House Amendment 1
H 3557 - Session 125 (2023-2024)
Abandonment of a Child

The Committee on Judiciary proposes the following amendment (LC-3557.VR0003H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

SECTION 1. Section 63-7-20(1) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(1) "Abandonment of a child" means a parent or guardian wilfully deserts a child or wilfully surrenders physical possession of a child without making adequate arrangements for the child's needs or the continuing care of the child or conduct of a parent or guardian, while being able, of making no significant contribution to the child's care and maintenance or failing to establish or maintain a substantial and positive relationship with the child, which conduct is sufficient to evince an intent to reject parental responsibilities. If, in the opinion of the court, the efforts of such parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the child's welfare are only marginal or incidental efforts that do not evince a settled purpose to assume all parental duties, the court may declare the child to be abandoned.

SECTION 2. Section 63-7-320(A) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

(4) a parent of an infant who voluntarily left the infant with a safe haven pursuant to Section 63-7-40 or a parent of a child who engaged in conduct that constitutes abandonment of a child as that term is defined in Section 63-7-20.

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