The bill H. 3097 proposes amendments to the South Carolina Adoption Act, specifically changing the terminology from "special needs child" to "child with challenging adoption circumstances" in various sections of the law. This change is reflected in Section 63-9-30, which defines the new term and outlines the categories of children who fall under this classification, such as those who are part of a sibling group, are older than six, or have disabilities. The bill also makes conforming changes across multiple sections, including those related to adoption procedures, fees, and tax deductions for adoptive parents.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes that the classification of a child as having challenging adoption circumstances should not delay or hinder the adoption process. It mandates that the Department of Social Services must actively seek adoptive placements for these children and prohibits the denial of adoption solely based on this classification. The bill ensures that children who were previously classified as special needs will continue to receive their enhanced adoption subsidies, maintaining support for those who qualify under the new terminology. The act will 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