Bill > H4514

This bill amends South Carolina law regarding abortion counseling for minors by eliminating judicial bypass procedures, which previously allowed minors to seek court approval for an abortion without parental consent. Specifically, the bill removes language about judicial bypass from Section 44-41-37, which requires counselors to inform minors about procedures for obtaining an abortion without parental consent. The bill also completely repeals Sections 44-41-32, 44-41-33, and 44-41-34, which previously outlined the judicial bypass process. The only remaining requirement is that brochures distributed by the Adoption and Birth Parent Services Division of the Department of Social Services must now include information about parental consent requirements, but no longer mention judicial bypass procedures. Effectively, this means that minors in South Carolina would no longer have a legal mechanism to obtain an abortion without parental consent. The bill will take effect immediately upon the Governor's approval.