South Carolina Legislation Permits All Counties To Establish Mental Health Court Programs

On June 1, 2015, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley signed legislation to create a statewide mental health court program to permit establishment and expansion of mental health courts statewide. The legislation also provides for the continued existence of mental health courts currently operating in Charleston, Greenville, and Richland counties.

The legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 426 of 2015, will allow all 46 South Carolina counties to implement a mental health court program. Although the legislation provides no direct state funding for implementing mental health courts, it does create a statewide program with the provision that if state funds are allocated for . . .