/9/2025
99
Yea
0
Nay
18
Not Voting
6
Absent
Result: PASSED
Senate: 2nd Reading
2/26/2025
42
Yea
2
Nay
0
Not Voting
2
Absent
Result: PASSED

Status Information

Current Status
Enrolled(4/16/2025)
Chamber
Senate

Documents

Amended
Bill Text4/9/202576.6 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text4/8/2025193.5 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text4/3/2025152.4 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text2/27/202574.0 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text2/26/202573.9 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text2/25/2025203.2 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text2/20/2025202.7 KB
Introduced
Bill Text1/21/2025143.9 KB
Draft
Bill Text1/15/2025139.6 KB
Draft
Bill Text1/15/2025139.6 KB
Introduced
Bill Text12/11/2024139.6 KB
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note3/10/2025175.0 KB
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note1/29/2025175.5 KB