S 415 — Child Welfare Caregivers
Last action — Act No. 99
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 04, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Henry McMaster (Republican) on February 27, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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7 sponsors
7 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-20, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S CODE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE TERM "LICENSED"; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-9-1110, RELATING TO ADOPTION BY A STEPPARENT OR RELATIVE, SO AS TO APPLY TO CHILDREN PLACED WITH RELATIVES OR FICTIVE KIN FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2320, RELATING TO THE KINSHIP FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, SO AS TO LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE OF A KINSHIP FOSTER PARENT FROM TWENTY-ONE TO EIGHTEEN AND TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO USE DIFFERENT STANDARDS WHEN LICENSING RELATIVES AND FICTIVE KIN; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2350, RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, OR LEGAL GUARDIAN PLACEMENTS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2400, RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILDREN WHO MAY BE PLACED IN A FOSTER HOME, SO AS TO REMOVE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT LIMITATIONS FROM KINSHIP FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS. - RATIFIED TITLE
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
2 added · 23 removedPlain-language change summary
In the latest version of Bill S 415, a new term "licensed" was added to the definition section of South Carolina's children's code. This small but important change helps clarify the qualifications needed for certain child-related services and regulations. By specifying "licensed," the bill ensures that only qualified professionals are recognized in these roles, which ultimately aims to protect children's welfare.
26,04, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 415Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates Matter Stricken Indicates New Matter Committee ReportA Marchbill 26, 2025TO AMEND S.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-20, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S CODE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE TERM "LICENSED";
415 Introduced by Senators Young, Elliott, Sutton, Ott, Devine and Reichenbach S.
Printed 3/26/25--S.
Read the first time March 4, 2025 ________ The committee on Senate Family and Veterans' Services To whom was referred a Bill (S.
415) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 63-7-20, relating to children's code definitions, so as to add the term "licensed";
by amending Section, etc., respectfully Report:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
THOMAS YOUNG for Committee.
_______ A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-20, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S CODE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE TERM "LICENSED";
----XX---- This web page was last updated on March 26,04, 2025 at 08:2401:20 PM
Action History
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Act No. 99
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Effective date 02/27/26
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Signed By Governor
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Ratified R 103
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Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
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Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
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Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
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Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Amended
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Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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Introduced and read first time
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Read third time and sent to House
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Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0
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Read second time
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Scrivener's error corrected
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Committee report: Favorable Family and Veterans' Services
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Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
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Introduced and read first time
Sponsors
- Jr. Senator Tom Young · Primary
- Senator Jason Elliott · Primary
- Senator Ed Sutton · Primary
- Senator Russell L. Ott · Primary
- Senator Mike Reichenbach · Primary
- Senator Jeff Zell · Primary
- Senator Tameika Isaac Devine · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →7 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 163 not signed on
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (163)
163 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 163 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 107 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 109 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| % of votes cast | 88% | 0% | 0% | 12% |
How each member voted (124)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (45)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 415 do?
- AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-20, RELATING TO CHILDREN'S CODE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE TERM "LICENSED"; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-9-1110, RELATING TO ADOPTION BY A STEPPARENT OR RELATIVE, SO AS TO APPLY TO CHILDREN PLACED WITH RELATIVES OR FICTIVE KIN FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2320, RELATING TO THE KINSHIP FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, SO AS TO LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE OF A KINSHIP FOSTER PARENT FROM TWENTY-ONE TO EIGHTEEN AND TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO USE DIFFERENT STANDARDS WHEN LICENSING RELATIVES AND FICTIVE KIN; BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2350, RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, OR LEGAL GUARDIAN PLACEMENTS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 63-7-2400, RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILDREN WHO MAY BE PLACED IN A FOSTER HOME, SO AS TO REMOVE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT LIMITATIONS FROM KINSHIP FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS. - RATIFIED TITLE
- Who sponsors S 415?
- S 415 is sponsored by Senator Tom Young, Jr., Senator Jason Elliott, Senator Ed Sutton, Senator Russell L. Ott, Senator Mike Reichenbach, Senator Jeff Zell, and Senator Tameika Isaac Devine.
- What is the current status of S 415?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 04, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track S 415?
- Track S 415 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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