The bill S. 121 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding adoption and child welfare, introducing several key changes aimed at expediting the adoption process and enhancing child welfare. Notable amendments include a requirement for safe havens to inform individuals about the legal implications of leaving an infant, a reduction in the timeline for permanency planning hearings from one year to nine months after a child is placed in foster care, and a mandate for the Department to complete background investigations within sixty days of filing a petition to terminate parental rights. Additionally, the bill decreases the maximum time for reunification extensions from eighteen months to fifteen months and requires that permanency planning hearings occur quarterly following a termination of parental rights hearing.

Further provisions ensure that unmarried biological fathers receive notice of termination of parental rights actions and clarify that a child's home must be deemed unsafe at the time of the termination hearing for it to be considered in the child's best interest. The bill also allows for enforceable post-adoption contact agreements between adoptive parents and birth relatives, and introduces a tax credit for residents claiming federal tax credits for qualified adoption expenses related to domestic adoptions, capped at $2,500 per child adopted. Overall, these changes aim to streamline adoption procedures while providing financial relief to adoptive parents and safeguarding the rights of all parties involved. The act will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
12/11/2024: 63-7-40, 63-7-1700, 63-7-1710, 63-7-2550, 63-7-2570, 63-9-730, 63-9-760, 63-9-765, 63-7-820, 12-6-3595
12/11/2024-A: 63-7-40, 63-7-1700, 63-7-1710, 63-7-2550, 63-7-2570, 63-9-730, 63-9-760, 63-9-765, 63-7-820, 12-6-3595
04/16/2025: 63-7-40, 63-7-1700, 63-7-1710, 63-7-2550, 63-7-2570, 63-9-730, 63-9-760, 63-9-765, 63-7-820, 12-6-3595
04/22/2025: 63-7-40, 63-7-1700, 63-7-1710, 63-7-2550, 63-7-2570, 63-9-730, 63-9-760, 63-9-765, 63-7-820, 12-6-3595
04/22/2025-A: 63-7-40, 63-7-1700, 63-7-1710, 63-7-2550, 63-7-2570, 63-9-730, 63-9-760, 63-9-765, 63-7-820, 12-6-3595
04/29/2025: 63-7-40, 63-7-1700, 63-7-1710, 63-7-2550, 63-7-2570, 63-9-730, 63-9-760, 63-9-765, 63-7-820, 12-6-3595
05/08/2025: 63-7-40, 63-7-1700, 63-7-1710, 63-7-2550, 63-7-2570, 63-9-730, 63-9-760, 63-9-765, 63-7-820, 12-6-3595
Latest Version: 63-7-40, 63-7-1700, 63-7-1710, 63-7-2550, 63-7-2570, 63-9-730, 63-9-760, 63-9-765, 63-7-820, 12-6-3595