H 4623

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 4623
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 63-7-2335 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHILD-PLACING AGENCIES FROM REQUIRING FOSTER
PARENTS TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION RELATED TO FIREARMS THAT ARE PRESENT IN THE
HOME; TO CREATE CIVIL PENALTIES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Article 5, Chapter 7, Title 63 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
63-7-2335. (A) The department and a
child-placing agency that contracts with the department may not require a
foster parent to:
       (1)
disclose the specific types of firearms that are present in the home; or
       (2)
notify the child-placing agency if there is any change in the types of firearms
that are present in the home.
    (B)
If the department or a child-placing agency that contracts with the department
has or obtains information relating to the types of firearms that are present
in a foster parent's home, the department or child-placing agency may not use
that information for any purpose other than determining whether there are
firearms present in the home.
    (C) A
child-placing agency that violates subsection (B) is liable to the State for a
civil penalty in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars for each
violation. The attorney general may bring an action to recover a civil penalty
authorized under this subsection and may also seek equitable relief from the
court.
    (D)
Information relating to the types of firearms that are present in a foster
parent's home is confidential and is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom
of Information Act.
SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 12:59 PM