H*4510(Rat #0203, Act #0187 of 2016)  General Bill, By Thayer, Hosey, Nanney, 
Hamilton, Erickson, Long, Hicks, McCoy, McEachern and Bedingfield
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 63-7-2400 SO AS TO ESTABLISH LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILDREN WHO
 MAY BE PLACED IN A FOSTER HOME. - ratified title

   12/03/15  House  Prefiled
   12/03/15  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/12/16  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 87)
   01/12/16  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 87)
   01/27/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Nanney
   02/23/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Hamilton, Erickson, Long
   02/24/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hicks
   02/25/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: McCoy,
                     McEachern
   03/03/16  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary (House Journal-page 2)
   03/08/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bedingfield
   03/08/16  House  Amended (House Journal-page 20)
   03/08/16  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 20)
   03/08/16  House  Roll call Yeas-93  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 20)
   03/09/16  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 9)
   03/10/16  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 8)
   03/10/16  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 8)
   03/11/16  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Young (ch), McElveen, Shealy
   04/20/16  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 9)
   04/21/16         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/27/16  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 64)
   05/04/16  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 7)
   05/04/16  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments (Senate Journal-page 7)
   05/04/16  Senate Roll call Ayes-39  Nays-3 (Senate Journal-page 7)
   05/18/16  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
                     (House Journal-page 69)
   05/18/16  House  Roll call Yeas-112  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 69)
   05/24/16         Ratified R 203
   05/25/16         Signed By Governor
   05/27/16         Effective date 05/25/16
   05/31/16         Act No. 187

H. 4510

(A187, R203, H4510)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 63-7-2400 SO AS TO ESTABLISH LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILDREN WHO MAY BE PLACED IN A FOSTER HOME.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Foster child placements

SECTION    1.    Article 5, Chapter 7, Title 63 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 63-7-2400.    (A)    A foster home may not provide full-time care for more than five foster children, with the total number of children residing in the household not to exceed eight, including the foster parent's own children, children of other household members, and other children residing in the household, except:

(1)    to keep a sibling group together;

(2)    to keep a child in the child's home community;

(3)    to return a child to a home in which the child was previously placed;

(4)    to comply with an order of the court; or

(5)    if it is in the best interest of the children as determined by the court.

(B)    No more than two of the five foster children referenced in subsection (A) may be classified as therapeutic foster care placements unless one of the exceptions in subsection (A) applies. If one of the exceptions applies, no more than three of the five foster children may be classified as therapeutic foster care placements."

Time effective

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Section 63-7-2400(B) does not apply to foster children placed before the effective date of this act.

Ratified the 24th day of May, 2016.

Approved the 25th day of May, 2016.