H 4540 General Bill, By Brady, Erickson, Harrison, Hardwick, Bowen, Cato, Harvin, Hearn, Scott, T.R. Young, Horne, Clemmons, Bedingfield, Nanney, G.R. Smith and Weeks
Summary: DSS
    A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-1640, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDING REASONABLE EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE FAMILY PRESERVATION AND REUNIFICATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE NAMED PARTY MAY MOVE TO HAVE THE COURT DETERMINE IF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONTINUE WITH THESE EFFORTS, TO ADD ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDITION, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND EXTREME PHYSICAL INCAPACITY TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO TRY TO PRESERVE AND REUNIFY A FAMILY, TO REQUIRE THE COURT TO MAKE SPECIFIC FINDINGS WHEN RELEASING THE DEPARTMENT FROM TRYING TO PRESERVE AND REUNIFY A FAMILY, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS WITHIN SIXTY DAYS WHEN FAMILY PRESERVATION AND REUNIFICATION IS NO LONGER REQUIRED; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-1660, RELATING TO PROCEDURES FOR REMOVING A CHILD FROM THE CUSTODY OF HIS PARENTS BY FILING A PETITION IN FAMILY COURT AND GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO ALSO SEEK TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS IF CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO TRY TO PRESERVE AND REUNIFY THE FAMILY; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-1680, RELATING TO THE CONTENTS OF A PLACEMENT PLAN WHEN A CHILD IS REMOVED FROM THE CUSTODY OF HIS PARENTS, SO AS TO REVISE AND FURTHER SPECIFY THE CONTENTS OF THE PLACEMENT PLAN; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-1700, RELATING TO THE FAMILY COURT REVIEWING A CHILD'S PERMANENT PLACEMENT PLAN, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE THE CONTENTS OF A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT TO BE PROVIDED TO THE COURT WHEN CONDUCTING SUCH A REVIEW, TO FURTHER SPECIFY CONDITIONS FOR REVIEW, TO FURTHER SPECIFY CONDITIONS FOR RETURNING THE CHILD TO THE CUSTODY OF HIS PARENTS, TO FURTHER SPECIFY CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE PLACEMENT PLAN MAY BE EXTENDED, AND TO DELETE DUPLICATIVE TEXT; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-2570, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR TERMINATING PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN SOME INSTANCES A PARENT'S CONDUCT INVOLVING A CHILD, OTHER THAN A CHILD OF THE PARENT, MAY CONSTITUTE GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS; TO AMEND SECTION 63-9-60, RELATING TO PERSONS WHO MAY ADOPT A CHILD IN THIS STATE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN ADOPTION BY PERSONS WHO ARE NONRESIDENTS MUST BE FINALIZED IN THIS STATE; AND BY ADDING SECTION 63-9-70 SO AS TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN PERSONS OR ENTITIES FROM ADVERTISING THAT THE PERSON OR ENTITY WILL PLACE OR ACCEPT A CHILD FOR ADOPTION, TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE FAMILY COURT SHALL ENJOIN VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION.
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02/04/10	House	Introduced and read first time HJ-39
02/04/10	House	Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-40
02/17/10	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Horne, Clemmons
03/09/10	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bedingfield, Nanney, G.R.Smith
03/24/10	House	Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-29
04/01/10		Scrivener's error corrected
04/15/10	House	Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Weeks
04/20/10	House	Debate adjourned until Wednesday, April 21, 2010 HJ-19
04/21/10	House	Debate adjourned HJ-15
04/21/10	House	Debate adjourned until Thursday, April 22, 2010 HJ-34
04/22/10	House	Debate adjourned until Tuesday, April 27, 2010 HJ-18
04/27/10	House	Debate adjourned HJ-36
04/28/10	House	Recommitted to Committee on Judiciary HJ-26