Current Status Bill Number:3209 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970114 Primary Sponsor:Seithel All Sponsors:Seithel and Meacham Drafted Document Number:jic\5245ac.97 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Adoptees, medical reports on biological family, minors, adoption
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19970114 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
House 19970108 Prefiled, referred to Committee 25 HJ
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TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-1740, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ADOPTION INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MEDICAL REPORTS ON THE ADOPTEE'S BIOLOGICAL FAMILY MUST BE COMPREHENSIVE AND MUST BE UPDATED AND SUBMITTED TO THE COURT EVERY FIVE YEARS; AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS CONTAINING THE CONTENTS OF THESE MEDICAL HISTORIES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 20-7-1740(A)(3) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 653 of 1988, is further amended to read:
"(3) A background information investigation and a report of this investigation may not disclose the identity of the biological parents of the adoptee and shall provide the following:
(a) a comprehensive medical history of the biological family of the adoptee including parents, siblings, and other family members related to the adoptee including ages, sex, race, and any known genetic, psychological, metabolic, or familial disorders; and
(b) a comprehensive medical and developmental history of the adoptee."
SECTION 2. Section 20-7-1740 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 653 of 1988, is further amended by adding at the end:
"(D) Contents of medical histories of the biological family of the adoptee as required by subsection (A)(3) must comply with regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection (E) and must be updated every five years and filed with the Family Court. An adoptee or the adoptive parents of an adoptee may request in writing from the court copies of these updated medical histories.
(E) The Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Environmental Control, shall promulgate regulations containing the contents of medical histories and medical history updates of an adoptee's biological family as required by this section."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.