Policy News and Information for South Carolina's Children
Policy Post
Month 2017
Significant Victories for Children at South Carolina Statehouse
South Carolina Becomes 27th State to Offer a State-Level Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
A nonrefundable EITC worth 125 percent of the federal credit was added to the infrastructure funding package (H. 3516) to mitigate the burden of the proposed gas tax on lower-income workers. Governor Henry McMaster vetoed the legislation for reasons unrelated to the EITC, and the General Assembly overrode his veto. The bill goes into effect July 1.

Advocates of the S.C. Early Childhood Common Agenda (ECCA), organized through Children’s Trust, champion tax credits to assist working families and are hailing the credit as a victory for children.  

ECCA partners hope that the benefit will eventually be made refundable to provide tax relief to South Carolina’s lowest earning families, who pay little to no income tax and who pay a large percentage of their income in sales and payroll taxes.
Child Passenger Safety Bill Signed Into Law
Young girl in a child car seat.
Child Passenger Restraint bill (H. 3864), received final approval by the House and Senate on May 10 and was signed into law by Governor McMaster on May 19. 

The bill updates South Carolina’s child passenger safety requirements to more closely reflect the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Updates include:
  • Children through age two sit in a rear-facing car seat, and 
  • Children ages 4-8 years old use a booster seat.

South Carolina now becomes the fifth state in the country to have signed similar safety measures into law.

WSPA in Spartanburg and WIS in Columbia have covered these important updates for child passenger safety.  
New Law Makes It Easier for Foster Teens to Get Driver's License
Governor McMaster signed a bill (S. 198) to allow for children living in foster care to get driver’s permits and licenses with the signature of their foster parent.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington) and inspired by a Midlands teen who rode her bike to and from work each day because she was not able to get a license.
First Steps Long-Term Reauthorization on Hold
Sen. Shane Martin (R-Spartanburg) placed the First Steps to School Readiness Comprehensive Long-Range Initiative (H. 3591) on the Senate’s contested calendar until the search for a new permanent director is complete.

In the meantime, First Steps’ reauthorization for FY18 has been secured via proviso.
Conference Committees Finalizing Additional Legislation
Two other pieces of child-protection legislation remain active and are in their respective conference committee:
  • Mandated Reporting of Infants Affected by Substance Abuse (H. 3823) requires health professionals to report to the Department of Social Services (DSS) when an infant is exposed to alcohol or controlled substances. It also allows practitioners to provide information to help DSS develop a plan of care.
  • Safe Havens for Abandoned Infants (S. 448) authorizes the release of information about child fatalities or near fatalities from unfounded child abuse and neglect reports. It also extends the age at which a child can be surrendered to a professional at a "safe haven" without prosecution from 60 days to one year old.  
AAP Releases Study on Poverty and Rates of Child Abuse Fatalities
A recent study released by the American Academy of Pediatrics has found that higher poverty concentrations is associated with increased rates of child abuse fatalities.

"Although the data on both child abuse fatalities and poverty are devastating to read about, when the two are put together, the results become even more tragic. For example, counties with the highest rates of poverty in terms of population density had three times the rate of child abuse fatalities," said Dr Lewis First, MD, MA, Editor in Chief, in a blog post for Pediatrics.  

"This information is extremely disheartening. We view this study as a call to arms for us to work to develop strategies to overcome the effect of poverty through strategies that can provide the protective resiliencies needed in these low income communities," he continued.

A commentary on the study was also published.
Developmental Trauma Disorder: The Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect
Mental health experts in trauma continue to investigate and apply a condition known as developmental trauma disorder (DTD), which is characterized by permanent changes in the neurobiologic systems of children and adolescents who have been chronically exposed to various types of maltreatment during sensitive periods of childhood development.

It is believed that a specific criterion is urgently needed to improve recognition of the unique profile DTD victims and to avoid misdiagnosis or confusion with other psychological syndromes, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Child Welfare Across the Country
The Valdosta Daily Times reports on a new law in Georgia that eases the way for kinship caregivers. The measure allows caregivers to make basic decisions, such as signing up for a field trip or a sports team. While empowering caregivers, the form does not require the parents' signature, and it does not diminish parental rights or grant the caregiver legal custody.

The purpose of the law is to keep a child from further trauma. 

Policy Post is published by Children's Trust of South Carolina.
Children's Trust of South Carolina is the only statewide organization focused on the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injury. The organization trains and educates professionals who work directly with families and also funds, supports and monitors proven prevention programs. Children's Trust is the voice for South Carolina's children and advocates for strong, well-founded policies that positively impact child well-being. Children's Trust is home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, KIDS COUNT South Carolina and Safe Kids South Carolina.