South Carolina H 4634: Steve Jones

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4634 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4634

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A joint Resolution

TO CREATE A STUDY 
COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE STATE OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND SYSTEMS THAT SERVE 
AT-RISK SOUTH CAROLINIANS, TO DETERMINE NEEDED REFORMS TO ENSURE THAT THESE 
ENTITIES SAFEGUARD AND PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR CARE OR 
CUSTODY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S 
MEMBERSHIP; AND TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A REPORT 
AFTER WHICH THE STUDY COMMITTEE IS DISSOLVED.

Whereas, 
human rights are the fundamental freedoms and protections that belong to every 
person simply by virtue of being human; and

Whereas, 
human rights are inherent. They are not granted by any government or authority, 
and they are inalienable, meaning they cannot be taken away; and

Whereas, 
it is the responsibility of the General Assembly to ensure that all vulnerable 
South Carolinians in the care or custody of state institutions and systems are 
provided for, protected from harm, and treated with dignity and respect within these 
establishments. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. (A) There is created a study committee to examine the state 
of the public services and systems identified in items (1) through (6) and to recommend 
needed reforms to guarantee and protect the human rights of individuals in their 
care or custody, to include an examination of at a minimum:

 (1) for the foster 
care system and services:

 (a) strategies 
for expanding foster parent recruitment and improving comprehensive training 
for foster parents;

 (b) ways to 
strengthen family reunification services and oversight to reduce unnecessary 
placement changes; and

 (c) strategies 
for expanding and creating programs targeting youth aging out of foster care to 
help with transition to adulthood including, but not limited to, housing 
assistance, job placement support, and life-skills coaching programs;

 (2) for disability 
services:

 (a) how to 
ensure full compliance with accessibility laws and standards for schools, 
public buildings, and public transportation;

 (b) strategies 
to increase funding for inclusive education and vocational training programs; 
and

 (c) ways in 
which to expand employment supports, such as on-the-job coaching and tax 
incentives for businesses that hire individuals with disabilities;

 (3) for services 
to victims of gender-based violence:

 (a) how to establish 
evidence-based treatment programs that address trauma, mental health, and 
substance use;

 (b) strategies 
for creating and supporting a statewide network of emergency shelters and legal 
advocates for victims; and

 (c) ways to 
promote the development of job placement and career-development services to 
help survivors regain economic independence;

 (4) for prison systems 
and services:

 (a) how to 
reduce recidivism through mandatory mental health and substance use disorder 
treatment while incarcerated;

 (b) ways to 
strengthen reentry services, including housing assistance, vocational training, 
and counseling; and

 (c) strategies 
for reforming sentencing guidelines for nonviolent offenses and expanding 
restorative justice practices;

 (5) for institutional 
services:

 (a) 
strategies for increasing staffing ratios and enforcing patient-centered care 
standards in hospitals funded by the Department of Behavioral Health and 
Developmental Disabilities, including facilities operated by any of the 
department's component offices;

 (b) 
implementation of regular, independent quality assurance reviews and 
transparent reporting in hospitals funded by the Department of Behavioral 
Health and Developmental Disabilities, including facilities operated by any of 
the department's component offices;

 (c) 
implementation of mandatory comprehensive vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, and 
exploitation prevention training for staff of long-term care facilities;

 (d) how to standardize 
long-term care facility resident-to-staff ratios and hygiene protocols;

 (e) strategies 
for implementing juvenile detention center oversight to ensure age-appropriate 
rehabilitation services; and

 (f) how to 
standardize data collection practices to track incidents, staff shortages, and 
facility conditions; and

 (6) for adult 
protection services:

 (a) how to 
expand in-home care subsidies and transportation assistance for vulnerable 
adults;

 (b) strategies 
for operating community wellness centers across the State that offer preventive 
health screenings and social programs; and

 (c) ways in 
which to protect against financial exploitation through enhanced legal aid and 
mandatory reporting by financ