South Carolina § 44-26-70 - Human rights committees.

§ 44-26-70. Human rights committees.

(A) Human rights committees must be established for each regional center and for each county/multicounty program to:

(1) review and advise the regional center or the county/multicounty board on the policies pertaining to clients' rights policies;

(2) hear and make recommendations to the regional center or county/multicounty board on research proposals which involve individuals receiving services as research participants pursuant to Section 44-20-260;

(3) review and advise the regional center or county/multicounty board on program plans for behavior management which may restrict personal freedoms or rights of clients;

(4) advise the regional center or county/multicounty board on other matters as requested pertaining to the rights of clients.

(B) Human rights committees must be appointed by the office director or his designee. Each committee consists of not less than the following five persons, except employees or former employees of the regional center or county/multicounty board must not be appointed:

(1) a family member of a person with intellectual disability or a related disability;

(2) a client of the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, if appropriate;

(3) a representative of the community at large with expertise or a demonstrated interest in the care and treatment of persons with intellectual disability or related disabilities.

(C) The office shall establish policy and procedures for the operations of the committees.

(D) Members of the committees serve in an advisory capacity only and are exempt from liability.

HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 366, SECTION 1; 1993 Act No. 31, SECTION 1; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 1089; 2011 Act No. 47, SECTION 6, eff June 7, 2011.

Code Commissioner's Note

At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.