A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 63-7-1990 AND 63-11-550, BOTH RELATING TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF CHILD WELFARE RECORDS AND INFORMATION, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE DISCLOSURE OF CASE RECORDS TO COUNTY AND STATE GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM STAFF AND TO THE STATE CHILD ADVOCATE; AND BY AMENDING SECTIONS 63-11-700, 63-11-1340, AND 63-11-1360, RELATING TO CERTAIN DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY, SO AS TO UPDATE REFERENCES TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THESE DIVISIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.  Section 63-7-1990(B)(1) and (23) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (1) the Department of Children's Advocacy, including the Guardian ad Litem Division, and county Guardian ad Litem Program staff, when carrying out their duties;

    (23) employees of the Division of Guardian ad Litem, for purposes of certifying that no potential employee or volunteer is the subject of an indicated report or an affirmative determination and when carrying out their duties;

SECTION 2.  Section 63-11-550(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (A) All reports and information collected pursuant to this article maintained by the South Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program, or a county guardian ad litem program operating pursuant to Section 63-11-500(B) or by a guardian ad litem, are confidential except as provided for in Section 63-7-1990(C). A person who disseminates or permits the unauthorized dissemination of the information is guilty of contempt of court and, upon conviction, may be fined or imprisoned, or both, pursuant to Section 63-3-620. The appointed guardian ad litem may share reports and information collected with the county's Guardian ad Litem Program staff, the Guardian ad Litem Division, and the State Child Advocate.

SECTION 3.  Section 63-11-700(E) and (F) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (E) The boardDepartment of Children's Advocacy, upon recommendation of the division director, shall promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this article. These regulations shall provide for and must be limited to procedures for:  reviewing reports and other necessary information at state, county, and private agencies and facilities;  scheduling of reviews and notification of interested parties;  conducting local review board and board of directors' meetings;  disseminating local review board recommendations, including reporting to the appropriate family court judges the status of judicially approved treatment plans;  participating and intervening in family court proceedings;  and developing policies for summary review of children privately placed in privately-owned facilities or group homes.

    (F) The GovernorDepartment of Children's Advocacy may employ a division director to serve at the Governor's pleasure who may be paid an annual salary to be determined by the Governor. The director may be removed pursuant to Section 1-3-240. The division director shall employ and staff as is necessary to carry out this article, and the staff must be compensated in an amount and in a manner as may be determined by the Governor funds for the division director, staff, and other purposes of this division must be provided for in the annual general appropriations act.

SECTION 4.A.  Section 63-11-1340 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    Section 63-11-1340.  The State Child Advocate may appointDepartment of Children's Advocacy may employ a Director of the Continuum of Care to serve at his pleasure. The director shall employand staff necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. The funds for the division director, staff, and other purposes of the Continuum of Care Division must be provided in the annual general appropriations act. The department, upon the recommendation of the division director, may promulgate regulations in accordance with this article and the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act and formulate necessary policies and procedures of administration and operation to carry out effectively the objectives of this article.

B. Section 63-11-1360 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    Section 63-11-1360.  The Continuum of Care Division shall submit an, through the Department of Children's Advocacy's annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on, its activities and recommendations for changes and improvements in the delivery of services by public agencies serving children.

SECTION 5.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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