H 3701

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 63-7-735 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO INFORM A RELATIVE WITH WHOM A CHILD MAY BE PLACED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE LICENSED AS A FOSTER PARENT, INCLUDING THE LICENSURE PROCESS AND BENEFITS OF BEING LICENSED AS A FOSTER PARENT, AND TO REQUIRE THE COURT TO MAKE CERTAIN FINDINGS BEFORE SIGNING AN ORDER APPROVING PLACEMENT OF A CHILD WITH A RELATIVE WHO IS NOT A LICENSED FOSTER PARENT; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-650, RELATING IN PART TO THE DEPARTMENT MAKING AN INTERIM PLACEMENT OF A CHILD WITH A RELATIVE INSTEAD OF TAKING CUSTODY OF A CHILD, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO EXPLAIN TO THE RELATIVE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME LICENSED AS A KINSHIP FOSTER PARENT IF THE CHILD IS UNABLE TO RETURN HOME; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-2320, RELATING TO THE KINSHIP FOSTER PROGRAM, SO AS TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO WAIVE CERTAIN NONSAFETY LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS WHEN LICENSING A RELATIVE AS A FOSTER PARENT AND TO INDICATE THE PREFERENCE FOR PLACING A CHILD WITH A RELATIVE; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-2330, RELATING TO PLACEMENT OF A CHILD WITH A RELATIVE AS PART OF A REMOVAL ACTION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO INFORM THE RELATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE LICENSED AS A FOSTER PARENT, INCLUDING THE LICENSURE PROCESS AND BENEFITS OF BEING SO LICENSED; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-2350, RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE PROCESS THE DEPARTMENT MUST FOLLOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER A PERSON HAS COMMITTED A CRIME THAT MAKES THE PERSON INELIGIBLE TO BE A FOSTER PARENT; TO AMEND SECTION 43-1-210, RELATING TO DEPARTMENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE REPORTING OF KINSHIP CARE DATA; AND TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-20, RELATING TO TERMS DEFINED IN THE CHILDREN'S CODE, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT TO INCLUDE CHILD TRAFFICKING IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. - ratified title