Current Status Bill Number:4445 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19980120 Primary Sponsor:Harrison All Sponsors:Harrison and Cotty Drafted Document Number:kgh\15341ac.98 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Conference Committee 98 HCC Date of Last Amendment:19980604 Subject:Foster care, Social Services duties with foster home visits and foster family interviews, Minors
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19980616 Conference powers granted, 98 HCC Harrison
appointed Reps. to Committee of Cotty
Conference Scott
Senate 19980610 Conference powers granted, 88 SCC Moore
appointed Senators to Committee Courtney
of Conference Glover
Senate 19980610 Insists upon amendment
House 19980604 Non-concurrence in Senate amendment
Senate 19980604 Read third time, returned to House
with amendment
Senate 19980604 Amended
Senate 19980528 Amended
Senate 19980526 Read second time, ordered to
third reading with notice of
general amendments
Senate 19980526 Amended
Senate 19980526 Committee amendment amended and
adopted
Senate 19980519 Committee report: Favorable with 11 SJ
amendment
Senate 19980226 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ
referred to Committee
House 19980225 Read third time, sent to Senate
House 19980224 Amended, read second time
House 19980218 Committee report: Favorable with 25 HJ
amendment
House 19980120 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
June 4, 1998
H. 4445
S. Printed 5/28/98--S.
Read the first time February 26, 1998.
TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-767, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES REGARDING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, SO AS TO REVISE THE DUTIES CONCERNING CONDUCTING VISITS TO FOSTER HOMES AND CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS OF FOSTER FAMILIES; TO DELETE THE PROVISION REQUIRING STATE EMPLOYEES TO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION; TO REQUIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION AND TO STATE THE DUTIES OF FOSTER PARENTS TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 20-7-767 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 22 of 1997, is amended to read:
"Section 20-7-767. (A) To protect and nurture children in foster care, the Department of Social Services and its employees shall:
(1) adhere strictly to the prescribed number of personal contacts, pursuant to Section 20-7-764(B)(3). These contacts must be personal, face-to-face visits between the caseworker or member of the casework team and the foster child. These visits may be conducted in the foster home and in the presence of other persons who reside in the foster home; however, if the caseworker suspects that the child has been abused or neglected during the placement with the foster parent, the caseworker must observe and interview the child outside the presence of other persons who reside in the foster home;
(2) conduct contacts under item (1) as personal, face-to-face visits between the caseworker, the foster child, the foster parents, and any other adults living in the foster home. During the prescribed contact, the caseworker must interview or observe the child in order to determine if the child should be interviewed outside the presence of other adults and other minors who reside in the home in order to assess the health and safety of the child. If the caseworker suspects abuse or neglect, the caseworker must interview and observe the child outside the presence of other adults and other minors who reside in the home ensure that a caseworker interviews the foster parent, either in person or by telephone, at least once each month. No less frequently than once every two months, ensure that a caseworker or member of the casework team interviews the foster parent face-to-face during a visit in the foster home;
(3) ensure that a caseworker interviews other adults residing in the foster home, as defined in Section 20-7-30(8), face-to-face at least once each quarter. A foster parent must notify the department if another adult moves into the home, and the caseworker must interview the adult face-to-face within one month after receiving notice. Interviews of foster parents pursuant to item (2) and of other adults residing in the home pursuant to this item may be conducted together or separately at the discretion of the department;
(4) ensure that its staff visit in the foster home and interview the foster parent or other adults in the home more frequently when conditions in the home, circumstances of the foster children, or other reasons defined in policy and procedure suggest that increased oversight or casework support is appropriate. When more than one caseworker is responsible for a child in the foster home, the department may assign one caseworker to conduct the required face-to-face interview with the other adults residing in the foster home;
(3)(5) provide to the foster child, if age appropriate, a printed card containing a telephone number the child may use to contact a designated unit or individual within the Department of Social Services and further provide an explanation to the child that the number is to be used if problems occur which the child believes his or her caseworker cannot or will not resolve;
(4)(6) strongly encourage by letter of invitation, provided at least three weeks in advance, the attendance of foster parents to all Foster Care Review Board proceedings held for children in their care. If the foster parents are unable to attend the proceedings, they must submit a progress report to the Office of the Governor, Division of Foster Care Review, at least three days prior to the proceeding. Failure of the a foster parents parent to attend the Foster Care Review Board proceeding or failure to submit a progress report to the Division of Foster Care Review does not require the board to delay the proceeding. The letter of invitation and the progress report form must be supplied by the agency; and
(5)(7) be placed under the full authority of sanctions and enforcement by the family court pursuant to Section 20-7-420(30) and Section 20-7-420(36) for failure to adhere to the requirements of this subsection.
(B) If the department places a child in foster care in a county which does not have jurisdiction of the case, the department may designate a caseworker in the county of placement to make the visits required by subsection (A).
(C) In fulfilling the requirements of subsection (A), the Department of Social Services shall reasonably perform its tasks in a manner which is least intrusive and disruptive to the lives of the foster children and their foster families.
(C)(D) The Department of Social Services, in executing its duties under subsection (A)(3)(4), must provide a toll free telephone number which must operate twenty-four hours a day.
(D)(E) Any public employee in this State who has actual knowledge that a person has violated any of the provisions of subsection (A) must report those violations to the state office of the Department of Social Services; however, the Governor's Division of Foster Care Review must report violations of subsection (A)(4) in their regular submissions of advisory decisions and recommendations which are submitted to the family court and the department. Any employee who knowingly fails to report a violation of subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
(F) Foster parents have a duty to make themselves reasonably available for the interviews required by subsection (A)(2) and to take reasonable steps to facilitate caseworkers' interviews with other adults who reside in the home as required by subsection (A)(3). Failure to comply with either the duties in this subsection or those in subsection (A)(3) constitutes grounds for revocation of a foster parent's license or other form of approval to provide care to children in the custody of the department. Revocation would depend on the number of instances of noncompliance, the foster parents' wilfulness in noncompliance, or other circumstances indicating that noncompliance by the foster parents significantly and unreasonably interferes with the department's ability to carry out its protective functions under this section.
(E)(G) To further this state's long-term goals and objectives on behalf of children in foster care, the Department of Social Services shall give to the General Assembly by January 15, 1999, a report of the status of the foster care system which includes improvements the department has made to ensure the safety and quality of life of South Carolina's foster children. This report must include:
(1) specific standards for the training of foster parents, including the type of training which is provided;
(2) standards which address emergency situations affecting the maximum number of children placed in each foster home;
(3) standards which provide for the periodic determination of the medical condition of a child during his stay in foster care; and
(4) methods the department has developed to encourage the receipt of information on the needs of children in foster care from persons who have been recently emancipated from the foster care system."
SECTION 2. Section 20-7-764(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(B) The placement plan shall include, but is not limited to:
(1) the specific reasons for removal of the child from the custody of the parent or guardian, and the changes that must be made before the child may be returned, including:
(a) the nature of the harm or threatened harm that necessitated removal, a description of the problems or conditions in the home that caused the harm or threatened harm, and the reason why the child could not be protected without removal.;
(b) the nature of the changes in the home and family situation that must be made in order to correct the problems and conditions that necessitated removal, time frames for accomplishing these objectives, and means for measuring whether the objectives have been accomplished. The objectives stated in this part of the plan must relate to problems and circumstances serious enough to justify removal. The plan must be oriented to correcting these problems and circumstances in the shortest possible time in order to expedite the child's return to the home.;
(c) specific actions to be taken by the parents or guardian of the child to accomplish the objectives identified in subitem (b) and time frames for taking these actions.;
(2) other conditions in the home that warrant state intervention, but would not alone have been sufficient to warrant removal, and the changes that must be made in order to terminate intervention, including:
(a) the nature of the harm or threatened harm that justifies state intervention and a description of the problems or conditions of the home that caused the harm or threatened harm.;
(b) the nature of the changes in the home and family situation that must be made in order to correct the problems and conditions that caused the harm or threatened harm, time frames for accomplishing these objectives, and means for measuring whether the objectives have been accomplished.;
(c) specific actions to be taken by the parents or guardian of the child to accomplish the objectives identified in subitem (b) and time frames for taking these actions.;
(3) the social and other services to be provided or made available to the parents, guardian, or other relevant adult to assist the parents or guardian in accomplishing the objectives, including a specific finding as to the minimum number and frequency of contacts a caseworker with the department must have with the child while in foster care. For a child placed in foster care within this State, the caseworker must meet with the child, at a minimum, once a month, but based upon the particular needs and circumstances of the individual child, more frequent contacts may be ordered by the court.;
(4) the financial responsibilities and obligations, if any, of the parents or guardian for the support of the child during the placement.;
(5) the visitation rights and obligations of the parents, guardian, siblings, or other relatives of the child during the placement. The plan shall provide for as much contact as is reasonably possible and consistent with the best interests of the child between the child and the child's parents, guardian, siblings, and other appropriate relatives with whom the child has a close relationship including visitation and participation of the parents or guardian in the care of the child while the child is in placement.;
(6) the nature and location of the placement for of the child unless it is determined that disclosure of the location of the placement to the parents, guardian, or any other person would be contrary to the best interest of the child. In making its determination of whether disclosure of the location of the placement is in the best interest of the child, the department must consider evidence of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or substance abuse by an adult living in the child's home or evidence of criminal domestic violence in the child's home. When disclosure of the location of the placement is determined to be contrary to the best interest of the child, disclosure must not be made to the abusing party or to any member of the abusing party's household. The placement must be as close to the child's home as is reasonably possible, unless placement at a greater distance is necessary to promote the child's well-being. In the absence of good cause to the contrary, preference must be given to placement with a relative or other person who is known to the child and has a constructive and caring relationship with the child.;
(7) the social and other supportive services to be provided to the child and the foster parents including counseling or other services to assist the child in dealing with the effects of separation from the child's home and family.;
(8) if the parents or guardian were not involved in the development of the plan, the nature of the agency's efforts to secure parental participation.;
(9) notice to the parents or guardians that failure to substantially accomplish the objectives stated in the plan within the time frames provided may result in termination of parental rights, subject to notice and a hearing as provided in subarticle 3, Article 11."
SECTION 3. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 20-7-775. The department shall disclose to the foster parent at the time the department places the child in the home all information known by the person making the placement or reasonably accessible to the person making the placement which could affect either the ability of the foster parent to care for the child or the health and safety of the child or the foster family. This information includes, but is not limited to, medical and mental health conditions and history of the child, the nature of abuse or neglect to which the child has been subjected, behavioral problems, and matters related to educational needs. If a person lacking this necessary information made the placement, a member of the child's casework team or the child's caseworker shall contact the foster parent and provide the information during the first working day following the placement. The child's caseworker shall research the child's record and shall supplement the information provided to the foster parent no later than the end of the first week of placement if additional information is found. When the child's caseworker acquires new information which could affect either the ability of the foster parent to care for the child or the health and safety of the child or the foster family, the department shall disclose that information to the foster parent. The obligation to provide this information continues until the placement ends."
SECTION 4. Section 20-7-2725(A)(4) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 444 of 1996, is amended to read:
"(4) the offenses enumerated in Section 16-1-10(A), except that this prohibition shall not apply to Section 56-5-2930, the Class F felony of driving under the influence pursuant to Section 56-5-2940(4) if the conviction occurred at least ten years prior to the application for employment;"
SECTION 5. Sections 19-1-180(A) and (C) of the 1976 Code are amended to read:
"(A) An out-of-court statement made by a child who is under twelve years of age or who functions cognitively, adaptively, or developmentally under the age of twelve at the time of the a family court proceeding brought pursuant to Section 20-7-610 or 20-7-736 Title 20 concerning an act of alleged abuse or neglect as defined by Section 20-7-490 that is not otherwise admissible in evidence is admissible in the family court proceeding if the requirements of this section are met regardless of whether the statement would be otherwise inadmissible.
(C) The proponent of the statement shall inform the adverse party of the proponent's intention to offer the statement and the content of the statement sufficiently in advance of the proceeding to provide the defendant with a fair opportunity to prepare a response to the statement before the proceeding at which it is offered. If the child is twelve years of age or older, the adverse party may challenge the professional decision that the child functions cognitively, adaptively, or developmentally under the age of twelve."
SECTION 6. Section 20-7-420 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 71 of 1997, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:
"( ) To hear and determine actions concerning control of the person of a minor, including guardianship of the minor."
SECTION 7. That portion of Section 20-7-490 of the 1976 Code preceding the enumerated items, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"When used in this article , or in Article 9, Article 11, or subarticle 7 of Article 13, and unless the specific context indicates otherwise:"
SECTION 8. Section 20-7-510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(A) A physician, nurse, dentist, optometrist, medical examiner or coroner or an employee of a county medical examiner's or coroner's office or any other medical, emergency medical services, mental health, or allied health professional or Christian Science practitioner, religious healer, school teacher, counselor, principal, assistant principal, social or public assistance worker, substance abuse treatment staff, or child care worker in any day care center or foster care facility, police or law enforcement officer, undertaker, funeral home director or employee of a funeral home or persons responsible for processing of films or any judge shall report in accordance with this section when in the person's professional capacity the person has received information which gives the person reason to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect.
(B) Except as provided in subsection (A), any other person who has reason to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse and neglect may report in accordance with this section. If a person required to report pursuant to subsection (A) has received information in the person's professional capacity which gives the person reason to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by acts or omissions that would be child abuse or neglect if committed by a parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the child's welfare, but the reporter believes that the act or omission was committed by a person other than the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the child's welfare, the reporter must make a report to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
(C) Except as provided in subsection (A), any person who has reason to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse and neglect may report in accordance with this section.
(C) (D) Reports of child abuse or neglect may be made orally by telephone or otherwise to the county department of social services or to a law enforcement agency in the county where the child resides or is found.
Where reports are made pursuant to this section to a law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency shall notify the county department of social services of the law enforcement's response to the report at the earliest possible time.
Where a county or contiguous counties have established multicounty child protective services, pursuant to Section 20-7-650, the county department of social services immediately shall transfer reports pursuant to this section to the service.
(E) The identity of the person making a report pursuant to this section must be kept confidential by the agency or department receiving the report and must not be disclosed except as provided for in this chapter.
When the department refers a report to a law enforcement agency for a criminal investigation, the department must inform the law enforcement agency of the identity of the person who reported the child abuse or neglect. The identity of the reporter must only be used by the law enforcement agency to further the criminal investigation arising from the report, and the agency must not disclose the reporter's identity to any person other than an employee of the agency who is involved in the criminal investigation arising from the report. If the reporter testifies in a criminal proceeding arising from the report, it must not be disclosed that the reporter made the report.
When a law enforcement agency refers a report to the department for an investigation or other response, the law enforcement agency must inform the department of the identity of the person who reported the child abuse or neglect. The department must not disclose the identity of the reporter to any person except as authorized by Section 20-7-690."
SECTION 9. Section 20-7-540 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"Section 20-7-540. A person required or permitted to report pursuant to this article or who participates in an investigation or judicial proceedings resulting from the report, acting in good faith, is immune from civil and criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of these actions. In all such civil or criminal proceedings, good faith is rebuttably presumed. Immunity under this section extends to full disclosure by the person of facts which gave the person reason to believe that the child's physical or mental health or welfare had been or might be adversely affected by abuse or neglect."
SECTION 10. Section 20-7-545 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 101 of 1997, is further amended to read:
"Section 20-7-545. An employee, volunteer, or official of the Department of Social Services required or authorized to perform child protective or child welfare-related functions or an individual with whom the department has contracted to convene family group conferences or a law enforcement officer required or authorized to perform child protective or child welfare related functions is immune from civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of acts or omissions within the scope of the official duties of the employee, volunteer, convener, officer, or official, so as long as the employee, volunteer, convener, officer, or official acted in good faith and was not reckless, wilful, wanton, or grossly negligent. In all such civil or criminal proceedings good faith is rebuttably presumed. This grant of immunity is cumulative to and does not replace any other immunity provided under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act."
SECTION 11. Section 20-7-560 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"Section 20-7-560. A person required to report a case of child abuse or neglect or a person required to perform any other function under this article who knowingly fails to do so, or a person who threatens or attempts to intimidate a witness is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. The penalty provided for in this section shall be the exclusive remedy for a failure to report a pregnant woman suspected of child abuse or neglect."
SECTION 12. Section 20-7-610(A)(1), (I)(2), (M) and (N) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 130 of 1997, is further amended to read:
"(1) the officer has probable cause to believe that by reason of abuse or neglect the child's life, health, or physical safety is in substantial and imminent danger if the child is not taken into emergency physical custody or emergency protective custody, and there is not time to apply for a court order pursuant to Section 20-7-736. When a child is taken into emergency protective custody following an incident of excessive corporal punishment, and the only injury to the child is external lesions or minor bruises, other children in the home shall not be taken into emergency protective custody solely on account of the injury of one child through excessive corporal punishment. However, the officer may take emergency protective custody of other children in the home if a threat of harm to them is further indicated by factors including, but not limited to, a prior history of domestic violence or other abuse in the home, alcohol or drug abuse if known or evident at the time of the initial contact, or other circumstances indicative of danger to the children;
(2) both the relative or other person with whom the child is to be placed and the child's parent or guardian have agreed to the placement, the department may retain physical custody of the child for no more than five additional days if necessary to enable the relative or other person to make travel or other arrangements incident to the placement. A probable cause hearing pursuant to subsection (M) shall not be held unless the placement fails to occur as planned within the five-day period or the child's parent or guardian makes a written request for a hearing to the department. The department must give the child's parent or guardian written notice of the right to request a probable cause hearing to obtain a judicial determination of whether removal of the child from the home was and remains necessary. Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing from the child's parent or guardian, the department shall schedule a hearing for the next date on which the family court is scheduled to hear probable cause hearings. If the placement does not occur as planned within the five-day period, the department immediately must determine whether to assume legal custody of the child and file a petition as provided in subsection (K). The department shall assure that the child is given age-appropriate information about the plans for placement and any subsequent changes in those plans at the earliest feasible time.
(M) The family court shall schedule a probable cause hearing to be held within seventy-two hours of the time the child was taken into emergency protective custody. If the third day falls upon a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the probable cause hearing must be held no later than the next working day. If there is no term of court in the county when the probable cause hearing must be held, the hearing must be held in another county in the circuit. If there is no term of family court in another county in the circuit, the probable cause hearing may be heard in another court in an adjoining circuit. The probable cause hearing may be conducted by video conference at the discretion of the judge. At the probable cause hearing, the family court shall undertake to fulfill the requirements of Section 20-7-110 and shall determine whether there was probable cause for taking emergency protective custody and for the department to assume legal custody of the child and shall determine whether probable cause to retain legal custody of the child remains at the time of the hearing. At the probable cause hearing, the respondents may submit affidavits as to facts which are alleged to form the basis of the removal and to cross-examine the department's witnesses as to whether there existed probable cause to effect emergency removal. The hearing on the merits to determine whether removal of custody is needed, pursuant to Section 20-7-736, must be held within thirty-five days of the date of receipt of the removal petition. At the probable cause hearing, the court shall set the time and date for the hearing on the merits. A party may request a continuance that would result in the hearing being held more than thirty-five days after the petition was filed, and the court may grant the request for continuance only if exceptional circumstances exist. If a continuance is granted, the hearing on the merits must be completed within sixty-five days following receipt of the removal petition. The court may continue the hearing on the merits beyond sixty-five days without returning the child to the home only if the court issues a written order with findings of fact supporting a determination that the following conditions are satisfied, regardless of whether the parties have agreed to a continuance:
(1) The court finds that the child should remain in the custody of the department because there is probable cause to believe that returning the child to the home would seriously endanger the child's physical safety or emotional well-being;
(2) The court schedules the case for trial on a date and time certain which is not more than thirty days after the date the hearing was scheduled to be held; and
(3) The court finds that exceptional circumstances support the continuance.
The court may continue the case past the date and time certain set forth in subsection (M) only if the court issues a new order as required in subsection (M).
The court may continue the case because a witness is unavailable only if the court enters a finding of fact that the court cannot decide the case without the testimony of the witness. The court shall consider and rule on whether the hearing can begin and then recess to have the witness' testimony taken at a later date or by deposition. The court shall rule on whether the party offering the witness has exercised due diligence to secure the presence of the witness or to preserve the witness' testimony.
This subsection does not prevent the court from conducting a pendente lite hearing on motion of any party and issuing an order granting other appropriate relief pending a hearing on the merits.
If the child is returned to the home pending the merits hearing, the court may impose such terms and conditions as it determines appropriate to protect the child from harm, including measures to protect the child as a witness.
When a continuance is granted pursuant to this subsection, the family court shall ensure that the hearing is rescheduled within the time limits provided herein and give the hearing priority over other matters pending before the court except a probable cause hearing held pursuant to this subsection.
(N) An order issued as a result of the probable cause hearing held pursuant to subsection (K) concerning a child of whom the department has assumed legal custody shall contain a finding by the court of whether reasonable efforts were made by the department to prevent removal of the child and a finding of whether continuation of the child in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child. The order shall state:
(1) the services made available to the family before the department assumed legal custody of the child and how they related to the needs of the family;
(2) the efforts of the department to provide services to the family before assuming legal custody of the child;
(3) why the efforts to provide services did not eliminate the need for the department to assume legal custody;
(4) whether a meeting was convened as provided in subsection (D), the persons present, and the outcome of the meeting or, if no meeting was held, the reason for not holding a meeting;
(5) what efforts were made to place the child with a relative known to the child or in another familiar environment;
(6) whether the efforts to eliminate the need for the department to assume legal custody were reasonable including, but not limited to, whether services were reasonably available and timely, reasonably adequate to address the needs of the family, reasonably adequate to protect the child and realistic under the circumstances, and whether efforts to place the child in a familiar environment were reasonable.
If the court finds that reasonable services would not have allowed the child to remain safely in the home, the court shall find that removal of the child without services or without further services was reasonable."
SECTION 13. That portion of Section 20-7-618(A) of the 1976 Code preceding the enumerated text, as added by Act 450 of 1996, is amended to read:
"A physician or hospital to which a child has been brought for treatment may detain the child in emergency physical custody for up to twenty-four hours without the consent of the person responsible for the child's welfare if the physician or hospital:"
SECTION 14. Section 20-7-650(C) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended by adding at the end:
"This section does not require the department to investigate reports of child abuse or neglect which resulted in the death of the child unless there are other children residing in the home, or a resident of the home is pregnant, or the subject of the report is the parent, guardian, or person responsible for the welfare of another child regardless of whether that child resides in the home."
SECTION 15. Section 20-7-650(R) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 132 of 1997, is further amended to read:
"(R) The department must cooperate with law enforcement agencies within the area it serves and establish procedures necessary to facilitate the referral of child protection cases to the department. Where the facts indicating abuse or neglect also appear to indicate a violation of criminal law, the department must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of those facts within twenty-four hours of the department's finding for the purposes of police investigation. The law enforcement agency must file a formal incident report at the time it is notified by the department of the finding. When the intake report is of alleged sexual abuse, the department must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency within twenty-four hours of receipt of the report to determine if a joint investigation is necessary. The law enforcement agency must file a formal incident report at the time it is notified of the alleged sexual abuse. In cases where the agency retains custody of the minor children and physical placement of the children is in the care of relatives, the agency must provide the same services along with financial benefits provided to other licensed foster care placement and facilities, provided the adults with whom the child is placed meet all qualifications applicable to foster parents."
SECTION 16. Section 20-7-690(B) (6), (7), (13), and (14), (C), and (D) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, are further amended to read:
"(6) a child ten fourteen years of age or older who is the subject of a report named in a report as a victim of child abuse or neglect, except in regard to information that the department may determine to be detrimental to the emotional well-being of the child;
(7) the parents or guardians of a child who is the subject of a report named in a report as a victim of child abuse or neglect;
(13) authorities in other states conducting child abuse and neglect proceedings or child custody proceedings investigations or providing child welfare services;
(14) courts in other states conducting child abuse and neglect investigations or providing child welfare services proceedings or child custody proceedings;
(C) The department may limit the information disclosed to individuals and entities named in subsection (B) (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), and (20) to that information necessary to accomplish the purposes for which it is requested or for which it is being disclosed. Nothing in this subsection gives to these entities or persons the right to review or copy the complete case record.
(D) When a request for access to the record comes from an individual identified in subsection (A)(B)(5), (6), or (7) or that person's attorney, the department shall review any reports from medical care providers and mental health care providers to determine whether the report contains information that does not pertain to the case decision, to the treatment needs of the family as a whole, or to the care of the child. If the department determines that these conditions exist, before releasing the document, the department shall provide a written notice identifying the report to the requesting party and to the person whose treatment or assessment was the subject of the report. The notice may be mailed to the parties involved or to their attorneys or it may be delivered in person. The notice shall state that the department will release the report after ten days from the date notice was mailed to all parties and that any party objecting to release may apply to the court of competent jurisdiction for relief. When a medical or mental health provider or agency furnishes copies of reports or records to the department and designates in writing that those reports or records are not to be further disclosed, the department must not disclose those documents to persons identified in subsection (A)(B)(5), (6), or (7) or that person's attorney. The department shall identify to the requesting party the records or reports withheld pursuant to this subsection and shall advise the requesting party that he may contact the medical or mental health provider or agency about release of the records or reports."
SECTION 17. Section 20-7-690 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended by adding an appropriately lettered subsection to read:
"( ) The department may disclose to participants in a family group conference relevant information concerning the child or family or other relevant information to the extent that the department determines that the disclosure is necessary to accomplish the purpose of the family group conference. Participants in the family group conference must be instructed to maintain the confidentiality of information disclosed by the agency."
SECTION 18. Section 20-7-736(F) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(F) A The court shall not order that a child must not be removed from the custody of the parent or guardian unless the court finds that the allegations of the petition are supported by a preponderance of evidence including a finding that the child is an abused or neglected child as defined in Section 20-7-490 and that retention of the child in or return of the child to the home would place the child at unreasonable risk of harm affecting the child's life, physical health or safety, or mental well-being and the child cannot reasonably be protected from this harm without being removed."
SECTION 19. That portion of Section 20-7-765(A) of the 1976 Code preceding the enumerated items, added by Act 450 of 1996, is amended to read:
"When the conditions justifying removal pursuant to Section 20-7-736 include the addiction of the parent or abuse by the parent of controlled substances, the court may require as part of the treatment placement plan ordered pursuant to Section 20-7-764:"
SECTION 20. Section 20-7-766(G) and (H) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, are further amended to read:
"(G) After the permanency planning hearing, if the child is retained in foster care, future permanency planning hearings must be conducted in accordance with this subsection.
If the child is retained in foster care and the agency is required to initiate termination of parental rights proceedings, the termination of parental rights hearing may serve as the next permanency planning hearing.
If the child is retained in permanent foster care with an identified caregiver, no further permanency planning hearings are necessary if the child is fourteen years of age or older.
If the court ordered extended foster care for the purpose of reunification with the parent, the court must select a permanent plan for the child other than another extension for reunification purposes at the next permanency planning hearing. The hearing must be held on or before the date specified in the plan for expected completion of the plan; in no case may the hearing be held any later than six months from the date of the last court order. The court also must fulfill the remaining requirements of subsections (A) through (F).
After the termination of parental rights hearing, the requirements of Section 20-7-1574 must be met. Permanency planning hearings must be held annually, starting with the date of the termination of parental rights hearing. No further permanency planning hearings may be required after filing a decree of adoption of the child.
If the court places custody or guardianship with the parent, extended family member, or suitable nonrelative and a period of services and supervision is authorized, services and supervision automatically terminate on the date specified in the court order. Before the termination date, the department or the guardian ad litem may file a petition with the court for a review hearing on the status of the placement. Filing of the petition stays termination of the case until further order from the court. If the court finds clear and convincing evidence that the child will be threatened with harm if services and supervision do not continue, the court may extend the period of intervention for a specified time. The courts court's order shall specify the services and supervision necessary to reduce or eliminate the risk of harm to the child.
If the child is retained in foster care to pursue a plan of independent living, future permanency planning hearings must be held annually.
If the child is retained in foster care because of special needs or characteristics of the child as specified in subsection (E)(5), and the child is ten years of age or under, future permanency planning hearings must be held every six months to determine whether these special needs or characteristics still exist or whether another disposition is appropriate.
If the child is retained in foster care because of special needs or characteristics of the child specified in subsection (E)(5) and the child is more than ten years of age, future permanency planning hearings must be held annually to determine whether these special needs or characteristics still exist or whether another disposition is appropriate.
(H) All proceedings provided for in this section must be initiated by filing of a summons and complaint with a supplemental report attached. The summons, complaint, A supplemental report must be attached to a motion filed pursuant to subsection (A). The supplemental report, and notice of the hearing must be served upon all named parties at least forty ten days before the hearing."
SECTION 21. Section 20-7-766 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered subsection to read:
"( ) The pendency of an appeal concerning a child in foster care does not deprive the court of jurisdiction to hear a case pursuant to this section. The court shall retain jurisdiction to review the status of the child and may act on matters not affected by the appeal."
SECTION 22. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 20-7-768. (A) Beginning on January 1, 1999, or on the date of compliance with subsection (D), whichever is later, and on the first day of each month thereafter, each county clerk of court must make a report to Court Administration concerning each child protection case pending in family court in which a permanency planning order has not been filed. The report must include the case caption, the filing date, and, if applicable, the date of the permanency planning hearing and the permanency planning order. The clerk is not required to make a report concerning a case after a permanency planning order has been filed in the case.
(B) Court Administration must provide the Administrative Judge of the family court of each circuit with the information reported concerning cases pending in the circuit.
(C) On August fifteenth of each year, the Director of Court Administration must file with the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, with copies to the Department of Social Services and the Governor, a written report summarizing the information reported by the clerks of court pursuant to this section. The report shall contain, at a minimum, the following information summarized by county, by circuit, and by state:
(1) The number of new cases brought by the department during the preceding twelve months; and
(2) The number of cases filed more than twelve months in which a permanency planning order has not been filed.
The annual report must contain an analysis of the progress of these cases through the family court, identify impediments to complying with statutory mandates, and make recommendations for improving compliance.
(D) No later than January 1, 1999, Court Administration must institute the use of a separate code to identify child protection cases in its data systems. However, if the Chief Justice, upon recommendation of Court Administration, determines that there is a compelling reason why it is not feasible to institute the use of a separate code by January 1, 1999, compliance with this subsection may be deferred for up to twelve months, as necessary, for making adjustments in the data systems. The date of compliance and the compelling reason for any delay beyond January 1, 1999, shall be included in the report required by subsection (E).
(E) Court Administration shall conduct a study of the feasibility of collecting additional data necessary to monitor and ensure compliance with statutory time frames for conducting hearings in DSS cases, and no later than July 1, 1999, shall submit a report to the Chief Justice, with copies to the Department of Social Services and the Governor, containing recommendations for instituting the necessary data collection system."
SECTION 23. The second item of Section 20-7-1572 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 22 of 1997, is further amended to read:
"(2) The child has been removed from the parent pursuant to Section 20-7-610 or Section 20-7-736, has been out of the home for a period of six months following the adoption of a placement plan by court order or by agreement between the department and the parent, and the parent has not remedied the conditions which caused the removal;"
SECTION 24. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 20-7-1635. (A) When the Department of Social Services has custody of a child and places that child with a relative who is licensed to provide foster care, the agency must provide the same services and financial benefits as provided to other licensed foster homes. Children placed pursuant to this section are subject to the permanency planning requirements in Section 20-7-766.
(B) If the department has determined that it is in the best interest of a child requiring foster care that the child be placed with a relative, and the relative is not licensed to provide foster care, or if a relative advises the department that the relative is interested in providing placement for a child requiring foster care, the department shall inform the relative of the procedures for obtaining licensure and the benefits of licensure. The department also shall provide information and reasonable assistance to a relative seeking a foster care license to the same extent that it provides this information and assistance to other persons contacting the department about foster care licensing."
SECTION 25. Section 20-7-1640(A) of the 1976 Code as last amended by Act 164 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"(A) A person applying for licensure as a foster parent and a person eighteen years of age or older, residing in a home in which a person has applied to be licensed as a foster parent, must undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprinting review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. No person may be licensed as a foster parent until these fingerprint review have been conducted and the results submitted to the Department of Social Service. The Department of Social Services may issue a temporary license to a person after the favorable completion of the State Law Enforcement Division fingerprint review if each person subject to the fingerprinting requirements affirms in writing on a form provided by the department that he or she has not been convicted of any crime provided for in Section 20-7-1642. The temporary license shall be valid until such time as the Federal Bureau of Investigation results are received by the department, and a permanent license is issued or denied, unless the department terminates the temporary license earlier."
SECTION 26. Section 20-7-2376(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 39 of 1987, is further amended to read:
"(A) To review every six months but no less frequently than once every six months the cases of children who have resided in public foster care for a period of more than four consecutive months and to review every six months the cases of children who have resided in private foster care for a period of more than six consecutive months to determine what efforts have been made by the supervising agency or child caring facility to acquire a permanent home for the child. Following review of a case pursuant to this section, the local foster care review board shall submit a written report and recommendations to the court concerning the case. In order for the report and recommendations of the foster care review board to be easily identifiable and accessible by the judge, the report and recommendations must be visually distinct from other documents in the case file in their coloring or other prominent aspect. A child's return home for temporary placements, trial placements, visits, holidays, weekend visits, or changes from one foster care placement to another must not be construed to mean a break or lapse in determination of a consecutive four-month period for children in public foster care or six-month period for children in private foster care;"
SECTION 27. Section 59-63-31 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 163 of 1991, is amended to read:
"Section 59-63-31. (A) Children within the ages prescribed in Section 59-63-20 also are entitled to attend the public schools of a school district, without charge, if:
(1) the child resides with one of the following who is a resident of the school district:
(a) a person who is not the child's parent or legal guardian to whom the child's custody has been awarded by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(b) a foster parent or in a residential community-based care facility licensed by the Department of Social Services or operated by the Department of Social Services or the Department of Youth Services Juvenile Justice; or
(c) the child resides with an adult resident of the school district as a result of:
(i) the death, serious illness, or incarceration of a parent or legal guardian;
(ii) the relinquishment by a parent or legal guardian of the complete control of the child as evidenced by the failure to provide substantial financial support and parental guidance;
(iii) abuse or neglect by a parent or legal guardian;
(iv) the physical or mental condition of a parent or legal guardian is such that he or she cannot provide adequate care and supervision of the child; or
(v) a parent's or legal guardian's homelessness, as that term is defined by Public Law 100-77;
(2) the child is emancipated and resides in the school district; or
(3) the child is homeless or is a child of a homeless individual, as defined in Public Law 100-77, as amended.
In addition to the above requirements of this section subsection, the child shall also satisfy the requirements of Section 59-63-30(d) and (e).
(B) A child between five and twenty-one years of age is entitled to continue attending a particular public school or a successor school in the same school district without charge if:
(1) the child has been attending the school or a predecessor school in the same district prior to being taken into custody by the Department of Social Services or prior to being moved from one placement to another by the department;
(2) the Department of Social Services places the child outside the school district or school attendance zone in a foster home or residential community-based facility licensed or operated by the department; and
(3) the Department of Social Services has determined that it is in the child's best interests for the child to continue attending the school, and that transportation for the child to and from the school is reasonably available.
In addition to the requirements of this subsection, the child also shall satisfy the requirements of Section 59-63-30(d) and (e)."
SECTION 28. Section 1(C) of Joint Resolution 157 of 1997 is amended by adding at the end:
"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the evaluation provided for in this subsection is the only evaluation or performance audit of the child protective services system that is required to be conducted by the department in counties participating in the pilot project.
The department must take all reasonable steps to ensure that data collection and reporting requirements and practices of the department do not interfere with the implementation or evaluation of the pilot project, or the achievement of the objectives of the pilot project. Variations in or waivers from statewide data collection and reporting requirements shall be among the reasonable steps used by the department. Achievement of the objectives of the pilot project requires that human resources available for serving the department's client population be maximized. To this end, data collection, reporting, and paperwork requirements on local staff shall be reduced to the extent consistent with state and federal requirements and the reasonable needs of the agency for data and documentation."
SECTION 29. Section 3(A) of Joint Resolution 157 of 1997 is amended to read:
"(A) In cases determined to be appropriate for an assessment track, the department must within twenty-four hours after acceptance of the report commence an assessment to determine whether or not the child is an abused or neglected child as defined in Section 20-7-490 of the 1976 Code and, if so, to identify and facilitate the provision of services to minimize the threat of future abuse and neglect. This determination must be made within thirty days after the assessment is commenced forty-five days after acceptance of the report. If the department determines that children in the home have not been abused or neglected, the case must be closed. When closing a case, the department may refer the family to appropriate service providers or provide written information to the family concerning problems identified in the assessment. An assessment does not require an indication of abuse or neglect by the department or placement of the alleged perpetrator on the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect."
SECTION 30. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.