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S. 1344

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Mescher
Document Path: l:\s-jud\bills\mescher\jud0069a.wcm.doc

Introduced in the Senate on April 12, 2006
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Divorce

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4/12/2006  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-6
   4/12/2006  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-6
   4/12/2006  Senate  Referred to Subcommittee: Ritchie (ch), Rankin, Lourie, 
                        Scott

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/12/2006

TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 20 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-3-165, RELATING TO CONTACT BETWEEN A CHILD AND EACH PARENT, SO AS TO PROMOTE CONTACT INFORMATION AND VIRTUAL PARENT-TIME ACCESS WITH A CHILD WHEN IT IS IN THE CHILD'S BEST INTERESTS.

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

SECTION    1. Chapter 3, Title 20 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 20-3-165.    (A)    Absent a showing by a preponderance of evidence of real harm or substantiated potential harm to the child:

(1)    it is in the child's best interests to have frequent, meaningful, and continuing access to each parent;

(2)    each parent is entitled to and responsible for frequent, meaningful, and continuing access with his child consistent with the child's best interests; and

(3)    it is in the best interests of the child to have both parents actively involved in parenting the child.

(B)    Each parent must:

(1)    provide the other with his current address and telephone number, electronic mail address, and other virtual parent-time access information within twenty-four hours of any change. For purposes of this section, 'virtual parent-time' is defined as parent-time facilitated by tools such as telephone, electronic mail, instant messaging, video conferencing, and other wired or wireless technologies over the Internet or other communication media to supplement in-person visits between a noncustodial parent and a child or between a child and the custodial parent when the child is staying with the noncustodial parent. Virtual parent-time is designed to supplement, rather than replace, in-person parent-time;

(2)    permit and encourage, during reasonable hours and for reasonable duration, reasonable and communications with the child in the form of telephone, electronic mail, and virtual parent-time if the equipment is reasonably available. If the parties cannot agree on whether the equipment is reasonably available, the court shall decide whether the equipment for virtual parent-time is reasonably available, taking into consideration:

(a)    the best interests of the child;

(b)    each parent's ability to handle any additional expenses for virtual parent-time; and

(c)    any other factors the court considers material."

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

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