H 4611 — Parental Leave

2025-2026 Bill 4611 Text of Previous Version (Apr.(Dec.

02,17, 2026)2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 4611Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.

Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) Indicates  Matter  Stricken  Indicates  New  Matter    Committee  ReportA Aprilbill 2,  2026TO  AMEND H.THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 8-11-150 AND 8-11-151, BOTH RELATING TO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PAID PARENTAL LEAVE APPLIES TO STILLBIRTHS.

4611   Introduced by Reps.

T.

Moore, Collins, C.

Mitchell, B.

Newton, Pope, Clyburn, Spann-Wilder, Martin, Teeple, Schuessler, Hewitt, Willis, M.

M.

Smith, Erickson and Weeks   S.

Printed 4/2/26--H.

Read the first time January 13, 2026   ________   The committee on House Ways and Means To whom was referred a Bill (H.

4611) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Sections 8-11-150 and 8-11-151, both relating to paid parental leave, so as to provide that paid parental leave, etc., respectfully Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

  B.W.

BANNISTER for Committee.

    statement of estimated fiscal impact Explanation of Fiscal Impact State Expenditure This bill adds "stillbirth" as defined in Section 44-63-55 to the list of qualifying events under which a state employee or an employee of a school district may be eligible for parental leave.

Currently, qualifying events defined in statute include the birth of a newborn biological child to an eligible state employee or school district employee, the birth of a newborn child by a co-parent, or fostering a child in state custody.

Eligible employees who experience a stillbirth may receive either six or two weeks of leave under the current parental leave program.

This bill will have no impact on state agencies, as Admin indicates that DSHR has already interpreted the law to provide parental leave to employees who experience a stillbirth.

  Local Expenditure This bill adds "stillbirth" as defined in Section 44-63-55 to the list of qualifying events under which a school district employee may be eligible for parental leave.

SCDE surveyed all school districts in the state and received 23 responses that varied widely by district and cost assumptions used.

Most responding districts indicate that their current parental leave policy includes stillbirths as a qualifying event, or that the addition of stillbirths would result in a minimal fiscal impact.

Some districts quantified the entire cost of parental leave for their district, or the cost per teacher using parental leave, and included already budgeted salary expenses.

However, the total impact of this bill will depend on the number of additional teachers that are eligible for parental leave under the bill, the substitute teacher rate in the district, and any ancillary costs incurred as a result of the parental leave, including instances of leave payout if an employee separates from covered employment.

Overall, the expenditure impact for school districts is not expected to be significant given the limited scope of the change.

    Frank A.

Rainwater, Executive Director Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office   _______                 A bill   TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONS 8-11-150 AND 8-11-151, BOTH RELATING TO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PAID PARENTAL LEAVE APPLIES TO STILLBIRTHS.

----XX---- This web page was last updated on AprilDecember 02,17, 20262025 at 04:1112:53 PM