Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Polled Out Of Committee

Majority Favorable

March 12, 2026

 

S. 996

 

Introduced by Senators Young, Sutton, Reichenbach, Devine, Zell, Elliott and Tedder

 

S. Printed 3/12/26--S.

Read the first time March 10, 2026

 

________

 

The committee on Senate Family and Veterans' Services

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 996) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 63-13-190, relating to fingerprint-based background checks of Department of Social Services personnel,, etc., respectfully

Report:

Has polled the Bill out majority favorable.

 

_______

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-13-190, RELATING TO FINGERPRINT-BASED BACKGROUND CHECKS OF DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PERSONNEL, SO AS TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT A PERSON WHO HAS DIRECT UNSUPERVISED CONTACT WITH A CHILD IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL UNDERGO A STATE FINGERPRINT-BASED BACKGROUND CHECK.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 63-13-190(A)(2) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (A)(2) A volunteer or an employee of a contractor or subcontractor who contracts for the delivery of protective services, family preservation services, foster care services, family reunification services, adoption services, and or other related services or programs or a person and who has direct unsupervised contact with a child in the custody of the Department of Social Services shall undergo a state fingerprint-based background check to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint-based background check to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history.  No person may be employed by a contractor or a subcontractor, act in a volunteer capacity, or have access to a child in the custody of the department if the person has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any crime listed in Section 63-13-40(A).

 

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

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