S 1218 General Bill, By Hayes
    A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-7-645 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF CERTAIN HEARINGS TO FOSTER PARENTS, PREADOPTIVE PARENTS, AND RELATIVES PROVIDING CARE OF A CHILD; BY ADDING SECTION 20-7-763 SO AS TO CLARIFY WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES WHEN IT MUST MAKE "REASONABLE EFFORTS" IN WORKING WITH FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND TO FURTHER AUTHORIZE THE FAMILY COURT TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS AS TO WHEN REASONABLE EFFORTS MAY BE REQUIRED AND WHEN THEY MAY BE TERMINATED OR DISPENSED WITH; BY ADDING SECTION 20-7-768 SO AS TO PROVIDE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INITIATE OR JOIN IN A PROCEEDING FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-736, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS FOR REMOVAL OF A CHILD FROM THE HOME, SO AS TO REVISE THE STANDARD FOR REMOVAL; TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-766, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PERMANENCY PLANNING AND JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE PLAN, SO AS TO REVISE THE STANDARD FOR RETURNING THE CHILD HOME TO REFLECT THE CHANGES FOR REMOVAL OF THE CHILD AND TO REQUIRE IN THE FINDINGS WHEN A CHILD IS NOT RETURNED TO THE PARENTS, THE STEPS THE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN TO PROMOTE AND EXPEDITE THE ADOPTIVE PLACEMENT OF THE CHILD; TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1572, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE AS GROUNDS THAT A CHILD HAS BEEN IN FOSTER CARE WITH THE STATE FOR FIFTEEN OF THE MOST RECENT TWENTY-TWO MONTHS AND THAT PHYSICAL ABUSE CAUSED THE DEATH OR INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION OF A CHILD AND THE PARENT WAS CONVICTED FOR THE OFFENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1642, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PERSONS WITH WHOM A CHILD MAY NOT BE PLACED FOR FOSTER CARE, SO AS TO INCLUDE A PERSON CONVICTED OF A FELONY DRUG-RELATED OFFENSE AND TO PROVIDE THAT SIMILAR OFFENSES COMMITTED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE ALSO A BAR TO PLACING A CHILD IN FOSTER CARE WITH SUCH AN OFFENDER; TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1670, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PERSONS WHO MAY PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF A CHILD, SO AS TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS AND TO PROVIDE FOR A HEARING IF THE DEPARTMENT VIOLATES THIS SECTION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1895 RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE ADOPTION EXCHANGE, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ONLY A "SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD" MAY BE REFERRED TO A REGIONAL OR NATIONAL ADOPTION EXCHANGE.
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04/29/98	Senate	Introduced and read first time SJ-12
04/29/98	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-12