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Human Resources updates employees on legislation by Jacquelyn Jones Human Resources The following is a brief summary of human resources related legislation which was enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly during its recent legislative session. For additional information refer to the University’s Department of Human Resources Super Advice Web site at http://www.musc.edu/hrm/Sup%20Advice/Index.htm or for complete details you will want to access the General Assembly Web site at http://www.scstatehouse.net. 2002 S.C. Act No. 225- Family Privacy Protection Act of 2002 (Bill S204) The act establishes state policy and guidelines for the use and dissemination of personal information. Its purpose is to prohibit an individual or private entity from using the personal information obtained from a public organization for commercial solicitations.  Paid Leave of Absence to be an Organ Donor (Bill S830) Employees who accrue annual or sick leave may take a leave of absence from their positions to be an organ donor, without loss of pay, leave or performance ratings. The leave of absence may not exceed 30 workdays. Adoption Assistance Program (Proviso 63.50) The state’s Employee Adoption Assistance program is designed to assist eligible employees with the direct costs of adopting a child. The program provides a maximum grant of $10,000 for adopting a special needs child and $5,000 for all other child adoptions.  Employees may apply for the program between July 1 and Sept. 30 of the current fiscal year for an adoption that occurred during the prior fiscal year. For more information, call Christine Carpenter-Stewart, HR analyst, 792-6036. Family Sick Leave (Proviso 63.62) For fiscal year 2002-2003 only, Section 8-11-40 of the 1976 Code has been amended to allow state employees who earn sick leave to use up to 10 days (rather than eight) to care for ill members of their immediate family.  State Human Resources regulations, for the purpose of sick leave, identifies immediate family as the employee’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, legal guardian and grandchildren, if the grandchild resides with the employee and the employee is the primary caretaker of the grandchild. Election to Participate in State ORP (Proviso 63.69) Eligible employees hired during the current fiscal year may elect to participate in the state’s optional retirement program and not the South Carolina Retirement System. Until the enactment of this new legislation, ORP’s were only available to faculty members at institutions of higher education. This proviso makes it possible for all newly hired full time employees in FTE positions to elect an ORP for their retirement plan. Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.