The bill H. 3097 seeks to amend various sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws related to adoption, specifically redefining the term "special needs child" to "child with challenging adoption circumstances." This change is reflected in Section 63-9-30, where the definition is updated to include children unlikely to be adopted without assistance due to factors such as age, ethnic background, or disabilities. The bill also makes conforming amendments to several other sections, including those governing adoption procedures, tax deductions for adoptive parents, and permanency planning requirements, ensuring consistency with the new terminology.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that no fees may be charged for placing a child with challenging adoption circumstances into an adoptive home and emphasizes that adoption processes should not be delayed or denied based solely on a child's classification as such. It also ensures that children who qualified as special needs prior to the bill's enactment will continue to receive enhanced adoption subsidies. The bill is set to take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 63-9-30, 63-9-60, 12-6-1140, 63-7-1700
Latest Version: 63-9-30, 63-9-60, 12-6-1140, 63-7-1700
12/06/2024: 63-9-30, 63-9-60, 12-6-1140, 63-7-1700