South CarolinaChild welfare contractors must screen workers with fingerprint checks
Contractors and subcontractors providing child welfare services must screen workers with unsupervised contact with children in state custody through state and federal fingerprint checks.
What it does
Covered child welfare workers must undergo state and federal fingerprint checks. People convicted of, or who pleaded guilty or no contest to, specified crimes may not serve in these roles or access children in state care.
Argument forFingerprint checks could help uncover criminal history before covered workers have unsupervised contact with children in state custody.
Argument againstThe checks and crime-based bar could make it harder for contractors to find volunteers and employees for jobs with unsupervised child contact.
More detail
The law requires covered workers to undergo state and federal fingerprint checks. This covers volunteers and contractor or subcontractor employees who provide child welfare services for the Department of Social Services and have direct, unsupervised contact with a child in its custody. A person convicted of, or who pleaded guilty or no contest to, a crime listed in Section 63-13-40(A) may not work for the contractor or subcontractor, volunteer, or have access to a child in the department’s custody. The law took effect when the governor approved it on May 19, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 5Effective date 05/19/26Latest
- Jun 3Act No. 232
- May 19Signed By Governor Henry McMasterBecame Law
- May 15Ratified R 243
- May 14Concurred in House amendment and enrolledTo Governor
- May 14Read third time and returned to Senate with amendmentsPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 13Roll call Yeas-115 Nays-0
- Vote recorded Passage of Bill. Result: pass.Lower
- May 13Read second timeMinor
- May 13AmendedMajor
- May 12Debate adjourned
- May 6Committee report: Favorable with amendment JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 31Referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 31Introduced and read first timeMinor
- Mar 26Read third time and sent to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 25Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0
- Vote recorded 2nd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25Read second timeMinor
- Mar 12Committee report: Favorable Family and Veterans' ServicesMinor
- Mar 12Polled out of committee Family and Veterans' Services
- Mar 10Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' ServicesMinor
- Mar 10Introduced and read first timeIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety