S.C. Code Ann. § 37-6-730: Lead entity.

(A)(1) The department shall contract with the state's established 211 lead entity for the continuation of services required by this section.

(2) The lead entity shall:

(a) implement, study, support, coordinate, and evaluate a statewide 211 system;

(b) establish standards consistent with prevailing national standards established for providing information about and referrals to human services agencies to 211 callers. The standards shall prescribe the technology or manner of delivering 211 calls and shall not exceed any requirements for 211 systems set by the Federal Communications Commission. The standards shall be consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring accessibility for users of Teletypewriters for the Deaf (TTY);

(c) develop and maintain a statewide resources database for the 211 system that meets prevailing national standards for information and referral systems databases and that are integrated with databases maintained by approved 211 providers;

(d) provide periodic programmatic and fiscal reports to the department. The initial report shall be submitted on or before December 31, 2026. Thereafter, the lead entity shall provide a report to the department on or before March first each year for the prior calendar year's activities. The report must include, at a minimum, the following:

(i) call volume and interactions. The total number of inquiries, including calls, chats, texts, or web inquiries, along with trends in monthly, quarterly, and annual call volumes, and average response times for handling inquiries;

(ii) caller demographics. The demographic information of callers, including age, gender, and location, and any other relevant identifiers, highlighting any notable shifts or patterns in demographic data over time;

(iii) reasons for contact. A breakdown of inquiries by category or type of referral request, including the demand for, and need for, human services;

(iv) referrals made and service outcomes. The total number of referrals made, specifying the programs or services to which clients were referred;

(v) service referral gaps. The total number of requests for services or programs for which referral to an existing service provider is not able to be made, including description of services requested; and

(vi) trends and comparisons. Year-over-year trends of the data outlined in subitems (i) through (v).

(3) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the number of individuals by region and county of the State using the system and the type of inquiries made.

(B) The department shall seek the assistance and guidance of the Public Service Commission and the Federal Communications Commission in resolving any disputes arising over jurisdiction related to 211 numbers.

(C) The procurement of services necessary to implement the 211 Network shall be exempt from the entirety of the South Carolina Procurement Code and all of its attendant regulations.