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TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 13, TITLE 24 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR PRISONERS, BY ADDING SECTION 24-13-190, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE ADEQUATE NUTRITION FOR PREGNANT INMATES, AND TO ESTABLISH PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE RESTRAINT OF AN INMATE WHO IS KNOWN TO BE PREGNANT OR IN LABOR.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 13, Title 24 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 24-13-190. (A) For the purposes of this section, 'extraordinary circumstance' means that there is reasonable belief that an inmate presents an immediate and credible threat to herself or others or that risk of escape cannot be reasonably minimized through methods other than restraint.
(B) The Department of Corrections shall provide adequate nutrition for pregnant inmates.
(C) An inmate who is known to be pregnant shall be solely restrained with handcuffs in front of her body, unless further restraint is required to protect herself or others. No pregnant inmate who is in labor may be restrained during labor, during transport to a medical facility or birthing center for delivery, or during postpartum recovery unless an extraordinary circumstance exists."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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