H*3681(Rat #0204, Act #0181 of 2004)  General Bill, By E.H. Pitts, Clark, 
Duncan, Frye, Koon and Merrill
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1572, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE
 AS A GROUND, THE CONVICTION OF A PARENT FOR THE MURDER OF THE CHILD'S OTHER
 PARENT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1564, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PARTIES WHO
 MAY BRING AN ACTION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT
 THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IS NOT REQUIRED TO AMEND A CHILD'S PLACEMENT
 PLAN BEFORE BRINGING SUCH AN ACTION. - ratified title

   02/25/03  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-8
   02/25/03  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-8
   05/07/03  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-5
   05/08/03  House  Read second time HJ-78
   05/08/03  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-79
   05/09/03  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-5
   05/13/03  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-6
   05/13/03  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-6
   02/11/04  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-37
   02/12/04  Senate Amended SJ-17
   02/12/04  Senate Read second time SJ-17
   02/12/04  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-17
   02/18/04  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-16
   02/25/04  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-49
   03/02/04         Ratified R 204
   03/05/04         Signed By Governor
   03/10/04         Copies available
   03/10/04         Effective date 03/05/04
   03/23/04         Act No. 181

(A181, R204, H3681)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1572, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE AS A GROUND, THE CONVICTION OF A PARENT FOR THE MURDER OF THE CHILD'S OTHER PARENT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1564, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PARTIES WHO MAY BRING AN ACTION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IS NOT REQUIRED TO AMEND A CHILD'S PLACEMENT PLAN BEFORE BRINGING SUCH AN ACTION.

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

Additional ground for termination of parental rights

SECTION    1.    Section 20-7-1572 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 104 of 1999, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered item to read:

"( )    A parent of the child pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is convicted of the murder of the child's other parent."

Procedure for filing petition for termination of parental rights

SECTION    2.    Section 20-7-1564 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 20-7-1564.    (A)    A petition seeking termination of parental rights may be filed by the Department of Social Services or any interested party.

(B)    The department may file an action for termination of parental rights without first seeking the court's approval of a change in the permanency plan pursuant to Section 20-7-766 and without first seeking an amendment of the placement plan pursuant to Section 20-7-764."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 2nd day of March, 2004.

Approved the 5th day of March, 2004.