H 4803

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 4803
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 59-63-560 SO AS TO PROVIDE VACCINE
COMMUNICATION TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS THAT INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE
PROCESS FOR OBTAINING CHILDHOOD OR SCHOOL-ENTRY IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTION
INFORMATION.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Article 5, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
59-63-560. (A)(1) Any communication
by the Department of Public Health, its divisions, or its contracted entities,
that provides information to parents or guardians regarding childhood or
school-entry immunization requirements must also include clear and accessible
information regarding:
  (a)
the availability of medical and religious exemptions pursuant to Section
44-29-180 and related regulations; and
  (b)
the process by which a parent or guardian may apply for such exemptions,
including where to obtain the necessary forms and how to submit them.
       (2)
The Department of Public Health must provide a copy of any communications
prepared pursuant to item (1) to the State Department of Education.
    (B)
The exemption information must be included in the same document, webpage, or
communication in which immunization requirements are presented. It shall not be
limited to separate or hard-to-access resources.
    (C)
This requirement applies to:
       (1)
printed materials distributed through schools or public health offices;
       (2)
digital materials distributed via email, public portals, or websites; and
       (3)
public awareness campaigns, including social media posts, sponsored
advertisements, and official press releases.
    (D)
In addition to the requirements of subsections (A) through (C), each public or
private school in this State shall, at least once annually, provide written
notice to parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school that medical
and religious exemptions are available pursuant to Section 44-29-180. The notice
must include information on how to obtain and submit the exemption forms and
may be provided as part of the school's existing annual communications to
parents.
    (E)
The exemption information must be presented in clear, plain language that is
easily understood by the general public and may not be obscured or presented in
a manner intended to discourage its use.
SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:49 PM