S 1204 General Bill, By Short
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 44-7-77 so as to direct the Department of Health and Environmental Control and
 the Department of Social Services in conjunction with the South Carolina
 Hospital Association to develop a program for obtaining in-hospital voluntary
 acknowledgments of paternity; and to amend Section 20-7-956, relating to
 evidence admissible in paternity hearings, so as to provide that such
 acknowledgments of paternity are admissible and create a rebuttable
 presumption of paternity.

   02/22/94  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-3
   02/22/94  Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-3
   04/14/94  Senate Committee report: Favorable General SJ-22
   04/19/94  Senate Read second time SJ-16
   04/19/94  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-16
   04/20/94  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-11
   04/21/94  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-17
   04/21/94  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-18

COMMITTEE REPORT

April 14, 1994

S. 1204

S. Printed 4/14/94--S.

Read the first time February 22, 1994.

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 1204), to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 44-7-77 so as to direct the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Department of Social Services in conjunction with the South Carolina Hospital Association to develop a program, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

J. YANCEY McGILL, for Committee.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-77 SO AS TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM FOR OBTAINING IN-HOSPITAL VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF PATERNITY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-956, RELATING TO EVIDENCE ADMISSIBLE IN PATERNITY HEARINGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF PATERNITY ARE ADMISSIBLE AND CREATE A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION OF PATERNITY.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-7-77. The Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the 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."

SECTION 2. Section 20-7-956(6) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(6) A verified voluntary acknowledgment of paternity which creates a rebuttable presumption of the putative father's paternity.

(6)(7) Any other relevant and competent evidence deemed admissible in the discretion of the court."

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.