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South CarolinaS 0858126th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 63-11-700, 63-11-710, 63-11-740, 63-11-760, AND 63-11-770, ALL RELATING TO THE DIVISION OF FOSTER CARE REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE STANDARDS FOR SERVING ON THE DIVISION'S BOARD AND THE PROCEDURE FOR TERMS OF OFFICE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN STANDARDS FOR LOCAL REVIEW BOARDS; TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR TO APPOINT OR REMOVE MEMBERS OF LOCAL BOARDS, WITH EXCEPTIONS; TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO DISSOLVE LOCAL BOARDS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE CERTAIN ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL BOARDS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Sponsored By: Tom Young, Jr. (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Foster Care

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Local foster care boards get support

Beginning May 18, 2026, the department creates local boards to review foster care cases and appoints members after county legislative delegations recommend them. The department must give each local board administrative and technical help, paid for through the state budget. Local members serve without pay but can get mileage, per diem, and subsistence for meetings. To make quorum, a current member may substitute on another local board when needed. After completing the department’s training, local members are immune from personal injury damages for good-faith actions that are not grossly negligent, reckless, willful, or wanton. Public and private agencies that provide or arrange foster care, and public agencies serving foster children, must share records when asked by the department, the state board, or a local board.

New state foster care oversight board

Beginning May 18, 2026, South Carolina sets up a Foster Care Review Division inside the Department of Children's Advocacy. A seven-member state board oversees this work. All members must be past or present local board members, with one from each congressional district. The Governor appoints members with Senate consent to four-year terms that end December 31; no holdover past 180 days. The board elects a chair for two years, five members make a quorum, and it meets at least quarterly. Members may receive per diem, mileage, and subsistence as allowed by law. The department can issue procedural rules for reviews and local board operations. It may hire a division director and staff, with funding provided in the state budget.

New removal and dissolution powers for local boards

Beginning May 18, 2026, the director may remove a local board member for cause such as malfeasance, incompetence, absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct, neglect, or incapacity. Removal requires written notice, a chance to be heard, and consent by a majority of the local legislative delegation; the state board may recommend removal. The department may dissolve a local review board it finds is no longer necessary, after notifying a majority of the local legislative delegation.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tom Young, Jr.

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 138 • No: 18

House vote • 5/13/2026

(Foster Care)Passage of Bill

Yes: 94 • No: 18

Senate vote • 2/18/2026

(Foster Care)2nd Reading

Yes: 44 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 05/18/26

    6/5/2026legislature

  2. Act No. 199

    6/2/2026legislature

  3. Signed By Governor

    5/18/2026Governor

  4. Ratified R 237

    5/15/2026legislature

  5. Concurred in House amendment and enrolled

    5/14/2026Senate

  6. Scrivener's error corrected

    5/14/2026legislature

  7. Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments

    5/14/2026House

  8. Roll call Yeas-94 Nays-18

    5/13/2026House

  9. Read second time

    5/13/2026House

  10. Amended

    5/13/2026House

  11. Requests for debate removed-Rep

    5/13/2026House

  12. Requests for debate-Rep

    5/13/2026House

  13. Debate adjourned

    5/12/2026House

  14. Debate adjourned

    5/7/2026House

  15. Scrivener's error corrected

    5/7/2026legislature

  16. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and Public Works

    5/6/2026House

  17. Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

    3/4/2026House

  18. Introduced and read first time

    3/4/2026House

  19. Read third time and sent to House

    2/26/2026Senate

  20. Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-0

    2/18/2026Senate

  21. Read second time

    2/18/2026Senate

  22. Committee Amendment Adopted

    2/18/2026Senate

  23. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Family and Veterans' Services

    2/11/2026Senate

  24. Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services

    1/28/2026Senate

  25. Introduced and read first time

    1/28/2026Senate

Bill Text

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