S 0979 General Bill, By Hayes
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-110, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING THE
 APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIANS AD LITEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COURT MAY APPOINT
 AN ATTORNEY FOR A LAY GUARDIAN AD LITEM BUT MAY NOT IF THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM
 IS AN ATTORNEY.

   12/13/05  Senate Prefiled
   12/13/05  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/10/06  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-23
   01/10/06  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-23
   01/19/06  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Ritchie (ch), Rankin,
                     Lourie, Scott

TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-110, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIANS AD LITEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COURT MAY APPOINT AN ATTORNEY FOR A LAY GUARDIAN AD LITEM BUT MAY NOT IF THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM IS AN ATTORNEY.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 20-7-110(1) of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"(1)    Children must be appointed legal counsel and a guardian ad litem by the family court. The court also may appoint an attorney for a lay guardian ad litem; however, the court may not appoint an attorney for a guardian ad litem if the guardian ad litem is an attorney. Counsel for the child in no case may be the same as counsel for the parent, guardian, or other person subject to the proceeding or any governmental or social agency involved in the proceeding."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.