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(16) That the obligor has the right to consult an attorney and the right to be represented by an attorney at the negotiation conference.

(17) Other information as set forth in regulations promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.

Section 20-7-9520. The division shall serve a notice of financial responsibility on the obligor not less than twenty days before the date stated in the notice for the negotiation conference:

(1) in the manner prescribed for service of process in a civil action; or

(2) by an employee appointed by the division to serve process; or

(3) by certified mail, return receipt requested, signed by the obligor only. The receipt is prima facie evidence of service.

Section 20-7-9525. (A) An obligor who has been served with a notice of financial responsibility pursuant to Section 20-7-9520 and who does not request a hearing pursuant to Section 20-7-9540 shall appear at the time and location stated in the notice for a negotiation conference or shall reschedule a negotiation conference before the date and time stated in the notice. The negotiation conference must be scheduled not more than sixty days after the date of the issuance of the notice of financial responsibility. A negotiation conference may not be rescheduled more than once without cause and may not be rescheduled for a date more than fifteen days after the date and time stated in the notice without good cause as defined in regulations promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. If a stipulation is agreed upon at the negotiation conference as to the obligor's duty of support, the division shall issue a consent order setting forth:

(1) the amount of the monthly support obligation and instructions on the manner in which it must be paid;

(2) the amount of arrearages due and owing and instructions on the manner in which it must be paid;

(3) the name of the custodian of the child and the name and birth date of the child for whom support is being sought;

(4) other information as set forth in regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 20-7-9515(17).

(B) A copy of the consent order issued pursuant to subsection (A) and proof of service must be filed with the Family Court in the county in which the notice of financial responsibility was issued. The clerk shall stamp the date of receipt of the copy of the order and shall assign the order a case number. The consent order shall have all the force, effect,

(C) If no stipulation is agreed upon at the negotiation conference, the division shall file the notice of financial responsibility and proof of service with the clerk of the Family Court in the county in which the notice of financial responsibility was issued, and the matter must be set for a hearing in accordance with Section 20-7-9540.

(D) The determination of the monthly support obligation must be based on the child support guidelines as set forth in Sections 20-7-852 and 43-5-580.

Section 20-7-9530. (A) If an obligor fails to appear for a negotiation conference scheduled in the notice of financial responsibility or fails to reschedule the negotiation conference before the date and time stated in the notice of financial responsibility or if the obligor fails to serve the division with a written request for a court hearing before the time scheduled for the negotiation conference, the division shall issue an order of default in accordance with the notice of financial responsibility. The order of default must be approved by the court and shall include:

(1) the amount of the monthly support obligation and instructions on the manner in which it must be paid;

(2) the amount of arrearages due and owing and instructions on the manner in which it must be paid.

(3) the name of the custodian of the child and the name and birth date of the child for whom support is being sought;

(4) other information as set forth in regulations promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.

(B) A copy of an order of default issued pursuant to subsection (A), proof of service, and an affidavit of default must be filed with the Family Court in the same manner and has the same force and effect as provided for in Section 20-7-9525(B).

(C) The determination of the monthly support obligation must be based on the child support guidelines as set forth in Sections 20-7-852 and 43-5-580.

Section 20-7-9535. (A) A copy of an order of financial responsibility or a consent order issued by the division must be sent by the division by

(B) A consent order and an order of default shall continue notwithstanding the fact that the child is no longer receiving benefits for aid to families with dependent children, unless the child is emancipated or is otherwise no longer entitled to support as otherwise determined by law. An order of financial responsibility or order of default shall continue until modified by an administrative order or court order or by emancipation of the child.

(C) Nothing contained in this article deprives a court of competent jurisdiction from determining the duty of support of an obligor against whom an order is issued pursuant to this article. A determination by the court supersedes the administrative order as to support payments due subsequent to the entry of the order by the court but must not modify any arrearage which may have accrued under the administrative order.

Section 20-7-9540. (A) An obligor who objects to a part of the notice of responsibility, within thirty days of receipt of the notice, shall make a written request for a court hearing to the division. The request must be served upon the division by certified mail or in the same manner as a summons in a civil action.

(B) Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing, the division shall file the written request for a hearing, the notice of financial responsibility, and proof of service with the clerk of court in the county in which the notice of financial responsibility was issued and shall request the court to set a hearing for the matter. The clerk of court shall send a notice to the obligor and the division informing them of the date and location of the hearing. If the obligor raises issues relating to custody or visitation and the court has jurisdiction to hear these matters, the court shall set a separate hearing for those issues after entry of the order.

Section 20-7-9545. (A) The division may establish paternity of a child in the course of a negotiation conference held pursuant to Section 20-7-9525 based upon an application for services or receipt of services by the custodian pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. Service on the alleged father pursuant to this section must be made as provided in Section 20-7-9520. In addition to the notice of financial responsibility as set forth in Section 20-7-9515, the division must serve the alleged father with a notice of paternity determination which shall include:

(1) an allegation that the alleged father is the natural father of the child involved;

(2) the child's name and date of birth;

(4) a statement that if the alleged father fails to timely deny the allegation of paternity, the question of paternity may be resolved against the alleged father without further notice;

(5) a statement that if the alleged father timely denies the allegation of paternity:

(a) the alleged father is subject to compulsory genetic testing and that expenses incurred may be assessed against the alleged father if he is found to be the father;

(b) a genetic test may result in a presumption of paternity; and

(c) upon receipt of the genetic test results, if the alleged father continues to deny paternity, the alleged father may request the division to refer the matter to Family Court for a determination of paternity pursuant to Section 20-7-9540. An order for child support resulting from a subsequent finding of paternity is effective from the date the alleged father was served with the notice of paternity determination.

(B) The alleged father may file a written denial of paternity with the department within thirty days after service of the notice of paternity determination.

(C) When there is more than one alleged father of a child, the division may serve a notice of paternity determination on each alleged father in the same consolidated proceeding or in separate proceedings. Failure to serve notice on an alleged father does not prevent the department from serving notice on any other alleged father of the same child.

Section 20-7-9550. (A) If the testimony and other supplementary evidence presented at the negotiation conference demonstrate a reasonable probability that the alleged father had sexual intercourse with the child's mother during the probable time of the child's conception or if the evidence shows a probable existence of a presumption, the division may issue a subpoena ordering the alleged father to submit to paternity genetic testing. A reasonable probability of sexual intercourse during the possible time of conception may be established by affidavit of the child's mother.

(B) If the division does not receive a timely written denial of paternity or if an alleged father fails to appear at the negotiation conference or for a scheduled paternity test, the division may enter an order declaring the alleged father the legal father of the child. The order takes effect fifteen days after entry of default unless the alleged father before the fifteenth day presents good cause for failure to make a timely denial or for failure to appear at the negotiation conference or to undergo genetic testing. The division may not enter an order under this section if there is more than

(C) If the rights of others and the interests of justice require, the division may apply to any Family Court for an order compelling an alleged father to submit to genetic testing. The court shall hear the matter as expeditiously as possible. If the court finds reasonable cause to believe that the alleged father is the natural or presumed father of the child, the court shall enter an order compelling the alleged father to submit to a genetic test. As provided in subsection (A), reasonable cause may be established by affidavit of the child's mother.

Section 20-7-9555. The division shall appoint an expert who is qualified in examining genetic markers to conduct any genetic test. If the issue of paternity is referred to the Family Court, the expert's completed and certified report of the results and conclusions of a genetic test is admissible as evidence without additional testing or testimony. An order entered pursuant to this article establishes legal paternity for all purposes.

Section 20-7-9560. (A) The division may establish all duties of support including the duty to pay arrearages and to pay child support debt and may enforce duties of support from an obligor pursuant to this article if that action is requested by an agency of another state which is operating under Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act, as amended.

(B) If the division proceeds against an obligor under subsection (A), it shall seek establishment and enforcement of the liability imposed by the laws of the state where the obligor was located during the period for which support is sought. The obligor is presumed to have been present in this State during the period until otherwise shown.

(C) If the obligee is absent from this State and the obligor presents evidence which constitutes a defense, the obligor shall request a court hearing.

(D) The remedies provided by this article are additional to those remedies provided by the `Uniform Interstate Family Support Act'.

Section 20-7-9565. (A) At any time after the entry of a consent order or an order for default under this article or an order of the court the division may issue a notice of financial responsibility to an obligor requesting the modification of an existing order issued pursuant to this article or an existing order of the court. The division shall serve the obligor with a notice of financial responsibility as provided in Section 20-7-9515 and shall proceed as set forth in this article. The obligor or

(B) A request for modification made pursuant to this section does not preclude the division from enforcing and collecting upon the existing order pending the modification proceeding.

(C) Only payments accruing subsequent to the modification may be modified. Modification must be made pursuant to Section 20-3-160."

SECTION 4. Section 43-5-65(a) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(a) As a condition of eligibility, a needy family applying for aid to families with dependent children or Medicaid benefits for a minor child shall complete a certificate of eligibility containing a written declaration of such information as may be required to establish eligibility and amount of aid. The certificate shall include blanks, wherein shall must be stated the names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers of all children receiving aid, their present place of residence, the names and Social Security number of the adult or emancipated minor applicant, the name and social security number and present whereabouts, last known address and place of employment of a parent who is not living in the home, any income received through employment, from the absent parent, governmental social insurance or aid programs, gifts, sale of real or personal property, interest, dividends, or from any other source, and any interest in property, real or personal. As a condition of eligibility for Aid to Families with Dependent Children or Medicaid benefits, or both, the applicant must provide, at a minimum, the following on an absent parent or putative father, or both:

(1) the first and last name and any known licenses as defined in Section 20-7-941(4) which may be subject to revocation; and

(2) at least two of the following items on each named:

(i) date of birth;

(ii) social security number;

(iii) last known home address;

(iv) last known employer's name and address;

Failure to provide this information shall result in a finding of ineligibility of benefits for aid to families with dependent children and Medicaid unless the applicant or recipient asserts, and the department verifies, there is good cause for not providing this information. Good cause includes documentation of incest, rape, or the existence or the threat of physical abuse to the child or custodial parent. The department shall provide assistance as needed to complete the certificate and shall insure that all applicants or recipients have or promptly apply for and obtain a Social Security number. No assistance shall may be granted to Aid to Families for Dependent Children applicants or recipients until a valid Social Security number has been provided to the department for each member of the family for whom aid is sought or when numbers are not available until there is proof that application for the Social Security number has been made. The department shall assist the applicant or recipient in obtaining a Social Security number through procedures adopted in cooperation with the Social Security Administration or the applicant or recipient may apply for a Social Security number at the Social Security Administration office. For purposes of Aid to Families for Dependent Children Foster Care, the application for the Social Security number shall must be made by the State or local department. The certificate of eligibility also shall also provide that, as a condition of eligibility for aid, each applicant or recipient shall:

(1) Assign to the State any rights to support from any other person the applicant may have in his own behalf or in behalf of any other family member for whom the applicant is applying for or receiving aid and which have accrued at the time the assignment is executed or which may accrue in the future; provided, that however, by accepting public assistance for or on behalf of a child or children, or by making application for services under Title IV-D, or through placement of a child or children in state-funded foster care or under Title IV-E, except where good cause as determined by the agency exists, the recipient or applicant is considered to have made an assignment to the State Department of Social Services of any rights, title, and interest to any support obligation which is owed for the child or children or for the absent parent's spouse or former spouse who is the recipient or the applicant with whom the child is living, if and to the extent that a spousal support obligation has been established and the child support obligation is being enforced pursuant to Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act. The assignment to the department is considered to have been made up to the amount of public assistance money or foster care board payments paid for or on behalf of the child or

(2) Cooperate with the State in establishing the paternity of a child born out of wedlock with respect to whom aid is claimed and in obtaining support payments for such the applicant and for a child with respect to whom such the aid is claimed, or in obtaining any other payments or property due such the applicant of such the child and that, if the relative with whom a child is living is found to be ineligible because of failure to comply with the requirements of items (1) and (2), any aid for which such the child is eligible will must be provided in the form of protective payments. The department shall establish criteria in accordance with federal regulations to determine whether action to establish paternity and secure support is not in the best interest of a child."

SECTION 5. Section 43-5-590(a)(ii) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 336 of 1990, is further amended to read:

"(ii) assign to the State the rights to support, including health care expenses, from any other person the applicant may have in his own behalf or in behalf of any other family member for whom the applicant is applying for or receiving aid and which have accrued at the time the assignment is executed or which may accrue in the future. By accepting public assistance for or on behalf of a child or children, by making application for services under Title IV-D, or through placement of a child or children in state-funded foster care or under Title IV-E, except where good cause as determined by the agency exists, the recipient or applicant is considered to have made an assignment to the State Department of Social Services of rights, title, and interest to a support obligation which is owed for the child or children or for the absent parent's spouse or former spouse who is the recipient or the applicant with whom the child is living, if and to the extent that a spousal support obligation has been established, and the child and the child support obligation is being enforced pursuant to Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act. The

SECTION 6. Section 44-7-77 of the 1976 Code, as added by Acts 481 and 513 of 1994, is amended to read:

"Section 44-7-77. The Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the State Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the South Carolina Hospital Association, shall develop and implement a program to promote obtaining the voluntary acknowledgments of paternity before a newborn is released from the hospital as soon after birth as possible and where possible before the release of the newborn from the hospital. A voluntary acknowledgment obtained through an in-hospital program must be signed by both parents and the signatures must be notarized. As part of its in-hospital voluntary acknowledgment of paternity program, a birthing hospital as part of the birth registration process, shall collect, where ascertainable, information which is or may be necessary for the establishment of the paternity of the child and for the establishment of child support. The information to be collected on the father or on the putative father if paternity has not been established includes, but is not limited to, the name of the father, his date of birth, home address, social security number, and employer's name, and additionally for the putative father, the names and addresses of the putative father's parents."

"Section 44-63-165. A certificate must be prepared for a child born out of wedlock in this State to include the name of the father upon receipt of a sworn acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents to include the surname by which the child is to be known. However, if the reputed father or the mother is deceased, if another man is shown as the father of the child on the original birth certificate, or if the original birth certificate states that the mother was married, a new certificate may be prepared only when a determination of paternity is made by the Family Court pursuant to Section 20-7-952. A paternity acknowledgment must be provided to the State Department of Social Services from the appropriate state agency upon request at no charge for the purpose of establishing a child support obligation and otherwise a paternity acknowledgment is not subject to inspection except upon order of the Family Court."

SECTION 1. The State Department of Social Services shall apply for waivers to implement the following provisions in this act:

(1) Part III, Sections 6, 11, 12, and 13;

(2) Part IV, Sections 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6;

(3) Part V, Sections 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8;

(4) Part VI, Section 4.

SECTION 1. The Secretary of Commerce shall report to the General Assembly on the department's efforts and results in the recruitment and creation of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for current and former AFDC recipients by January 1, 1997, and biennially thereafter.

SECTION 2. (A) The Department of Social Services shall evaluate, or contract for evaluation of, the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program and shall collect data on program costs, caseload movement, and program outcomes including, but not limited to:

(1) the numbers of voluntary and AFDC mandatory participants served;

(2) the number of AFDC participants sanctioned;

(3) the number of AFDC recipients whose grant was eliminated or reduced due to employment;

(4) the extent to which AFDC recipients return to AFDC after having their cash grant eliminated;

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