H*3101(Rat #0323, Act #0287 of 1996)  General Bill, By J.S. Shissias, 
J.L.M. Cromer, Gamble, Kelley, Lloyd, Phillips, Richardson, Spearman and 
C.C. Wells
 A Bill to amend Section 20-7-420, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, relating to the jurisdiction of family court, so as to provide that
 child support must be ordered when a child is past age eighteen but before age
 nineteen when the child is in high school and making progress toward
 completing high school and to provide exceptions.

   12/14/94  House  Prefiled
   12/14/94  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/10/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-37
   01/10/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-37
   04/05/95  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary HJ-5
   04/19/95  House  Amended HJ-20
   04/19/95  House  Read second time HJ-21
   04/20/95  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-13
   04/25/95  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-10
   04/25/95  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-10
   05/10/95  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-12
   02/13/96  Senate Read second time SJ-17
   03/28/96  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-23
   04/30/96         Ratified R 323
   05/06/96         Signed By Governor
   05/06/96         Effective date 05/06/96
   05/29/96         Copies available
   05/29/96         Act No. 287

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-420, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE JURISDICTION OF FAMILY COURT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CHILD SUPPORT MUST BE ORDERED WHEN A CHILD IS PAST AGE EIGHTEEN BUT BEFORE AGE NINETEEN WHEN THE CHILD IS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.

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

Conditions for extending child support past age eighteen

SECTION 1. Section 20-7-420(17) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(17) To make all orders for support run until further order of the court, except that orders for child support run until the child is eighteen years of age or until the child is married or becomes self-supporting, as determined by the court, whichever occurs first or to provide for child support past the age of eighteen years if the child is in high school and is making satisfactory progress toward completion of high school, not to exceed the nineteenth birthday unless exceptional circumstances are found to exist or unless there is a preexisting agreement or order to provide for child support past the age of eighteen years; and in the discretion of the court, to provide for child support past age eighteen where there are physical or mental disabilities of the child or other exceptional circumstances that warrant the continuation of child support beyond age eighteen for as long as the physical or mental disabilities or exceptional circumstances continue."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 6th day of May, 1996.