The Senate is likely to pass a bill expanding kinship and fictive kin care. S.191 has received second reading in the Senate, but it was carried over, delaying the final third reading for passage.

The bill expands the definition of kinship care to include fictive kin, those with an emotionally significant relationship with child or the family. It also aims to provide funds and services for fictive kin and kinship care families ahead of completion of their licensing requirements.

For a personal look into the application of this bill WSPA-TV in the Upstate interviewed grandparents of children in foster care that would be positively affected.