Bill > H5009

This bill requires South Carolina Family Courts to consider whether to issue a "no-contact order" (a court order prohibiting all communication) or a "supervised-contact order" (a court order allowing contact only under specific, approved conditions and supervision) when making decisions about terminating parental rights or finalizing adoptions. The court must evaluate if such orders are necessary to protect a child's safety, well-being, or their attachment to a new family or caregiver, and if not deemed necessary, must provide written reasons for that decision. When making this determination, the court will consider factors such as any history of violence or threats by the parent or relative, allegations of abuse or neglect, the child's age and preference, the existing relationship between the child and the parent/relative, and the impact of contact on the child's stability. These orders can be included in the final termination of parental rights or adoption decree, and violations can lead to legal enforcement. The orders generally remain in effect until the child turns eighteen, unless modified by the court, and importantly, they restrict the biological parent or relative, not the child, meaning a child cannot be penalized for initiating contact.

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https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=5009&session=126&summary=B