Bill 872

                    Current Status
Introducing Body:               Senate
Bill Number:                    872
Ratification Number:            499
Act Number:                     429
Primary Sponsor:                Moore
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Grandparent visitation
Companion Bill Number:          4503
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19940518
Computer Document Number:       PT/22207AC.94
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19940527
Introduced Date:                19940111
Date of Last Amendment:         19940505
Last History Body:              ------
Last History Date:              19940527
Last History Type:              Act No. 429
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Moore
                                Leventis
                                Greg Smith
                                Short
                                Mescher
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

Bill   Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
----   ------  ------------  ------------------------------  ---  ------------
872    ------  19940527      Act No. 429
872    ------  19940527      Signed by Governor
872    ------  19940524      Ratified R 499
872    Senate  19940518      Concurred in House amendment,
                             enrolled for ratification
872    House   19940510      Read third time, returned to
                             Senate with amendment
872    House   19940505      Amended, read second time
872    House   19940420      Committee Report: Favorable     25
872    House   19940209      Introduced, read first time,    25
                             referred to Committee
872    Senate  19940208      Read third time, sent to House
872    Senate  19940203      Amended, read second time
872    Senate  19940202      Committee Report: Favorable     11
                             with amendment
872    Senate  19940111      Introduced, read first time,    11
                             referred to Committee
872    Senate  19931011      Prefiled, referred to           11
                             Committee

(A429, R499, S872)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-420, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE FAMILY COURT TO ORDER GRANDPARENT VISITATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH GRANDPARENT VISITATION MAY BE GRANTED AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS REVISION TO THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT GRANDPARENT VISITATION DOES NOT IN AND OF ITSELF CONSTITUTE GROUNDS FOR MODIFYING AN EXISTING ORDER.

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

Conditions under which grandparent visitation may be ordered

SECTION 1. Section 20-7-420(33) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(33) To order periods of visitation for the grandparents of a minor child where either or both parents of the minor child is or are deceased, or are divorced, or are living separate and apart in different habitats regardless of the existence of a court order or agreement, and upon a written finding that the visitation rights would be in the best interests of the child and would not interfere with the parent/child relationship. In determining whether to order visitation for the grandparents, the court shall consider the nature of the relationship between the child and his grandparents prior to the filing of the petition or complaint."

Revisions not basis for modifying existing order

SECTION 2. Application of the provisions of Section 20-7-420(33) of the 1976 Code, as amended by Section 1 of this act, to an existing order for grandparent visitation in effect on this act's effective date does not, in and of itself, constitute grounds for modification of that existing order.

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 27th day of May, 1994.