South Carolina H 3490: Masks

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3490 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3490

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTIONS 8-11-150 AND 8-11-155, BOTH RELATING TO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, SO AS TO 
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE IN THE EVENT OF THE BIRTH 
OR ADOPTION OF A CHILD FOR ELIGIBLE STATE EMPLOYEES.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 8-11-150 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
8-11-150. (A) For the purposes of 
this section:

 (1) 
"Child" means a newborn biological child or foster of a child in state custody 
and under the age of eighteen. No child can have more than two parents eligible 
for paid parental leave.

 (2) 
"Eligible state employee" means an employee occupying any 
percentage of a full-time equivalent positionany 
person employed full-time by this State, its departments, agencies, or 
institutions. This includes any person employed full-time by a four-year or 
postgraduate institution of higher education under the control of the State or 
a technical college supported and under the control of the State.

 (3) 
"Paid parental leave" means six twelve weeks of paid leave at one hundred percent of the 
eligible state employee's base pay or two four weeks of paid leave at one hundred percent of the 
eligible state employee's base pay. Leave for part-time eligible state 
employees must be on a prorated basis corresponding to the percentage of hours 
they are normally scheduled to work.

 (4) 
"Qualifying event" means the birth of a newborn biological child to an eligible 
state employee or after a co-parent's birth of a newborn child or fostering a 
child in state custody.

 (B) 
Eligible state employees who are employed by this State, its departments, 
agencies, or institutions and who give birth are entitled to receive six twelve weeks of paid 
parental leave. Other eligible state employees who do not give birth are 
entitled to receive two four weeks 
of paid parental leave.

 (C) 
Paid parental leave usage includes the following:

 (1) 
The entitlement to leave pursuant to subsection (B) expires at the end of the 
twelve-month period beginning on the date of such birth or initial legal 
placement. An eligible state employee shall receive no more than one occurrence 
of six twelve or two four weeks of paid 
parental leave for any twelve-month period, even if more than one qualifying 
event occurs. However, nothing in this item prohibits a foster parent from 
requesting and receiving approval for parental leave in nonconsecutive one-week 
time periods.

 (2) 
If the leave is not used by the eligible state employee before the end of the 
twelve-month period after the qualifying event, such leave does not accumulate 
for subsequent use. Paid parental leave may not be donated. Any leave 
remaining at the end of the twelve-month period or at separation of employment 
is forfeited.

 (3) 
Days of paid parental leave taken under this section must be taken 
consecutively, except that foster parents may request and receive approval for 
parental leave in nonconsecutive one-week time periods.

 (4) 
If both parents are eligible state employees, paid parental leave may be taken 
concurrently, consecutively, or a different time as the other eligible state 
employee.

 (5) 
Legal holidays listed in Section 53-5-10 must not be counted against paid 
parental leave.

 (6) 
Paid parental leave must run concurrently with leave taken pursuant to the 
Family Medical and Leave Act and any other unpaid leave to which the eligible 
state employee may be entitled as a result of the qualifying event. However, 
leave granted under this section is with pay and is not annual leave or sick 
leave and therefore does not deduct from the eligible state employee's accrued 
leave balance. An eligible state employee does not have to exhaust all other 
forms of leave before being eligible to take leave granted under this section. 
Eligible state employees shall accrue annual and sick leave at the normal rate 
while on this leave, if applicable.

 (D) 
The Division of Human Resources of the Department of Administration shall 
promulgate regulations, guidance, and procedures to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Section 8-11-155 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
8-11-155. (A) For the purposes of 
this section:

 (1) 
"Child" means a child initially legally placed for adoption and under the age 
of eighteen. No child can have more than two parents eligible for paid 
parental leave.

 (2) 
"Eligible state employee" means an employee occupying any percentage of a 
full-time equivalent position.

 (3) 
"Paid parental leave" means six twelve weeks of paid leave at one hun