reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 63-7-1950 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-1950. Updated records requested.

 In cases where a person has been placed in the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect, the outcome of any further proceedings must be entered immediately by the department into the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect. If it is determined that a report is unfounded, the department must immediately purge information identifying that person as a perpetrator from the registry and from department records as provided in Sections 63-7-1920 and 63-7-1960.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-1960 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-1960. Destruction of certain records.

 The names, addresses, birth dates, identifying characteristics, and other information unnecessary for auditing and statistical purposes of persons named in department records of indicated cases other than the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect must be destroyed seven years from the date services are terminated. This section does not prohibit the department from maintaining an "indicated case" which contains identifying information on the child who is the subject of the indicated report and those responsible for the child's welfare without identifying a person as perpetrator, and it does not prohibit the department from providing child protective services to the child who is the subject of an indicated report and those responsible for the child's welfare.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-1970 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-1970. Release of information.

 Information in the central registry and other department records may be released only as authorized in Section 63-7-1990 or as otherwise specifically authorized by statute. Information in records of the department other than the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect must not be used for screening potential employees or volunteers of any public or private entity, except as specifically provided by Section 63-7-1990 or as otherwise provided by statute. However, nothing in this section prevents the department from using other information in its records when making decisions associated with administration or delivery of the department's programs and services.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-1980 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-1980. Screening against the Central Registry.

 (A) When a statute or regulation makes determination of a person's history of child abuse or neglect a condition for employment or volunteer service in a facility or other entity regulated by the department, the person must be screened against the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect before employment or service in the volunteer role. The person must be screened each time the license, registration, or other operating approval of the facility or other entity is renewed.  (B) When a statute or regulation makes determination of an applicant's history of child abuse or neglect, a condition for issuance of a license, registration, or other operating approval by the department, the applicant must be screened against the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect before issuance of the initial license, registration, or other approval and each time the license, registration, or other operating approval is renewed.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-2000 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2000. Retention and disclosure of records of unfounded cases.

 (A) Notwithstanding other provisions of the law affecting confidentiality of child protective services records and use and disclosure of records of unfounded cases, records concerning unfounded reports must be retained and disclosed as provided in this section.  (B) The alleged perpetrator in an unfounded report who has reason to believe that the report was made maliciously or in bad faith has the right to request in writing that records of the report be retained by the department for up to two years from the date of the case decision. The written request must be received by the department within thirty days of the person's receiving notice of the case decision. A person exercising this right may request a copy of the record of the unfounded case and the department shall provide a copy of the record, subject to subsection (C).  (C) The department shall disclose to persons exercising the rights afforded them under this section whether the report was made anonymously. However, the identity of a reporter must not be made available to the person except by order of the family court.  (D) An alleged perpetrator in an unfounded case who believes the report was made maliciously or in bad faith may petition the family court to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the reporter acted maliciously or in bad faith. The court shall determine probable cause based on an in camera review of the case record and oral or written argument, or both. If the court finds probable cause, the identity of the reporter must be disclosed to the moving party.  (E) Notwithstanding other provisions of the law affecting confidentiality of child protective services records and use and disclosure of records of unfounded cases, a court conducting civil or criminal proceedings resulting from disclosures authorized by this section may order the department to release the record to any party to the case or the law enforcement.  (F) The department is authorized to release a summary of the allegations and outcome of an investigation for unfounded cases regarding a child and family to a South Carolina Children's Advocacy Medical Response System child abuse health care provider or his designee for evaluation of the child for suspected abuse or neglect.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2; 2015 Act No. 75 (S.250), Section 4, eff June 8, 2015.  Effect of Amendment  2015 Act No. 75, Section 4, added (F).
SC Code § 63-7-2010 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2010. Annual reports.

 The Department of Social Services must furnish annually to the Governor and the General Assembly a report on the incidence and prevalence of child abuse and neglect in South Carolina, the effectiveness of services provided throughout the State to protect children from this harm, and any other data considered instructive.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-2330 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2330. Placement with relatives.

 (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 63-7-1700.  (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, and the relative is not licensed to provide foster care, the department shall inform the relative of the procedures for obtaining licensure and the benefits of licensure, including eligibility for financial assistance and supportive services, and the risk that the relative may be ineligible for that assistance and services if the relative is not licensed as a foster parent. 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.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2; 2018 Act No. 146 (H.3701), Section 4, eff April 4, 2018.  Effect of Amendment  2018 Act No. 146, Section 4, in (B), in the first sentence, inserted "and the relative is not licensed to provide foster care," preceding "the department shall inform the relative" and added ", including eligibility for financial assistance and supportive services, and the risk that the relative may be ineligible for that assistance and services if the relative is not licensed as a foster parent" at the end.
SC Code § 63-7-2340 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2340. Fingerprint review.

 (A) A person applying for licensure as a foster parent or for approval for adoption placement 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 or an approved adoption placement, 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.  (B) Any fee charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the fingerprint review must be paid by the individual.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2; 2012 Act No. 238, Section 1, eff June 18, 2012.  Effect of Amendment  The 2012 amendment inserted "or for approval for adoption placement" and "or an approved adoption placement" in subsection (A).
SC Code § 63-7-2345 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2345. Payment of costs of Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint reviews.

 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-7-2350, the department is authorized to pay from funds appropriated for foster care the costs of Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint reviews for foster care families recruited and selected as potential adoption and foster care providers for children in the custody of the department.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 24.D.1; 2012 Act No. 238, Section 2, eff June 18, 2012.  Effect of Amendment  The 2012 amendment substituted "recruited and selected as potential adoption and foster care providers for children in the custody of" for "recruited, selected, and licensed by".
SC Code § 63-7-2360 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2360. Placement of minor sex offenders.

 (A) No agency may place a minor in a foster home if the agency has actual knowledge that the minor has been adjudicated delinquent for, or has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or has been convicted of a sex offense, unless the placement is in a therapeutic foster home or unless the minor is the only child in the foster home at the time of placement and for the length of that minor's placement in the foster home. Notwithstanding this provision, the placing agency may petition the court for an order allowing the minor to be placed in a foster home, other than a therapeutic home, if good cause is shown. Good cause shall include, but not be limited to, the fact that the minor is being placed in a home with his siblings.  (B) The placing agency must inform the foster parent in whose home the minor is placed of that minor's prior history of a sex offense. For purposes of this section the term "sex offense" means:  (1) criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, as provided in Section 16-3-652;  (2) criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, as provided in Section 16-3-653;  (3) criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, as provided in Section 16-3-654;  (4) criminal sexual conduct with minors in the first degree, as provided in Section 16-3-655(A);  (5) criminal sexual conduct with minors in the second degree, as provided in Section 16-3-655(B);  (6) criminal sexual conduct with minors in the third degree, as provided in Section 16-3-655(C);  (7) engaging a child for a sexual performance, as provided in Section 16-3-810;  (8) producing, directing, or promoting sexual performance by a child, as provided in Section 16-3-820;  (9) assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, as provided in Section 16-3-656;  (10) incest, as provided in Section 16-15-20;  (11) buggery, as provided in Section 16-15-120;  (12) violations of Article 3, Chapter 15 of Title 16 involving a child when the violations are felonies;  (13) accessory before the fact to commit an offense enumerated in this item and as provided for in Section 16-1-40;  (14) attempt to commit any of the offenses enumerated herein; or  (15) any offense for which the judge makes a specific finding on the record that based on the circumstances of the case, the minor's offense should be considered a sex offense.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2; 2012 Act No. 255, Section 13, eff June 18, 2012.  Effect of Amendment  The 2012 amendment rewrote subsection (B) to remove references to committing or attempting lewd act upon a child under 16, and add references to criminal sexual conduct with minors in the third degree; and made other nonsubstantive changes.
SC Code § 63-7-2370 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2370. Disclosure of information to foster parents.

 Prior to and at the time the department places a child with a foster parent, the department shall disclose to the foster parent all information known by the person making the placement or reasonably accessible to the person making the placement that is necessary to provide adequate care and supervision for the child and to protect the health and safety of the child and the foster family. The information that must be disclosed pursuant to this section 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 strengths and challenges, and matters related to the child's educational needs. If the department does not have this information at the time of making the placement, a member of the child's casework team or the child's caseworker shall contact the foster parent and provide the information known to the casework team or reasonably accessible 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 is likely to affect either the ability of the foster parent to provide adequate care and supervision for the child or is likely to place the health and safety of the child or the foster family at risk, the department shall disclose that information to the foster parent. The obligation to provide this information continues until the placement ends.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2; 2018 Act No. 165 (H.3699), Section 5, eff May 3, 2018.  Effect of Amendment  2018 Act No. 165, Section 5, rewrote the section.
SC Code § 63-7-2380 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2380. Foster parent training.

 The Department of Social Services shall establish standards for foster parent training so as to ensure uniform preparedness for foster parents who care for abused or neglected children in the custody of the State. These standards shall specifically prohibit the viewing of standard television programs or reading of articles from popular magazines or daily newspapers as complying with the completion of pre-service or annual foster parent training requirements.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-2390 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2390. Loss for uninsured damages.

 A state agency which places a child in a foster home may compensate a foster family, who has made its private residence available as a foster home, for the uninsured loss it incurs when its personal or real property is damaged, destroyed, or stolen by a child placed in its home, if the loss is found by the director of the placing state agency, or his designee, to have occurred, to have been caused solely or primarily by the acts of the child placed with the foster family, and if the acts of the foster family have not in any way caused or contributed to the loss. Compensation may not be in excess of the actual cost of repair or replacement of the damaged or destroyed property but in no case may compensation exceed five hundred dollars for each occurrence.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-2400 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2400. Number of foster children who may be placed in a foster home.

 (A) A foster home may not provide full-time care for more than five foster children, with the total number of children residing in the household not to exceed eight, including the foster parent's own children, children of other household members, and other children residing in the household, except:  (1) to keep a sibling group together;  (2) to keep a child in the child's home community;  (3) to return a child to a home in which the child was previously placed;  (4) to comply with an order of the court; or  (5) if it is in the best interest of the children as determined by the court.  (B) No more than two of the five foster children referenced in subsection (A) may be classified as therapeutic foster care placements unless one of the exceptions in subsection (A) applies. If one of the exceptions applies, no more than three of the five foster children may be classified as therapeutic foster care placements.  HISTORY: 2016 Act No. 187 (H.4510), Section 1, eff May 25, 2016.  Editor's Note  2016 Act No. 187, Section 2, provides as follows:  "SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Section 63-7-2400(B) does not apply to foster children placed before the effective date of this act."
SC Code § 63-7-2510 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2510. Purpose.

 The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for the reasonable and compassionate termination of parental rights where children are abused, neglected, or abandoned in order to protect the health and welfare of these children and make them eligible for adoption by persons who will provide a suitable home environment and the love and care necessary for a happy, healthful, and productive life.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-2520 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2520. Jurisdiction.

 The family court has exclusive jurisdiction over all proceedings held pursuant to this article. For purposes of this article jurisdiction may continue until the child becomes eighteen years of age, unless emancipated earlier.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-2530 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2530. Filing procedures.

 (A) A petition seeking termination of parental rights may be filed by the Department of Social Services or any interested party.  (B) The department may file an action for termination of parental rights without first seeking the court's approval of a change in the permanency plan pursuant to Section 63-7-1680 and without first seeking an amendment of the placement plan pursuant to Section 63-7-1700.  (C) The hearing on the petition to terminate parental rights must be held within one hundred twenty days of the date the termination of parental rights petition is filed. A party may request a continuance that would result in the hearing being held more than one hundred twenty days after the petition was filed, and the court may grant a continuance in its discretion. If a continuance is granted, the court must issue a written order scheduling the case for trial on a date and time certain.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2; 2009 Act No. 41, Section 3, eff July 1, 2009.  Effect of Amendment  The 2009 amendment added subsection (C) relating to the time for hearing a petition to terminate parental rights.
SC Code § 63-7-2540 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2540. Content of petition.

 A petition for the termination of parental rights must set forth the:  (1) basis of the court's jurisdiction;  (2) name, sex, date, and place of birth of the child, if known;  (3) name and address of the petitioner and the petitioner's relationship to the child;  (4) names, dates of birth, and addresses of the parents, if known;  (5) names and addresses of a:  (a) legal guardian of the child; or  (b) person or agency having legal custody of the child; and  (6) grounds on which termination of parental rights are sought and the underlying factual circumstances.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
SC Code § 63-7-2550 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code|Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency|Section 63-7-2550. Service of petition.

 (A) A summons and petition for termination of parental rights must be filed with the court and served on:  (1) the child, if the child is fourteen years of age or older;  (2) the child's guardian ad litem, appointed pursuant to Section 63-7-2560(B), if the child is under fourteen years of age;  (3) the parents of the child; and  (4) an agency with placement or custody of the child.  (B) The right of an unmarried biological father, as defined in Section 63-9-820, to receive notice of a termination of parental rights action must be governed by the notice provisions of Section 63-9-730(B)(1), (3), (4), (5), and (6), and Subarticle 8, Chapter 9.  HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2; 2009 Act No. 41, Section 4, eff July 1, 2009.  Editor's Note  2009 Act No. 41 Section 6 provides as follows:  "This act takes effect July 1, 2009, except that those provisions of Section 1 of this act pertaining to the establishment of the Responsible Father Registry and the receipt of claims of paternity by the registry take effect January 1, 2010, and those provisions of Section 1 of this act and Section 63-9-730 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Section 2 of this act, affecting an unmarried biological father's right to receive notice in a termination of parental rights or an adoption action by filing a claim of paternity and Section 63-7-2550(B) of the 1976 Code, as added by Section 4 of this act, apply to termination of parental rights actions and adoption actions filed on or after July 1, 2010."  Effect of Amendment  The 2009 amendment designated subsection (A) and in subparagraph (1), added ", if the child is fourteen years of age or older", added subparagraph (2) relating to notice to the guardian ad litem of a child under fourteen, and redesignated subparagraphs (2) and (3) as subparagraphs (3) and (4); and added subsection (B) relating to notice to unmarried biological fathers.