"The appropriation for continued implementation of Article 7, Chapter 17, of Title 44 of the 1976 Code, Chapter 24 of Title 44 of the 1976 Code, and Chapter 52 of Title 44 of the 1976 Code, relating to commitments, admissions and discharges to mental health facilities, or treatment facility for the purpose of alcohol and drug abuse treatment, shall be expended for the compensation of court appointed private examiners, guardians ad litem, and attorneys for proposed patients, and related costs arising from the filing, service and copying of legal papers and the transcription of hearings or testimony. Court appointed private examiners, guardians ad litem and attorneys shall be paid at such rates or schedules as are jointly determined to be reasonable by the South Carolina Association of Probate Judges, the State Court Administrator and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health with the approval of the Attorney General."

"Except as otherwise provided in Section 72.6 of the General Appropriations Act, no money appropriated pursuant to Item VI, Judicial Commitment, Defense of Indigents shall be used to compensate any state employees appointed by the court as examiners, guardians ad litem or attorneys nor shall such funds be used in payment to any State agency for providing such services by their employees."

"It is the responsibility of all agencies, departments and institutions of state government, to provide at no cost and as a part of the regular services of the agency, department or institution such services as are necessary to carry out the provisions of Chapter 52 of Title 44 (Involuntary Commitment),Article 7, Chapter 17 of Title 44 of the 1976 Code (Judicial Commitment), Chapter 3 of Title 17 of the 1976 Code (Defense of Indigents), and Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the 1976 Code (Death Penalty), as amended, upon request of the Judicial Department and/or the appropriate court. To this end, state agencies are directed to furnish to the Judicial Department a list of their employees who are competent to serve as court examiners. The Judicial Department shall forward a copy of this list to the appropriate courts, and the courts shall utilize the services of such state employees whenever feasible. State employees shall receive no additional compensation for performing such services. For the purpose of interpreting this section, employees of the Medical University of South Carolina and individuals serving an internship or residency as an academic requirement or employees who are not full-time state employees and who are not performing duties as state employees are not considered state employees."