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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
S. 531
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Shealy, Young, Grooms, Turner and Campbell
Document Path: l:\s-res\ks\031fore.sp.ks.docx
Introduced in the Senate on February 19, 2019
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
Summary: Children's advocacy centers
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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2/19/2019 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 12)
2/19/2019 Senate Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
(Senate Journal-page 12)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 63-11-310(B)(3) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS, TO PROVIDE THAT RECORDS RELEASED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSES OF INVESTIGATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ORDER OF PROTECTION ISSUED BY A MAGISTRATE OR FAMILY COURT JUDGE TO ENSURE THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF SUCH RECORDS, AND TO PROVIDE WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN SUCH AN ORDER OF PROTECTION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 63-11-310(B)(3) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(3)(a)(i) Children's Advocacy Center records must be released to the Department of Social Services for purposes of investigation, assessment of allegations of child abuse or neglect, and provision of treatment services to the children or their families. The records must be released to law enforcement agencies and circuit solicitors or their agents who are:
(a)(A) investigating or prosecuting known or suspected abuse or neglect of a child;
(b)(B) investigating or prosecuting the death of a child;
(c)(C) investigating or prosecuting any crime against a child; or
(d)(D) attempting to locate a missing child.
(ii) This provision does not preclude or override the release of information based upon a subpoena or court order, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
(b) Records released to the department pursuant to subitem (a) shall be accompanied by an order of protection issued by a magistrate or family court judge to ensure the confidentiality of the records. The order of protection may make any order as justice so requires to protect a party or person from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense and may provide one or more of the following stipulations:
(i) the records shall not be reproduced except as authorized by court order;
(ii) the records shall be viewed or disclosed only on specified terms and conditions;
(iii) the records shall be sealed and only opened by court order;
(iv) the order shall be applicable to all parties, their counsel, and any agent or representative of a party; and
(v) the records released pursuant to the order of protection shall be returned to the court upon completion of the matter that caused the production of the records.
(c) A person who fails to obey an order of protection issued under this item shall be found in contempt of court."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on
February 22, 2019 at 12:49 PM