Policy News and Information for South Carolina's Children
Policy Post
May 8, 2018
State Budget Heads to Conference Committee
Legislature Set to Finish Session This Week
The state budget, H.4950 , was sent to a conference committee to reconcile differences in the versions passed by the House and Senate.

House conferees are Rep. Brian White (R-Anderson), Rep. Derham Cole (R-Spartanburg), and Rep. Bill Cylburn (D-Aiken).

The Senate will be represented by Sen. Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence), Sen. John Matthews (D-Orangeburg), and Sen. Sean Bennett (R-Summerville).
Clarification on Mandated Reporters
In a correction from last week's Policy Post, H.4705 does not require internal reporting to a supervisor instead of a law enforcement. It requires that any mandated reporter pass along suspected child abuse or neglect externally, to either DSS or law enforcement, in addition to any internal, employer-based reporting requirements that an individual might have. A school teacher, for example, would need to report suspected abuse to her principal as well as to the Department of Social Services and/or law enforcement. 

This legislation addresses the “Penn State scandal” reporting loophole. The House concurred in Senate amendments and passed the final version of the legislation.
Torture Definition Amended
S.1033 defines torture by specifying it as grounds for termination of parental rights and blocks family reunification efforts by DSS in instances of torture. The bill was amended by a Senate subcommittee to better align the legal definition of torture with the medical description. A Senate committee further amended the legislation, ensuring the bill does not set a prohibitively high burden of proof for prosecutors.

The bill, which originated in the Senate, was reported out favorably by the House Judiciary Committee and can now be taken up by the full House before session ends.
Safe Sleep Education Bill Passes Both Chambers
The House approved S.891 , which updates state law to add safe sleep and the causes of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) information to the video that is made available to parents of each newborn baby delivered in a hospital. The video approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control includes the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children.
New Bill Comes Out of Amendment to Child's Advocate Bill
S.805 passed both chambers in late April, establishing an Office of the Child’s Advocate. The office, as noted by a policy brief from Children's Trust , is a standalone watchdog narrowly concerned with the failures of state agencies to provide timely, safe, and effective services to children.

To ensure the OCA bill passed out of the House and avoided the time-consuming process of reconciliation with the Senate version, a proposed amendment dealing with Children’s Advocacy Centers was withdrawn at the eleventh hour. That amendment language has since been introduced as a standalone bill, H.5372 , sponsored by Rep. Laurie Funderburk (D-Kershaw), Rep. Neal Collins (R-Pickens), and Rep. Josh Putnam (R-Anderson). All three were instrumental in passage of S.805 through the House.
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.