South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

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Bill 3528

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 11, 2004

H. 3528

Introduced by Reps. Sheheen, Delleney, Toole, Altman, Haskins, Coates and Viers

S. Printed 3/11/04--S.

Read the first time March 26, 2003.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3528) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Sections 44-63-50 and 44-63-55 so as to require that a fetal death certificate, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/SECTION    1.    This act may be cited as "Hunter's Law".

SECTION    2.    Chapter 63, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-63-55.    (A)    The state registrar shall develop a form entitled 'Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth' for distribution to all South Carolina delivering hospitals. The hospital shall provide and offer to complete this form, prior to discharge, for mothers whose delivery resulted in a fetal death of twenty completed weeks of gestation or more or a weight of three hundred fifty grams or more. The 'Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth' must be filed with the county registrar within five days following the delivery. The 'Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth' does not constitute proof of a live birth and does not replace the requirement to file a Report of Fetal Death as required in Regulation 61-19, Section 21.

(B)    The person preparing the 'Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth' pursuant to this section shall leave blank any reference to the stillborn's name if the parent or parents do not provide this information."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

HARVEY S. PEELER, JR. for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:

Minimal (Some additional costs expected but can be absorbed)

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON FEDERAL & OTHER FUND EXPENDITURES:

$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

Department of Health & Environmental Control

The bill requires the department to develop and distribute new forms to all delivering hospitals. The new forms will cost about $10,000 which the department will absorb using its currently available resources.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 44-63-50 AND 44-63-55 SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT A FETAL DEATH CERTIFICATE BE COMPLETED FOR EACH FETAL DEATH OCCURRING AFTER A GESTATIONAL PERIOD OF TWENTY WEEKS OR MORE AND TO REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH RESULTING IN STILLBIRTH TO BE COMPLETED FOR EACH FETAL DEATH OCCURRING AFTER A GESTATIONAL PERIOD OF TWENTY WEEKS OR MORE AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE SPECIFICS FOR COMPLETION AND FILING OF THESE CERTIFICATES.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 44-63-55.    (A)    The state registrar shall develop a form entitled 'Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth' for distribution to all South Carolina delivering hospitals. The hospital shall provide and offer to complete this form, prior to discharge, for mothers whose delivery resulted in a fetal death of twenty completed weeks of gestation or more or a weight of three hundred fifty grams or more. The 'Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth' must be filed with the county registrar within three days following the delivery. The 'Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth' does not constitute proof of a live birth and does not replace the requirement to file a Report of Fetal Death as required in Regulation 61-19, Section 21.

(B)    The person preparing the 'Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth' pursuant to this section shall leave blank any reference to the stillborn's name if the parent or parents do not provide this information.

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

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