South Carolina S 761: Mental health counselors

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 761 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 13, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 761

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A senate RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE Michael Leach UPON THE OCCASION OF 
HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS Five YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO 
WISH HIM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Michael Leach upon the 
occasion of his retirement from the South Carolina Department of Social 
Services on January 2, 2025; and

Whereas, Mr. Leach was 
nominated by Governor Henry McMaster in March 2019 and oversaw the Department 
of Social Services during some of the State's most challenging times in recent 
history, including the COVID-19 pandemic and many natural disasters; and

Whereas, Mr. Leach made 
significant progress for the vulnerable children and families of South 
Carolina. He led major legislative reforms, including a bill to provide 
additional support for kinship caregivers in 2022 and additional legislation to 
establish the State's kinship guardianship program in 2023. Under Mr. Leach's 
administration, the State saw a significant reduction in the number of youths 
in foster care, increased kinship placements, and reduction in the use of 
congregate care; and

Whereas, Mr. Leach also 
made significant operational improvements during his tenure, including 
decreasing staff turnover to under ten percent, one of the lowest rates in the 
nation for a child welfare system, and modernizing technology to make the 
agency more efficient and transparent; and

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina Senate appreciate the passion and dedication that Mr. Leach 
has shown in serving the people and the State of South Carolina. Now, 
therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the 
South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, 
congratulate Michael Leach upon the occasion of his retirement, commend him for 
his five years of dedicated service, and wish him much happiness and 
fulfillment in the years ahead.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Michael Leach.

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This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM