South Carolina General Assembly
110th Session, 1993-1994

Bill 4348


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    4348
Primary Sponsor:                Neilson
Committee Number:               25
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Child custody, visitation
Residing Body:                  House
Current Committee:              Judiciary
Computer Document Number:       JIC/5232AC.94
Introduced Date:                19940111
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              19940111
Last History Type:              Introduced, read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Neilson
                                Inabinett
Type of Legislation:            General Bill



History


Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

4348  House   19940111      Introduced, read first time,    25
                            referred to Committee
4348  House   19931201      Prefiled, referred to           25
                            Committee

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-7-1550 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD AS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE IN RESOLVING CHILD CUSTODY AND VISITATION DISPUTES, TO PROVIDE THAT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD ARE SERVED WHEN THE CHILD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH PARENT IS EQUALLY PROMOTED AND ENCOURAGED, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COURT MUST STRIVE TO EQUALIZE EACH PARENT'S TIME WITH AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CHILD'S LIFE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT JOINT CUSTODY IS NOT REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION NOR MAY VISITATION AWARDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION BE CONSTRUED AS JOINT CUSTODY.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 20-7-1550. (A) In an action in which child custody or visitation is in dispute the best interests of the child is the overriding principle the court must be guided by in resolving these disputes. Unless a parent is found to be unfit or is geographically removed from the child, the best interests of the child are considered to be served when the order of the court equally promotes and encourages the ongoing development and enhancement of the child's relationship with each parent.

(B) In awarding custody and granting visitation the court must strive to equalize the time the child spends with each parent and to equalize and promote opportunities for each parent to be informed of and involved in activities in the child's life both in and out of school.

(C) Nothing in this section requires an award of joint or divided custody and visitation awarded in accordance with this section may not be construed as joint or divided custody."

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

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