South Carolina S 858: Foster Care

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 858 Text of Previous Version (May. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 858

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Amended

May 13, 2026

S. 858

Introduced 
by Senator Young 

S. Printed 5/13/26--H. [SEC 
5/14/2026 11:25 AM]

Read the first time March 4, 2026

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 63-11-700, RELATING TO THE DIVISION FOR REVIEW OF THE FOSTER CARE OF 
CHILDREN'S BOARD, SO AS TO CHANGE THE STANDARDS FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD AND 
THE PROCEDURE FOR TERMS OF OFFICE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S 
ADVOCACY TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN STANDARDS FOR LOCAL REVIEW BOARDS; BY AMENDING 
SECTION 63-11-710, RELATING TO LOCAL BOARDS FOR REVIEW, SO AS TO GIVE THE 
DIRECTOR AUTHORIZATION TO APPOINT OR REMOVE A MEMBER OF A LOCAL BOARD; BY AMENDING 
SECTION 63-11-740, RELATING TO MEETINGS OF LOCAL BOARDS AND STAFFING, SO AS TO 
REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO EACH LOCAL BOARD FOR MEETINGS; 
BY AMENDING SECTION 63-11-760, RELATING TO IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY, SO AS TO 
CLARIFY THAT TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT; AND BY AMENDING 
SECTION 63-11-770, RELATING TO COOPERATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES, SO 
AS TO INCLUDE ALL PUBLIC AGENCIES PROVIDING SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN FOSTER 
CARE.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-11-700 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
63-11-700. (A) There is created, 
within the Department of Children's Advocacy, the Division 
for Review of the Foster Care of Children Foster 
Care Review Division. The division must be supported by a board 
consisting of seven members, all of whom must be past or present members of 
local review boards. There must be one member from each congressional district, 
all appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

 (B) 
Terms of office for the members of the board are for four years and until their 
successors are appointed and qualify. Members may succeed 
themselves, but a member shall not serve on the board in a holdover capacity at 
the conclusion of his term for more than one hundred eighty days. 
Appointments must be made by the Governor for terms of four years to expire on June thirtieth December thirty-first 
of the appropriate year. Vacancies on the board 
must be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment for the unexpired 
term.

 (C) 
The board shall elect from its members a chairman who shall serve for two 
years. Five members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business. Members of the board shall receive per diem, mileage, and subsistence 
as provided by law for members of boards, commissions, and committees while 
engaged in the work of the board.

 (D) 
The board shall meet at least quarterly and more frequently upon the call of 
the division director to review and coordinate the activities of the local 
review boards and make recommendations to the director, the 
Governor, and the General Assembly with regard to 
foster care policies, procedures, and deficiencies of public and private 
agencies which arrange for foster care of children as determined by the review 
of cases provided for in Section 63-11-720(A)(1) and (2). These recommendations 
must be submitted to the Governor and included in an the department's annual report, filed with the General 
Assembly, of the activities of the state office and 
local review boards.

 (E) 
The Department of Children's Advocacy, upon recommendation 
of the division director, shall promulgate regulations to carry out the 
provisions of this article. These regulations shall provide for and must be 
limited to procedures for: reviewing reports and other necessary information 
at state, county, and private agencies and facilities; scheduling of reviews 
and notification of interested parties; conducting local review board and 
board of directors' meetings; disseminating local review board recommendations, 
including reporting to the appropriate family court judges the status of 
judicially approved treatment plans; participating and intervening in family 
court proceedings; and developing policies for 
summary review of children privately placed in privately owned facilities or 
group homes; and the organization and administration of 
local review boards to include board jurisdiction, membership standards, and 
other necessary policies.

 (F) 
The Department of Children's Advocacy may employ a division director and staff 
as is necessary to carry out this article, and the funds for the division 
director, staff, and other purposes of this division must be provided for in 
the annual general appropriations act.

 (G) This article may