Responsible Birthfather Registry Should Shorten Time in Foster Care
Published Tuesday, June 09, 2009 1:45 PM
Summerville Journal Scene ®
With all the discussion in the media centered on the stimulus debate, I wanted to take a moment to bring to your attention a bill that passed the General Assembly this year that is good for our most vulnerable citizens – children in our foster care system. On June 2, 2009, Governor Sanford signed the Responsible Birthfather Registry Act into law. This new law should shorten the amount of time that foster children remain in the DSS system and consequently save the state millions in foster care support payments. In South Carolina, there are over 6,000 children in our foster care system because of alleged abuse or neglect. Sadly, many of these children have fathers whose whereabouts are unknown because that father has not taken an active parental role in that child’s life. Often DSS adoptions are delayed for months or even years because the identity of the birthfather or his geographic location is unknown. The Responsible Birthfather Registry Act will require fathers who wish to be notified of a termination of parental rights proceeding to take the affirmative step of registering with a confidential state database. This registry can then be checked by DSS during the termination of parental rights (“TPR”) proceedings before a child is adopted into a permanent and loving home. This new registry does away with the antiquated practice of placing Joe Doe notices in the local newspapers. The notices cost the state money and serve only as a legal fiction which further delays the adoption process. The Act also requires that TPR proceedings be heard within 120 days of the filing of the action. This new time requirement will cut down on the time that children are left in limbo in our foster care system. In passing this registry, South Carolina joins 33 other states in creating a centralized registry for absent fathers. I am proud to have co-sponsored H. 3311, and I spent a significant amount of time this year shepherding this bill through the House of Representatives. On the day of third reading in the House, the bill was almost held up again because of the 120-day language. Thankfully, the legislators and the advocates working on the bill were able to convince the bill’s opponents that this bill was good for foster kids and good for South Carolina. Summerville resident George Milner worked very hard to advance this legislation. George is the current Chair of the non-profit group, Children Come First. Mr. and Mrs. Milner have provided foster care in their home for over 50 children. Their commitment and passion for shortening the amount of time children are in foster care is inspiring. When I first talked to George Milner about this bill, I was surprised to learn that the bill was first introduced in 1991. Mr. Milner had served as co-chair on Governor Sanford’s 2007 Task Force on Children in Foster Care Adoption Services. The task force had recommended that the Birthfather Registry be put in place in South Carolina. I asked myself, how could it be that a bill that made sense for foster children and the taxpayers of this state had taken this long to advance? Now that I have completed my first six months of service in the General Assembly, I know why. I am disappointed that many important legislative items did not get through the General Assembly this year; however, I am delighted that South Carolina now has a Responsible Birthfather Registry. It makes me smile to think that instead of a three-year old child spending an extra six months, or one-sixth of his or her life, in DSS custody that child will be nurtured by a loving and stable adoptive family. As always, thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with the rest of the General Assembly, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 843-873-1721 or jennyhorne@schouse.org.
With all the discussion in the media centered on the stimulus debate, I wanted to take a moment to bring to your attention a bill that passed the General Assembly this year that is good for our most vulnerable citizens – children in our foster care system. On June 2, 2009, Governor Sanford signed the Responsible Birthfather Registry Act into law. This new law should shorten the amount of time that foster children remain in the DSS system and consequently save the state millions in foster care support payments. In South Carolina, there are over 6,000 children in our foster care system because of alleged abuse or neglect. Sadly, many of these children have fathers whose whereabouts are unknown because that father has not taken an active parental role in that child’s life. Often DSS adoptions are delayed for months or even years because the identity of the birthfather or his geographic location is unknown. The Responsible Birthfather Registry Act will require fathers who wish to be notified of a termination of parental rights proceeding to take the affirmative step of registering with a confidential state database. This registry can then be checked by DSS during the termination of parental rights (“TPR”) proceedings before a child is adopted into a permanent and loving home. This new registry does away with the antiquated practice of placing Joe Doe notices in the local newspapers. The notices cost the state money and serve only as a legal fiction which further delays the adoption process. The Act also requires that TPR proceedings be heard within 120 days of the filing of the action. This new time requirement will cut down on the time that children are left in limbo in our foster care system. In passing this registry, South Carolina joins 33 other states in creating a centralized registry for absent fathers. I am proud to have co-sponsored H. 3311, and I spent a significant amount of time this year shepherding this bill through the House of Representatives. On the day of third reading in the House, the bill was almost held up again because of the 120-day language. Thankfully, the legislators and the advocates working on the bill were able to convince the bill’s opponents that this bill was good for foster kids and good for South Carolina. Summerville resident George Milner worked very hard to advance this legislation. George is the current Chair of the non-profit group, Children Come First. Mr. and Mrs. Milner have provided foster care in their home for over 50 children. Their commitment and passion for shortening the amount of time children are in foster care is inspiring. When I first talked to George Milner about this bill, I was surprised to learn that the bill was first introduced in 1991. Mr. Milner had served as co-chair on Governor Sanford’s 2007 Task Force on Children in Foster Care Adoption Services. The task force had recommended that the Birthfather Registry be put in place in South Carolina. I asked myself, how could it be that a bill that made sense for foster children and the taxpayers of this state had taken this long to advance? Now that I have completed my first six months of service in the General Assembly, I know why. I am disappointed that many important legislative items did not get through the General Assembly this year; however, I am delighted that South Carolina now has a Responsible Birthfather Registry. It makes me smile to think that instead of a three-year old child spending an extra six months, or one-sixth of his or her life, in DSS custody that child will be nurtured by a loving and stable adoptive family. As always, thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with the rest of the General Assembly, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 843-873-1721 or jennyhorne@schouse.org.
Comments
Notice about comments:Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!
Poll Question
Which high school team are you cheering for this football season?
- Most Viewed
- Most Commented
- Boy stolen from popular sculpture
- Dorchester teams notch wins in Week 1
- SC elementary school closed by mold
- 2-year-old Calif. boy killed by car in SC driveway
- South Carolina teacher wins national award
- Re-enactors keep memory of black Civil War troops
- Fort wins opener with Woodland
- Farm Fresh
- Dorchester 2 sets background check policy
- New Rotary Club chartered in Summerville
- SC town moving to ban on illegal immigrants (14)
- SC town moving to ban on illegal immigrants (14)
- SC town moving to ban on illegal immigrants (14)
- SC town moving to ban on illegal immigrants (14)
- SC military veteran accused of killing 2 men (1)
- SC military veteran accused of killing 2 men (1)
- SC military veteran accused of killing 2 men (1)
- SC military veteran accused of killing 2 men (1)
- Green Party US Senate candidate to open SC office
- More high surf, rip currents as Earl passes SC
- 2nd SC sheriff's deputy fired in inmate beating
- SC lawmaker wants to expand safe haven law
- Clemson LB Maye to have arthroscopic knee surgery
- Man arrested in 2005 shooting death of SC man
- Sheheen wants 5 SC governor debates with Haley
- Thieves steal forklifts, then steal ATMs in SC
- Santee Cooper sets comment period on proposed changes to residential leases
- Santee Cooper sets comment period on proposed changes to residential leases
- Educators take part in Santee Cooper energy series
- Santee Cooper organizes 'flash mob' to celebrate major milestone in energy efficiency
- Santee Cooper approves 2010 bond sale
- Santee Cooper President and CEO Lonnie Carter assumes APPA chairmanship
- Santee Cooper hosts annual dinner
- Santee Cooper’s GOFER celebrates 20 years