Kinship Guardianship

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-20, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S CODE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO DEFINE "LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP" AND "LEGAL GUARDIAN"; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-1700, RELATING TO PERMANENCY PLANNING, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PROCEDURES TO ESTABLISH LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP WITH SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS WHEN ADOPTION IS NOT AN OPTION AND BY MAKING CONFORMING CHANGES; BY ADDING SECTION 63-7-1705 SO AS TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR INITIATING THE JUDICIAL ESTABLISHMENT OF LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP WITH SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS; BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 7, TITLE 63 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER A PROGRAM OF SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS FOR LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP, TO DEFINE TERMS, TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM BENEFITS, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-1-20, RELATING TO THE STATE'S CHILDREN'S POLICY, SO AS TO INCLUDE LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP WHEN ADOPTION IS NOT APPROPRIATE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2350, RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON FOSTER CARE OR ADOPTION PLACEMENTS, SO AS TO APPLY ALSO TO PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A LEGAL GUARDIAN'S HOME. - RATIFIED TITLE