South Carolina General Assembly
111th Session, 1995-1996

Bill 3282


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       3282
Type of Legislation:               General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19950118
Primary Sponsor:                   Neilson
All Sponsors:                      Neilson, Limbaugh, Littlejohn,
                                   Hines, Stuart, Shissias, Jaskwhich,
                                   Gamble, J. Harris, Wells, Lloyd,
                                   Mason and McTeer 
Drafted Document Number:           gjk\21198ac.95
Residing Body:                     House
Current Committee:                 Judiciary Committee 25 HJ
Subject:                           Child custody



History


Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

House   19950118  Introduced, read first time,             25 HJ
                  referred to 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 IS 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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