Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.3011 Ratification Number:384 Act Number:345 Introducing Body:House Subject:Require the Board of Directors for the Children's Bureau of the State of South Carolina to establish fees for certain services of the bureau
(A345, R384, H3011)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-7-2325, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (BOARD) FOR THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA (BUREAU) TO ESTABLISH FEES FOR CERTAIN SERVICES OF THE BUREAU, PROVIDE THAT FEES BE CHARGED ON AN INCOME-RELATED SCALE ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD, PROVIDE THAT INABILITY TO PAY A FEE DOES NOT PRECLUDE ANY SERVICE, PROHIBIT CHARGING A FEE FOR PLACEMENT OF A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS INTO AN ADOPTIVE HOME, AND PROVIDE THAT THE BUREAU SHALL RETAIN THE FEES COLLECTED FOR USE IN A CERTAIN MANNER.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Fees
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 20-7-2325. The Board of Directors (board) for the Children's Bureau of the State of South Carolina (bureau) shall establish fees for certain services that the bureau provides. The fees must be charged on a scale related to income as established by the board, but the inability to pay a fee does not preclude the providing of any service by the bureau.
A fee shall not be charged for the placement of a child with special needs into an adoptive home.
Fees collected under this section must be forwarded to the State Treasurer, who shall hold them in a separate account. These funds may be expended only as provided for by the General Assembly. Of the funds authorized to be expended, not less than seventy-five percent must be used for the sole purpose of paying for the medical and maternity home expenses incurred by clients (1) who are pregnant, (2) who have requested the services of the bureau in planning for permanence for their children, and (3) for whom other public or private funds are not available, and the remainder of the funds may be used to defray other operating expenses related to service delivery."
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.