South Carolina H 4611: Parental Leave

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4611 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 02, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4611

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Indicates Matter 
Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Report

April 2, 2026

H. 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.

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

SECTION 1. Section 8-11-150 (A) and (B) of the S.C. Code is 
amended to read:

 (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 position.

 (3) 
"Paid parental leave" means six weeks of paid leave at one hundred percent of 
the eligible state employee's base pay or two 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 or stillbirth to an eligible state employee or after a 
co-parent's birth of a newborn child, stillbirth, 
or fostering a child in state custody.

 (5) "Stillbirth" has the same meaning 
as defined in Section 44-63-55.

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

SECTION 2. Section 8-11-151(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (A) For the purposes of this section:

 (1) 
"Child" means a newborn biological child or foster of a child i