South Carolina S 42: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOL DAYS MISSED BY STUDENTS ATTENDING TOWNVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ANDERSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 4, FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2016, ARE EXEMPT FROM THE MAKE-UP REQUIREMENT THAT FULL SCHOOL DAYS MISSED DUE TO DISRUPTIONS BE MADE UP. - ratified title

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 42 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 11, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 42

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 ADDING SECTION 
38-71-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS MUST PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR 
LACTATION CONSULTING BY CERTIFIED LACTATION CONSULTANTS, AND TO DEFINE 
NECESSARY TERMS; BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-286 SO AS TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE 
PLANS MUST PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR DOULA SERVICES BY CERTIFIED DOULAS, AND TO 
DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-6-230 SO AS TO PROVIDE MEDICAID 
HEALTH PLANS MUST PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR CERTIFIED LACTATION CONSULTING BY 
CERTIFIED LACTATION CONSULTANTS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; BY ADDING 
SECTION 44-6-230 SO AS TO PROVIDE MEDICAID HEALTH PLANS MUST PROVIDE COVERAGE 
FOR DOULA SERVICES BY CERTIFIED DOULAS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; AND TO 
SPECIFY THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT APPLY TO EVERY MEDICAID HEALTH PLAN, 
EVERY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRACT, AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL OR 
GROUP HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL EXPENSE INSURANCE POLICY, PLAN, OR GROUP POLICY 
DELIVERED, ISSUED FOR DELIVERY, OR RENEWED IN THIS STATE ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 
2026.

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

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 71, Title 38 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
38-71-285. (A) As used in this 
section:

 (1) 
"Lactation consultant" means a person who is certified by an entity that:

 (a) 
establishes a clear scope of practice for lactation consultants;

 (b) 
upholds a code of ethics for lactation consultants; and

 (c) 
provides consumer protection by offering a clear path for filing complaints 
with the certifying body.

 (2) 
"Lactation consulting" means the application of scientific principles and a 
multidisciplinary body of evidence for evaluation, problem identification, 
treatment, education, and consultation to families regarding the course of 
lactation and feeding within an individual's scope of practice, including, but 
not limited to:

 (a) taking 
maternal, child, and feeding histories;

 (b) 
performing assessments related to breastfeeding and human lactation through the 
systematic collection of subjective and objective information;

 (c) analyzing 
data;

 (d) developing 
a lactation management and child feeding plan with demonstration and 
instruction to parents;

 (e) 
providing lactation and feeding education;

 (f) 
recommending and training on the use of assistive devices;

 (g) 
communicating to the primary healthcare practitioners and referring to other 
healthcare practitioners, as needed;

 (h) conducting 
appropriate follow-up with evaluation of outcomes; and

 (i) 
documenting the encounter in a patient record.

 (3) 
"Insurer" means an insurance company, a health maintenance organization, and 
any other entity providing health insurance coverage, as defined in Section 
38-71-670(6), which is licensed to engage in the business of insurance in this 
State and which is subject to state insurance regulation.

 (4) 
"Health maintenance organization" means an organization as defined in Section 
38-33-20(8).

 (5) 
"Health insurance plan" means a group health insurance policy or group health 
benefit plan offered by an insurer, including the State Health Plan.

 (6) 
"State Health Plan" means the employee and retiree insurance program provided 
for in Article 5, Chapter 11, Title 1.

 (B) A 
health insurance plan must provide coverage for lactation consulting provided 
by certified lactation consultants. This coverage must provide the following 
services to the mother, the child, and any other individual involved who may be 
lactating:

 (1) 
inpatient and outpatient treatment rendered by lactation consultants, including 
treatment by lactation consultants who operate independently of physician 
offices and hospitals; and

 (2) 
all visits to address conditions related to lactation and feeding.

SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 71, Title 38 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
38-71-286. (A) As used in this section:

 (1) 
"Doula" or "certified doula" means a person who is certified by an entity that:

 (a) 
establishes a clear scope of practice for doulas;

 (b) 
upholds a code of ethics for doulas; and

 (c) 
provides consumer protection by offering a clear path for filing complaints 
with the certifying body.

 (2) 
"Doula services" means the following services that may be provided by a 
certified doula and specifically excludes any service that constitutes the 
practice of medicine as defined in Section 40-47-20:

 (a) 
services to support pregnant mothers and people, improve birth outcomes, and 
support new mothers and families with culturally specific antepartum, 
intrapartum, and postpartum services,