S996 is a bill in the South Carolina Legislature (126th General Assembly): Fingerprint Background Checks Update.

What is the status of S996?

Signed into law as of June 3, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 05/19/26 (June 5, 2026).

Ed Sutton (D, 20), with 5 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for S996?

On the South Carolina Legislature website: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/996.htm

South Carolina legislation · 126th General Assembly

South Carolina S996: Fingerprint Background Checks Update

Q: What does S996 do?

In its own words: To amend the south carolina code of laws by amending section 63-13-190, relating to fingerprint-based background checks of department of social services personnel, so as to remove the provision that a person who has direct unsupervised contact with a child in the custody of the department of social services shall undergo a state fingerprint-based background check. amend title to conform b e it enacted by the general assembly of the state of south carolina: s ection 1. s ection 63-13-190(a)(2) of the s.c. code is amended to read: ( a) ( 2) a volunteer or an employee of a contractor or su.

Status: Signed into law, June 3, 2026

What the bill says

To amend the south carolina code of laws by amending section 63-13-190, relating to fingerprint-based background checks of department of social services personnel, so as to remove the provision that a person who has direct unsupervised contact with a child in the custody of the department of social services shall undergo a state fingerprint-based background check. amend title to conform b e it enacted by the general assembly of the state of south carolina: s ection 1. s ection 63-13-190(a)(2) of the s.c. code is amended to read: ( a) ( 2) a volunteer or an employee of a contractor or su.

From the amended text, May 13, 2026:

A bill TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 63-13-190, RELATING TO FINGERPRINT-BASED BACKGROUND CHECKS OF DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PERSONNEL, SO AS TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT A PERSON WHO HAS DIRECT UNSUPERVISED CONTACT WITH A CHILD IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL UNDERGO A STATE FINGERPRINT-BASED BACKGROUND CHECK. Amend Title To Conform B e it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: S ECTION 1. S ection 63-13-190(A)(2) of the S.C. Code is amended to read: ( A) ( 2) A volunteer or an employee of a contractor or subcontractor who contracts with the Department of Social Services for the delivery of protective services, family preservation services, foster care services, family reunification services, adoption services, and other related services or programs or a person child welfare services and who has direct unsupervised contact with a child in the custody of the Department of Social Services shall undergo a state fingerprint-based background check to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint-based background check to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. No person may be employed by a contractor or a subcontractor, act in a volunteer capacity, or have access …

Read the full official text

South Carolina S996: Fingerprint Background Checks Update

What the bill says

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