Bill 4503

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    4503
Primary Sponsor:                Neilson
Committee Number:               25
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Grandparent visitation
Residing Body:                  House
Current Committee:              Judiciary
Companion Bill Number:          872
Computer Document Number:       PT/22325AC.94
Introduced Date:                19940113
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              19940113
Last History Type:              Introduced, read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Neilson
                                Hines
                                G. Brown
                                Askins
                                McKay
                                Simrill
                                Whipper
                                A. Young
                                G. Bailey
                                Davenport
                                Shissias
                                Quinn
                                Wells
                                Inabinett
                                Jaskwhich
                                Rhoad
                                Littlejohn
                                Moody-Lawrence
                                Harrison
                                Canty
                                Jennings
                                Chamblee
                                Neal
                                Riser
                                Wilkes
                                Huff
                                McLeod
                                Cromer
                                Delleney
                                Wright
                                Harvin
                                Stuart
                                Carnell
                                Martin
                                Keegan
                                Stoddard
                                Thomas
                                D. Wilder
                                Hutson
                                D. Smith
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
----  ------  ------------  ------------------------------  ---  ------------
4503  House   19940113      Introduced, read first time,    25
                            referred to Committee

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-420, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE FAMILY COURT, SO AS TO PROVIDE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH GRANDPARENT VISITATION MAY BE GRANTED.

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

SECTION 1. Section 20-7-420(33) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(33) To order periods of visitation for the grandparents of the a minor child where either or both parents of the minor child is or are deceased, or are divorced, or are living separate and apart in different habitats regardless of the existence of a court order or agreement, and upon a written finding that the visitation rights would be in the best interests of the child and would not interfere with the parent/child relationship. The court shall consider the amount of personal contact between the parents or grandparents of the deceased or divorced parent and the minor child before the filing of the petition or complaint."

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