South Carolina House Bill H4646

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/13/26

Caption

Nursing Homes

Impact

By adding Chapter 83 to Title 44 of the South Carolina Code, this act supports the rights of nursing home residents significantly. It mandates that any monitoring device used must comply with regulations and that it should not be connected to the nursing home's network. This change empowers residents by giving them control over their room's monitoring capabilities. Additionally, it requires nursing homes to provide clear notifications about the presence of such devices, thereby ensuring that all visitors are informed of monitoring practices within the facility.

Summary

House Bill 4646, known as the Nursing Home Virtual Visitation Act, aims to enhance the rights of residents living in nursing homes by allowing them to authorize the installation of monitoring devices in their rooms. This bill specifically addresses the growing concerns about resident safety and oversight in nursing care environments. It establishes a legal framework for residents, or their legal representatives, to provide consent for the installation and use of surveillance devices, enhancing transparency regarding the care provided to residents.

Contention

Despite endorsing the monitoring of care, there are concerns regarding privacy and the potential for misuse of monitoring devices. The law does stipulate that consent must be obtained from all residents in a shared room, which may complicate agreements between roommates. Furthermore, protections from civil liability for misconduct associated with device usage must be carefully scrutinized to ensure that they do not compromise the accountability of nursing homes concerning resident care and monitoring practices.