Bill 3285

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    3285
Ratification Number:            509
Act Number:                     446
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19950118
Primary Sponsor:                Neilson
All Sponsors:                   Neilson, Lloyd, G. Brown, Hines,
                                L. Whipper, Breeland, J. Young, Canty,
                                Rice, Felder, Chamblee, Gamble,
                                Keyserling, Robinson, Herdklotz,
                                Davenport, Mason, Thomas and Byrd 
Drafted Document Number:        gjk\21199ac.95
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19960530
Date of Last Amendment:         19960530
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19960618
Subject:                        Child custody, joint

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

------  19960709  Act No. A446
------  19960618  Signed by Governor
------  19960613  Ratified R509
Senate  19960530  Concurred in House amendment, 
                  enrolled for ratification
House   19960530  Senate amendments amended,
                  returned to Senate with amendment
House   19960530  Reconsidered vote whereby
                  concurred in Senate amendment
                  and enrolled for ratification
House   19960530  Concurred in Senate amendment, 
                  enrolled for ratification
Senate  19960523  Amended, read third time, 
                  returned to House with amendment
Senate  19960522  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  19960521  Committee report: Favorable              11 SJ
Senate  19950330  Introduced, read first time,             11 SJ
                  referred to Committee
House   19950329  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19950328  Read second time
House   19950322  Committee report: Favorable              25 HJ
House   19950118  Introduced, read first time,             25 HJ
                  referred to Committee

(R509, H3285)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-420, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE FAMILY COURT, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE COURT TO ORDER JOINT OR DIVIDED CUSTODY TO PROVIDE THAT THE COURT MAY NOT PROHIBIT A CUSTODIAL PARENT FROM MOVING HIS RESIDENCE TO A LOCATION WITHIN THE STATE UNLESS THE COURT FINDS A COMPELLING REASON OR UNLESS THE PARTIES AGREE.

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

Joint or divided custody authorized

SECTION 1. Section 20-7-420 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end an appropriately numbered item to read:

"( ) to order joint or divided custody where the court finds it is in the best interests of the child."

Custodial parent may not be prohibited from moving residence within the State and exceptions

SECTION 2. Section 20-7-420(30) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(30) To make any order necessary to carry out and enforce the provisions of this chapter, and to hear and determine any questions of support, custody, separation, or any other matter over which the court has jurisdiction, without the intervention of a jury; however, the court may not issue an order which prohibits a custodial parent from moving his residence to a location within the State unless the court finds a compelling reason or unless the parties have agreed to such a prohibition."

Time effective

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

In the Senate House June 13, 1996.

Robert L. Peeler,

President of the Senate

David H. Wilkins,

Speaker of the House of

Representatives

Approved the 18th day of June, 1996.

David M. Beasley,

Governor

Printer's Date -- June 28, 1996 -- S.