Bill > H3207

This bill amends Section 63-7-2570 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which outlines the grounds for terminating parental rights to a child. The key provisions of the bill are: 1) For an incarcerated parent, the court must consider the nature of the parent-child relationship before and during incarceration when determining whether the parent's failure to visit the child reflects a settled purpose to forego parental duties. If the incarcerated parent lacks the ability to visit or communicate with the child, the court cannot conclude that the failure to visit reflects a settled purpose to forego parental duties. 2) For an incarcerated parent, the court must consider the nature of the parent-child relationship and any material contributions the parent made before incarceration when determining whether the parent's failure to support the child reflects a settled purpose to forego parental duties. If the incarcerated parent lacks the ability to make material contributions to the child's care, the court cannot conclude that the failure to support reflects a settled purpose to forego parental duties.