S 323

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 323
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 SO AS TO ENACT
THE "UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT"; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-610, RELATING TO
DEFINITIONS RELATED TO ABORTIONS, SO AS TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR ABORTIFACIENT,
TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR CONTRACEPTION, TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF
CONTRACEPTIVE, TO DELETE THE DEFINITIONS OF FATAL FETAL ANOMALY AND FETAL
HEARTBEAT, TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR FERTILIZATION, TO DELETE THE DEFINITION OF
GESTATIONAL SAC, TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR HUMAN EMBRYO, TO AMEND THE DEFINITION
OF PREGNANT, TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR PREGNANT MINOR, AND TO DELETE THE
DEFINITION OF RAPE; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-620, RELATING TO VOLUNTARY AND
INFORMED WRITTEN CONSENT REQUIRED FOR AN ABORTION, SO AS TO MAKE A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-630, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN
OBSTETRIC ULTRASOUND PRIOR TO AN ABORTION, SO AS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT
AN ABORTION CANNOT BE PERFORMED IF A FETAL HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED; BY AMENDING
SECTION 44-41-640, RELATING TO THE EXCEPTION TO THE PROHIBITION ON ABORTIONS
WHEN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY EXISTS, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND TO
PROVIDE FOR PROCEDURES RELATED TO NON-EMERGENCY PREMATURE DELIVERIES AFTER
NINETEEN WEEKS OF PREGNANCY; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-650, RELATING TO
EXCEPTIONS TO PROHIBITION ON ABORTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST, SO AS TO DELETE THE
RAPE AND INCEST EXCEPTIONS AND AMEND THE STATUTE TO PROVIDE FOR DOCUMENTATION
REQUIRED OF DOCTORS WHO PERFORM A LEGAL MEDICAL PROCEDURE OR TREATMENT THAT
RESULTS IN THE ACCIDENTAL OR UNINTENTIONAL DEATH OF AN UNBORN CHILD, TO PROVIDE
FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF THAT INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, TO
PROVIDE PENALTIES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REPORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-660, RELATING TO THE EXCEPTION FROM ABORTION
PROHIBITION FOR FATAL FETAL ANOMALY, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXCEPTION FOR FATAL
FETAL ANOMALY, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SOLICITORS HAVE THE
CONCURRENT AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT, TO PROVIDE FOR
A PRIVATE RIGHT OF CIVIL ACTION, TO PROVIDE FOR RELIEF AVAILABLE IN A CIVIL
ACTION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR LIMITATIONS ON WHO MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION; BY
AMENDING SECTION 44-41-670, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION
OF A PREGNANT  WOMAN WHO GETS AN ABORTION, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROHIBITION ON
PROSECUTION, AND TO AMEND THE STATUTE TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSE SUSPENSION AND
REVOCATION FOR DOCTORS WHO VIOLATE THE PROHIBITION ON ABORTIONS; BY AMENDING
SECTION 44-41-680, RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS ARISING FROM ILLEGAL ABORTIONS, SO
AS TO DELETE THE CIVIL ACTION PROVISIONS, AND TO ESTABLISH A RICO STATUTE
RELATED TO PROHIBITED ABORTION ACTIVITIES, AND TO DEFINE RELEVANT TERMS; BY
AMENDING SECTION 44-41-690, RELATING TO A PHYSICIAN'S UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
AND  REVOCATION OF PHYSICIAN'S LICENSE, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS RELATED
TO A PHYSICIAN'S UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND LICENSE REVOCATION, TO AMEND THE
SECTION TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ARTICLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO IMPOSE LIABILITY
OR CONDUCT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
OR BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION; BY AMENDING RESERVED SECTIONS 44-41-700
AND 44-41-710, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ARTICLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO
IMPOSE LIABILITY OR CONDUCT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION OR BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION AND TO PROVIDE THAT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HAVE AN UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF THEIR RESPECTIVE BODIES
IN A STATE COURT ACTION, AND BY AMENDING RESERVED SECTIONS 44-41-720,
44-41-730, AND 44-41-740, SO AS TO REPEAL THESE SECTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION
15-51-15 SO AS TO CREATE A WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION ON BEHALF OF AN ABORTED UNBORN
CHILD, AND TO PLACE LIMITATIONS ON WHO MAY BRING THE ACTION; BY ADDING SECTION
59-32-30 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION ON HUMAN GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT TAUGHT IN THE STATE'S SCHOOLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-37,
RELATING TO THE DISCLOSURE OF CONSENT REQUIREMENTS WHEN COUNSELING OR
DISCUSSING ABORTION WITH MINOR, SO AS TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF A PHYSICIAN OR
COUNSELOR TO DISCUSS THE COURT BYPASS FOR ABORTION APPROVALS DUE TO THE REPEAL
OF THE COURT BYPASS STATUTES; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-90, RELATING TO STATE
FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE REFERENCES TO THE COURT BYPASS FOR
MINORS TO OBTAIN AN ABORTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-41-60, RELATING TO
ABORTIONS THAT MUST BE REPORTED, SO AS TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR PHYSICIANS WHO
FAIL TO PROPERLY REPORT ABORTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR A REPORT FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH; AND TO PROVIDE THAT SECTIONS 44-41-32, 44-41-33,
AND 44-41-34, RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL BYPASS FOR MINORS OBTAINING AN ABORTION,
ARE REPEALED.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "Unborn Child Protection Act".
SECTION 2.  The
provisions contained in this act supersede the provisions contained in Articles
1, 3, and 5 of Chapter 41, Title 44.
SECTION 3.  Article 6, Chapter 41, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is
amended to read:
Article 6
Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from AbortionUnborn Child Protection Act
    Section
44-41-610. As used in this article:
    (1) "Abortifacient" means
mifepristone, misoprostol, or any other chemical or drug dispensed with the
intent of causing an abortion.
    (1)(2) "Abortion" means the act of using or prescribing any
instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance, device, or means with the
intent to terminate the clinically diagnosable pregnancy of a woman with
knowledge that the termination by those means will, with reasonable likelihood,
cause the death of the unborn child.  Such use, prescription, or means is not
an abortion if done with the intent to save the life or preserve the health of
the unborn child, or to remove a dead unborn child.
    (2)(3) "Clinically diagnosable pregnancy" means the point in
time when it is possible to determine that a woman is pregnant due to the
detectible presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
    (3)(4) "Conception" means fertilization of an ovum by sperm.
    (5) "Contraception" means the
prevention of fertilization of an ovum by a sperm.
    (4)(6) "Contraceptive" means a drug, device, or chemical that
prevents ovulation, conception,
or the implantation of a fertilized ovum in a woman's uterine wall after
conception.
    (5) "Fatal fetal anomaly"
means that, in reasonable medical judgment, the unborn child has a profound and
irremediable congenital or chromosomal anomaly that, with or without the
provision of life-preserving treatment, would be incompatible with sustaining
life after birth.
    (6) "Fetal heartbeat" means
cardiac activity, or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the
fetal heart, within the gestational sac.
    (7) "Fertilization" means the time
when a male human sperm penetrates the zona pellucida.
    (7)(8) "Gestational age" means the age of an unborn child as
calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period of a pregnant woman.
    (8) "Gestational sac" means
the structure that comprises the extraembryonic membranes that envelop the
unborn child and that is typically visible by ultrasound after the fourth week
of pregnancy.
    (9) "Human embryo" means a human being
that begins as a fertilized egg or zygote.
    (9)(10) "Medical emergency" means in reasonable medical
judgment, a condition exists that has complicated the pregnant woman's medical
condition and necessitates an abortion to prevent death or serious risk of a
substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function,
not including psychological or emotional conditions.  A condition must not be
considered a medical emergency if based on a claim or diagnosis that a woman
will engage in conduct that she intends to result in her death or in a
substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.
    (10)(11) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice
medicine in this State.
    (11)(12) "Pregnant" or "pregnancy" means
the human biological female reproductive condition
of having a living unborn child within her body, whether
or not she has reached the age of majority
throughout the entire embryonic and fetal stages of the unborn child from
fertilization to full gestation and child birth.
    (13) "Pregnant minor" means a
pregnant female who has not yet attained the age of eighteen years.
    (12) "Rape" has the same
meaning as criminal sexual conduct, regardless of the degree.
    (13)(14) "Reasonable medical judgment" means a medical
judgment that would be made by a reasonably prudent physician who is
knowledgeable about the case and the treatment possibilities with respect to
the medical conditions involved.
    (14)(15) "Unborn child" means an individual organism of the species homo sapiens human being from conception until live birth.
Section 44-41-615 of
the S.C. Code is amended to read:
    Section 44-41-615 (A) Except as provided in Section
44-41-640, no person shall knowingly:
       (1) administer to, prescribe for,
deliver to, or sell to any pregnant woman any medicine, drug, or other
substance with the specific intent to cause an abortion; or
       (2) use or employ any instrument,
device, means, or procedure upon a pregnant woman with the specific intent of
causing an abortion.
    (B)(1)(a) It is unlawful to knowingly and
intentionally manufacture an abortifacient.
  (b) It is unlawful to knowingly
possess for sale or distribution, distribute, offer for sale, sell, or
advertise the sale or distribution of an abortifacient when the person in
possession, distributing, offering for sale, selling, or advertising the sale of
the abortifacient knows, or has reason to know, that the person to which he is
selling, distributing, or advertising the sale of the abortifacient intends to
use the abortifacient to induce an abortion.
       (2) The provisions in this subsection
do not apply to a pharmacist or a manufacturer or distributor of drugs or
medical supplies who manufactures, possesses, offers, sells, or distributes any
drug, medicine, instrument, or thing intended for any lawful medical purpose in
his normal course of business.
    (C)(1) It is unlawful to knowingly or
intentionally aid, abet, or conspire with another person to violate the
provisions contained in this section.
       (2) The prohibition against aiding and
abetting a violation of this section includes, but is not limited to, knowingly
and intentionally:
  (a) providing information to a
pregnant woman, or someone seeking information on behalf of a pregnant woman,
by telephone, internet, or any other mode of communication regarding
self-administered abortions or the means to obtain an abortion, knowing that the
information will be used, or is reasonably likely to be used, for an abortion;
  (b) hosting or maintaining an internet
website, providing access to an internet website, or providing an internet
service purposefully directed to a pregnant woman who is a resident of this
State that provides information on how to obtain an abortion, knowing that the
information will be used, or is reasonably likely to be used for an abortion;
  (c) offering or providing abortion
doula services, knowing that the services will be used, or are reasonably
likely to be used for an abortion;
  (d) providing a referral to an
abortion provider, knowing that the referral will result, or is reasonably
likely to result, in an abortion; and
  (e) providing a referral to an
abortion provider and receiving monetary remuneration, or other compensation,
from an abortion provider for the referral.
    (D) It is unlawful to knowingly or
intentionally:
       (1) use force, or the threat of force,
to injure or intimidate a pregnant woman for the purpose of coercing an
abortion; or
       (2) recruit, harbor, or transport a
pregnant minor who resides in this State to another state to procure an
abortion or to obtain an abortifacient.
    (E) Medical treatment provided to a
pregnant woman by a physician that results in the accidental death of or
unintentional injury to the unborn child does not constitute a violation of
this section.
    (F)(1) For a pregnant woman on whom an
abortion is performed, it is a defense to prosecution under this article that
the woman engaged in the proscribed conduct because she was compelled to do so
by the threat of imminent death or great bodily injury.
       (2) A person may be compelled to
testify in any action or prosecution where the victim is an unborn child;
provided, however, that such testimony shall not be admissible in any civil or
criminal action against such witness and such witness shall forever be exempt
from any prosecution for the act concerning which the witness testifies except
a prosecution for perjury.
       (3) In a prosecution for a violation
of this section:
  (a) enforcement is subject to the same
presumptions, defenses, justifications, laws of parties, immunities, and
clemencies as would apply to the homicide of a person who had been born alive;
  (b) solicitors and the Attorney
General shall have concurrent authority to prosecute violations of this section
and to perform any duty that necessarily relates to such prosecution; and
  (c) in the event of a conflict with
any other provision of law, the provisions contained in this section shall
prevail.
    (G) A person who violates this section
is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more
than thirty years if the unborn child dies as a result of the violation or for
not more than twenty-five years if the unborn child is born alive despite the
violation.
    Section
44-41-620. An abortion may not be performed or induced without the voluntary
and informed written consent of the pregnant woman or, in the case of
incapacity to consent, the voluntary and informed written consent of her
court-appointed guardian, and without compliance with the provisions of Section
44-41-330(A).
    Section
44-41-630. (A) An abortion provider who is to
perform or induce an abortion, a certified technician, or another agent of the
abortion provider who is competent in ultrasonography shall:
        (1) perform an obstetric ultrasound on
the pregnant woman, using whichever method the physician and pregnant woman
agree is best under the circumstances;
        (2) during the performance of the
ultrasound, display the ultrasound images so that the pregnant woman may view
the images;  and
        (3) record a written medical
description of the ultrasound images of the unborn child's fetal heartbeat, if
present and viewable.
    (B) Except as provided in
Section 44-41-640, Section 44-41-650, and Section 44-41-660, no person shall
perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman with the specific intent of
causing or abetting an abortion if the unborn child's fetal heartbeat has been
detected in accordance with Section 44-41-330(A).  A person who violates this
subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined ten
thousand dollars, imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.
    Section
44-41-640. (A) It is not a
violation of Section 44-41-63044-41-615
if an abortion is performed or induced on a pregnant woman due to a medical
emergency or is performed to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to
prevent the serious risk of a substantial and irreversible impairment of a
major bodily function, not including psychological or emotional conditions, of
the pregnant woman.
    (B)(1) Section 44-41-63044-41-615 does not apply to a physician who performs or
induces an abortion if the physician determines according to standard medical
practice that a medical emergency exists or is performed to prevent the death
of the pregnant woman or to prevent the serious risk of a substantial or
irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, not including psychological
or emotional conditions, that prevents compliance with the section.
       (2)
A physician who performs or induces an abortion on a pregnant woman based on
the exception in item (1) shall make written notations in the pregnant woman's
medical records of the following:
  (a)
the physician's belief that a medical emergency necessitating the abortion
existed;
  (b)
the medical condition of the pregnant woman that assertedly prevented
compliance with Section 44-41-63044-41-615;  and
  (c)
the medical rationale to support the physician's or person's conclusion that
the pregnant woman's medical condition necessitated the immediate abortion of
her pregnancy to avert her death and a medical emergency necessitating the
abortion existed.
       (3)
A physician performing a medical procedure pursuant to item (1) shall make
reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve the life of the
pregnant woman's unborn child, to the extent that it does not risk the death of
the pregnant woman or the serious risk of a substantial and irreversible
physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman, not
including psychological or emotional conditions and in a manner consistent with
reasonable medical practices.  A medical procedure
shall not be considered necessary if it is performed based upon a claim or
diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct that she intends to result in
her death or in a substantial physical impairment of a major bodily function.
       (4)(a) For at least seven years from the
date the notations are made in the pregnant woman's medical records, the
physician owner of the pregnant woman's medical records shall maintain a record
of the notations and in his own records a copy of the notations.
  (b)
A person, if he is the owner of the pregnant woman's medical records, who
violates this subsection is guilty of a felony and must be fined up to ten
thousand dollars, imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.
  (c)
An entity with ownership of the pregnant woman's medical records that violates
item (3) must be fined up to fifty thousand dollars.
    (C)(1) It is not a violation of Section 44-41-63044-41-615 for a
physician to perform a medical procedure necessary in his reasonable medical
judgment to prevent the death of a pregnant woman or the serious risk of a
substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of
the pregnant woman, not including psychological or emotional conditions.
       (2)
It is presumed that the following medical conditions constitute a risk of death
or serious risk of a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a
major bodily function of a pregnant woman, not including psychological or
emotional conditions:  molar pregnancy, partial molar pregnancy, blighted ovum,
ectopic pregnancy, severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, abruptio placentae,
severe physical maternal trauma, uterine rupture, intrauterine fetal demise,
and miscarriage.  However, when an unborn child is alive in utero, the
physician must make all reasonable efforts to deliver and save the life of an
unborn child during the process of separating the unborn child from the
pregnant woman, to the extent that it does not adversely affect the life or physical
health of the pregnant woman, and in a manner that is consistent with
reasonable medical practice.  The enumeration of the medical conditions in this
item is not intended to exclude or abrogate other conditions that satisfy the
exclusions contained in item (1) or prevent other procedures that are not
included in the definition of abortion.
       (3)
A physician who performs a medical procedure pursuant to item (1) shall
declare, in a written document maintained with the woman's medical records,
that the medical procedure was necessary, the woman's medical condition
necessitating the procedure, the physician's rationale for his conclusion that
the procedure was necessary, and that all reasonable efforts were made to save
the unborn child in the event it was living prior to the procedure.  The
declaration required by this item must be placed in the woman's medical records
not later than thirty days after the procedure was completed.  A physician's
exercise of reasonable medical judgment in relation to a medical procedure
undertaken pursuant to this subsection is presumed to be within the applicable standard
of care.
    (D)
Medical treatment provided to a pregnant woman by a physician which results in
the accidental or unintentional injury or death of her unborn child is not a
violation of Section 44-41-63044-41-615.
    (E)
It is not a violation of Section 44-41-63044-41-615 to use, sell, or administer a contraceptive
measure, drug, chemical, or device if the contraceptive measure, drug,
chemical, or device is used, sold, prescribed or administered in accordance
with manufacturer's instructions and is not used, sold, prescribed or
administered to cause or induce an abortion.
    (F)(1) In the case of a non-emergency
premature delivery after nineteen weeks of pregnancy:
  (a) the delivery must be performed in
a hospital or other health care facility that has appropriate neonatal services
for premature infants; and
  (b) the physician performing the
delivery must arrange for the attendance, in the same room in which the
delivery is performed, another physician who is to take control of, provide
immediate medical care for, and take all steps reasonably necessary to preserve
the life and health of the unborn child immediately upon the child's delivery.
       (2) Prior to performing a medical
procedure or medical treatment pursuant to this subsection, the physician must
obtain in-person, non-coerced, informed consent from the pregnant woman or, in
the case of incapacity to consent, the voluntary and informed written consent
of her court-appointed guardian. If the pregnant woman is a minor, the
in-person, non-coerced informed consent of the pregnant woman's parent or legal
guardian. Whether the pregnant woman is a minor or not, the physician must also
comply with the provisions of Section 44-41-330.
       (3) A physician who performs a medical
procedure or provides medical treatment pursuant to this subsection that
results in the accidental or unintentional death of the unborn child shall
certify in writing in the pregnant woman's medical record the basis upon which
the physician made the required determinations. A physician who fails to make
the certifications required pursuant to this item is guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for up to thirty days or fined not
more than one thousand dollars, or both.
       (4) A physician who performs a medical
procedure or provides medical treatment permitted by this subsection on a
pregnant minor that results in the accidental or unintentional death of the
unborn child shall notify at least one of the minor's parents or the minor's
legal guardian within twenty-four hours of the procedure or treatment and shall
certify in writing that notice has been given in the minor's medical record. A
physician who fails to provide notice or to include the proper certification as
provided in this item is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be
imprisoned for up to thirty days or fined not more than one thousand dollars,
or both. Failure to provide notice and failure to include the proper
certification are separate offenses for which the penalty in this subsection
shall apply.
    (G) Compliance with the provisions of
this section is an affirmative defense to allegations of a violation of Section
44-41-615.
    Section 44-41-650. (A) A physician may
perform, induce, or attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant
woman after the fetal heartbeat has been detected in accordance with Section
44-41-630 if:
       (1) the pregnancy is the
result of rape, and the probable gestational age of the unborn child is not
more than twelve weeks;  or
       (2) the pregnancy is the
result of incest, and the probable gestational age of the unborn child is not
more than twelve weeks.
    (B) A physician who
performs or induces an abortion on a pregnant woman based on an exception
contained in this section must report the allegation of rape or incest to the
sheriff in the county in which the abortion was performed.  The report must be
made no later than twenty-four hours after performing or inducing the abortion,
may be made orally or otherwise, and shall include the name and contact
information of the pregnant woman making the allegation.  Prior to performing
or inducing an abortion, the physician who performs or induces an abortion
based on an allegation of rape or incest must notify the pregnant woman that
the physician will report the allegation of rape or incest to the sheriff.  The
physician shall make written notations in the pregnant woman's medical records
that the abortion was performed pursuant to the applicable exception, that the
doctor notified the sheriff of the allegation of rape or incest in a timely
manner, and that the woman was notified prior to the abortion that the physician
would notify the sheriff of the allegation of rape or incest.
    (C) A person who violates
this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined ten
thousand dollars, imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.
    Section
44-41-660. (A) It is not a violation of Section 44-41-630 if an abortion is
performed or induced on a pregnant woman due to the existence of a fatal fetal
anomaly.  Section 44-41-630 does not apply to a physician who performs or
induces an abortion if the physician or person determines according to standard
medical practice that there exists a fatal fetal anomaly.The Attorney General has the concurrent authority to prosecute a
person for a criminal violation of this article with the several solicitors of
the State, within their respective circuits.
    (B)(1) A person who performs or induces an abortion based upon the
existence of a fatal fetal anomaly shall make written notations in the pregnant
woman's medical records of:The Attorney General, a
solicitor acting within his respective circuit, the father of the unborn child,
a maternal or paternal grandparent of the unborn child, and a parent or legal
guardian of a pregnant minor may bring a civil action against a person who
violates, attempts to violate, or threatens to violate a provision of this
article.
  (a) the presence of
a fatal fetal anomaly;
  (b) the nature of
the fatal fetal anomaly;
  (c) the medical
rationale for making the determination that with or without the provision of
life-preserving treatment life after birth would be unsustainable.
       (2) For at least seven
years from the date the notations are made in the woman's medical records, the
owner of the pregnant woman's medical records shall maintain a record of the
notations.
    (C) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and,
upon conviction, must be fined up to ten thousand dollars, imprisoned for not
more than two years, or both.If the plaintiff in a
civil action brought pursuant to this section prevails by proving, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant violated, attempted to
violate, or threatened to violate a provision of this article, then the court
shall award statutory damages of ten thousand dollars for each violation in
addition to:
       (1) injunctive relief;
       (2) compensatory damages if the
plaintiff suffered injury or harm, including, but not limited to loss of
parental care, custody, and companionship of the unborn child, and emotional
distress;
       (3) punitive damages, payable to a
non-profit chosen by the plaintiff, that provides services to pregnant women;
and
       (4) reasonable attorney's fees and
court costs subject to the provisions contained in Subsection (F).
    (D) An entity with ownership of the pregnant woman's medical records
that violates item (2) must be fined up to fifty thousand dollars.Under no circumstances may civil damages be awarded to a
plaintiff if the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct.
    (E) No one who aids and abets an
abortion may bring a civil action under this section.
    (F) A person must bring an action
pursuant to this article not later than six years after the date that the
alleged violation occurred.
    Section
44-41-670. (A)(1)A pregnant woman on whom an
abortion is performed or induced in violation of this article may not be
criminally prosecuted for violating any of the provisions of this article or
for attempting to commit, or conspiring to commit a violation of any of the
provisions of the article and is not subject to a civil or criminal penalty
based on the abortion being performed or induced in violation of any of the
provisions of this article.In a civil action
brought pursuant to this article, or an action brought pursuant to Section
15-51-15, a court may not award compensatory damages or punitive damages if the
losing party demonstrates that he paid, or has been ordered to pay,
compensatory damages or punitive damages in a previous civil action for the
same violation.
       (2) A damage award in a civil action
brought pursuant to this article or an action brought pursuant to Section
15-51-15 may not be:
  (a) paid for or reimbursed by an
insurance policy, except to the extent that the person against whom the damage
award is assessed has insufficient personal assets to pay the total damage
award; and
  (b) subject to any medical malpractice
limits on recovery of damages as otherwise provided by law.
    (B) The following do not constitute
defenses to a civil action brought pursuant to this article or an action
brought pursuant to Section 15-51-15:
       (1) the fact that the pregnant woman
or, if the pregnant woman is a minor, a parent or legal guardian consented to
the abortion;
       (2) ignorance or mistake of law;
       (3) reliance on a state or federal
court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been
brought;
       (4) a person's belief that any
provision of this article is unconstitutional;
       (5) non-mutual issue preclusion or
non-mutual claim preclusion;
       (6) contributory or comparative
negligence;
       (7) assumption of the risk; or
       (8) a claim that an action brought
pursuant to this article violates a constitutional right of a third party.
    (C) A court may:
       (1) not award attorney fees or court
costs to a person subject to a civil action pursuant to this article for a
violation of this article, or an action brought pursuant to Section 15-51-15, unless
the action is frivolous, without foundation, or brought in bad faith, or for
the reason of delay;
       (2) not award attorney fees or costs
to a person who prevails in challenging the constitutionality of this article
under state law, unless the defense of this article is frivolous, without
foundation, made in bad faith, or for the sole reason of delay; or
       (3) award attorney fees or court costs
to a person who prevails in defending the constitutionality of this article
under state law, even though the challenge to the constitutionality of this
article was not frivolous, without foundation, brought in bad faith, or for the
sole reason of delay.
    Section
44-41-680. (A) In addition to all other remedies available under common or
statutory law, failure to comply with the requirements of this article shall
provide the basis for a civil action further described in this section.For the purposes of this section:
       (1) "Prohibited abortion activity"
means an activity wherein a person knowingly or intentionally violates any of
the provisions contained in Section 44-41-615.
       (2) "Pattern of prohibited abortion
activity" means that an individual, entity, or an entity acting through its
agents or others that the entity acted in concert with engaged in at least two
incidents of abortion activity.
       (3) "Whistleblower" means an employee
who brings wrongdoing by an employer or other employees to the attention of a
person who may bring an action for a violation of this article.
    (B)(1) A pregnant woman upon whom an
abortion has been performed, induced, or coerced in violation of this article
may maintain an action against the person who violated this article for actual
and punitive damages.  In addition to all other damages, and separate and
distinct from all other damages, a plaintiff is entitled to statutory damages
of ten thousand dollars for each violation of this article to be imposed on
each defendant found to have violated this article.
It is unlawful to:
  (a) knowingly or intentionally receive
any proceeds directly or indirectly derived from a pattern of prohibited
abortion activity;
  (b) knowingly or intentionally use or
invest any proceeds directly or indirectly derived from a pattern of prohibited
abortion activity to acquire an interest in property of, or to establish or
operate, an entity engaged in prohibited abortion activity;
  (c) through a pattern of prohibited
abortion activity, knowingly or intentionally acquire or maintain, either
directly or indirectly, an interest in or control of an entity, or the property
of an entity, engaged in a pattern of prohibited abortion activity;
  (d) be employed by or associated with
an entity known by the person to engage in a pattern of prohibited abortion
activity; or
  (e) knowingly or intentionally conduct
or otherwise participate in the activities of an entity engaged in a pattern of
prohibited abortion activity.
       (2) A person who violates this
subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned up to
ten years.
    (C) A separate and distinct cause of action for injunctive relief
against any person who has violated this article may be maintained by:The Attorney General, or a solicitor acting within his circuit,
may bring an action to prevent, restrain, or punish a violation of subsection
(B) by seeking appropriate orders, including, but not limited to:
       (1)
the woman upon whom the abortion was performed or induced
in violation of this article;ordering a person to
be divested of any proceeds directly or indirectly derived from a pattern of
prohibited abortion business activities and of an interest, direct or indirect,
in any entity engaged in a pattern of abortion business activity;
       (2)
the parent or guardian of the pregnant woman if she had
not attained the age of eighteen years at the time of the abortion or died as a
result of the abortion;imposing reasonable
restriction on the future activities or investments of a person, including, but
not limited to, prohibiting a person from engaging in prohibited abortion
business activities; and
       (3)
a solicitor or prosecuting attorney with proper
jurisdiction;  orordering the dissolution or
reorganization of an entity engaged in a pattern of prohibited abortion
business activities, making provision for the rights of innocent people.
       (4) the Attorney
General.
    (D)(1) If a plaintiff prevails in an
action initiated pursuant to this section the court shall award the plaintiff
reasonable costs and attorney's fees.A person may
not take any action to impede a whistleblower from communicating about a
violation of this article with the Attorney General, a solicitor, or any other
person authorized to bring an action for a violation of this article. Actions
to impede a whistleblower may include, but are not limited to:
  (a) enforcing, or threatening to
enforce, a confidentiality agreement or a predispute arbitration agreement with
respect to the communications; or
  (b) discharging, demoting, suspending,
threatening, harassing, or in any other manner discriminating against a
whistleblower in the terms and conditions of employment.
       (2) A person who violates this
subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for up
to ten years.
    (E) No damages, costs, or
attorney's fees may be assessed against the woman upon whom an abortion was
performed or induced.
    (F) Under no circumstances
may civil damages be awarded to a plaintiff if the pregnancy resulted from the
plaintiff's criminal conduct.
    (G) A civil cause of action
pursuant to this section must be brought within three years of the date of the
abortion and is not subject to the limitations and requirements contained in
Chapter 79, Title 15.
    Section
44-41-690. (A) In addition to any other penalties imposed by law, a
physician or any other professionally licensed person who
is indicted for an intentional, knowing, or reckless violation of the
prohibition on abortion contained in this article, shall have his license
suspended by the State Board of Medical Examiners or other, appropriate
licensing authority, after due process according to the board's rules and
procedures. The suspension shall remain in place until the charges against the
physician are dismissed, or the physician is acquitted, convicted, pleads
guilty, or pleads nolo contendere. In the event that the charges are dismissed,
or the physician is acquitted, then the physician's license may be reinstated
by the board upon application by the physician.
    (B) A physician or any other
professionally licensed person who intentionally, knowingly, or
recklessly violates the prohibition on abortion contained in this article
commits an act of unprofessional conduct.  A physician's license to practice in
this State immediately shall be revoked by the State Board of Medical
Examiners, after due process according to the board's rules and procedures.
Any other licensed person's professional license shall be immediately revoked
by the appropriate licensing board, after due process according to that board's
rules and procedures.  A complaint may be originated by any person or by the
board sua sponte.  A licensing board acting pursuant to this section may assess
costs of the investigation, fines, and other disciplinary actions as it may
deem appropriate.
    Section
44-41-700. Reserved.This
article may not be construed to impose liability or conduct protected by the
First Amendment to the United States Constitution or by the South Carolina
Constitution.
    Section
44-41-710. Reserved.The
President of the Senate, on behalf of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, on behalf of the House of Representatives, have an
unconditional right to intervene on behalf of their respective bodies in a
state court action and may provide evidence or argument, written or oral, if a
party to that court action challenges the constitutionality of this article, or
any portion of this article. In a federal court action that challenges the
constitutionality of this article or any portion of this article, the President
of the Senate, on behalf of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, on behalf of the House of Representatives, may seek to
intervene, to file an amicus brief, or to present arguments in accordance with
the federal rules of procedure. Intervention by the President of the Senate or
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or both, does not limit the duty
of the Attorney General to appear and prosecute legal actions or defend state
agencies, officers, or employees as otherwise provided. In any action in which
both houses of the General Assembly intervene or participate, the Senate and
the House of Representatives shall function independently from each other in
the representation of their respective clients.
    Section 44-41-720. Reserved.
    Section 44-41-730. Reserved.
    Section 44-41-740. Reserved.
SECTION 4.  Chapter 51, Title 15 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:
    Section
15-51-15.  (A) A woman upon whom an
abortion was performed or induced may bring a wrongful death action on behalf
of her dead unborn child against the person who performed or induced the
abortion, if the abortion was the proximate cause of the death of the unborn
child.
    (B) If
the woman upon whom an abortion was performed or induced does not bring a
wrongful death action pursuant to this section, then a wrongful death action
may be brought against the person who performed or induced the abortion, if the
abortion was the proximate cause of the death of the unborn child, by the
father of the unborn child, a parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor upon
whom an abortion was performed or induced, or the estate of a pregnant woman
who died as a result of an abortion.
    (C) Except
for the requirement for a live birth, an action for wrongful death pursuant to
this section is subject to the same defenses and requirements of proof as would
apply to an action for wrongful death of a child who has been born alive.
    (D) If
the plaintiff in a wrongful death action brought pursuant to this section
prevails, the court shall award:
       (1)
compensatory damages if the plaintiff suffered injury or harm from the
defendant's conduct, including, but not limited to, loss of parental care,
custody, and companionship, or emotional distress;
       (2)
punitive damages, payable to a non-profit chosen by the plaintiff, that
provides services to pregnant women; and
       (3)
reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.
    (E) An
action may not be brought pursuant to this section by the woman who consents to
the abortion, the father of the unborn child, a parent or legal guardian of a
pregnant minor upon whom an abortion was performed or induced, or the estate of
a pregnant woman who died as a result of an abortion, if the father, parent or
legal guardian, or the mother who died as a result of the abortion consented to
or aided or abetted the abortion.
SECTION 5.  Section 59-32-30 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
    (H)(1) The instruction on human growth and
development required in this section must include a presentation of a
high-quality, computer generated rendering or animation of at least three
minutes in duration comparable in quality with the "Meet Baby Olivia" video
developed by Live Action, a 501(c)(3) non profit, demonstrating the process of
fertilization and stages of human development inside the uterus, noting
significant markers in cell growth and organ development from fertilization
until birth.
       (2)
The Attorney General may bring a civil action for a writ of mandamus to compel
a public school district to comply with item (1).
SECTION 6.  Section 44-41-37 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
    Section
44-41-37.  A physician or other professional person or agency counseling or
discussing with a minor the question of her obtaining an abortion shall fully
inform her of the procedures she must follow under law to obtain an abortion
without the consent required in Section 44-41-31(1).
    The Adoption and
Birth Parent Services Division of the Department of Social Services shall
develop and distribute brochures to health and education professionals for use
in counseling pregnant minors.  This brochure shall include the following:
    (1)
how to access her local health department for prenatal care;
    (2)
how to access her local Adoption and Birth Parent Services Division of the
Department of Social Services or any private not for profit adoption service;
    (3)
the parental consent requirement as outlined in this bill;
and
    (4) the judicial by-pass
procedure as referred in Sections 44-41-32, 44-41-33, and 44-41-34;  and
    (5)(4) how to access her local mental health center for
counseling services.
SECTION 7.  Section 44-41-90(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to
read:
    (A) No funds appropriated by the State
for employer contributions to the State Health Insurance Plan may be expended
to reimburse the expenses of an abortion, except as provided in Sections
44-41-640, 44-41-650, and
44-41-660.
SECTION 8.  Section 44-41-60 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:
    Section
44-41-60.  (A) Any abortion performed in this State pursuant to Section 44-41-640 must be reported by the
performing physician on the standard form for reporting abortions to the State
Registrar, Department of Public Health and Environmental Control, within seven days after the
abortion is performed.  The names of the patient and physician may not be
reported on the form or otherwise disclosed to the State Registrar. A physician who fails to timely complete or transmit a
completed report as required in this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and,
upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than thirty days or fined one
thousand dollars, or both. Each instance where a doctor fails to complete or
transmit a completed report in a timely manner as required by this section
constitutes a separate offense. The form must
indicate from whom consent was obtained, circumstances waiving consent, and, if
an exception was exercised pursuant to Section 44-41-640, 44-41-650, or
44-41-660, which exception the physician relied upon in performing or inducing
the abortion.
    (B) Annually, on or before January
thirty-first, the Department of Public Health shall compile a public report
providing statistics for the previous calendar year from the information
submitted by physicians pursuant to this section and statistics for prior calendar
years with any updated information for calendar years that was submitted after
the compilation of statistics for that year.
SECTION 9.  Sections
44-41-32, 44-41-33, and 44-41-34 of the S.C. Code are repealed.
SECTION 10. If any section, subsection,
paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for
any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not
affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act,
the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and
each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause,
phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other
sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases,
or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise
ineffective.
SECTION 11. This act takes effect upon
approval by the Governor. The provisions contained in SECTION 5 of this act,
relating to instruction on human growth and development, are applicable
beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
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This web page was last updated on February 12, 2025 at 01:07 PM