A joint Resolution

to CREATE A STUDY COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE STATE OF pre- and post-adoption services offered to and utilized by adoptive parents of children adopted from the public foster care system, the rate of children reentering the public foster care system after adoption and the reasons for reentry, and the rate of abuse or neglect by adoptive parents who have adopted children from foster care; to provide for the study committee's membership; and to require the study committee to make certain findings and PREPARE A REPORT FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2025, AFTER WHICH THE STUDY COMMITTEE IS DISSOLVED.

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

SECTION 1.   (A) There is created a study committee to examine the state of pre- and post-adoption services offered or made available by the Department of Social Services to and utilized by adoptive parents of children adopted from the state's public foster care system, the rate of public foster care adoption disruptions and the causes of adoption disruptions, and the rate of child abuse or neglect by adoptive parents of children adopted from the public foster care system, including data on indications and findings of child abuse or neglect collected by the Department of Social Services.

   (B) The study committee shall provide a report that:

      (1) addresses the areas of examination set forth in subsection (A), including a statistical analysis of the data with related findings; and

      (2) makes recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or policy changes to address any identified risks to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children adopted from the public foster care system in the State of South Carolina and any identified improvements needed with regard to availability and utilization of pre- and post-adoption services to support adoptive placements and prevent adoption disruptions.

   (C)(1) The study committee is composed of eight members, consisting of:

         (a) two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

         (b) two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

         (c) the Director of the Department of Social Services, or a designee;

         (d) the Child Advocate of the Department of Children's Advocacy, or a designee; and

         (e) two adoptive parents who have adopted children from the public foster care system in South Carolina, appointed by the Governor, upon recommendation of the Executive Director of the South Carolina Foster Parent Association.

      (2) A vacancy in the membership of the study committee must be filled in the manner of original appointment.

      (3) Members of the committee shall serve without per diem, mileage, or other compensation generally provided to members of boards and commissions.

   (D)(1) The Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children shall provide appropriate staffing for the study committee.

      (2) The study committee may obtain data or other information from state agencies that is relevant to the purposes of this study committee; provided, however, only aggregated data with no personally identifiable data may be obtained by the study committee. Any state agency that receives a request pursuant to this joint resolution shall respond promptly and provide the requested data or other information.

   (E) The study committee shall provide a report with findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2025. The study committee shall dissolve upon providing its report to the General Assembly or on January 1, 2025, whichever occurs first.

SECTION 2.   This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----