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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-37-50 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A HOSPITAL SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PARENTS OF A NEWBORN BABY A VIDEO PRESENTATION ON THE DANGERS OF SHAKING INFANTS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SHALL REVIEW ALL SUBMITTED VIDEOS AND SHALL APPROVE ACCEPTABLE VIDEOS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE THE VIDEO AVAILABLE TO ANY INTERESTED PERSON AT COST, TO PROVIDE THAT THE VIDEO PRESENTATION MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE TO A CHILDCARE PROVIDER, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DIRECTOR SHALL REQUEST PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO REVIEW THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH SHAKING INFANTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 37, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 44-37-50. (A) Every hospital in this State shall make available to the parents of each newborn baby delivered in the hospital a video presentation of the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. The hospital shall request that both parents view the video. Following the hospital's request, the parents shall sign a document prescribed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control stating that they have been offered an opportunity to view the video.
(B) The director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control shall approve the video provided for in subsection (A). Upon the request of a hospital, the director shall review a video presentation for possible approval. The director may not require a hospital to use a video that would require the hospital to pay royalties for use of the video, restrict viewing in order to comply with public viewing or other restrictions, or be subject to other costs or restrictions associated with copyrights. The department shall provide a copy of an approved video, at cost, to a hospital or an interested individual.
(C) The department shall make available for licensed and legal, nonlicensed childcare providers a video presentation on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. The video presentation must be part of the initial and ongoing training of a licensed childcare provider. A legal, nonlicensed childcare provider may participate in a presentation offered pursuant to this subsection. The department shall provide a copy of an approved video, at cost, to a childcare provider or any interested individual.
(D) The director shall establish a protocol for health care providers to educate parents and primary caregivers about the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. The director shall request family practice physicians, pediatricians, and other pediatric health care providers to review these dangers with the parents and primary caregivers of infants and young children up to the age of three at each well-child visit."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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