(A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, when the parent or parent substitute identified on an inmate’s visitation list, sibling, spouse, child, grandparent, or grandchild of an inmate becomes seriously ill to the point of imminent death, or dies, and when the department has determined that there is no security risk to the public or institution, an inmate must be offered the choice either to attend the person’s viewing or funeral service or, prior to the person’s death, to visit the person in the hospital. The location of the viewing, funeral, or hospital visit must be in South Carolina.

(B) The department must verify the person’s relationship to the inmate and the person’s illness or death.

(C) The department shall provide the necessary security and transportation for the inmate. The department also may engage the services of the sheriff or any other certified law enforcement officer in order to provide the necessary security and transportation for the inmate. The department, sheriff, or other certified law enforcement officer that provides security and transportation for the inmate may collect the actual cost for security and transportation. The charge may not exceed the actual expense incurred by the department, sheriff, or other law enforcement agency. The charge must be collected in advance from a third party on behalf of the inmate or, if no third party pays, through a deduction from the inmate’s trust account.

(D) When applicable, the department shall notify the victim of the crime of which the inmate was convicted, or adjudicated guilty of committing, and notify the relatives of the victim who have applied for notification, as provided in § 16-3-1530.