South Carolina S 710: Prescriptions for Minors

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 710 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 710

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 
63-5-380 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELFARE OF A MINOR 
WHO HAS NOT REACHED THE AGE OF SIXTEEN YEARS MUST PROVIDE PRIOR CONSENT TO A 
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL TO PRESCRIBE MEDICATION TO 
THE MINOR, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELFARE OF A 
MINOR TO WHOM MEDICATION IS PRESCRIBED MAY NOT BE PROHIBITED FROM REVIEWING THE 
MINOR'S PRESCRIPTION RECORDS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THOSE RECORDS ARE MAINTAINED 
WITH THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN'S PRESCRIPTION RECORDS OR ARE MAINTAINED 
SEPARATELY IN THE MINOR'S NAME, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.

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

SECTION 1. Article 3, Chapter 5, Title 63 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
63-5-380. (A) For the purposes of 
this section, "person responsible for the welfare of the minor" or "person 
responsible for the welfare of a minor" means a parent, the legal guardian, or 
a person identified on the authorization to consent to treat maintained by the 
medical professional of a minor who has not reached the age of sixteen years.

 (B) A 
person responsible for the welfare of a minor who has not reached the age of 
sixteen years must provide prior consent to a medical professional for the 
medical professional to prescribe medication to the minor.

 (C) The 
person responsible for the welfare of a minor to whom medication is prescribed 
may not be prohibited from reviewing the minor's prescription records 
regardless of whether those records are maintained with the parent or legal 
guardian's prescription records or are maintained separately in the minor's 
name.

 (D) The 
provisions of this section do not apply:

 (1) 
to an emancipated minor, a married minor, or a minor who has borne a child;

 (2) 
to a minor who has not reached the age of sixteen, is homeless pursuant to 
federal or state law, and who does not have a person responsible for the 
welfare of the minor;

 (3) 
when the prescribing medical professional reports suspected child abuse or 
neglect pursuant to Section 63-7-310, the prescription is necessary to treat a 
condition arising from the suspected child abuse or neglect, and the suspected 
child abuse or neglect results from acts or omissions committed by the person 
responsible for the welfare of the minor;

 (4) 
when the prescribing medical professional refills a prior prescription for a 
minor who has not reached the age of sixteen years and the previous 
prescription complied with or was exempt from the provisions of this section; 
or

 (5) 
when they conflict with federal law.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 14, 2026 at 05:22 PM